Harry Potter author JK Rowling is facing backlash from many quarters for her remarks on transgender rights.
In a late night storm of tweets on Saturday night, Rowling said: “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.
“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.”
Critics of her stance quickly noted that transgenderism is not about sex, but gender — which refers to societal roles, expectations and one’s perception of themselves, rather than biology.
Rowling had also hit out at The Washington Post for using the phrase “people who menstruate,” by way of acknowledging the existence of trans men.
Daniel Radcliffe, most famous for his role as Harry Potter across the eight films, has issued a strong response opposing Rowling’s beliefs.
In a statement published through LGBT+ organisation The Trevor Project, Radcliffe said: “While Jo is unquestionably responsible for the course my life has taken, as someone who has been honoured 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.
“Transgender women are women. 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.
“According to The Trevor Project, 78% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported being the subject of discrimination due to their gender identity. It’s clear that we need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm.”
Radcliffe is not the first Harry Potter to star to oppose Rowling’s stance. Earlier this week, Cho Chang actress Katie Leung implicitly shared her thoughts on the matter by posting several links to trans support groups and charities on her Twitter account.
The 30-year-old also offered words of comfort to trans people whose enjoyment of the beloved Harry Potter books may be damaged by Rowling’s comments, saying: “To all the people who now feel 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.
“If these books taught you that love is the strongest force in the universe, capable of overcoming anything; if they taught you that strength is found in diversity, and that dogmatic ideas of pureness lead to the oppression of vulnerable groups; if you believe that a particular character is trans, nonbinary, or gender fluid, or that they are gay or bisexual; 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.”
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