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# BBC criticised for praising Rowling essay
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/bbc-criticised-for-praising-rowling-essay/
- Published: 2021-01-02T14:14:07.000Z
- Updated: 2021-01-02T11:04:55.000Z
- Description: Many LGBTQ+ people and allies have criticised the BBC for including JK Rowling’s controversial essay, Reasons for speaking out on sex and gender issues, on its good writing prize list.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: Arts, Books, News, Television, BBC, JK Rowling, JK Rowling transphobia, LGBTQ, Melanie Dawes, Ofcom, Trans Rights, Transgender, UK News

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/bbc-logo-1.jpg)

Many LGBTQ+ people and allies have criticised the **BBC** for including **JK Rowling’s** controversial essay, *Reasons for speaking out on sex and gender issues*, on its good writing prize list. The broadcaster’s **Russell Prize** list is compiled by BBC’s media editor **Amol Rajan** who named it after Nobel laureate **Bertrand Russell**, Rajan said it seeks to *“celebrate journalism and writing that honours the intellectual and moral virtues Russell’s prose exemplified.”*

In Rowling’s [essay](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-shows-support-for-transphobic-jk-rowling/), she said she had a *“deep concern about transgender activism”*, and continued to compare being trans to having a mental illness. She also said she could have transitioned if she was ‘given the option’ when she was younger, but suggested these feelings can be grown out of.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/awful-terf-600.jpg)

JK Rowling

Amol Rajan, who selected Rowling for his own prize, praised the author for her ‘bravery’, saying: *“I do take an issue on abuse and trolling, and Rowling has achieved the inglorious honour of topping many a league table for those. The deluge of hatred that she faced before writing this blog made it brave, and it was nothing compared to what came after.”*

Many LGBTQ+ people were outraged at the BBC’s decision to platform Rowling’s anti-trans essay. **David Levesley**, editor at lifestyle magazine GQ, described the essay as *“an entirely misinformed, factually inaccurate attempt to justify her own transphobia”*. A digital designer who has worked with the BBC, **Tom Coates**, [tweeted](https://twitter.com/tomcoates/status/1342077374163259393?ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“I am a huge defender and advocate for the BBC but giving a prize to an anti-trans essay must surely violate their editorial standards and guidelines. How can it not?!”* Another Twitter user [added](https://twitter.com/srrabbi73/status/1341120822518407171?ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“JK Rowling’s piece may be well written however it is full of inaccuracies but thank you BBC for using the money I pay for my licence to support transphobes. Where is the balance on this? Not everyone abused her, some questioned really well.”*

The BBC has also been criticised recently for platforming notorious anti-trans group, the LBG Alliance, by including a comment from it in a[ piece ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55015959?ref=scenemag.co.uk)on long waiting times for the NHS’s only gender clinic, which argued young people should not be able to ‘self-diagnose’ gender dysphoria. Ofcom chief executive, **Melanie Dawes**, [said ](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/ofcom-boss-criticises-bbcs-platforming-of-anti-trans-groups/)the broadcaster’s current editorial practice of requiring critical voices in all discussions relating to transgender people is *“extremely inappropriate”*, and said Ofcom is working to provide information to broadcasters to try and prevent them from *“bringing inappropriate voices to the table”* on topics such as LGBTQ+ rights.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/trans-rights-are-human-rights-600-400.jpg)