Kezia Dugdale, incoming Stonewall chair, says sorry after backlash over JK Rowling remarks

Former Scottish Labour leader says she understands that expressing respect for author caused ‘worry, anger and upset’ The incoming chair of the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall says she is “truly sorry” after she expressed “huge respect” for JK Rowling in an interview with the Guardian. Kezia Dugdale, the former leader of Scottish Labour, said she understood that her words had caused “worry, anger and upset and I am truly sorry about that”. In an interview for the Today in Focus podcast in Edinburgh to mark her appointment as Stonewall’s chair, Dugdale was asked what she thought of the way in which Rowling has talked about transgender people. She said: “I have a huge respect for JK Rowling. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her before and I think her story and how she came to be this prolific, incredible children’s writer in this city as a single mum writing in a cafe is phenomenal and an inspiration.” The Guardian then pointed out that many trans people feel the way in which Rowling has voiced her opinions on social media had become “cruel and dehumanising” and contributed to them feeling “unwelcome and unaccepted in society”. Dugdale continued: “I understand that, and I’ve also heard JK R