JK Rowling says there are 'innumerable gender identities' as she clarifies her trans rights views

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By Nika Shakhnazarova

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JK Rowling has doubled down on her previous comments on transgender people.

Last year the 56-year-old Harry Potter author came under fire for a series of tweets that were labeled "anti-trans".

Stars including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson spoke out in support of the trans community, as many stars slammed Rowling's comments.

Rowling later denied she was transphobic, and explained that, despite her support of trans people, she feels that an inability to speak about biological sex denies people the experience to describe their "lived reality".

Now, she attempted to clarify her previous comments while responding to a tweet that read: "Poll: Most Americans Agree With J. K. Rowling, There are Only Two Genders."

Taking to Twitter, she wrote: "Small but important point: I've never said there are only two genders. There are innumerable gender identities."

In the three-part thread, Rowling went on: "The question at the heart of this debate is whether sex or gender identity should form the basis of decisions on safeguarding, provision of services, sporting categories and other areas where women and girls currently have legal rights and protections.

"Using the words 'sex' and 'gender' interchangeably obscures the central issue of this debate."

The spat between Rowling and trans activists began in 2019 when the author defended a British tax specialist fired for anti-trans tweets.

Rowling came under fire after a tweet she posted last summer when she mocked the trans-inclusive term "people who menstruate".

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Credit: WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy

Since then, the author has doubled down on her views in an almost 4,000-word blog explaining her concerns over transgender activism stem from her own history of domestic abuse and sexual assault. The post was criticized widely and led to many labeling her a "TERF," or transgender-exclusionary radical feminist.

In fact, comedian Dave Chappelle recently weighed in on Rowling's comments about the transgender community.

During his standup special The Closer, the 48-year-old comedian said he "agrees" that "gender is a fact", as he discussed how the Harry Potter author had been branded a "TERF" (Trans-exclusionary radical feminist).

"Any of you who have ever watched me know that I have never had a problem with transgender people. If you listen to what I'm saying, clearly, my problem has always been with white people," Chappelle said. "They canceled JK Rowling. My god."

Featured image credit: WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy