Four authors have cut ties with the Blair Partnership, the literary agency that represents J.K. Rowling, after the company refused to issue a statement in support of equality for transgender people, the Guardian reports.
Fox Fisher, Drew Davies and Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir, who writes under the pen name Owl, announced they had resigned from the agency in a statement issued on Monday, along with an author who asked to remain anonymous.
“After J. K. Rowling’s—who is also signed to the agency—public comments on transgender issues, we reached out to the agency with an invitation to reaffirm their stance to transgender rights and equality,” the authors wrote. “After our talks with them, we felt that they were unable to commit to any action that we thought was appropriate and meaningful.”
Rowling caused a firestorm of controversy after several tweets and an essay that were widely seen as transphobic. In her essay, she wrote, “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.”
“Affirmations to support LGBTQIA people as a whole need to be followed up by meaningful and impactful action, both internally and publicly,” the authors wrote. “As LGBTQIA writers ourselves we feel strongly about having an agency that supports our rights at all avenues, and does not endorse views that go against our values and principles.”
A spokesperson for the Blair Partnership told the Guardian that the agency was “disappointed” in the authors’ departures.
“To reiterate, we believe in freedom of speech for all; these clients have decided to leave because we did not meet their demands to be re-educated to their point of view,” the spokesperson said. “We respect their right to pursue what they feel is the correct course of action.”
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
