Kezia Dugdale, the incoming chair of the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, has issued an apology after facing backlash for expressing 'huge respect' for author JK Rowling in a recent interview. Dugdale, a former leader of the Scottish Labour Party, acknowledged that her comments caused 'worry, anger and upset' and said she is 'truly sorry.'
Interview Remarks Spark Controversy
In an interview with the Guardian's Today in Focus podcast, recorded in Edinburgh to mark her appointment as Stonewall's chair, Dugdale was asked about Rowling's public statements on transgender issues. Dugdale responded, '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.'
The Guardian noted that many trans people feel Rowling's social media comments have become 'cruel and dehumanising,' contributing to feelings of being 'unwelcome and unaccepted in society.' Dugdale acknowledged this perspective but also highlighted that Rowling and others with differing views have described experiencing opposition. She called for 'generosity of spirit, a willingness to get into the grey area to talk about these things calmly.'
Backlash from Both Sides
Dugdale's remarks drew criticism from both trans advocates and gender-critical feminists. Trans writer Steph Paton, writing in the National, accused Dugdale of launching into 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 the University of Sussex after protests over her gender ideology views, wrote in the Times that Dugdale 'did the unthinkable and praised JK Rowling.'
In response, Dugdale issued a statement clarifying her position: '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.' She reiterated her commitment to trans-inclusive feminism, stating, '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.'
Stonewall's Stance on Trans Equality
Dugdale is set to take over as chair in September from Ayla Holdom, who is transgender. Holdom expressed confidence in Dugdale, 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.'
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions within the LGBTQ+ community and broader society regarding transgender rights and the role of public figures like Rowling. Dugdale's apology and reaffirmation of Stonewall's inclusive mission aim to address the concerns raised by her initial comments.
