Jeanette Winterson and Malorie Blackman among 200 writers to sign letter of support for trans people
Jeanette Winterson and Malorie Blackman are among the authors to sign a letter supporting the transgender and non-binary communities.
Just days after a prominent group of British authors published a letter condemning the “hate speech” sent to Rowling over her widely criticised views on transgender people, a second group of writers, publishers and journalists came together in support of trans and non-binary people.
Described as “a message of love and solidarity for the trans and non-binary community” the letter was signed by 200 figures including Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit author Winterson and prominent YA writer Blackman.
Joanne Harris, Elizabeth Day, Juno Dawson, Nikesh Shukla and Daisy Johnson also signed the statement, which was shared on the website of feminist bookshop The Second Shelf.
“Culture is, and should always be, at the forefront of societal change… we recognise the vital role our industry has in advancing and supporting the wellbeing and rights of trans and non-binary people,” the letter reads.
“We stand with you, we hear you, we see you, we accept you, we love you. The world is better for having you in it. Non-binary lives are valid, trans women are women, trans men are men, trans rights are human rights.”
The letter comes after Rowling herself took to Twitter to thank the 50 supporters of the original letter, including Ian McEwan, Lionel Shriver and Tom Stoppard, as well as TV writer Graham Linehan, who was banned from Twitter for comments he made about trans people.
“I'm profoundly grateful to all the signatories, not only on a personal level… but because the signatories are showing solidarity with all the women who’re currently speaking up for their own rights and facing threats of violence and even death in return,” Rowling tweeted on Monday.
This is also an opportunity to express my gratitude once more to the thousands of people who’ve sent me personal emails and letters of support. I’m trying to respond to all of them, so please forgive me if I haven’t yet got to yours! 3/X
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 28, 2020
“This is also an opportunity to express my gratitude once more to the thousands of people who’ve sent me personal emails and letters of support. I’m trying to respond to all of them, so please forgive me if I haven’t yet got to yours!”
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