JK Rowling, Nicola Sturgeon Exchange Sharp Criticism Over Scottish Gender Reforms

JK Rowling and Nicola Sturgeon have reignited their long-running feud over transgender rights and gender ideology, centering on Rowling's decision to wear a T-shirt labeling Sturgeon as the 'destroyer of women's rights.' Rowling defended the shirt and criticized Sturgeon for ignoring the concerns of women affected by gender self-identification policies, citing cases such as transgender offenders Isla Bryson and Katie Dolatowski and the impact on rape crisis centers. Sturgeon responded by condemning the T-shirt as harmful and claimed it provoked abuse and increased her risk of harm, while accusing critics of her gender reforms of being transphobic and misogynistic. Rowling accused Sturgeon of having 'extreme thinness of skin' regarding personal criticism but insensitivity to the suffering of others, and argued that Sturgeon's vision of an 'elevated debate' excludes women suffering real-life consequences of her policies. The dispute reflects broader tensions over Scotland's proposed reforms to gender laws, which were ultimately blocked by the UK government after passing at Holyrood. Both figures continue to publicly challenge each other's positions amid heated political and social debate.