JK Rowling's hand prints in Edinburgh vandalised with red paint amid trans rights row

The author has been criticised on social media for her comments on the trans community.

JK Rowling’s handprints in Edinburgh have been vandalised with red paint in what is thought to be a targeted attack.

The Harry Potter author has been under fire for posting various controversial tweets about the transgender community.

Her handprints, found just outside Edinburgh City Chambers, were pictured this morning filled with red paint.

JK Rowling's handprints in Edinburgh painted red

A street cleaner jet washed the imprints and the paint has now been removed.

The controversy concerning the writer initially occurred after she responded to an article discussing menstruation products, taking issue with the phrase “people who menstruate”.

Rowling’s insistence that only women experience menstruation has been criticised as being transphobic by some Twitter users, who have pointed out that her comments are “just not accurate” when it comes to people who menstruate.

Red paint has been cleared away

One person wrote: “Trans men who haven’t transitioned still menstruate.”

Another tweeted: “I know you know this because you have been told over and over and over again, but transgender men can menstruate. Non-binary people menstruate. I, a 37 year old woman with a uterus, have not menstruated in a decade. Women are not defined by their periods.”

The official Clue Twitter, an app designed to track menstrual cycles, also responded to the tweet, writing: “Hi @jk_rowling, using non-gendered language is about moving beyond the idea that woman = uterus. Feminists were once mocked for wanting to change sexist language, but it’s now common to say firefighter instead of fireman.

“It seems awkward right now to say “people who menstruate” but this is just like changing other biased language. Menstruation is a biological function; not a “woman thing”. It’s unnecessary to gender body parts and doing so can restrict healthcare access for those who need it.”

LGBTQ+ organisation GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) responded to Rowling’s comments, tweeting: “JK Rowling continues to align herself with an ideaology which willfully distorts facts about gender identity and people who are trans. In 2020, there is no excuse for targeting trans people.”

GLAAD followed up by recommending people check out the Percy Jackson series by author Rick Riordan.

“By the way, looking for some summer reading? “Percy Jacson” author Rick Riordan isn’t transphobic #AllKidsDeserveRepresensation,” the non-profit organisation wrote.

Rowling has, since issues were raised about her tweets, gone on to release personal essays about the subject, received backlash from fans and Harry Potter stars alike.