Star Wars Icon Mark Hamill Explains Why He “Liked” J.K. Rowling’s Tweet Supporting Maya Forstater
John F. Trent
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Star Wars actor Mark Hamill explained why he “liked” J.K. Rowling’s tweet supporting Maya Forstater.
Hamill took to Twitter to explain, writing, “Ignorance is no excuse, but I liked the tweet without understanding what the last line or hashtags meant.”
He added, “It was the 1st 4 lines I liked & I didn’t realize it had any transphobic connotation.”
Ignorance is no excuse, but I liked the tweet without understanding what the last line or hashtags meant. It was the 1st 4 lines I liked & I didn’t realize it had any transphobic connotation. https://t.co/vefcuZEQF9
— Mark HoHoHoHamill (@HamillHimself) December 20, 2019
Rowling made headlines when she came out in support of Maya Forstater, who had been fired from her job at the Center for Global Development for her beliefs that “men cannot change into women.”
What I am so surprised at is that smart people who I admire, who are absolutely pro-science in other areas, and champion human rights & womens rights are tying themselves in knots to avoid saying the truth that men cannot change into women (because that might hurt mens feelings)
— Maya Forstater (@MForstater) September 30, 2018
Rowling came out in support of Forstater on Twitter using the #IStandWithMaya.
Dress however you please.
Call yourself whatever you like.
Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you.
Live your best life in peace and security.
But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 19, 2019
She showed her support for Forstater after an employment tribunal ruled against Forstater noting that her beliefs are not protected under the Equality Act 2010, thus her company was in the right for firing her for said beliefs.
The Judgment read:
“The specific belief that the Claimant holds as determined in the reasons, is not a philosophical belief protected by the Equality Act 2010.”
Forstater responded to the ruling writing on Twitter, “I struggle to express the shock and disbelief I feel at reading this judgment.”
Judgement received. Bad news (for now) Stonewall law won this round.
Here is my statement in thread form.
I struggle to express the shock and disbelief I feel at reading this judgmenthttps://t.co/g149gB7rJz
— Maya Forstater (@MForstater) December 18, 2019
She then reiterated her belief “that sex is a biological fact & is immutable. There are two sexes. Men are male. Women are female. It is impossible to change sex. These were until very recently understood as basic facts of life.”
My belief as i set out in my witness statement is that sex is a biological fact & is immutable. There are two sexes. Men are male. Women are female. It is impossible to change sex. These were until very recently understood as basic facts of life
https://t.co/LwUgfSCvdY— Maya Forstater (@MForstater) December 18, 2019
She added, “This judgment removes women’s rights and the right to freedom of belief and speech. It gives judicial license for women and men who speak up for objective truth and clear debate to be subject to aggression, bullying, no platforming and economic punishment.”
This judgment removes women’s rights and the right to freedom of belief and speech. It gives judicial licence for women and men who speak up for objective truth and clear debate to be subject to aggression, bullying, no platforming and economic punishment.
— Maya Forstater (@MForstater) December 18, 2019
She added she does plan on challenging the judgment.
I will consider the judgment closely with my legal team to determine what can be done to challenge it. I will make a further statement once that task is complete.
— Maya Forstater (@MForstater) December 18, 2019
What do you make of Hamill’s explanation for why he liked the Tweet? Do you think he needed to give an explanation?
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