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Bette Midler enters the gender discussion, claiming that women's rights are being "erased." Meanwhile, singer Macy Gray claims that "changing your [body] parts does not make you a woman," and JK Rowling appears to agree.
Bette Midler provoked outrage after stating cisgender women are being denied basic rights, while JK Rowling appeared to support singer Macy Gray's "transphobic" remarks.
Cisgender people have a sense of personal identity and gender that matches to their natal sex.
"WOMEN OF THE WORLD!" tweeted the Hollywood actress. We are losing control over our bodies, our lives, and even our names! " They no longer refer to us as "women," but rather as "birthing individuals," "menstruators," and even "people with vaginas"! Don't let them destroy your existence! Every individual on the planet owes you!"
Midler, a frequent tweeter with over two million followers, has faced blowback on social media, with some admirers encouraging her to "do better."
"This is a horrible take, Bette!!!" said one Twitter user. Not all women have vaginal organs, and not all persons with vaginal organs are female!! Please incorporate trans people in your feminism or it will be meaningless!"
Panti Bliss, an Irish drag queen and campaigner, urged: "No. Don't believe the anti-trans fear crap. Women are not being erased. Trans inclusive language is being used in a few modest healthcare settings where it is acceptable. That's it."
"It's because not just women menstruate, give birth, or have vaginas," another enthusiast explained. Trans males, like non-binary people, do all of these things. Bette, I adore you, but you have to do better here."
In response to the recent removal of abortion rights in the United States, one Twitter user stated, "Trans people did not overturn Roe V Wade." Trans people are among the most pro-choice populations you'll ever meet, since body autonomy in medical treatment is critical to trans life. They are not your adversaries."
"Bette you started your career in bathhouses and were at like the first Prides... you should know better than this tweet which demonises trans people for no reason," one person said of the actress.
Others, though, responded to Midler's statement, with one simply writing "Amen!" and another commenting, "Now THIS is a July 4th message I can truly rally around!"
Macy Gray enters the fray...
Meanwhile, earlier this week, artist Macy Gray sparked a similar uproar when addressing trans rights with Piers Morgan on his Talk TV show Uncensored.
When asked about it, Gray told Morgan, "I'm going to say this and everyone's going to hate me, but just because you go alter your [body] parts doesn't make you a woman, sorry."
Many followers have expressed their dissatisfaction with Gray's opinions on social media, with one Twitter user writing: "Macy Gray has a right to her viewpoint. It's dumb, prejudiced, Transphobic, out of date, and completely uninformed, but she has a right to it."
In the midst of the reaction, others rallied to the singer's defense, including Morgan, who tweeted: "Macy Gray, as she anticipated, is already being attacked, persecuted, shamed, and labelled 'transphobic' by the typical disgusting, cruel mob who target women who support women's rights."
...as well as JK Rowling.
JK Rowling, who is no stranger to the gender issue, supported the singer's sentiments on Twitter, adding, "Today feels like a good day to guarantee I've bought @MacyGraysLife's complete back catalogue."
Rowling's 2020 tweet, in which she described women as "those who menstruate," sparked heated controversy and charges of anti-trans prejudice.
Midler, widely known for her work in films such as Hocus Pocus and Beaches, has already raised eyebrows on social media for allegedly transphobic remarks.
She previously apologized for a now-deleted post in which she asked Caitlyn Jenner whether she would go back in time and marrying Kardashian grandmother Kris Jenner under her prior identity.
She stated at the time that she had "misread the mood of the times."
Midler has yet to reply to her most recent Twitter outburst.