London
Harry Potter creator JK Rowling said on Friday she would give back an award presented by the American Kennedy family after one of its members criticised her views on gender issues. The Robert F Kennedy Human Rights organisation gave the author its Ripple of Hope honour last year. But the group’s president, Kerry Kennedy, said this month the British writer’s outspoken views on gender “diminished the identity” of trans people. “Kerry Kennedy recently felt it necessary to publish a statement denouncing my views,” Rowling said in a statement on her website. “The statement incorrectly implied that I was transphobic, and that I am responsible for harm to trans people. I absolutely refute the accusation.
