A Baylor University professor held a “serious and significant” discussion with his students regarding “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling and her alleged “animosity towards transgender individuals,” according to a post on X from last Tuesday.
Dr. Greg Garrett, who teaches various literature and culture-oriented courses at the university, wrote in the post that the discussion took place during his “Harry Potter” class.
“We felt that author Rowling, who wrote compassionately about diversity, equity, and inclusion, is worth examining. Online Rowling? Shame on her,” he continued in detail.
Despite having previously expressed opinions on women’s rights and transgender issues, Rowling publicly criticized Scotland’s hate speech laws, which came into effect on April 1.
After JK Rowling, police clears her for challenging speech law, police clears her.
The Baylor University campus in Waco, Texas on December 8, 2022. (Photo by ANDY JACOBSOHN/AFP via Getty Images)
The law targets those who engage in acts that “incite hatred” against protected groups, including transgender individuals. As a native of Scotland, Rowling’s remarks drew attention as a potential case of offense, but British authorities declined to prosecute her.
Rowling boldly challenged authorities to arrest her for speaking out and issued a stark warning about the state of free speech in Scotland.
Responses to Garrett’s tweet were filled with reactions from those supporting Rowling’s stance, including one from Martina Navratilova, a Czechoslovak-born American former tennis player who has staunchly advocated for preserving single-sex spaces and women’s sports.
“Shame on JK Rowling for standing up for women and keeping single-sex spaces for women only,” she stated. “Then shame on a whole lot of us… but thank you for your compassion…” she wrote.
JK Rowling says free speech is “at an end in Scotland” under new hate crime bill, which includes a murder bill.
J.K. Rowling, the author of “Harry Potter,” has faced criticism for her remarks on X from transgender activists. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Further down the comments, others questioned the accuracy of the professor’s statements.
“Thanks for letting us know that the following is an unserious mind,” wrote one Baylor Harry Potter group member today.
Another questioned whether Harry Potter met the rigorous standards for university students, with one commenter adding, “Why a Harry Potter group in a college English course, you might ask. Does Shakespeare or Wilson not produce enough plays?”
JK Rowling torches trans activist who reported her for “male narcissist” crime.
Garrett responded to one commenter about academic freedom, describing the course as one of the most “transformative” classes he teaches.
One disgruntled Baylor student commented, saying, “Get this teacher away from my university,” before quoting Genesis 1:27. “If we have faculty who can’t submit to a genetic fact that is confirmed in the Bible, our school is lost.” “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them,” says the Bible. What a shame,” he continued.
Garrett replied, saying, “I’ve dedicated 34 years of my life to ‘your’ school, loved my students, and loved Jesus. You obviously have strong opinions, and I typically allow my students to voice theirs. That’s what education means.”
Others collectively questioned why such rhetoric was being taught on a Christian university’s campus, while some simply defended Rowling by stating they believed she doesn’t “hate” anyone.
Baylor University has not yet responded to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Fox News’ associate editor is Taylor Penley.
