Letter from the former LGBTQA+ Affairs Commissioner of the Ohio U Student Senate
Please note that the views of this letter do not reflect those of The New Political.
Luvina Cooley, Vice President of the Ohio University Student Senate
Dear Editor,
As a student at Ohio University and a trans woman, I was very disappointed to read your recent op-ed titled "J.K. Rowling isn't worth your outrage," published on Feb. 27. I found this article deeply concerning, as it justifies the continued use of hateful rhetoric against transgender women that we witness right here in Athens and across the world. The New Political is undoubtedly aware of the harmful rhetoric of Amy Mangano, as Claire Del Vita's article from Jan. 23 can attest to. This rhetoric is the same exact rhetoric that J.K. Rowling not only endorses but says herself.
The beliefs she espouses are the foundation of many of the "terrible bills" Murnin mentions from South Carolina, Oklahoma and Missouri. Ohio is similarly a state that seeks to advance harmful policies and legislation between queer students and their teachers, families with transgender individuals and their doctors, and trans youth and their involvement in sports.
Secondly, while I appreciate the writer's dive into what J.K. Rowling has actually said, I am concerned by the lack of awareness of the implications of her statements. J.K. Rowling's support of Maya Forstater is an issue, not just because of her tweets saying that "transgender women and biological women should not be legally considered as having the same sex" but also because of her insistence on referring to trans women with male pronouns and insisting that trans women are men. While the Tribunal ultimately ruled in support of Maya Forstater due to limitations within United Kingdom law, the report does clarify "that does not mean, however, those with gender-critical beliefs can indiscriminately and gratuitously refer to trans persons in terms other than they would wish. Such conduct could, depending on the circumstances, amount to harassment of, or discrimination against, a trans person."
Additionally, I hope the writer is aware of how powerful words are. While I agree that there are major problems warranting more attention than J.K. Rowling, it is important to be aware of how hatred spreads and the acute ways marginalized individuals are targeted. Particularly amidst a sharp increase in the informal policing of drag shows and vague drag bans that implicate gender non-conforming and transgender people, I found this article concerning. The article's timing is also alarming, given the recent concerns highlighted regarding The New York Times biased reporting of transgender issues. In the future, I would encourage the writer to talk with actual transgender people about these issues, especially given his statement that he "has a lot to learn."
Sincerely,
Luvina Cooley, Vice President of the Ohio University Student Senate