Few authors can claim the extraordinary fan base and universal adoration that Sir Terry Pratchett has. The prolific Discworld author, who passed away in 2015, was not only a pillar of fantasy literature, but was universally beloved among his peers. Pratchett’s work often contained themes of acceptance and inclusivity, so when some online transphobes tried to claim him as one of their own, the internet reacted with righteous anger and indignation.
Chief among them was Pratchett’s daughter Rhianna, who tweeted “This is horrifying. My father would most definitely not be a GC if he was still alive. Read. The. Books.”
This is horrifying. My father would most definitely not be a GC if he was still alive. Read. The. Books. https://t.co/iphrwjBMUk
— Rhianna Pratchett 💙 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (@rhipratchett) July 30, 2021
“GC” stands for “gender critical”, i.e. a fancy pseudo-academic phrase to describe transphobic people. Anti-trans campaigners have previously tried to co-opt the words of dead authors, applying a transphobic interpretation to their works. It is upsetting and deeply distasteful that these people are trying to place an anti-trans label on authors who can no longer speak for themselves.
And of all the authors…Terry Pratchett, really? Clearly none of these people have actually read Mr. Pratchett’s work, or they would know that he frequently subverted gender norms and featured gender nonconforming characters in several books, like Discworld‘s Cheery Littlebottom, a dwarf who identifies as a woman and uses she/her pronouns.
Many fans took to Twitter to celebrate Pratchett’s work and call out the transphobic claims for what they are: absolute rubbish.
Sometimes, the voice of a person long dead remains more alive and more relevant than that of a thousand still living. pic.twitter.com/RAJYEvtoC3
— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) July 31, 2021
Love that Terry Pratchett has interrupted his own eternal slumber to say ‘absolutely fucking not’ to transphobes trying to co-opt his legacy. https://t.co/sWJUUgYDjV
— Max Morgan 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (@SpillerOfTea) July 31, 2021
I mean pic.twitter.com/lxXbx0nLfX
— Adult Human Tamale (@halford_rosie) July 30, 2021
still thinking about those TERFs who thought Terry Pratchett would be on their side pic.twitter.com/3I7vb54m7T
— constant badthoughts (@allwrongthink) July 28, 2021
Literally one of the first jokes in Terry Pratchett's first novel "The Colour of Magic" made fun out of researchers who couldn't stop obessing about what sex the giant space turtle, the Great A'tuin, was. The joke being literally who fucking cares about the turtle's sex. https://t.co/tJFYVObF94
— Hugh「ヒュー」 (@HwpMatthews) July 31, 2021
Terry Pratchett literally wrote a book where the villain was a GC who sided with fascists. pic.twitter.com/SXbSz6VS2f
— Tom Eastman (@tveastman) July 31, 2021
People claiming that Sir Terry Pratchett was a TERF/GC, when we have Cheery god damn Littlebottom is hilarious.
Don't besmirch Sir Terry's name for something this dumb. pic.twitter.com/4WKkvgs8JX
— Drewie-Pie (@AmonsJasa) July 31, 2021
“Terry Pratchett would be gender critical” is the UK version of “George Carlin would’ve voted for Trump.”
Complete nonsense from bigots looking to appropriate people that aren’t here to speak for themselves. https://t.co/WB0veiwyDD
— Drace (He/They) (@Drace_Domino) July 31, 2021
Yes it is horrifying, but remember~
“…and the funny thing was that people who weren't entirely certain they were right always argued much louder than other people, as if the main person they were trying to convince were themselves.”#TerryPratchett#TransRightsAreHumanRights https://t.co/QAHnCf8uPo pic.twitter.com/QaTzhBthoi
— Andi Marchal, Author (@AndiMarchal) July 31, 2021
Terry Pratchett’s works were full of remarkable ideas that were even more progressive when they were written. Cheers to his readers, friends and daughter who continue to see this message carried forward. https://t.co/W6JcSmg9kS
— Sheala.draws✒️ (@Shealadraws) July 31, 2021
Terry Pratchett was a fierce defender of individuals staying true to themselves regardless of the roles the world had in mind for them. His book Equal Rites shows how gender roles are by & large bullshit & says you should make your life w/ the gifts you have no matter your sex.
— Daniel O'Brien (@OdiEtAmo_PRNqd) July 31, 2021
The lesson? Don’t come for Discworld fans and don’t you dare besmirch the reputation of Sir Terry.
(via Pink News, image: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
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