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Imagine a trans writer was given the opportunity to write this for @TheCut. I’m not sad this exists, but I’m sad that this wasn’t told by the people that could have done it Justice. https://www.thecut.com/article/who-did-j-k-rowling-become.html
so much scene chewing in the first few paragraphs, describing her house. "JK started to share her skepticism about trans people online" oh is that what we're calling it now?
there is so much fawning information about Jk Rowling. We fucking know when she wrote the most famous series of fantasy novels in the modern age, that's so unnecessary. Talk about how in the fallout of her actions the UK is stripping already precarious healthcare away
this could have been a huge piece for a trans writer, instead we have "gender critical" in scare quotes because the author would rather spend more time lamenting the loss of JK as a personal hero than talking about who she's hurt and how
a huge byline and pay check that could have been a huge opportunity for a trans writer. Or hell, trans voices at all. Colin Jost gets quoted, but trans voices? Lacking.
who is this for?
Oprah is here now. We still haven't heard from a single trans person.
we're well into the weeds on this when a non-binary person appears, in a confusing paragraph that spends as much time talking about the colour of an iMac as it does talking about gender issues
okay, a trans masc enters the story, but is also quickly swept aside to talk about Rowling some more. In case it wasn't apparent that JKR is more important, the context is making it abundantly clear
oh good, the Harry Potter play is here. Appropriate that it would also get more stage time than any real issues here. This piece is like a really well written wikipedia entry
Lin-Manuel Miranda alert. This is like the daytime Emmy's opening, just random stars getting shout-outs.
"popular British parenting website" is no longer an accurate description.
the Johnny Depp case appears. Again, we've barely touched on trans issues. The reason this article (supposedly) exists.
if you're wondering why I'm live tweeting reading this, it's because this happens time and time again and trans voices are nary to be found in this story and we could have, and deserve to be, the centre of it. Trans people existing is the reason this woman has become who she is.
there's an entire section rationalizing why TERFs are the way they are. To make it clear: they get more of a voice than we do.
the guy in Vancouver that put up the billboards is INTERVIEWED. No mention of this racist shit he got arrested for.
and that's it. Two trans people interviewed and given a line or two each. This works to try and humanize TERFs more than it gives a clear and accurate picture of the current state of trans issues, especially in the UK, where things are so fraught right now.
I went it annoyed but curious because I like this writers work. I wrapped it up frustrated that such a massive piece spent so much time dancing around the issue and then never sat in the chair at the end. What an absolute waste.
to be perfectly clear: this article is TERF propaganda. It literally ends with a kicker from the dude that put up billboards in the East side of Vancouver saying I heart JKR. This is irresponsible and destructive.
I will revise my thesis statement and now say that I am indeed sad this exists.
Print this thread in New York magazine you cowards.
Cis people posting that you loved this piece and that it meant so much. I would ask that you consider why such a blatant propaganda piece that says almost nothing of substance about trans people but a lot about the people that hate us so important.
