HARRY Potter author JK Rowling has shared a photo of herself wearing a T-shirt criticising Nicola Sturgeon over gender recognition reform.
Rowling shared a picture on Twitter of herself wearing a top emblazoned with the words: “Nicola Sturgeon: Destroyer of women’s rights.”
The photo was put online as a group of activists gathered outside the Scottish Parliament to protest a Holyrood committee supporting the principles behind the Gender Recognition Reform Bill.
I stand in solidarity with @ForWomenScot and all women protesting and speaking outside the Scottish parliament. #NoToSelfID pic.twitter.com/5vZNaZu13H
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 6, 2022
The writer has been a vocal critic of the bill that is currently proceeding through Holyrood, which looks to make it easier for people to be legally recognised as their preferred gender.
Critics have accused Rowling of being transphobic over her views on the gender debate – something the writer denies.
Commenting on the T-shirt, SNP MSP Karen Adam said the garment would be "laughable" if it was not "utterly ridiculous and embarrassing".
She added: “I hold our First Minister in the highest regard, particularly as someone who has progressed the cause for women’s equality. Attacking her feminism is, in my eyes, a vile hypocrisy from those who claim to support women.
“I am proud to be led by Nicola Sturgeon, who has been a strong figure and a great example of the power of intersectional feminism. Her work to support women and girls will stand the test of time, whereas, those wearing said T-shirt have lost all credibility and will be judged harshly by history.”
While the protest was ongoing a majority of MSPs on the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommended that the general principles of the bill be given approval.
Convener of the committee Joe FitzPatrick said: “We believe these important reforms will improve the lives and experiences of trans people.”
The legislation aims to shorten the time it takes to receive a gender recognition certificate, lower the age to get one from 18 to 16 and remove the requirement of a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
Scotland’s Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison welcomed the committee's recommendation that the bill’s principles be approved, saying it would “reform the system for obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate in Scotland”.
She added: “Legal gender recognition has been available for 18 years but many find the current system for obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate to be intrusive, medicalised and bureaucratic.
“This bill aims to simplify and improve the process for a trans person to gain legal recognition, giving them better access to their existing rights.
“Our support for trans rights does not conflict with our continued strong commitment to uphold the rights and protections that women and girls currently have under the 2010 Equality Act. This bill makes no changes to that Act.
“We will carefully consider the committee’s report ahead of the next stages of the Bill.”
