Once again, JK Rowling is under fire — and this time, it’s the asexual community pushing back.
In a recent online exchange, the Harry Potter author claimed that asexual individuals do not experience real discrimination. Her comments, now widely circulated, have sparked outrage and disappointment among activists, allies, and members of the ace community, who say her remarks are not only incorrect — they’re harmful.
Let’s be clear: asexual people do face discrimination. It may not always come in the form of overt hate crimes, but it’s deeply embedded in cultural norms, medical systems, and even legal structures.
Many asexual individuals are pressured into sex, told their identity is “just a phase,” or worse — treated as if they’re broken and in need of fixing. Some are denied adequate healthcare or misunderstood by therapists who lack training in asexuality. Others experience erasure in LGBTQ+ spaces or endure ridicule from peers and family members who can’t — or won’t — understand their orientation.
To say asexual people don’t face discrimination is to ignore these lived realities. It’s a dismissal that reflects a deeper issue: the persistent invalidation of lesser-known queer identities by those in positions of privilege and power.
JK Rowling’s pattern of controversial statements about gender and sexuality has drawn criticism for years. Her latest comments continue that trend, revealing a lack of understanding about the complexities and diversity within the LGBTQ+ community.
Representation matters. So does responsibility. When someone with such a massive platform speaks, people listen — which makes it all the more important to get it right.
Asexual people exist. Their struggles are real. And their voices deserve to be heard — not dismissed by someone who built a legacy on teaching the world about love, difference, and acceptance.