A renowned transgender horror writer, who signed a letter last week condemning the New York Times’ coverage of transgender issues, tweeted that she plans to cut JK Rowling’s throat.
Gretchen Felker-Martin, in a Feb. 12 tweet, named a number of writers she accused of transphobia, including Rowling. She added, “If they all had a throat, man.”
She previously denounced the murder of British transgender teenager Brianna Ghey, 16, and suspected Rowling and her ilk had fomented violence that led to the murder. Police have not yet released a possible motive for the murder, in which two 15-year-olds were arrested.
Another writer she railed against, journalist Jesse Singal, condemned Felker-Martin for the death threat and said she had a long history of threatening violence.
In Felker-Martin’s debut novel Manhunt, published February 2022, Rowling is murdered by being burned alive.
The book is being advertised as “an explosive post-apocalyptic novel that follows trans women and trans men on a grotesque journey of survival.”
Gretchen Felker-Martin has been criticized for tweeting a death threat against JK Rowling
Rowling, who was seen playing tennis with her husband at the Laver Cup in September, has become the target of militant transgender activists
Felker-Martin’s tweet – which she has now deleted – came just before she joined 180 activists in signing a letter to the Times attacking its recent reporting on transgender issues, in which the newspaper investigated whether young children were puberty blockers or gender should be given transposition surgery.
Rowling has shared similar views and has also questioned whether trans women should be allowed access to some women-only areas, such as prisons, domestic violence shelters or sports competitions.
In Felker-Martin’s novel, JK Rowling is murdered
Singal, one of the writers who highlighted Felker-Martin in her tweet with death threats, said he was appalled by her rhetoric and warned it could lead to real-world violence.
Singal found himself on the “hit list” of aggressive transgender activists after writing a story about sex reassignment therapy for children in The Atlantic in 2018.
The story – captioned: ‘When kids say they’re trans: hormones? Surgery? The choices are hard — and there are no easy answers” — has made him, like Rowling, a hate figure for activists.
“I’m amazed that Gretchen Felker-Martin still has a Twitter account,” Singal told .
“That she does is just the latest proof that Twitter doesn’t really care about violent threats. How many people do you have to threaten to kill before Twitter takes your account away?’
Twitter is yet to respond to ‘s question as to why Felker-Martin is allowed to tweet death threats.
Felker-Martin is a prolific tweeter who discusses culture and transgender issues with her 28,000 followers
The New York Times published an op-ed defending JK Rowling’s trans views a day after two open letters signed by celebrities, campaign groups and hundreds of the paper’s writers accused the paper of being biased in its reporting on trans issues
After you March 2019 Policy Statement: “You must not threaten any person or group of people with violence. We also forbid the glorification of violence.”
Twitter adds: “Healthy conversation is only possible when people feel safe from abuse and don’t resort to violent language. That’s why we have a policy against threats of violence on Twitter.
Jesse Singal said he was concerned that Felker-Martin was allowed to openly make death threats on Twitter
“We define violent threats as statements of intent to kill or cause serious physical harm to a specific person or group of people.”
Singal said he wasn’t the only one targeted by the Massachusetts-based author and has criticized the LGBTQ+ community for remaining silent amid her rhetoric.
“It is significant that no one in Felker-Martin’s world will speak about her behavior,” he said.
“Then they will turn around and complain about all the violent and eliminating rhetoric coming from the other side.
“There is no principle here. Death threats should be considered bad, no matter who makes them, and it’s crazy that I even have to point that out.
He added: “Their intent is for one of their followers to stalk me because that’s the only possible reason to tweet that kind of vile, eliminating rhetoric about someone over and over again.
“And all it takes is one person to pull it off for things to get really menacing.”
Rowling’s publisher, Pottermore Publishing, has yet to respond to ‘s request for comment. Felker-Martins publisher Tor also declined to comment.
The Times ran a column the day after the letter was delivered, further defending Rowling and further inflaming activists.
A newspaper spokesman defended the title’s coverage of transgender issues – and also warned staff not to get involved with activist groups currently fighting for the title.
The Times’ stance is a marked departure from June 2020, when the paper’s opinion editor James Bennet was forced to resign following a Twitter outcry.
He had published a comment by Republican Senator Tom Cotton calling for the military to be used to quell the unrest sparked by the murder of George Floyd two weeks ago.
Bennet’s departure saw the Times convicted of kowtowing to arouse anger.