JK Rowling has vowed to continue “calling a man a man” in defiance of controversial new SNP hate crime laws.
The Harry Potter author said she would not delete her social media posts, in which she has regularly argued that trans women are not women, to avoid being taken to court “under this ludicrous law”.
The legislation creates a criminal offence of “stirring up of hatred”, expanding on a similar offence based on racist abuse that has been on the statute book for decades.
Offences are considered “aggravated”, meaning they could lead to stiffer sentences, if they involve prejudice on the basis of age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity.
But concerns have been expressed that the legislation’s definition of a hate crime is too ambiguous, potentially leading to a “chilling” effect on freedom of speech and a torrent of vexatious complaints being made to police.
Activists have already unsuccessfully attempted to have the author arrested for “misgendering” after she publicly called India Willoughby, a transgender TV personality, a male.
Rowling later tweeted: “Let’s compare what each of us has got over the past five years, India Willoughby, and see who’s had the greatest number of threats of murder, torture, burning, skinning, rape (in every possible mutation) and assault (again, in every possible variation) from the other’s allies.”
It is understood that Police Scotland only intend to investigate offences that take place after April 1, rather than retrospectively.
Source: JK Rowling vows to defy ‘ludicrous’ new hate crime laws