More chat with Sturgeon:

“Nicola Sturgeon: Destroyer of women’s rights.”

That’s what JK Rowling wore on a t-shirt, which the author posted on social media in 2022, after Scotland attempted to pass a Gender Recognition Reform bill in an attempt to make legally transitioning an easier process.

Sturgeon says what Scotland attempted was not a “groundbreaking experiment” – with identical legislation already in place in the Republic of Ireland and many other countries.

But, Sturgeon admits, she was slow to recognise the intensity of the concerns about the legislation, because following other countries didn’t feel “controversial”. These “concerns”, from people such as Rowling, she adds were “unfounded” and could be easily answered.

“I didn’t properly engage,” she says.

Well yes they could be easily answered in the sense that she could just say “Your concerns are unfounded.” They could not be easily answered in the sense of explaining how and why making it official that some men are women would not destroy women’s rights. Yes it’s always possible to laugh the concerns off; no that doesn’t mean the concerns are bogus or wrong.

“When I realised it had become as divisive and polarised as it had, I should have paused and seen if we could find a different way of achieving the same outcome.”

But that “same outcome” is the problem. If you let men help themselves to women’s rights, then that’s the problem, and a different way of achieving it doesn’t make it not a problem.

Rowling’s hatred for Sturgeon continues to this day, with the Harry Potter author posting a damning critique of the former First Minister’s book, Frankly, on her personal blog after its release this year.

Is that hatred? Or is it perhaps a reasoned opinion of the book?

Despite this, Sturgeon says she harbours no ill will towards Rowling, and believes Rowling has “every right” to disagree with her views, especially due to her political position at the time.

“I don’t think that’s the same in reverse, but I am not accusing her of anything,” she says.

“If I have an issue with how JK Rowling goes about this debate, it’s that there does seem – at times – to be an attempt to be gratuitously cruel to trans people and I don’t think that’s warranted.”

What kind of cruel? You mean like disputing the demands and bullying and more demands emanating from the trans communinny? You mean failure to admire and flatter men like “Sophie Molly” and “India” Willoughby?

Also, Sturgeon should take a look at the cruelty directed at women by men like them.

“Most people want women’s rights to be protected and want trans rights to be protected,” Sturgeon says.

Yes but for the billionth time, when you define trans rights as men taking women’s rights, then that is not possible. You can’t protect women’s rights while allowing men to demolish them. It can’t be done.

“The one thing I believe really strongly, and I’m not going to just kind of change my mind on this, is that women’s rights and trans rights are not irreconcilable.”

Well then you’re admitting you’re an obstinate idiot. When trans rights=men can help themselves to women’s rights then the two are irreconcilable.