Gender Surgeon Calls Out JK Rowling’s “Ill-Informed” Trans Comments
“Patients literally change overnight. They report back immensely increased levels of satisfaction and happiness with their lives. It’s a huge, amazing change.” – Mr James Bellringer, Consultant Urologist
Mr James Bellringer, a leading UK gender surgeon, has voiced his concerns over author JK Rowling’s public statements about transgender individuals. In a candid video interview on LadBible’s YouTube channel, the consultant urologist, who specialises in gender affirming surgery for trans women, suggested that Rowling’s comments on trans issues are “somewhat ill-informed.”
“It seems slightly unfair to use her privileged position to make, I think, somewhat ill-informed comment about this patient group,” Mr Bellringer stated. He also quipped, “I’m not going to try and write a children’s book tomorrow,” emphasising the importance of staying within one’s area of expertise.
Rowling, the celebrated author of the Harry Potter series, has faced backlash for her stance on transgender issues. She has expressed concerns about the erosion of women’s rights and single-sex spaces, which has led to accusations of transphobia – allegations she has firmly denied.
Mr Bellringer, one of only four surgeons qualified to perform vaginoplasties in the UK, stressed the critical role of appropriate support, counselling, and surgery for trans individuals. “If you don’t offer them appropriate support, counselling and in the end, surgery, we think about one in five of them commit suicide,” he revealed, highlighting the life-saving importance of gender-affirming care.
The surgeon also shared the transformative impact of gender surgery on his patients’ lives. “Patients literally change overnight,” he observed. “They report back immensely increased levels of satisfaction and happiness with their lives. It’s a huge, amazing change.”
Recently, JK Rowling found herself named in a cyberbullying lawsuit alongside Elon Musk, filed by Olympic boxer Imane Khelif. The lawsuit alleges “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” surrounding Khelif’s appearance at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 this summer. Khelif’s Olympic journey sparked misinformation and speculation about her gender after she was disqualified from the World Championships the previous year, before going on to win women’s boxing gold.
