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The Guardian Deleted Their 'Person of the Year' Poll as J.K. Rowling Took the Lead

Published: December 29, 2021
  |   By Cassandra MacDonald

An online poll from The Guardian seeking nominations for their “Person of the Year” award was removed after author J.K. Rowling took the lead.

Rowling has been the subject of much controversy for being outspoken in her belief that sex is determined by biology.

On December 15, the newspaper launched a poll explaining that Elon Musk had been chosen as Person of the Year by Time Magazine, and that they wanted to know “who would be your 2021 person of the year, and why?”

“Time magazine has announced that Elon Musk will be their ‘2021 person of the year’, citing the billionaire Tesla boss’s influence ‘for good or ill’ as a ‘clown, genius, edgelord, visionary, industrialist, showman’. The choice has been criticised for Musk’s attitude to tax, opposition to unions and playing down the dangers of Covid,” the Guardian wrote in the poll. “With this in mind, we would like to hear about your own choices. Who would be your 2021 person of the year, and why?”

While the poll page is still up, as of Wednesday, it read: “This form has been deactivated and is closed to any further submissions.”

Many social media commentators could not help but notice that the poll was deactivated as the Harry Potter author took the lead.

Rowling first began being slammed as a “TERF” — “Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist,” in June, 2020, when she took issue with an article referring to “people who menstruate” instead of using the word “woman.”

“If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives,” she tweeted.

After being attacked for this take, Rowling wrote a lengthy blog about her concerns with trans-activism.

“So I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe. When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman – and, as I’ve said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones – then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside,” she wrote. “That is the simple truth.”

Instead of bowing to the constant backlash, Rowling has continued to speak out.

The backlash has been so intense that it was recently announced that Rowling is no longer invited to an upcoming Harry Potter reunion.

Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Eddie Redmayne have all either denounced Rowling’s comments or expressed support for trans activism.

Breitbart News reports that “actors Ralph Fiennes, who played Voldemort, and Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid, have both defended Rowling and her right to hold a public opinion at variance of those on the left.”

Timcast has reached out to the Guardian for comment and will update this article if one is provided.

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