BBC Nominates Rowling’s ‘Transphobic’ Essay for Award, Draws Flak

In the essay, published in June, Rowling made remarks about the classification of trans women as women.

The BBC's annual Russell Prize, announced on Monday, 21 December, triggered a controversy with the nomination including author JK Rowling, for a blog post where she ‘defended’ her right to speak about trans issues. The essay drew widespread criticism for being ‘transphobic’, soon after it was published in June 2020.

In her essay, Rowling made remarks about classification of trans women as women, and spoke about her history of sexual abuse in an attempt to put context to her previous comments.

The celebrated author of the “Harry Potter” series, wrote in the essay:

“I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe. When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman — and, as I’ve said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones — then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside,” she wrote in the essay.

JK Rowling

‘Transphobia Is Not Brave’

People on social media have called out BBC nominating Rowling for the Russell Prize –named after British writer Bertrand Russell – questioning how an essay that 'justified transphobia’ is being praised by the broadcasting channel.

They also added that her piece made ‘dangerous, discriminatory’ claims against members of the transgender community.

Seeing JK Rowling's entirely misinformed, factually inaccurate attempt to justify her own transphobia praised on the BBC and justified with a quote by *checks notes* Enoch Powell is an impressive attempt to make me give up on journalism entirely https://t.co/18feunLtwX

— David Levesley (@DJFLevesley) December 21, 2020

jk rowling: makes dangerous and discriminatory claims against trans people, a minority group
bbc: wow such stunning bravery!! 3rd place for the 2020 russell prize! pic.twitter.com/ajinU1bBhT

— seamus gorman (@gormanseamus) December 21, 2020

So the BBC prevented its staff from attending trans pride events because it would be deemed “political” and controversial, but have given JK Rowling an award commemorating the “bravery” of her hate speech. Our state broadcaster is institutionally transphobic. pic.twitter.com/TKr68K14cq

— Mona Simpsons’s Girlfriend (@NelllyRose) December 21, 2020

World’s most well known transphobe JK Rowling given an award by the BBC commemorating the ‘bravery’ of her hate speech while BBC staff prevented from attending Pride events because it was deemed too ‘political’. How did we get here? 🙈 pic.twitter.com/Vb3hlwS37S

— Jake Graf (@JakeGraf1) December 21, 2020

I've made a complaint to the BBC about the 2020 Russell Prize on the basis that they are platforming transphobic views and breaching their own journalistic policies on 'balance' and 'virtue signalling' - I encourage you to do the same: https://t.co/Sig7ZWqN7G #JKRowling

— Matt a-loose-collection-of-short-stories Casbourne (@Matt_Casbourne) December 21, 2020

What’s BBC’s Response?

The United Kingdom’s public broadcaster defended Rowling's nomination by saying that even though Rowling stirred a controversy with her comments on transgenders, and that "offence is the price of free speech".

Lauding Rowling's "bravery" for writing the blog despite an outpouring criticism of her views, the BBC added that the nomination didn't mean it endorsed her point of view. The award "celebrates journalism and writing that honors the intellectual and moral virtues Russell's prose exemplified," BBC explained on their website.

Furthermore, Amol Rajan, Media Editor at BBC wrote, “We should all applaud bravery in writers – even those with whom we disagree. And Rowling’s essay contained moments of both real beauty and piercing honesty, as when she revealed that she is a survivor of domestic abuse and sexual assault.”