JK Rowling in ‘arrest me’ challenge over Scottish hate crime law - eviltoast
The Harry Potter author described several transgender women as men in a series of social media posts.

JK Rowling has challenged Scotland’s new hate crime law in a series of social media posts - inviting police to arrest her if they believe she has committed an offence.

The Harry Potter author, who lives in Edinburgh, described several transgender women as men, including convicted prisoners, trans activists and other public figures.

She said “freedom of speech and belief” was at an end if accurate description of biological sex was outlawed.

Earlier, Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf said the new law would deal with a “rising tide of hatred”.

The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 creates a new crime of “stirring up hatred” relating to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or being intersex.

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Ms Rowling, who has long been a critic of some trans activism, posted on X on the day the new legislation came into force.

  • sudneo@lemm.ee
    2·
    7 months ago

    Thanks for the specification. That said, what’s wrong with “some people”? It’s the second comment that jumps on that word as if it diminishes the argument. “Some” is purely a quantifier which I used because clearly not everyone is calling her like that, and this was - in fact - a niche news that a few articles spoke about.

    Does the German law even applies here? Is there some formal recognition that can be used instead of relying on people’s opinion? I didn’t find anything, but if that were the case then she would be recognized by the German court/state as such.

    • Syndic@feddit.de
      1·
      7 months ago

      Thanks for the specification. That said, what’s wrong with “some people”? It’s the second comment that jumps on that word as if it diminishes the argument. “Some” is purely a quantifier which I used because clearly not everyone is calling her like that, and this was - in fact - a niche news that a few articles spoke about.

      For me a German law about the Holocaust just is more important than what some people say. It’s just so very vague. It reminds me a bit off Trump when he spouts some utter bullshit “some people” have said to him. That of course doesn’t mean that I think you said it in such an intention.

      And no, the German law of course only applies to people in Germany. Now what would happen if Rowling would set foot in Germany would be interesting, but I don’t think even then much would happen. Nevertheless I think the German legal view on such speech IMHO is a good indication of it’s intention. After all Germany is one of the few countries who put in a serious effort in critically reflect on a very dark spot in their past. That’s something a lot of other countries could learn quite a bit.

      And again, I really don’t think your choice of words were wrong in any way, my comment aimed to further elaborate on the topic and not criticise. I’m sorry if it came over in a different way.

      • Pika@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        7 months ago

        After all Germany is one of the few countries who put in a serious effort in critically reflect on a very dark spot in their past. That’s something a lot of other countries could learn quite a bit

        I fully agree with this, especially in the US, going through the school system and then the post education system, every “bad” action of the country was either skipped or downplayed significantly.

        For example, they barely touched on the Vietnam war, and what little they did never mentioned anything that was controversial or inhumane such as the My Lai massacre, it was always what the “other side” did looking in.

        What little I did learn about more nefarious acts were from my grandfather who was a history teacher, they just don’t bring it up anymore.

        I get that shameful acts like that make the country look bad but not teaching the bad side and only showing the good side is counterproductive to setting up a healthy Viewpoint of the rest of the world. Not to mention disrespectful to anyone who is involved in the conflicts.