JK Rowling slaps down NZ PM over failure to ‘define a woman’
Asked to give his definition of women, Chris Hipkins responded: ‘I think people define their gender identity themselves’ | WATCH
British author JK Rowling has slapped down the New Zealand PM after he fudged his response when asked by a reporter on Monday to “define a woman”.
Asked by broadcaster Sean Plunkett to give his definition of women at a press conference on Monday, Chris Hipkins responded: “I think people define their gender identity themselves.”
Rowling, who defines herself as “pro-women,” tweeted: “In the interests of balance, someone should now ask women how they define Chris Hipkins.”
The issue was raised in the wake of protests over anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen who was forced to leave NZ after she was attacked at a rally in Auckland in March.
At the weekend Ms Keen vowed to return, but attacked Mr Hipkins as a “gutless coward”.
Mr Hipkins had condemned the violence at the Auckland rally, but said most of those present exercised their right to free speech respectfully.
“I think (exercising the right to free speech” is something we should celebrate,” he said.
Plunkett used recent remarks on the transgender v women issue by UK Labour leader Keir Starmer to pinion Mr Hipkins.
Mr Starmer recently told the London Times that trans rights should not over-ride the rights of women, adding: “99.9 percent of women haven’t got a penis”.
Plunkett, a right-wing broadcaster recently banned from Twitter for life, asked Mr Hipkins: “Keir Starmer has said that he believes 99.9 per cent of women do not have penises, and I know it’s a strange thing for him to say, but given recent events in New Zealand, I’d ask again: how do you define what a woman is?”
In the interests of balance, someone should now ask women how they define Chris Hipkins. https://t.co/9tlDywXtM2
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 3, 2023
Mr Hipkins said the question had “come out of left field,” and as he wasn’t expecting it, “it’s not something I’ve formulated an answer on”.
On Tuesday Mr Hipkins stood by his earlier response. “Ultimately, I’m aware that this is a very emotionally charged issue for some people, and as a leader, I don’t want to contribute to that,” he told NZ media.
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