Nicola Sturgeon accuses JK Rowling of fuelling ‘toxic’ trans rights debate
– 2 min read
Former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon has accused author JK Rowling of contributing to a “toxic” and “vile” climate surrounding Scotland’s gender reform debate, claiming the Harry Potter writer’s actions intensified abuse and undermined rational discourse.
In a BBC interview promoting her forthcoming memoir Frankly, Sturgeon reflected on the backlash she faced during her tenure, particularly after Rowling posted a photo of herself wearing a T-shirt labelling Sturgeon a “destroyer of women’s rights” in October 2022. The image was shared in support of a protest against the Scottish Government’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill.
Sturgeon said the moment marked a turning point in the debate: “Any hope of finding common ground disappeared,” she wrote. “It seems blindingly obvious that a stunt like that was never going to elevate the debate or illuminate the issues at the heart of it”.
It was deeply ironic that those who subjected me to this level of hatred often claimed to be doing so in the interests of women’s safety.
The former SNP leader claimed the episode triggered a wave of “vile” and misogynistic abuse, leaving her feeling unsafe and at risk of physical harm. “It was deeply ironic that those who subjected me to this level of hatred often claimed to be doing so in the interests of women’s safety,” she added.
Sturgeon also warned that far-right forces had “weaponised” the trans rights debate to roll back broader equality measures, including gay and minority rights.
She maintained that trans rights and women’s rights are not mutually exclusive, stating: “Furthering one helps further the other.”
Rowling, who is known for her gender-critical views, responded to the memoir with a sarcastic post on X (formerly Twitter), offering to review Frankly “as long as you don’t edit out the swear words”.
She later teased a forthcoming review on her website, referring to Sturgeon as “Scotland’s most persecuted, misunderstood, self-critical, open-to-debate, feminist-to-her-fingertips ex-First Minister”.
The Gender Recognition Reform Bill, passed by Holyrood in December 2022, aimed to simplify the process for trans individuals to legally change their gender. It was later blocked by Westminster under Section 35 of the Scotland Act, sparking a constitutional clash and intensifying public debate.
