Where Do JK Rowling’s Anti-Trans Comments Leave ‘Harry Potter’ Fans?

These are dark times, Harry Potter fans, there’s no denying it. In the middle of the pandemic, the surging Black Lives Matter movement, and, to top it off, Pride Month, J.K. Rowling doubled and then tripled down her alarming anti-transgender comments. For those who missed the—I was going to call it “drama,” but the word feels insufficient—horror show, Rowling published a 3,690-word essay on her website on Wednesday. And in response, we die-hard Harry Potter fans are asking ourselves: Now what?

While trans rights activists have been warning Harry Potter fans of Rowling’s interest in an anti-trans movement for over a year, Rowling finally provided incontrovertible evidence in a series of tweets on  Saturday night (June 6), which stemmed from her mocking an article’s use of trans-inclusive language.

“People who menstruate,” she tweeted alongside a link to the article, “I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”

Her tweets were met with immediate backlash and accusations of transphobia, including from Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who wrote in an essay for The Trevor Project, “Transgender women are women.”

In a lengthy piece, Rowling responded to the backlash by digging her heels firmly into the ground in a way that reminded me distinctly of Dolores Umbridge calling centaurs “half-breeds” in the Forbidden Forest. I’m not here to argue about why this essay was harmful to trans people, queer people, and just women in general. (If you want a good summary on the rise of trans-exclusionary radical feminists, aka TERFs, and the way they’ve worked with conservatives to push an anti-trans agenda, this Vox article is a great place to start.) I’m here to speak to the Harry Potter fans like myself who are feeling hurt, betrayed, and lost.

Many of us had already become disillusioned with Rowling, who’s revealed herself to be problematic in a number of ways over the years. But this time feels different. It’s even worse for trans and non-binary Harry Potter fans—of which there are many—who are dealing with a former idol seemingly invalidating the activism that has allowed them to exist authentically in the world. The adventures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione are part of our DNA. They’ve shaped our friendships, our world-views, our morality, and our activism. So when we find out that the person who originally shaped those stories is perpetrating a harmful ideology to her 14.5 million Twitter followers? Well. That’s a big one to process. I don’t have definitive answers. I’m still processing myself. But here are some ways the Harry Potter fandom—including Warner Bros.—might move forward.

Take a break from streaming the movies.

Decider’s Brett White, who went through his own personal reckoning with his favorite show (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and its problematic creator (Joss Whedon), had some solid advice: “My methodology is to take a break from it for a while, let all the anger and dust settle, and then come back to it and see what is left of your affection for it.”

Mere weeks ago, I was writing up the news that all eight Harry Potter movies are on HBO Max, but I no longer feel excited about the idea of streaming them, both because of my colleague’s wisdom, and because every time you stream a title, you’re endorsing that product. It feels a little weird on a site dedicated to what to stream to say “don’t stream,” so perhaps find another fantasy series from a trans friendly creator like Percy Jackson instead (though writer Rick Riordan might not totally endorse that)?

Once upon a time, I was eagerly awaiting the day that HBO Max announced the seemingly inevitable Harry Potter spinoff series. Now, I dread that news. Will I feel differently later? Perhaps best to let the anger and dust settle.

Allow ourselves to love the characters and the story, while letting go of the author.

In his essay for The Trevor Project, Radcliffe wrote,

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.

Well said, Mr. Radcliffe.

Consider putting the franchise on hold.

Warner Bros., I now speak directly to you: It’s time to put the Harry Potter franchise on hold. Let’s call off those next three Fantastic Beasts movies for now; and, while you’re at it, that probable secret HBO Max series I mentioned earlier. Rowling’s anti-trans comments must be reckoned with, and it’s on Warner Bros. to take action.

Perhaps Warner Bros. can figure out a way to sever ties with Rowling completely and still have ownership of her characters and story. My limited understanding of Rowling’s legal relationship to the Harry Potter story tells me this would be difficult, but maybe they can work something out. But until then, it’s time to stop, reflect, and, while you’re at it, donate to some organizations that support transgender people.