Martina Navratilova (L), J. K. Rowling (R), Sources: Getty

Martina Navratilova recently voiced her unrelenting support for J. K. Rowling amid the author coming under fire for her polarizing views on women’s sex-based spaces. Navratilova and Rowling share the same views on the subject; transgender women should not be granted access to biological women’s spaces. According to both, granting access jeopardizes women’s privacy and safety.

On Friday, December 20, a women’s rights activist opined on X (formerly Twitter) that J. K. Rowling deserves a bronze statue in Edinburgh for her contribution to women’s rights. However, American feminist author and journalist Naomi Wolf disagreed with the activist’s take, writing:

“I only wish she could speak up for women without attacking transsexual people wholesale. There is a way to do that. @jk_rowling”

Former World No. 1 women’s singles and doubles player Martina Navratilova caught wind of Wolf’s words and quipped back.

“Except that is not at all what JK has been doing. I think you simply don’t know enough about the issue… Protecting women’s sex based spaces should be a no brainer yet here we are- putting male bodies(no matter the surgeries and hormones etc) and their feelings over those of women….,” Navratilova stated.

Another X user replied to the women’s rights activist’s initial post with a stinging comment aimed at J. K. Rowling.

“Mindlessly hating trans people is not a contribution to women’s rights,” the user wrote.

At this point, an infuriated Navratilova lashed out and dubbed the user’s criticism of Rowling a “mindless attack”.

“There is absolutely nothing mindless about JK Rowling- ever. Try again with your mindless attack,” Navratilova replied.

A few days ago, Navratilova lauded Rowling’s response to an X user who appreciated the author’s fight to protect women’s rights and boundaries.

Martina Navratilova hails J. K. Rowling’s response over high praise for fighting for women’s rights

Martina Navratilova (Source: Getty)

On Wednesday, December 18, J. K. Rowling reshared a post that she had initially written in 2019. The post was in support of Maya Forstater, a woman who lost her job after claiming that biological sex cannot be changed by people. Rowling captioned the reshare:

“Five years ago today and my only regret is that I didn’t speak out sooner. To every girl and woman who’s paid a heavy price for fighting to retain their rights and boundaries, to every person striving to halt an appalling medical experiment on minors, I salute you. We will win.”

An X user later appreciated Rowling, writing:

“Your voice made all the difference. None of the progress women have made getting our rights and boundaries into the mainstream conversation would have been possible if you hadn’t had the courage and integrity to speak up. Our gratitude to you is immeasurable.”

Rowling responded to the user, stating:

“Women like you have been everything to me in the past five years. For every death threat, fifty women sending me love and strength. I’ll never forget it x”

Martina Navratilova hailed the author’s gracious response with three thumbs-up emojis and an applause emoji.