All is not well in the Harry Potter universe. Author of the hit wizarding novels and prominent women’s rights campaigner JK Rowling has revealed that, even if they apologise, she will not go easy on the lead actors of the Potter films for their stance on the trans debate. Less, er, expecto forgiveness and more expelliarmus…
Rowling’s comments come in the wake of the published report by top paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, which found that ‘remarkably weak evidence’ and a ‘lack of high-quality research’ had allowed young people in the UK to change their gender. In a series of tweets, the acclaimed writer blasted supporters of gender-altering treatment in children and said they should apologise to ‘traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women’. The writer continued: ‘Today’s not a triumph, it’s the laying bare of a tragedy.’
One social media user wrote that Daniel Radcliffe, who in the films played Potter, and Emma Watson, who played his best friend Hermione Granger, owe Rowling ‘a very public apology, safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them’. Rowling simply replied: ‘Not safe, I’m afraid.’ Ouch.
Radcliffe has previously called adults ‘condescending’ for expressing doubts about young people transitioning and said that there are ‘some people in the world who are not trying to engage in this conversation in any kind of good faith’. In a reference to Rowling’s own stance on the issue, the Potter star has also spoken out about his views because he wanted to let the LGBT community know that ‘not everyone in the franchise felt that way’.
Meanwhile, Watson has been vocal about where she stands, previously writing that:
Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are. I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.
And Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, the third of the main trio in the films, has said that while he is ‘hugely grateful for everything [Rowling] has done’, he thinks ‘you can have huge respect for someone and still disagree with things like that.’ Ultimately, that doesn’t seem to quite cut it for Rowling on an issue like this…
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