Prime minister backs JK Rowling in row over new hate crime laws

18 comments

1. > On X, external, she said “freedom of speech and belief” was at an end if accurate description of biological sex was outlawed.

   Ah no, BBC has stopped saying ‘X, formally known as Twitter.’

2. >Rishi Sunak said his party would “always protect” free speech.

   Does he think anyone is buying this?

3. Prime minister doesn’t understand the background of this so simply agrees to try and win voters.

4. I’m so glad that this issue is at the forefront of the political conversation and not insignificant issues related to the cost of living, housing, NHS, climate change etc.

5. Funny that, considering we’ve pretty universally been downgraded over the past 13 years in every index around civil liberty that exists.

6. She specifically abused individual trans people, comparing them to rapists and paedophiles for crimes including running a rape crisis center and being a UN representative while being trans.

   Meanwhile, the whole political and media establishment in the UK has just decided to frame it like she said something mildly rude to trans people but untargeted like “trans women are men” and that’s that, what can you do about it, they’re how people find out and decide their opinions on what she said.

   Free speech never included targeted harassment, JK knows this, [she sues people all the time for saying less about her.](https://www.thedailybeast.com/jk-rowling-threatens-to-sue-kids-news-site-the-day-forcing-it-to-apologize-for-transphobic-article)

7. The idea that misgendering someone can be a crime is quite frightening. I have a preferred shortened version of my name, yeah it ain’t nice when someone don’t use it, but to call that a crime…. mad. in 10 years time we might end up seeing someone in court, accused of calling Dave, “David”.

8. [deleted]

9. So PM will “back” the misinformation of someone with a misinformed opinion on what the law actually is.
   That’s…..comforting?

10. Is this just going to be Jordan Peterson with Bill C-16 all over again where everyone just stops talking about it when nothing actually happens, but they still all remember being completely correct in their judgement of what was going to happen regardless?

    The persecution complexes?

11. This row is all just fucking nonsense. The laws are idiotic, JK Rowling is an idiot. Sunak is an idiot. This country is a fucking waste of space.

12. The man who brought in the anti-protest policing bill to make it easier to shut down protests he disagrees with. Fucking charlatan.

13. Freespeach should include the right to express your opinion and beliefs. If it upsets people, that should not be an issue.
    Miss gendering someone is not a hate crime, it might not be nice for that person, but it is not a hate crime.
    Inciting people to kill another group of people because of their skin colour, religion, sexual orientation, or lifestyle is a hate crime.
    I have been called all kinds of different things in my life. I would not say they are a hate crime.

14. Is this the PM who presided over demonstration laws being tightened?

    Hypocrisy from Tory’s, as usual!

15. This is just an attempt to appeal to his voter base before the election

16. *While the humans choked on their words,*

    *The otter choked on the verge*

    *Of the river, filled to the brim*

    *With detritus, nasty and grim* 

17. Since when did “hate” become a crime? I grew up learning “sticks and stones may break your bones but words can never hurt you” yet people seem more concerned over the words and phrases people use than actual crimes and injustices happening all around us.

18. Between this utter nonsense by the SNP and the Corbyn fanatics behaviour since 2019 it really feels like those who identify themselves as on the left make a career out of trying to popularise the Conservatives.