JK Rowling Reveals She Turned Down Two Peerages and Would Refuse a Third
JK Rowling has revealed that she turned down two offers of peerages and would decline a third if offered again.
This revelation came after Conservative Party leader hopeful Kemi Badenoch said she would offer Rowling a peerage for her stance on gender issues, which many critics have described as being transphobic.
During an interview, Badenoch praised Rowling for her position on biological sex, saying, "I would [give her a peerage]. I don't know whether she would take it."
The politician said that she had secured a peerage for Dr. Hilary Cass, who conducted a review of NHS gender identity services, and compared the backlash Cass and Rowling have faced.
However, Rowling responded to Badenoch’s mention of giving her a peerage on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "It’s considered bad form to talk about this but I’ll make an exception given the very particular circumstances. I've already turned down a peerage twice, once under Labour and once under the Tories. If offered one a third time, I still wouldn’t take it. It’s not her, it’s me."
Her two previous peerage offers were offered under both Labour and Conservative governments, though the exact dates remain unknown.
Rowling was a well-known supporter of Labour during Gordon Brown’s leadership but has been critical of the party’s stance on gender under Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Starmer. She has not previously spoken about her opinions of the honours system, but said that speaking up now about the peerage offers was necessary to avoid being accused of wanting the peerage for “evil bigotry.”
Rowling’s views on transgender issues have been at the centre of public debate for years. She has been vocal about her belief that women’s rights are being undermined by certain aspects of the transgender movement. She described the debate as "the greatest assault of my lifetime on women’s rights" and expressed regret only that she didn’t speak up sooner.
The author has faced backlash for her stance, with accusations of transphobia being thrown her way, something she strongly denies. In an essay featured in The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht, Rowling explained her decision to speak out, writing that she would have felt “ashamed” had she not raised her concerns.
While Rowling has remained firm in her views, the controversy surrounding her comments continues. Despite this, she has consistently rejected the idea of receiving honours, stating that such accolades are not the reason behind her activism.
