Over the weekend, Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling, faced criticism after posting a controversial tweet regarding gender identity.
“‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” she wrote on the platform on Saturday referring to an article using the term ‘people who menstruate’ in the headlines.
Many accused her of excluding transgender men and women. Some fans of the Harry Potter series even felt that the author has damaged their love for the seven books.
Following the backlash, J.K. went on the social media platform to defend her position.
“I’ve spent much of the last three years reading books, blogs and scientific papers by trans people, medics and gender specialists. Never assume that because someone thinks differently, they have no knowledge,” she tweeted.
“I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so,” she later wrote.
“If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased,” she continued. “I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”
Daniel Radcliffe, who starred as the titular character in the film adaptation of the series, has since penned an essay for The Trevor Project – an non-profit organization that aims to prevent suicide among LGBTQ+ youth.
“While Jo is unquestionably responsible for the course my life has taken, as someone who has been honored to work with and continues to contribute to The Trevor Project for the last decade, and just as a human being, I feel compelled to say something at this moment,” Daniel wrote, noting that his response is not a case of “in-fighting” between him and the author.
“Transgender women are women,” he continued. “Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.”
He also addressed fans who may have felt that their “experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished.”
“I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you. I really hope that you don’t entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you,” he wrote, “If you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life — then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred. And in my opinion nobody can touch that. It means to you what it means to you and I hope that these comments will not taint that too much.”
Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness responded directly to J.K., tweeting, “Trans women are women. Trans Black people & trans non-Black people are discriminated against every single day. They’re dying. We’re fighting for Black people & trans people and you’re doing this?”
Hasley also went on social media and appeared to call out J.K. Rowling for her tweets, writing, “Imagine writing a generation defining series about a youth uprisal that defeats a tyrannical monster motivated by the preservation of “pure blood” and looking at THIS time in the world and going “hmm…yep. I’m gonna invalidate trans people.”
Other Harry Potter stars also went on Twitter to show their support for the trans community.
Katie Leung, who played Cho Chang in the films, tweeted, “So, you want my thoughts on Cho Chang? Okay, here goes…(thread)” and then linked to a series of fundraisers for organizations that are working to promote the safety of black trans people.
Noma Dumezweni, who played Hermione onstage in the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, shared a list of notable trans women, writing, “As I honour mine, and the trans friends in my life, I’ll defer to their lived experiences, not their erasure. There is magic in listening.”
J.K. Rowling’s reps are yet to respond to request for comments.
