J.K. Rowling, the author, has given £70,000 to a feminist organisation that is challenging Scotland’s constitutional interpretation of “woman” in front of the UK Supreme Court. The creator of Harry Potter, who has been vocal about supporting women’s rights in the face of the cultural conflict with trans rights, donated £70,000 to the For Women Scotland (FWS) battling fund on Friday following the approval of their appeal for a Supreme Court judicial review judgement.
“You know how proud I am to know you,” Ms. Rowling remarked. “Thank you for all your hard work and perseverance. This is truly a historic case.”
Launched on Friday, FWS’s crowdfunding to create a fighting fund has raised £101,900 from 807 contributions. According to their appeal, “We are raising funds to pay the necessary legal fees to proceed with the case in the UK Supreme Court with an initial target for the first month of £75,000. This is a crucial case for us all. Protection for those with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment will remain unchanged in the Equality Act, regardless of whether they have a GRC [gender recognition certificate] but for women to have full rights and protection it is important that ‘sex’ is clarified as referring to biology. Your help is invaluable and we appreciate all your efforts in fundraising and spreading the word.”
Trans activists reacted angrily to the revelation, with Tom Harlow of Cabaret In opposition to The Hate Crime calling FWS “a terf organization” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) and publishing a rousing appeal on X. He gave a shout-out to PrideUKORG, Mermaidsgender, TIE campaign, Scottish Trans, StonewallUK, LGBTYS, and THTORGUK.
“Are you aware this TERF organisation in Scotland along with £70K donation from JK Rowling are trying to change equality law?” Harlow tweeted. “How can we stop this from even being debated in court? How can we make sure trans rights are protected and not up for constant legal threats by terfs with too much money and time on their hands?”