J.K. Rowling went after visually impaired, transgender Italian Paralympian Valentina Petrillo by claiming that the mere existence of a trans athlete in sports is cheating, even though the athlete followed all the rules set by the competition. Petrillo, in response to the backlash against her inclusion in womens sports, called for people to treat trans people better.Why all the anger about the inspirational Petrillo? The cheat community has never had this kind of visibility! Out and proud cheats like Petrillo prove the era of cheat-shaming is over. What a role model! I say we give Lance Armstrong his medals back and move on, said Rowling on X. Related Meet 2024s Olympic Team LGBTQ This 2024 Olympics database includes profiles of the 144 out gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and nonbinary Olympians. Why all the anger about the inspirational Petrillo? The cheat community has never had this kind of visibility! Out and proud cheats like Petrillo prove the era of cheat-shaming is over. What a role model! I say we give Lance Armstrong his medals back and move on. #Cheats #NoShame pic.twitter.com/bvqhs3DexI J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2024 Global perspectives delivered right to your inbox Our newsletter bridges borders to bring you LGBTQ+ news from around the world. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Rowling was questioned for her response when someone stated that she was unfairly conflating trans people with cheaters just by existing in sports and that she was stereotyping trans people as a whole.In response, Rowling wrote, Stereotypes are simplistic/prejudiced blanket assumptions about a demographic that dont correlate with the facts. I know all trans people arent cheats. However, knowing you have an unfair advantage and exploiting it anyway is pretty much the textbook definition of cheating. She then continued to reply by misgendering Petrillo, who is a woman. This isnt cheating. How is it cheating? Shes a trans woman. By automatically saying that trans people are cheating, youre associating stereotypes to us that just arent true. The Pissed Off Lawyer (@legaltweetz) September 2, 2024Stereotypes are simplistic/prejudiced blanket assumptions about a demographic that don't correlate with the facts. I know all trans people aren't cheats. However, knowing you have an unfair advantage and exploiting it anyway is pretty much the textbook definition of cheating. J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2024Petrillo, who is the first out trans person to compete in the Paralympics, had failed to qualify for the finals in the womens T12 400m and instead finished third in the semi-finals. She achieved a time of 57.58 seconds, topping her personal best.She said to the press after the race, I pushed I tried my best. They are stronger than me, I had to go down too much, to do a 56 [seconds]. With 57.50, I have to be happy even if Im a little down.But I hope my son is proud of me, Petrillo said while crying. Thats important to me because Im a trans dad, its not everyones dream dad. But I hope he will be proud of me. I hope he will always stand by me, I hope that he loves me even if I am like this. I cant help it if Im like this, Im sorry. Dont treat trans people badly. We suffer. Its not fair. We dont hurt anybody, she said to the New York Times.She continued by pushing back against discrimination against trans people. Its September 2, 2024 right? Lets mark this down as a historic day. From this day forth I dont want to hear any more talk about discrimination or prejudice for trans people.There are so many people who die for the mere fact of being trans people, who kill themselves for the mere fact of being trans because they lose their job, because the sport doesnt include them and now Ive made it. So, we can all make it if Ive made it, Ive done my little bit and we can all make it, she continued. She also talked about the beauty of the Paralympics and her time there.Its all so beautiful (at the Paralympics). Afterwards how will it be out there? Its not beautiful like this. Its not all purple out there, she said, in reference to her favorite color.