John Hopkins University was slammed by critics including “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling for switching up its definition of “lesbian” to instead refer to the group as “non-man attracted to non-men” in order to include non-binary people.
The prestigious research university had updated its LGBTQ Glossary in its inclusive language guide to state that “while past definitions refer to ‘lesbian’ as a woman who is emotionally, romantically, and/or sexually attracted to other women, this updated definition includes non-binary people who may also identify with the label.”
Rowling, who stoked controversy for her views on transgender people, took issue with the new definition by John Hopkins for removing the word “woman.”
“Man: no definition needed. Non-man (formerly known as woman): a being definable only by reference to the male. An absence, a vacuum where there’s no man-ness,” she tweeted Tuesday.
Rowling was joined by others on social media who believed the term from by the top research university effectively dubbed women “non-men.”
Many also criticized John Hopkins’ decision to update the term while not extending the same terminology to “gay men,” who were still referred to as just “men.”
John Hopkins has since removed the glossary, replacing it with a statement about the backlash and the need to better define the LGBTQ community.
“Upon becoming aware of the language in question, we have begun working to determine the origin and context of the glossary’s definitions,” officials wrote. “We have removed the page from our website while we gather more information.
“Johns Hopkins strives to create a campus culture that is inclusive and welcoming for all gender identities, sexual orientations, experiences and viewpoints, and we are committed to ensuring Johns Hopkins is a place where LGBTQ people feel supported,” the statement added.
A spokesperson for the university reiterated in a statement to The Post: “The LGBTQ Glossary is a resource posted on the website of the Johns Hopkins University Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI); the definitions were not reviewed or approved by ODI leadership and the language in question has been removed pending review.”
