Wednesday Noticeboard

Today’s noticeboard is brought to you by J.K. Rowling’s finest literary achievement.

As a rule, it’s never a good idea to pick fights with someone who can mobilise wizards

This is outstanding. Please click and scroll through Rowling’s subsequent posts. If you’re blocked, get an X account:

Scotland's Hate Crime Act comes into effect today. Women gain no additional protections, of course, but well-known trans activist Beth Douglas, darling of prominent Scottish politicians, falls within a protected category. Phew! 1/11 pic.twitter.com/gCKGwdjr5m

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 1, 2024

Technically, Rowling risks arrest for her biologically sound views:

JK Rowling has challenged Scotland's new hate crime law in a series of social media posts - inviting police to arrest her if they believe she has committed an offence.

The Harry Potter author, who lives in Edinburgh, described several transgender women as men, including convicted prisoners, trans activists and other public figures.

Transgender women are men. This isn’t a hateful or dangerous opinion. It's neutral. It’s just a fact.

She said "freedom of speech and belief" was at an end if accurate description of biological sex was outlawed.

Correct. Which is why an X account is now a good idea, if for no other reason than access.

Earlier, Scotland's first minister Humza Yousaf said the new law would deal with a "rising tide of hatred".

The “rising tide of hatred” is flowing the other way. It’s coming from opponents of free speech, and is aimed at women who are demonised by this law for standing up for reason and themselves.

Scotland deserves a curse.

UPDATE. Rowling 1, Woke Scotland 0:

Police Scotland received complaints against J.K. Rowling under the Scottish National Party’s new hate crime laws after the author mocked high profile trans people’s claims to be women.

But investigators say they will not take action against the mother of two under the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act which creates a new criminal offence of “stirring up of hatred”.

But what of women who aren’t billionaires? What might become of them if Scottish coppers receive misgendering complaints? Rowling, who knows a thing or two about plot lines, puts down a marker:

After news that police in Scotland would not arrest her despite goading them to “arrest me” on Twitter/X, Rowling wrote: “I hope every woman in Scotland who wishes to speak up for the reality and importance of biological sex will be reassured by this announcement, and I trust that all women – irrespective of profile or financial means – will be treated equally under the law.”

Excellent move. Even Squishy Rishi supported her:

PM Rishi Sunak backed Rowling, saying: “People should not be criminalised for stating simple facts on biology. We believe in free speech in this country.”

Sure you do. And then there’s this confused lass:

SNP community safety minister, Siobhian Brown, stated that misgendering by calling a trans woman “he” would “not at all” fall foul of legislation.

She swiftly changed her mind when publicly challenged and said under the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, it would be for the police to decide.

Reckon we’re seeing evidence of a curse here. It’s happening.

UPDATE II. US political commentator Wesley Yang:

Rowling is doing her part to defend inherent rights to free speech and conscience that no government may legitimately infringe. She is seeking to nullify the law through non-enforcement or force a confrontation that will shine a spotlight on the law's illegitimacy.

She will continue to exercise her rights until one of these things happens. The rest of us must do our part by continuing to exercise our rights to free speech and conscience.

Indeed we must.

UPDATE III:

I stand with @jk_rowling. If the new 500 ‘hate-crime champions’ (strange name) in Scotland want to come for her then they can come for all of us. They won’t find many Scottish writers they won’t have to arrest. Human beings are not a hermaphroditic species. So good luck, boys.… https://t.co/kWBnlKvoDz

— Douglas Murray (@DouglasKMurray) April 1, 2024

UPDATE IV. They're not going to defeat her. Rowling is three moves ahead:

If they go after any woman for simply calling a man a man, I'll repeat that woman's words and they can charge us both at once. pic.twitter.com/s9OcsgHr5j

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 2, 2024