Yesterday, J.K. Rowling felt the need to hop on Twitter and make a few transphobic tweets (opens in new tab) in the midst of Pride Month and as the country and world protest racial injustice. The Harry Potter author shared an article titled "COVID - Creating a More Equal World for Post-19 Menstruating People" and seemed to stick to the phrase "menstruating people."

"There used to be a word for those people. Someone tell me," she said. 'Umben? Umben?

And she added:

"If sex isn't real, then you can't be attracted to the same sex. If sex isn't real, then the reality of women's lives worldwide is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex would deprive many of them of the ability to discuss their lives in a meaningful way. Telling the truth is not hate. The idea that a woman like me, who for decades has empathized with trans people and felt close to them because they are just like women, i.e. vulnerable to male violence, 'hates' trans people because she thinks sex is real and has lived consequences is nonsense! It is. I respect the right of all trans people to live a life that feels authentic and comfortable to them. If you are discriminated against for being trans, I will march with you. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being a woman. I don't think it's hateful to say so."

Rowling's tweet understandably drew a lot of backlash on Twitter, with comments like, "How can someone with an imagination that could write a best-selling fantasy novel be so narrow-minded?" and comments such as, "Women are not defined by their periods." Meanwhile, GLAAD said, "JK Rowling continues to align herself with an ideology that deliberately distorts the facts about gender identity and trans people, and in 2020, there is no excuse for targeting trans people." The group also suggested that followers endorse a list of organizations that support trans people of color.

Hopefully J.K. Rowling will spend less time tweeting and more time educating herself.