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Author and feminist J.K. Rowling is leading an international chorus of outrage against an Australian parliamentary inquiry into stillbirth which has argued that men who have transitioned to become women should be part of the conversation around miscarriage.

The creator of the Harry Potter series is one of two international authors who have condemned South Australia’s parliamentary inquiry into stillbirth for allowing transgender issues to encroach into a uniquely female issue.

Despite the medical impossibility of former men ever becoming pregnant or enduring the hardship of miscarriage, one of South Australia’s most senior health bureaucrats opened her evidence to the parliamentary committee by reassuring that her use of the terms “women” and “woman” was not intended to be exclusionary in the context of stillbirth.

SA Women’s and Children’s Health Network chief executive officer Rebecca Graham used her opening statement to the committee to reassure “intersex” and “transgender women” that they should also feature in discussions around stillbirth.

“In our discussion today, the terms ‘woman’ and ‘women’ will be used, and this is in line with the current research and evidence,” Ms Graham said.

“It is intended to include those with diverse sexualities as well, intersex women and transgender women too.

“SA Health seeks to acknowledge inclusivity and individual family and community preference and identity in what we are describing.”

Appropriating Trauma

J.K. Rowling regards the statement as another example of trans issues encroaching on the rights of women. In an angry post on X to her 14.3 million followers, Rowling attached a screenshot of The Australian’s front-page report with this message:

“When this madness ends, which it will, one of the ugliest things to look back on will be how women weren’t even allowed the dignity of owning their sex-specific trauma. The misogyny is simply breathtaking.”

Her assessment was shared by prominent Irish author and veteran Economist journalist Dr Helen Joyce, whose 2021 book Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality was a bestseller. Dr Joyce said she was appalled by the revelations about the SA parliamentary committee.

“There is literally nothing specific to women that the trans lobby doesn’t seek to appropriate,” Dr Joyce said.

“The grief of losing a baby to stillbirth is a uniquely female misery, and any man with any decency will understand and respect that.

“Seeking to use stillbirths, every one of them a life-changing tragedy for a woman, as yet another excuse to affirm trans-identifying men’s claimed special identities is despicable.”

The SA select committee formed after lobbying from groups representing affected and grieving mothers to examine ways to make the health system more attuned to the needs of women who experience miscarriage.

Despite criticisms from some women’s groups representing mothers who have lost children, the SA Government and the health chief in question are standing by the conduct of the committee.

Ms Graham said in a statement,

“It is important to acknowledge that anyone can be impacted by the loss of a child through stillbirth.”

“My definitional explanation of the inclusive language used did not intend to imply that a transgender woman could give birth, simply that the perspectives of everyone impacted are considered.”

Health Minister Chris Picton also defended Ms Graham, saying:

“I really don’t think Ms Graham was suggesting that men can give birth.

“I have spoken to the Chair of the committee, who told me that Ms Graham gave two hours of evidence on this important issue with a passionate focus on the impact on the women and families,” Mr Picton said.

Against Reality

But other State MPs and groups advocating for mothers affected by miscarriage questioned the fact that trans issues were raised at all in the context of the hearing. Founder of Still Aware, Claire Foord, said she supported inclusiveness but questioned its being raised in the specific context of stillbirth.

“I am all for equality and respect, but this does seem a bit weird, to be honest. The reality is that if you don’t have a womb, you are not going to be affected by this issue,” Ms Foord said.

“It does make you wonder why they call it the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. They’re going to have to change the name. If you don’t have a womb, and aren’t going to give birth to a baby, they won’t admit you to the hospital.”

Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn also said she was baffled by the trans reference at a committee examining miscarriage.

“It’s a bizarre point to raise at the stillbirth committee when surely everyone in the health sector would agree only a biological woman can give birth to a baby and experience the trauma of a stillbirth firsthand.”

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Republished with thanks to the Australian Prayer Network. Image courtesy of Adobe.