Stephen King, Neil Gaiman and Margaret Atwood among writers declaring support for trans and non-binary people in open letter

‘Non-binary people are non-binary, trans women are women, trans men are men, trans rights are human rights,’ letter declares

Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood and Angie Thomas are among the US novelists who have signed an open letter in support of transgender and non-binary people.

“We are writers, editors, journalists, agents, and professionals in multiple forms of publishing,” the letter reads. “We believe in the power of words. We want to do our part to help shape the curve of history toward justice and fairness.

“To that end, we say: non-binary people are non-binary, trans women are women, trans men are men, trans rights are human rights. Your pronouns matter. You matter. You are loved.”

Other signers of the letter include Roxane Gay, John Green and NK Jemisin. In all, the letter has been signed by more than 1,200 members of the US literary community.

The letter, which originated in the US, follows a similar open letter published in the UK in September. That letter saw British writers including Malorie Blackman and Jeannette Winterson send “a message of love and solidarity for the trans and non-binary community”.

The letters appear to have been sparked by a contrasting open letter expressing support for the Harry Potter novelist JK Rowling, who has been widely criticised for her views on transgender people.

Rowling expressed thanks to those who signed the letter in September, including Ian McEwan, Lionel Shriver and the Father Ted writer Graham Linehan, who was banned from Twitter for comments he made about trans people.

“The signatories are showing solidarity with all the women who are currently speaking up for their own rights and facing threats of violence and even death in return,” Rowling tweeted on 28 September.

Stephen King and Margaret Atwood, who have both signed the open letter (Scott Eisen/Lars Niki/Getty Images)

Author Maureen Johnson, who initiated the new open letter, explained to Publishers Weekly that Rowling’s views on transgender people “gave a lot of legitimacy to something that before seemed fringey”.

“It became more accepted, because people know JK from Harry Potter,” she continued. “Sometimes you need to put your name on the line and say, ‘I don’t agree with what’s going on.’”