JK Rowling has challenged Scotland’s new hate crime law in a series of social media posts - inviting police to arrest her if they believe she has committed an offence.

The Harry Potter author, who lives in Edinburgh, described several transgender women as men, including convicted prisoners, trans activists and other public figures.

She said “freedom of speech and belief” was at an end if accurate description of biological sex was outlawed.

Earlier, Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf said the new law would deal with a “rising tide of hatred”.

The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 creates a new crime of “stirring up hatred” relating to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or being intersex.

Ms Rowling, who has long been a critic of some trans activism, posted on X on the day the new legislation came into force.

  • kbal@fedia.io
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    3 months ago

    I don’t know whether their law against “stirring up hatred” is any good or not, but either way it takes a very special kind of person to respond to it by playing the game of stirring up as much hatred as possible without getting arrested.

    • jafffacakelemmy@fedia.io
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      3 months ago

      this is very insightful. if she hates trans people, so be it, hard to change people’s opinions. if she spreads that hate all over the internet, that’s exactly what this law is intended to prevent. I have a trans friend, I don’t understand why they would want to be the opposite sex, but if they do, why not? they are a friend. Doesn’t cost me anything to let them dress/behave how they wish. live and let live. I would love to see Ms Rowling arrested. She should keep her hate to herself.