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THREAD: I am increasingly annoyed at how media outlets are reporting on JK Rowling. People I know & respect are angry at Rowling & that& #39;s completely legit. What bothers me is that media outlets, including the CBC & Vancouver Sun, simply parrot Rowling& #39;s critics. 1/9
They refer to Rowling& #39;s "transphobic blog" without quoting any allegedly transphobic remarks. The narrative runs: "We all know JK Rowling is a transphobic bigot. Now let& #39;s hear from people who support or oppose her hateful bigotry!" The accusations are taken as fact. 2/9
Perhaps worst of all was the media frenzy following the phony book report claiming Rowling& #39;s latest novel is about a trans serial killer. That report was bullshit, a fact that didn& #39;t get nearly as much media play. 3/9
Unfortunately, genuinely transphobic people now rally to Rowling& #39;s flag, which makes it harder to cut through the noise. I am concerned that even sending this thread will earn me a bunch of new friends I definitely don& #39;t want. But that& #39;s Twitter. 4/9
Conversely, showing support for trans people now automatically means attacking Rowling. People who never read her blog reflexively attack her to show their support for trans rights. Rowling has expressed support for trans people. But she has also asked questions. 5/9
I have questions too. But I& #39;m genuinely reluctant to ask them because based on what I have seen, even the asking opens the questioner to a torrent of abuse & ugly assumptions. That& #39;s never a healthy situation. 6/9
Of course you& #39;re free to say Rowling& #39;s questions aren& #39;t valid. But it disturbs me that just asking has led to such an outpouring of vitriol. I think the level of anger reflects the very real and dangerous hatred trans people are forced to deal with regularly. 7/9
Emotions must run high when one is fighting for a rightful place in society and freedom from violence and abuse. But I think Rowling has been miscast as a trans-hating Voldemort. (Book burning, people? Really?) 8/9
And most of all I& #39;m disturbed at how often media outlets seem to have abdicated their role of reporting this issue clearly and fairly. 9/9
