Despite facing backlash, Harry Potter author JK Rowling, Daniel Radcliffe has maintained his stance on supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
Despite years of public scrutiny and criticism directed towards her, Rowling, the author of the beloved Harry Potter series, has once again addressed the ongoing accusations of being anti-trans.
In June 2020, Rowling faced criticism for a series of tweets that were deemed by some as anti-trans, although she has consistently denied these claims in the past. One tweet in particular caused controversy, in which she used the phrase “People who menstruate.”Shortly after, Radcliffe, who has been a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community and the Trevor Project since 2009, released a statement through the organization.
Daniel Radcliffe responded to J.K. Rowling’s tweets on gender identity by stating that transgender women are women. He also emphasized that any statement denying this fact erases the identity and dignity of transgender individuals. Furthermore, he pointed out that professional health care associations, who possess more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or himself, advise against going against this belief.
In a recent interview with The Atlantic, Radcliffe reaffirmed his stance. He stated, “After working with the Trevor Project for 12 years, it would have been a tremendous act of cowardice for me not to speak up.”
My intention was to assist those who had been harmed by the comments and clarify that Jo’s views do not reflect the beliefs of everyone involved in the Potter franchise.
Ultimately, it saddens me when I think about the person I met, the times we spent together, and the books she wrote. Her ability to create a world that is deeply empathetic is something I deeply admire.
Radcliffe acknowledged the media’s attention on his reaction to Rowling, as well as the support from Rupert Grint and Emma Watson towards the trans community. He pointed out that there has always been a desire to paint the three of them as ungrateful brats, and the media was finally able to do so. He sarcastically congratulated them on achieving this goal.
It is clear that without Jo, Harry Potter would not have been possible, and the course of my life may have been completely different without that person. However, this does not mean that one’s beliefs are indebted to someone else for their entire life.
The continuous discussion surrounding Rowling has certainly become linked to the Harry Potter series, as evidenced by Radcliffe’s direct address to fans in his 2020 statement.
“To those who feel that their enjoyment of the books has been affected in any way, I sincerely apologize for any hurt that my words may have caused. My greatest wish is that you are able to hold onto the meaningful aspects of these stories despite this situation.”
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