Scotland’s newly released census data has revealed several notable insights into LGBTQ+ identities, gender, and religion—offering a snapshot of the nation’s evolving social landscape. Among the data points grabbing attention: author JK Rowling has listed her religion as “believer in biology” in what appears to be a targeted protest against trans inclusion.
The declaration was made by 2,883 individuals in Scotland—a nation of around 5.5 million—who wrote in “believer in biology” under the religion category in the 2022 census. Rowling later confirmed her participation, stating: “I was one of those people.”
The phrase is closely tied to For Women Scotland, a gender-critical organisation opposed to transgender rights, which encouraged the response following a court ruling related to how sex and gender identity could be recorded in the census. The judge ruled that Scots could declare their sex based on biological sex, legal recognition, or self-identification.
Rowling, 59, has long drawn criticism for her stance on transgender issues. She has repeatedly misgendered trans women and has gone so far as to say she would be willing to go to prison to protect what she claims is her right to do so. In a particularly controversial move, she once denied that transgender individuals were persecuted during the Holocaust—contradicting widely accepted historical evidence.
Rowling has also written novels under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith since 2013, raising further questions about her stance, given that adopting a different gender identity for her pen name seems to contradict her own rhetoric.
Alongside this controversy, the census also revealed that Scotland is becoming increasingly secular. A majority—51.1%—reported having no religion, up from 36.7% in 2011. Meanwhile, 20.4% of Scots identified as members of the Church of Scotland.
In terms of gender and sexuality, the census reported that around 184,000 people aged 16 and over identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual. Nearly 20,000 individuals said they were transgender or had a trans history, accounting for approximately 0.44% of the population.
While the number of people using the “believer in biology” label is small, its symbolism—particularly when embraced by a high-profile figure like Rowling—continues to highlight the tension in the UK’s public discourse around trans rights.
