JK Rowling clashes with trans activist doctor as she leads calls for Keir Starmer to break silence on court ruling

By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

Author and anti-trans activist JK Rowling has lashed out at a prominent trans activist doctor and led calls for the Prime Minister to break his silence in the wake of this week's Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman. 

Taking to social media, the Harry Potter writer said women are 'waiting to hear the Prime Minister's views' on the ruling and made a dig at his previous assertions that 'trans women are women'.

It follows the Supreme Court's ruling that the definition of a woman in equality law is based on biological sex, rather than gender.

It means trans women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) could potentially be excluded from single-sex spaces if 'proportionate'.

EHRC chair Baroness Kishwer Falkner yesterday claimed trans women will now be barred from female bathrooms and sport, while lawyers have suggested they could be asked to use disabled bathrooms at work.

The ruling was lauded by gender critics as a victory, despite the judges' warnings that it should not be seen as a 'triumph' of one side over another.

Meanwhile trans activists have warned the ruling could put trans people at risk and make them feel less safe as they vowed to fight on.

Rowling has been among the most prominent gender critics to celebrate the ruling, posting photographs of her on 'TERF VE day' drinking champagne and smoking a cigar onboard her $150 million superyacht.

Author and anti-trans activist JK Rowling has lashed out at a prominent trans activist doctor and led calls for the Prime Minister to break his silence on social media last night

Author and anti-trans activist JK Rowling has lashed out at a prominent trans activist doctor and led calls for the Prime Minister to break his silence on social media last night

For Women Scotland directors Susan Smith (left) and Marion Calder (right) celebrate the landmark ruling on Wednesday

For Women Scotland directors Susan Smith (left) and Marion Calder (right) celebrate the landmark ruling on Wednesday

And last night she continued to lash out at figures who have previously supported trans rights, including Sir Keir Starmer.

'Many women are waiting to hear the Prime Minister's views on the Supreme Court ruling. After all, he's the man who decreed: 'A woman is a female adult, and in addition to that trans women are women, and that is not just my view, that is actually the law',' she wrote. 

Sir Keir gave an interview in 2023 in which he pledged to support the rights of the trans community but not at the expense of women's rights.

He stated that 99.9 percent of women 'of course haven't got a penis', adding there is a 'very small number' of people who identify as a different gender to that they were born into.

'Simply turning [the debate] into a toxic divide advances the cause of no one - the cause of women or those that don't identify with the gender that they were born into,' he added.

Rowling also hit out at prominent activist Dr Helen Webberley, who has previously spoken out in favour of prescribing puberty blockers to trans teens - and against the author.

Responding to a tweet on Wednesday in which activists accused her of being 'sick' and stated girls would be raped if trans people have access to spaces that match their gender, Dr Webberley wrote: 'We must not teach our young girls and women that all that someone who has a penis wants to do is rape them. 

'It's just totally and utterly the wrong message. Penises are there for us to enjoy, not fear!'

JK Rowling shared a photo of what appeared to be two glasses of prosecco under a sunny canopy, as she toasted the decision with her husband Neil Murray

JK Rowling shared a photo of what appeared to be two glasses of prosecco under a sunny canopy, as she toasted the decision with her husband Neil Murray

The author has been posting on social media following the landmark Supreme Court ruling

The author has been posting on social media following the landmark Supreme Court ruling

The author also clashed with Dr Helen Webberley (pictured) over her views on trans rights

The author also clashed with Dr Helen Webberley (pictured) over her views on trans rights

Rowling called for Sir Keir Starmer to speak out on the ruling, hitting out at previous remarks he has made in support of the trans community

Rowling called for Sir Keir Starmer to speak out on the ruling, hitting out at previous remarks he has made in support of the trans community

Sharing the tweet, Rowling wrote last night: 'Yes, what better message to teach a young girl that if a strange man gets out his d*** in front of her, she shouldn't be afraid, but enjoy it.

'Helen Webberley is a pro-puberty blocker doctor who runs an online gender clinic.'

It is not the first disagreement between the pair - in 2021 Dr Webberley retweeted an article which revealed JK Rowling and Winston Churchill had both been dropped as house names at a British school. 

Rowling previously posted a photo of two glasses of champagne on the day of the ruling, adding: 'We toasted you @ForWomenScot. Neil says it’s TERF VE Day [laughing emoji] #SupremeCourt #WomensRights.'

The term 'TERF' is used to describe people whose views on gender identity are seen as hostile towards transgender people. 

A second post saw her share a picture of herself smoking a cigar and drinking an Old Fashioned cocktail. 

She accompanied it with the words: 'I love it when a plan comes together. #SupremeCourt #WomensRights.'

It comes after EHRC chair Baroness Faulkner yesterday hinted the ramifications of the ruling could be widespread. 

She said: 'The Supreme Court ruled that a gender recognition certificate does not change a person's legal sex for the purposes of the Equality Act.

The outcome is set to have implications across England, Scotland and Wales

The outcome is set to have implications across England, Scotland and Wales

Susan Smith (L) and Marion Calder, Directors of For Women Scotland, make a statement outside the Supreme Court following the ruling

Susan Smith (L) and Marion Calder, Directors of For Women Scotland, make a statement outside the Supreme Court following the ruling

'We are pleased that this judgment addresses several of the difficulties we highlighted in our submission to the Court, including the challenges faced by those seeking to maintain single-sex spaces, and the rights of same-sex attracted persons to form associations.'

The ECHR is expecting to lay an updated statutory code of practice before Parliament by the summer in response.

Baroness Falkner said the commission evaluates when the law is not followed by organisations and can speak to those bodies, or 'use enforcement, compliance tools or whatever, we will be continuing to do that'.

Regarding single-sex hospital wards, she said the NHS will 'have to change' their 2019 policy, which says that trans people 'should be accommodated according to their presentation'.

Scottish ministers this morning called for an urgent meeting with the UK government on the ruling's implications.

It was Scottish legislation that was challenged in the Supreme Court over whether a trans woman should be counted in equality targets for parity for female representation on company boards. 

The Scottish Government lost its Supreme Court battle against women's rights campaign group For Women Scotland when the UK's highest court ruled the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. 

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The Supreme Court judgment has given clarity between two pieces of legislation passed at Westminster and we have accepted this in full.

'Scottish Ministers have now written to the UK Government to seek an urgent meeting to discuss the implications of the judgment, and the Social Justice Secretary will give a statement to the Scottish Parliament next week on the judgment, subject to Parliamentary approval.

'Ministers will also meet with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) next week.

'The Scottish Government acted in good faith in our interpretation of both the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the Equality Act 2010; and our approach was guided by the published guidance of the EHRC.

'The Supreme Court judgment explicitly references that this stance was consistent with EHRC advice and we note that that the EHRC are now reviewing their guidance to reflect the ruling.

'We will continue to engage with the EHRC and other stakeholders and are fully committed to protecting everyone's rights and ensuring that Scotland remains an inclusive country.'

What does the Supreme Court gender ruling mean? 

What did the Supreme Court rule?

The Supreme Court ruled the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

What does it mean for single sex spaces? 

The court's decision will have huge consequences for how single-sex spaces and services operate across the UK, experts said today.

The written Supreme Court judgment gives examples including rape or domestic violence counselling, refuges, rape crisis centres, female-only hospital wards and changing rooms. 

The court ruled that trans women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces if 'proportionate'.

The government said the ruling 'brings clarity and confidence, for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges, and sports clubs'.

What does it mean for employers?

Employment experts say it will provide companies with greater 'clarity' over single sex spaces for their staff.

Lara Brown, senior Research Fellow in the Culture and Identity Unit at Policy Exchange, said a trans woman with a GRC who is excluded from single-sex spaces cannot say she is being discriminated against as a woman.

She explained: 'This ruling makes it legal for any space that wants to be single sex to exclude biological men.'

Could employers still be at risk of discrimination?

The Supreme Court made it clear that trans people are protected under the gender reassignment provisions in the Equality Act and will be able to bring claims if they are discriminated or harassed. 

Experts say a trans woman will be able to bring a sex discrimination claim if they are disadvantaged because they are perceived to be a woman or because they associate with a woman. 

Rob McKellar, legal services director at Peninsula, said failure to be an inclusive workplace, regardless of any protected characteristics, could result in a discrimination claim. 

What does the ruling mean for competitive sports?

In recent years, many sports have cracked down on rules around transgender athletes at the elite level.

Athletics, cycling and aquatics are among those who have banned trans women from taking part in women's events. 

The UK government said it hopes the decision will provide clarity for sports clubs.  

Although today's ruling did not concern sport directly, former Olympian Sharron Davies welcomed the decision, saying it was important to 'define what a woman is'.

Could a pregnant woman with a GRC be entitled to maternity leave? 

Experts said today that the ruling that only women can become pregnant  shows a trans man (biological woman) would be able to take maternity leave, while a trans woman (biological man) would not. 

Jo Moseley, an employment law specialist at national law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: 'The Supreme Court acknowledged that only women can become pregnant. Therefore a trans man (a biological woman who identifies as a man) can take maternity leave. 

'Had the court reached a different decision, it's possible that trans men with a GRC wouldn't have been entitled to protection in relation to pregnancy under the characteristics of 'pregnancy or maternity'.'

Transgender IssuesKeir StarmerUS Supreme Court