Gender-critical feminists defended by JK Rowling after they were heckled by activists shouting 'a Terf, a bullet, social justice' warn France 'is not learning from Britain's trans mistakes'

Gender-critical feminists in France backed by JK Rowling after they received death threats say their country is failing to learn from the UK's 'mistakes' on trans issues.

Campaigners Dora Moutot, 36, and 33-year-old Marguerite Stern faced chants of 'A terf, a bullet, social justice', while they have also been criticised by politicians for their alleged 'transphobic' views.

Yet there has been public support from Harry Potter author Rowling who is outspoken on gender issues, defending women against TRAs - trans rights activists - who call opponents 'terfs', or trans-exclusionary radical feminists.

The French pair have come under scrutiny after publishing their bestselling book Transmania, which is critical of trans-affirmative activists they say are 'infiltrating every sphere of society' with their 'ideology'.

Demonstrators in Strasbourg last week chanted that Ms Moutot and Ms Stern should go to 'the bottom of the Rhine' - prompting Rowling to speak up in their defence.

French feminist Dora Moutot, pictured in Paris in October 2021, has been criticised by French politicians for the new gender-critical book Transmania she has co-written

Ms Moutot (pictured, right) shared on X, formerly Twitter, how she faced chants of 'A terf, a bullet, social justice' from protesters in Strasbourg

The author posted on X, formerly Twitter, to her 14.1million followers: 'As someone whose death has been demanded on placards for exactly the same reason (knowing "woman" isn’t a feeling in a man’s head), I send @‌doramoutot love and solidarity.'

Ms Moutot and Ms Stern say it has become 'impossible' to make statements such as 'women are Homo sapiens females and men are Homo sapiens males' without being censored or being attacked.

The bullet chants came last Monday when the duo arrived for a talk on their book at Pantheon-Assas University in the French capital Paris and needed protection by 15 vans of riot police.

Ms Moutot has now told the Telegraph: 'I can't stay at home - they have my address and I have received death threats, so I've moved out temporarily.'

Bills have been proposed by senators from the right-wing parties Les Republicans and Rassemblement National calling for a ban on all medical treatment such as puberty blockers for minors suffering from gender dysphoria.

French president Emmanuel Macron's women’s rights minister Aurore Bergé has said she will not back the proposed legislation.

Ms Moutot and Ms Stern say the French government should be doing more to protect women in defiance of pro-trans campaigners.

Ms Moutot told the Telegraph: 'It’s as if France were in a bubble, completely closing its ears to what’s going on internationally, and the mistakes made in the UK, the countries of Northern Europe.

'France is always behind the curve on Britain on such issues. When I’ve spoken to English people, they’ve told me, 'In France, you’re not going to fall for that.' Well, in fact, it’s even worse here because we should know better.'

Ms Moutot shared footage of the chants online and says she has been forced from her home by death threats and is temporarily living elsewhere

Marguerite Stern is fellow author of the book Transmania which has prompted protests including when the pair visited a university in Paris for a talk on it last Monday

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has posted online in support of Dora Moutot after the French author and campaigner told of being threatened because of her views on gender

JK Rowling has been an outspoken critic of gender self-identification

Trans rights activists held a separate demonstration in support of transgender people in Paris last Sunday - launched by 800 organisations and public figure opposing proposed new laws

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She told of how the French capital's Socialist-run town hall had put pressure on billboard firm JCDecaux to remove posters promoting their book Transmania.

The city's deputy mayor Emmanuel Grégoire has said: 'Sexual orientation and gender identity are not an ideology.

'The dissemination and promotion of such discourse runs counter to the values espoused by the city of Paris.'

Ms Moutot says their book is 'not transphobic', adding: 'In no way does it advocate hatred of others or of trans people.'

Meanwhile, the authors have cited the Cass Review of gender services for children, published last month, which said many teenagers in the UK were being allowed to change their gender based on 'remarkably weak evidence'.

Report author Dr Hilary Cass, a leading paediatrician, warned there was a 'lack of high-quality research' on the effects of giving children puberty blockers and hormones, while saying the toxicity in the trans debate had become 'exceptional'.

The review prompted NHS England, which had already stopped puberty blockers being given to under-16s, to announce a review into the use of hormones.

Dr Cass laid the groundwork for schools to introduce clearer guidance when dealing with trans children, ending the exclusion of parents from knowing.

She also recommended a 'follow-through service' for 17 to 25-year-olds to protect teenagers 'falling off a cliff edge' in care when they hit 17.

Dora Moutot, pictured in October 2021 with a previous book, says new release Transmania is 'not transphobic', adding: 'In no way does it advocate hatred of others or of trans people'

The pro-trans demonstrators are opposed to bills put forward by the right-wing Les Republicans and Rassemblement National parties aiming to ban puberty blockers for minors

Retired consultant paediatrician Dr Cass is pictured here with her newly-published Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People on April 9

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Rowling and supporters insist biologically male trans women should not be allowed in women's spaces nor to take part in women's sports.

She has also opposed new legislation in Scotland seeking to make it easier for trans people to change their legal gender.

Rowling has denied accusations she is transphobic, and police said recent tweets in which she 'misgendered' trans women did not fall foul of Scotland's new hate crime laws which outlaw 'stirring up' hate against transgender people.

Earlier today the writer doubled down in a new trans row by describing a transgender football manager as a 'straight, white, middle-aged bloke'.

Rowling hit back after being criticised for mocking Lucy Clark, 51, who has been appointed boss of fifth-division Sutton United's women's football team.

She tweeted sarcastically: 'When I was young all the football managers were straight, white, middle aged blokes, so it's fantastic to see how much things have changed.'

Today, after a suggestion she was 'comparing' Clark to a 'straight, white, middle-aged bloke', Rowling followed up with: 'I didn’t compare him to one. He IS one.'

Rowling's views on trans issues have brought her into dispute with some of the stars of the Harry Potter movies based on her books - including Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed Harry, and Hermione Granger actress Emma Watson.

After the Cass report was published, one fan told Rowling they were 'just waiting for Dan and Emma' to offer a 'very public apology' knowing they'd be safe in the knowledge the author would forgive them.

Author JK Rowling, pictured at the premiere of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore at London's Royal Festival Hall in March 2022, has been in dispute with Harry Potter movie stars

Daniel Radcliffe, pictured at the 2024 Tony Awards 'Meet The Nominees' Press Reception in New York on May 2, has said JK Rowling's views on trans issues left him 'really sad'

Daniel Radcliffe shot to fame playing Harry Potter in the movie adaptations of JK Rowling's children's books. Pictured: Rupert Grint, Rowling, Emma Watson and Radcliffe in July 2007

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Rowling responded: 'Not safe I'm afraid. Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces.'

Radcliffe, 34, said last month: 'I will continue to support the rights of all LGBTQ people, and have no further comment than that.

'Jo, obviously Harry Potter would not have happened without her, so nothing in my life would have probably happened the way it is without that person.

'But that doesn't mean that you owe the things you truly believe to someone else for your entire life.'