Kezia Dugdale, the new chair of Stonewall, defends JK Rowling and transphobic activists

The new chair of the UK LGBTQ organization Stonewall displays a dangerous naiveté in her defense of JK Rowling and British transphobic TERFs in an interview with The Guardian. She must resign now.

Kezia Dugdale, the former leader of Scottish Labour, says she is now “quite scared” as a lesbian in Britain. She has reason to be afraid, because the current anti-transgender activism is very likely only the start of the long war against diversity, lesbian and gay people included.

But she demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the mechanisms of evil bigotry in her defense of JK Rowling and TERFs (trans exclusionary radical feminists).

Sympathy for Rowling

The Guardian reports that when asked if she understood why many trans people feel that Rowling’s approach has become cruel and dehumanizing (which it is), and contributes to them feeling unwelcome and unaccepted (which it does), Dugdale answers:

“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, the days of these culture wars, about sitting in polar extremes from each other, should be behind us now.”

No, the ethical choice is not always in the middle

She goes into the trap of centrist moderation, where the truth is always seen as lying somewhere between what is seen as the extremes.

But trans people who defend their right to live their lives as themselves, do not represents one extreme in opposition to another extreme. The right wing transphobes and the “gender critical” TERFs are the oppressors here, trans people are the victims.

Dugdale’s approach would be like to try to find a sensible compromise between the Nazis and the Jews back in the 1930’s. A representative of an LGBTQ organization must never, ever, give in to evil in this way.

Respect for Rowling

Apparently Dugdale wants to try and find common ground with the transphobic bullies as this is “the only path through this and it’s one that I’m committed to.”

What she says to the Guardian is mind-boggling:

“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 to so many women across the world.

“I think she’s been a really powerful political advocate [for] improving the lot of single mums, making a case for tackling poverty and inequality in all its forms, and there is absolutely a place for her in public life to share her experiences and tell her story and make a difference.”

If a single mum like JK Rowling uses her huge fortune to force trans people out of public life, that is what any representative of any LGBTQ organization has to focus on. Rowling having written some books people might have found helpful in the past does not change this.

Dugdale cannot continue as chair of Stonewall after this.