Comment on JK Rowling prefers two years in jail over using correct pronouns

spiderkle@lemmy.ca ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

TLDR; all Britons can say what they want and express themselves freely, unless it breaks any laws or harms another person.

Isn’t this a classic “freedom of speech” vs. “anti-discrimination-laws” case? Unless the laws in the UK change anytime soon, J.K. very well has the right to talk how she pleases in the confines of the law. She also can’t be forced to change her vocabulary and shouldn’t be afraid to be bullied if she doesn’t. Whatever you may think about her, this always has to goes both ways:

Under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998, “everyone has the right to freedom of expression” in the UK. The law goes on to say that this freedom “may be subject to formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society".

In 2010 the UK also passed a law protecting it’s citizens from “discrimination, harassment and victimization.”

If it could be proven that J.K. harmed somebody by her speech, she could be liable for damages. At that point she could also sue back, having the most likely bigger budget than most people.

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