Kezia Dugdale Apologises for JK Rowling Remarks Amid Backlash
Kezia Dugdale, the incoming chair of the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall and former Scottish Labour leader, has issued an apology following criticism over comments she made expressing "huge respect" for author JK Rowling.
Dugdale acknowledged that her remarks had caused "worry, anger and upset" and stated,
"I am truly sorry about that."
The comments were made during an interview with in Edinburgh to mark Dugdale's appointment as Stonewall’s chair. When asked about Rowling's statements regarding transgender people, Dugdale said,
"I have a huge respect for [JK Rowling]. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her before and I think her story and how she came to be this prolific, incredible children’s writer in this city as a single mum writing in a cafe is phenomenal and an inspiration."
highlighted that many transgender individuals find Rowling’s social media commentary to be "cruel and dehumanising," contributing to feelings of being "unwelcome and unaccepted in society."
In response, Dugdale said,
"I understand that, and I’ve also heard JK Rowling and other people who hold a different position on these issues to me describe with a similar rawness how they’ve experienced being opposed for their views. And I just think, you know, the days of these culture wars, about sitting in polar extremes from each other, should be behind us now."
She further called for
"generosity of spirit, a willingness to get into the grey area to talk about these things calmly."
Reactions from Trans Advocates and Gender-Critical Feminists
Dugdale’s remarks sparked responses from both transgender advocates and gender-critical feminists.
Trans writer Steph Paton criticized Dugdale, accusing her of entering her new role with
"a commitment to making Stonewall even more toothless and irrelevant than it was already."
Philosophy professor Kathleen Stock, who resigned from Sussex University after protests over her views on gender ideology, remarked that
"the former Scottish Labour leader did the unthinkable and praised JK Rowling."
Dugdale’s Response to the Backlash
Addressing the criticism, Dugdale stated,
"In my first interview as incoming chair of Stonewall, I was asked a question about JK Rowling. In answering, I should have been absolutely unequivocal that I would never condone behaviour from anyone that seeks to or causes harm to anyone in our community. That is a red line for me and should be for all of us. I understand the interview has caused worry, anger and upset and I am truly sorry about that."
She added,
"In a world that is increasingly polarised and in which trans people have been under continuous attack for the last decade or more, I was excited to be appointed chair of Stonewall. I applied for the role because Stonewall works for the whole LGBTQ+ community. I would not have applied or have wanted to lead a charity that was not inclusive of the whole community because my feminism is and has always been trans-inclusive."
Transition of Leadership at Stonewall
Dugdale is set to assume the role of chair in September, succeeding Ayla Holdom, who is transgender.
Holdom commented on the transition, saying,
"Our commitment to trans equality is unwavering. Our values drive who we are and as a trans woman I will be handing over the baton to Kezia confident in her steadfast commitment to trans and non-binary people and to working in partnership with other organisations to make progress for the whole LGBTQ+ community."
