Make a formal complaint

How to Submit a Complaint :

Choose an Organization: Select from the list of organizations below to which you will submit your complaint.
Copy the Template: Use our provided template to draft your complaint letter.
Customize the Letter: Personalize the letter with your details and any additional information.
Attach supporting evidence: Images are provided below to support those discussed in the template.
Send the Email: Follow the instructions to email your complaint to the chosen organization.

Complaint Letter Template

Subject: Complaint Regarding Grave Human Rights Breaches by J.K. Rowling

Dear [Organization Name],

I am writing to formally lodge a complaint against J.K. Rowling for her recent public statements and tweets, which constitute serious human rights breaches against the transgender community. These statements are being made almost daily, receiving millions of views worldwide, spreading misinformation, inciting fear, and influencing governments to implement discriminatory laws that breach the basic human rights of transgender individuals. Below, I outline several instances of her harmful rhetoric and provide empirical evidence and human rights frameworks to support this complaint.

Recent Statements by J.K. Rowling:

1. Tweet from May 14, 2024:

Content: "Publicity-hungry men who declare themselves lesbians, go on TV to tell female athletes they 'need to be careful' about what they say, advocate for males' inclusion in women's sport and send women abuse for standing up for their rights aren't 'quietly getting on with their life.'"
Analysis: This tweet misgenders transgender women and perpetuates harmful stereotypes, denying their gender identity and contributing to societal stigma and discrimination.
Empirical Data: Studies have shown that misgendering leads to significant psychological distress among transgender individuals, including higher rates of depression and anxiety (Seelman, 2016; McLemore, 2015).

2. Tweet from May 13, 2024:

Content: "Calling a man a man is not 'bullying' or 'punching down.' Crossdressing straight men are currently one of the most pandered-to demographics in existence, and women are under no obligation to applaud the people caricaturing us."
Analysis: This tweet conflates crossdressing with being transgender, misgenders transgender individuals, and reinforces harmful stereotypes. It denies the validity of transgender identities and contributes to a hostile environment.
Empirical Data: Transgender individuals, particularly transgender women, face high rates of violence and harassment (James et al., 2016).

3. Tweet from May 12, 2024:

Content: "I didn’t compare him to one. He IS one."
Analysis: By responding to criticism with a statement that misgenders a transgender football manager, Rowling directly denies the individual's gender identity, contributing to discrimination and harm.
Empirical Data: Misgendering and public denial of transgender identities lead to increased rates of mental health issues and societal exclusion (James et al., 2016).

4. Tweet from May 11, 2024:

Content: "Astounding how often militant trans activists tell the rest of us, ‘so what you’re saying is, trans girls aren’t real girls’. Yes, that’s exactly what we’re saying. Girls are being robbed of honours and opportunities by mediocre, uber-privileged, establishment-enabled boys."
Analysis: This tweet explicitly denies the identity of transgender girls, referring to them as "boys," and claims that they are unfairly taking opportunities from cisgender girls. This rhetoric fosters discrimination and marginalization of transgender individuals.
Empirical Data: Denying the identities of transgender individuals contributes to social stigma, mental health issues, and increased risk of violence (James et al., 2016).

5.Tweet from May 11, 2024:

Content: "I've never met anyone who doesn't think trans people deserve the same rights and protections as everyone else. Militant trans activism doesn't want trans people to have the same rights, though. It wants women's and girls' rights and protections dismantled for the benefit of men."
Analysis: This tweet misrepresents the goals of trans activism, implying that advocating for trans rights undermines women's and girls' rights. This creates a false narrative of conflict and can incite hostility and discrimination against transgender individuals.
Empirical Data: Research shows that advocating for transgender rights does not harm the rights of cisgender women and girls. Inclusive policies benefit society as a whole and promote equality (Grant et al., 2011).

Human Rights Breaches

Right to Non-Discrimination:

Violation: Misgendering and denying transgender identities contravene the principles of non-discrimination enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
References:
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 2: "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status."
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 26: "All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law."

Right to Personal Security:

Violation: The portrayal of transgender individuals as deceptive or threats can contribute to a hostile environment, endangering their safety and well-being.
References:
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 3: "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person."
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 9: "Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person."

Right to Health:

Violation: Spreading misinformation and stigma about transgender people can deter them from seeking necessary healthcare and support, impacting their mental and physical health.
References:
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Article 12: "The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health."
- Seelman, K. L. (2016). Transgender Adults’ Access to College Bathrooms and Housing and the Relationship to Suicidality. Journal of Homosexuality.
- McLemore, K. A. (2015). Experiences with Misgendering: Identity Misclassification of Transgender Spectrum Individuals. Self and Identity.
- James, S. E., et al. (2016). The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. National Center for Transgender Equality.

Broader Impact

These harmful statements are being made almost daily, reaching millions of people globally. They spread misinformation, incite fear, and influence governments to implement discriminatory laws that breach the basic human rights of transgender individuals. This pervasive rhetoric fosters a hostile environment and exacerbates the marginalization and discrimination faced by the transgender community.

Request for Action

I urge [Organization Name] to:

Investigate the impact of J.K. Rowling’s statements on the transgender community.
Issue a public statement condemning these actions as grave human rights breaches.
Advocate for policies that protect transgender individuals from such harmful rhetoric.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Protecting the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their gender identity, is essential to upholding the principles of human rights.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Date]