J.K. Rowling and Transphobia

J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, has increasingly come under fire in recent years for social media activity and views promoting trans exclusionary radical feminist (TERF) theories and views. Beginning in 2017, J.K. Rowling was spotted interacting with articles and tweets by known transphobes, following a number of transphobic figures and liking tweets that promoted transphobic views.
These revelations led to increasing dismay, denial and outrage from many fans of the series, particularly trans fans of Harry Potter who have long found solace and empowerment in the series' messages and characters. Others have pointed out that these views and attitudes have been embedded in the series since the beginning, particularly in the way the character of Rita Skeeter is writtenTumblr ask from accio. Posted 3 May 2020.; they are also reflected in Rowling's Cormoran Strike series, written under the penname Robert Galbraith.
In 2020, incontrovertible proof of these views - and an essay published to Rowling's personal website in which she expounded on them and attempted to defend her position - led to widespread backlash among the Harry Potter fandom (although many others have stood by the author). A number of non-fandom figures including actors who had starred in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films publicly declared their support for trans rights and condemned or criticised Rowling's views.
The debate has also spurred fans to organise challenges and publish fanworks featuring trans headcanons and characterisations, as well as create meta discussing the implications of Rowling's views for the canon and for fans of the world of Harry Potter.
==Timeline of J.K. Rowling's Transphobia==
===Cultural Background===
While generally the province of conservatives, anti-trans views have become notably entrenched in the British left, especially among British feminists, and have come to dominate mainstream media discourse in the UK.Juliet Jacques, "Transphobia Is Everywhere in Britain", The New York TimesHannah Ewens, "Inside the Great British TERF War", ViceEdie Miller, "Why is British media so transphobic?", The OutlineSophie Lewis, "How British Feminism Became Anti-Trans", The New York Times Some have suggested that this is the legacy of the British skeptic movement of the early 2000s and its focus on debunking "junk science," which for many included the social sciences and not just overtly pseudoscientific practices like homeopathy. Others assert that the "middle- and upper-class white feminists" of Britain have not yet faced an intersectional feminist reckoning. Mumsnet, a popular British parenting website, has been implicated in the spread of transphobic views among British feminists, with one writer declaring it is to "British transphobia" what "4Chan is to American fascism." Rowling's transphobia may thus be understood as symptomatic of trends affecting wider British culture. Katelyn Burns, "J.K. Rowling’s transphobia is a product of British culture", VoxGrace Robertson, "Where J.K. Rowling’s Transphobia Comes From", Vanity Fair
===First Indications===
Perhaps the first hint of Rowling's budding transphobia was in her 2014 novel The Silkworm, the second installment of her Cormoran Strike mystery series, published under her pseudonym "Robert Galbraith".Rob Zacny, "JK Rowling's Transphobia Wasn't Hard to Find, She Wrote a Book About It", Vice In the novel, protagonist Strike warns a trans woman who tries to flee after attacking him that she will "go down for attempted murder" if he calls the police "and it won't be fun [...] not pre-op," the implication being that she will be sent to a men's prison and subjected to prison rape. The description of the character, Pippa, notes her Adam's apple and large hands.
It was widely speculated that this pseud had something to say besides proving transphobic traits in JKR's texts. Investigations indicated that the Robert Galbraith nom de plume matched the name of an anti-LGBTQIAP+ Conversion Therapist, who in the 1920s proposed conversion therapies in order to cure homosexuality. Rowling quickly acted to try to disprove this, creating a story that she had never heard of the therapist and that this pseudonym was a tribute a Robert F. Kennedy. But many criticized the author, saying that one should never use a name without first researching its implications and links in the past, and that it was very naive to believe that the pen name she had chosen -- with the recent revelation of her transphobic attitude -- was just a coincidence.J.K. Rowling Denies Pen Name Is Inspired by Anti-LGBTQ+ Conversion Therapist, Vice Website
In October 2017, Rowling liked a tweet promoting a transphobic Medium article.Hey JK Rowling, am I to understand you simply didn't read the article you liked, or should we assume you agree with it? by @TransSalamander via Twitter. Published October 24, 2017 (Accessed June 12, 2020). Although a few fans took notice and were alarmed, the incident did not attract wider attention or commentary. This was the first overt evidence that Rowling was flirting with transphobic views. Rowling would later admit that she began "reading books, blogs and scientific papers" relating to gender in 2017."I’ve spent much of the last three years reading books, blogs and scientific papers by trans people, medics and gender specialists ..." by @jk_rowling via Twitter. Published June 6, 2020. (Accessed June 12, 2020).
In March 2018, Rowling liked a tweet by a vocal transphobe that referred to transgender women as "men in dresses".Rowling is a terf, Twitter, 2018 A number of fans tweeted condemning this action and demanding an explanation.So @jk_rowling are you going to address why you’re going around liking transphobic tweets or by stefsanjati via Twitter, published March 21, 2018 (Accessed June 7, 2020).Tweet by @shonfaye (since deleted, but archived on the Wayback Machine): Trans culture is seeing the beloved author of your generation like a transphobic tweet from a troll account which has repeatedly called you a man. Published March 21, 2018 (Accessed June 7, 2020).Tweet @BootstrapCook (since deleted, but archived on the Wayback Machine): Wait so @jk_rowling wrote books where the characters could literally transform into cats and dead people but trans folk are beyond all comprehension? Published March 21, 2018 (Accessed June 7, 2020). The issue was covered by major media outlets, including Newsweek,"J.K. Rowling Accused of Transphobia After Liking Tweet", Newsweek The Daily Dot,"J.K. Rowling rep reassures fans that she ‘liked’ a transphobic tweet by accident", The Daily Dot and the Huffington Post."J.K. Rowling Blames Liking Transphobic Tweet On 'Middle-Aged Moment'", Huffington Post At the time, Rowling's spokesperson attempted to dismiss her liking of the tweet as an accident, calling it a "clumsy middle-aged moment" caused by "holding her phone incorrectly".JK Rowling reps blame ‘middle-aged moment’ for liking tweet calling trans women ‘men in dresses’ by Nick Duffy, Pink News. Published March 22, 2018 (Accessed June 7, 2020). However, no clarifying comments or apologies were made by Rowling. Some fans highlighted the October 2017 like as evidence of a pattern of transphobia that could not be easily dismissed.btw for those who don't know, this is not the first time she's done this by @TransSalamander via Twitter. Published March 21, 2018 (Accessed June 7, 2020). Others insisted that Twitter likes should not be taken as ideological endorsements.
In September 2018, Rowling liked a tweet promoting an article by Janice Turner, a British journalist and TERF, on trans inmates in women's prisons."Oops! She Did It Again, Transphobic J.K. Rowling: 'No Fox Belongs In a Henhouse.'" by Phaylen Fairchild on Medium This lead to more outcry and shock from fans. One tweeted Rowling to sardonically ask if she'd had another "middle-aged moment."Did you have another "middle-aged" moment and accidentally like a clearly transphobic article, @jk_rowling? by @UglaStefania on Twitter. Published September 13, 2018. (Accessed June 12, 2020). Rowling didn't respond, but liked a follow-up tweet by Turner, in which she accused Rowling's fans of being "thought police" patrolling her likes for "wrongthink."In case anyone was doubting that @jk_rowling is a TERF here is her liking someone using transphobia to defend her previous transphobic like." by @Taylorsaurion on Twitter. Published September 13, 2018. (Accessed June 12, 2020).
In mid-June 2019, it came to light that Rowling was following a number of known transphobes on Twitter,so the question that you in no way need answered, that you probably weren't thinking about at all until you saw this tweet, is: "Is J.K. Rowling a terf?" by @persenche via Twitter. Published June 23, 2019 (Accessed June 7, 2020). including Magdalen Berns, a British YouTuber and TERF.Cool. So, for #Pride2019, @jk_rowling is following a proud youtube transphobe. by @transadvocate via Twitter, published June 23, 2019 (Accessed June 7, 2020). Berns' history of transphobia was especially concerning for many fans.Screenshot of June 9, 2018 tweet by @MagdalenBerns posted by @AidanCTweets This caused more fans to disavow Rowling, and lead to a denouncement from The Mary Sue."J.K. Rowling Leaves Little Doubt About Her TERFdom", The Mary Sue Pink News, an LGBT-oriented news site, reached out to Rowling for comment, but she declined."JK Rowling under fire for following a ‘proud transphobe’ on Twitter", Pink News Her spokesperson offered the explanation that Rowling "follows a wide range of people she finds interesting or thought-provoking" on Twitter.
===Support of Maya Forstater===
Things came to a head on December 19, 2019, when Rowling published a very unambiguous tweet in support of Maya Forstater, an embattled British TERF. The tweet's wording mischaracterised the facts surrounding Forstater's court case by referring to it as an example of "forc[ing] women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real."J.K. Rowling’s latest tweet seems like transphobic BS. Her fans are heartbroken. by Aja Romano, Vox. Published December 19, 2019 (Accessed June 7, 2020). 
Forstater had a contractual position as a tax consultant for an international development charity when she began using her personal Twitter to make transphobic tweets in September 2018."J.K. Rowling's Maya Forstater tweets support hostile work environments, not free speech", NBCNews.com She fired off 150 such tweets in a single week, or one per hour as a Twitter user calculated.Twitter thread by @onyxaminedlife. Published on Dec 21, 2019. (Accessed on July 13, 2020)."The JK Rowling Scandal Is Anti-Trans Bigotry Masquerading as Science", The Advocate One particular tirade saw her misgender a genderfluid banker, referring to her as "a man who likes to express himself part of the week by wearing a dress," and "a part-time cross dresser." In October, Forstater's co-workers complained to management that her tweets were making them uncomfortable, leading to an investigation. Management asked Forstater to stop, but she refused. In December, when her contract expired, it was not renewed. Forstater sued the charity for wrongful dismissal in March 2019, intending it as a test case to confer legal protection on her "gender-critical" beliefs.Forstater's fund-raising page on CrowdJustice A judge decisively ruled against her that December, finding that her "absolutist" view of sex meant she insisted on misgendering people even if it "violates their dignity and/or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment," and that this conduct was not "not worthy of respect in a democratic society.""Judge rules against researcher who lost job over transgender tweets", The Guardian
Rowling's tweet supporting Forstater was the first time she directly expressed transphobic views rather than indirectly through likes or follows. This time the fannish outcry was much more widespread and intense. Many fans took to social media to express their heartbreak, anger, and shock. The controversy rippled out of fandom, drawing widespread media coverage. Human Rights CampaignTrans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people are non-binary. CC: JK Rowling. by @HRC on Twitter. Published December 19, 2019. (Accessed June 13, 2020). and Amnesty UKJust in case anyone needs reminding 🤦 🤦‍♀️ 🤦‍♂️ 🤦‍♀️ Trans rights = human rights. by @AmnestyUK on Twitter. Published December 19, 2019. (Accessed June 13, 2020). tweeted subtle call-outs. The New York Times,"‘Harry Potter’ Helped Me Come Out as Trans, But J.K. Rowling Disappointed Me" by Jackson Bird in the New York Times Washington Post,"Why can’t J.K. Rowling accept transgender people like me?" by Charlotte Clymer in the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times all published pieces by heartbroken and upset trans fans."Opinion: Harry Potter lives on in us, not in J.K. Rowling’s tweets" by Daniel Mazzacane in the Los Angeles Times GLAAD reached out to Rowling, offering to arrange an off-the-record conversation with people within the trans community, but she declined through her representatives."GLAAD: J.K. Rowling’s Support of Anti-Trans Researcher ‘Puts Trans People at Risk’", Variety
===Descent Into Full-Blown TERF===
In mid-May 2020, Rowling liked a tweet mocking a trans woman by Fred Sargeant, a veteran American gay-rights campaigner turned anti-trans activist."We guess JK Rowling has had another ‘middle-aged moment’, because she’s been caught liking hideously transphobic tweets again", Pink News"“Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling continues support for extreme anti-transgender rhetoric", LGBTQ Nation"JK Rowling slammed for liking transphobic tweets on Twitter", Popbuzz She also liked another from British journalist and TERF Helen Joyce stating that "humans come in two, and only two, immutable sexes". At the same time, fans noted that Rowling had recently followed a slew of anti-trans accounts on Twitter.so does JK Rowling just exclusively follow anti-trans activists these days or what? here are her last 6 follows by @sineadactually on Twitter. Published May 17, 2020. (Accessed June 13, 2020.)
On May 29, Rowling threatened legal action against Nicola Spurling, a Canadian politician and trans-rights activist."J.K. Rowling threatens legal action against Coquitlam transgender activist over tweets, Tri-City News A few days earlier, in response to an article about Rowling's new children's story The Ickabog, Spurling had tweeted that Rowling "can no longer be trusted around children" (on account of her transphobia). Rowling insisted that this was intended as an accusation of child abuse, prompting Spurling to delete her tweet with the comment that "right or wrong, wealth is powerful." Just two hours after this exchange, Rowling accidentally included text copied from an article on The Feminist Current, a Canadian TERF news site, in a tweet directed at a 9-year-old girl who'd drawn Ickabog fanart."JK Rowling Speaks Out Over 'Accidental' Tweet About Transgender Woman", Huffington Post"J.K. Rowling Accidentally Tweeted Transphobic Content From Her Messages", The Mary Sue"J.K. Rowling Accidentally Tweets F-Bomb Transphobic Report To Millions", Bleeding Cool Rowling quickly deleted the tweet, apologizing for the "un-Ickaboggish" expletive it had contained, and explaining that the copied text had been sent to her in a message."J.K. Rowling deleted a tweet that included transphobic commentary with a child’s fanart," The Daily Dot, May 29, 2020 However, she notably did not apologize for the transphobic nature of the text itself. In response to the ensuing backlash, Rowling tweeted that "accusations of thought crime leave me cold," and told fans to take their "censorship and authoritarianism elsewhere."JK Rowling apologises after accidentally tweeting ‘f**k up some TERFs’ while responding to a 9-year-old’s drawing by Josh Milton, Pink News. Published May 29, 2020 (Accessed June 7, 2020). 
A little over a week later in early June, Rowling fired off a series another series of problematic tweets, this time objecting to the trans-inclusive phrasing "people who menstruate."J.K. Rowling Somehow Decides Now’s a Good Time to Double Down on Her Transphobia. Posted 6 June 2020. The timing of her tirade was considered especially insensitive, given that it came in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a surge of anti-racism protests, and Pride Month. It sparked an outpouring of anger and disbelief from fans. Many cis fans stood in solidarity with trans, nonbinary and intersex fans. Several trans folk (including Jammidodger) took the time to explain the problem with her tweets for those less aware of the implications.JK Rowling's Anti-Trans Tweets | Trans Guy Reacts. Posted 7 Jun 2020. Accessed 10 June 2020.JK Rowling Transphobia Explained (A Rant). Posted 7 Jun 2020. Accessed 10 June 2020. 
On June 10, Rowling published an essay on her personal website detailing her views "sex and gender issues," pinning a link to it to the top of her Twitter timeline with a tweet that simply read "TERF wars".Given that Rowling's essay contains transphobic and ableist statements, it is prudent to include a trigger warning. The essay can be found here: J.K. Rowling Writes about Her Reasons for Speaking out on Sex and Gender Issues.Tweet by @jk_rowling, posted June 10, 2020 (Accessed June 11, 2020). Any remaining doubt over Rowling's views was effectively dispelled. The essay relies heavily on transphobic fearmongering about children possibly wrongly undergoing transition. It also cites Lisa Littman's controversial 2018 study proposing a condition called "Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria," which was eventually revised and republished with a correction following heavy scientific criticism of its methodology.Parent reports of adolescents and young adults perceived to show signs of a rapid onset of gender dysphoria. Published 16 Aug 2018. Accessed 10 June 2020. A Formal Comment about the study was also added by the journal that stressed it was only one study and could not be taken as the basis for a new diagnosis.Formal comment on: Parent reports of adolescents and young adults perceived to show signs of a rapid onset of gender dysphoria. Posted 19 Mar 2019. Accessed 10 Jun 2020. Rowling positioned herself as an expert on the subject based on the fact that she had "followed the debate around the concept of gender identity closely" and "read sundry books, blogs and articles." She also positioned herself as the victim, citing "threats" and "social media abuse" levelled at her by "trans activists" as a result of her views, and making multiple references to her "cancellation" by critics. Rowling's essay has been extensively critiqued and debunked, both on TwitterSince JK Rowling has blocked any reply to this litany of half-truths and transphobic dogwhistles, I thought I'd catalogue them properly here: by Andrew James Carter via Twitter. Published June 10, 2020 (Accessed June 11, 2020). and in subsequent published articles.This Is The Sequel J.K. Rowling Doesn’t Want You To Read, Dawn Ennis, Forbes. Published June 11, 2020 (Accessed June 11, 2020).An Open Letter to J.K. Rowling, Emmet Asher-Perrin. Published June 11, 2020 (Accessed June 12, 2020). Republican senator James Lankford quoted Rowling's essay during a filibuster that successfully blocked a vote on the Equality Act on June 18."GOP senator quotes J.K. Rowling while blocking vote on LGBTQ bill", NBC News"Senate vote on Equality Act blocked by Republican citing J.K. Rowling", Washington Blade The BBC nominated Rowling's essay for its Russell Award in December 2020."BBC nominates J.K. Rowling's controversial essay on trans rights for award", Deutsche Welle
===Doubling And Tripling Down===
On June 29 2020, Rowling liked a tweet from a Canadian TERF group opposing Bill C8, which would ban conversion therapy in Canada.Tweet by @Simon_Whitten on Twitter. Published Jun 29, 2020. (Accessed June 30, 2020). On July 4, Rowling screenshot-quoted an untagged tweet from a trans woman with 48 followers (albeit with the tweeter's username cut out), who had jokingly suggested that Rowling donate her ovaries to her."JK Rowling in row over ovaries following transphobia accusations", Metro"Tweet by @deadletterboy on Twitter. Published July 4, 2020. (Accessed on July 26, 2020). That same day, Rowling liked a tweet that labelled hormone-replacement therapy the "new antidepressants," which the tweeter saw as "pure laziness for those who would rather medicate than put in the time and effort to heal people's mind.""Tweet from @TrinerScott on Twitter. Published July 4, 2020. (Accessed on July 26, 2020)."J.K. Rowling under fire for describing hormone therapy as ‘conversion therapy for young gay people’", Global News This lead @TrinerScot to tweet the question: "Who had money on JK Rowling pivoting to supporting those who call people who take mental health medication 'lazy'?" Rowling hit back on July 5 with an 11-part Twitter thread that quoted @TrinerScot (including his username). In this thread, Rowling alleged that young people struggling with mental health issues are being "being shunted towards hormones and surgery," decrying gender-affirming care as "a new kind of conversion therapy for young gay people."
On July 7, Harper's Magazine published an open letter denouncing the current "vogue for public shaming and ostracism" (a.k.a. cancel culture), which it argued threatens the "free exchange of information and ideas.""A Letter on Justice and Open Debate", Harper's Magazine It was signed signed by Rowling and over 100 other public figures, including Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, and Gloria Steinem. On July 8, trans author Jennifer Finney Boylan retracted her endorsement of the Harper's letter, stating she had not known Rowling and a number of other anti-trans figures had also signed it."Trans Author Jennifer Finney Boylan Recants 'Cancel Culture' Letter Signed by J.K. Rowling", Newsweek Rowling retweeted Finney Boyle's apology noting that the author hadn't unfollowed her, suggesting that she "publicly repent of [her] association with Goody Rowling" and "volunteer to operate the ducking stool next time, as penance."References to witch trials are a common rhetorical device used by TERFs to imply that they are also women being unjustly slandered and persecuted by a misogynistic society.Tweet by @jk_rowling on Twitter. Published on July 8, 2020. (Accessed on July 26, 2020). Two weeks later, Rowling showed how much she actually values free speech by threatening The Day, a British youth-oriented news site, with legal action over an article."JK Rowling receives apology from children's site after threatening legal action over claims she ‘harmed trans people’, The Independent The Day, which is used as an educational resource by schools, had reported on the controversy surrounding Rowling's remarks, posing a number of media literacy questions for students, such as whether it's possible to enjoy works by "deeply unpleasant" creators.Archived copy of the original article from The Day The site was forced to issue an apology and agreed to make a donation to the charity of Rowling's choice. 
Rowling tweeted a link to an article on detransitioners published by The Times on July 12.Tweet by @jk_rowling on Twitter. Published on July 12, 2020. (Accessed July 26, 2020). On July 25, she made a series of tweets asserting that she felt there would soon be a "medical scandal" over NHS gender clinics' treatment of young patients, and when it happens "nobody currently cheering [the trans-rights] movement on will be able to credibly claim 'we couldn't have known'.""JK Rowling claims society is on brink of ‘medical scandal’ over transgender issues", The Independent Critics have noted she often tweets about trans issues on weekends, leading some to quip that she needs to find a new hobby.Tweet by @TrinerScot on Twitter. Published July 25, 2020. (Accessed July 26, 2020)."Tweet by lewisdwain on Twitter. Published July 25, 2020. (Accessed July 26, 2020).Tweet by @VinneyWong on Twitter. Published July 25, 2020. (Accessed July 26, 2020).Tweet by @GapFreezer. Published July 25, 2020. (Accessed July 26, 2020). In late August, Rowling returned the Ripple of Hope Award she received from Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights in 2019 for her charity work after the organization's president, Kerry Kennedy, called out her "deeply troubling transphobic tweets and statements.""J.K. Rowling Returns Kennedy Family Award Following Kerry Kennedy Remarks", Reuters"J.K. Rowling returns human rights award amid criticism from organization", CBC News"J.K. Rowling returning human rights award to group that now condemns her trans views", Entertainment Weekly
The fifth Cormoran Strike novel, Troubled Blood, was released on September 15. It features a cis male serial killer who dresses as a woman to lure his female victims into a sense of false security."J.K. Rowling's transphobic new novel sees her at the mercy of all her worst impulses", Vox"J.K. Rowling sparks outrage for including cross-dressing serial killer in new book", CBC News"JK Rowling's new book reportedly features a male killer who wears wig and a woman's coat to dupe some of his victims", Insider"J.K. Rowling's New Book—About A Cross-Dressing Serial Killer—Draws Outrage", Forbes This drew widespread condemnation from critics and fans, who saw it as an example of an old, well-worn trope frequently considered transphobic. Many drew comparisons to The Silence of the Lambs. It was also seen as an expression of the bathroom predator fearmongering from Rowling's "TERF Wars" essay. The hashtag "#RIPJKRowling" briefly trended on Twitter as fans lamented the "death" of Rowling's career. On September 22, Rowling tweeted a photo of herself wearing a shirt proclaiming "this witch doesn't burn", linking the online TERF store that sells the shirt along with items featuring transphobic slogans like "transwomen are men" and "fuck your pronouns.""JK Rowling promoted a store selling anti-trans merch saying 'transwomen are men' and 'f--- your pronouns'", Insider"J.K. Rowling Promotes Proudly Transphobic Online Store", Exclaim
"I Love J. K. Rowling" emerged as a transphobic dogwhistle around this time. In late July, a billboard featuring the phrase was put up at Edinburgh railway station, but taken down after it was deemed political."'I love JK Rowling' poster taken down at Edinburgh railway station due to 'political nature', The Independent The billboard was designed and paid for by British TERF Kellie-Jaye Keen-Minshull (also known by her pseudonym Posie Parker). A similar billboard erected in Vancouver in September was taken down after just a day."I Love J.K. Rowling sign makes brief, controversial appearance in Vancouver", CBC News
==Reactions Outside Of Fandom==
On June 8, 2020, in response to Rowling's tweets, Daniel Radcliffe published a response through the Trevor Project."Daniel Radcliffe Respods To J.K. Rowling's Tweets On Gender Identity," June 8, 2020 He affirmed his support of trans rights, telling fans that if they "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," but hoping that they might still find "value" in the series' themes of love and acceptance. This statement - and particularly his decision to partner with the Trevor Project to publish it - earned him widespread acclaim from fans.
Radcliffe's response was part of a wave of cast members from the Harry Potter films declaring their support for trans rights, beginning with Chris Rankin, the actor who played Percy Weasley, on June 6."Yet another Harry Potter star speaks out after JK Rowling’s anti-trans tirade: ‘Trans people are wonderful and deserve to be treated as such’", Pink News This was followed by Katie Leung, who played Cho Chang, responding to renewed Discourse about her character with an implicit statement of support for trans people."‘Harry Potter’ Star Katie Leung Weighs In After J.K. Rowling’s Controversial Transphobic Comments", US Magazine Other cast members who subsequently spoke out in response to Rowling's tweets and "TERF wars" essay included: Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood (June 9);"Harry Potter’s Evanna Lynch on J.K. Rowling: “Trans Women Are Women”", Vanity Fair Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger (June 10);"Emma Watson speaks out for trans rights after J.K. Rowling's controversial comments", Entertainment Weekly Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley (June 10);"Ginny Weasley declares ‘trans women are women’ as Harry Potter actor Bonnie Wright joins fierce backlash against JK Rowling", Pink News Eddie Redmayne, who portrays Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts film franchise (June 10);"Eddie Redmayne Criticizes J.K. Rowling’s Anti-Trans Tweets (EXCLUSIVE)", Variety Scarlett Hefner, who played Pansy Parkinson (June 11);Transwomen are women and I’m proud to stand along side those who are encouraging and continuing to voice a message of love and acceptance." by @ScarlyByrne on Twitter. Published June 11, 2020. (Accessed June 13, 2020.) Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley (June 12);"Rupert Grint Just Responded To J.K. Rowling's Anti-Trans Statements", BuzzFeed Dan Fogler, who plays Jacob Kowalski in the Fantastic Beasts films (June 12);Personal education’s an ongoing process&growth should be encouraged Here are my cisgender white Jewish male thoughts on transgender equality" by @mrdanfogler on Twitter. Published June 12, 2020. (Accessed June 13, 2020). and Miriam Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout (July 13)."Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes distances herself from JK Rowling as she urges people not to be 'fascist' about gender", Pink News The screenwriter of the films, Steve Kloves, also released a trans-supportive statement."‘Harry Potter’ Screenwriter Steve Kloves Speaks Out on J.K. Rowling’s Anti-Trans Views (EXCLUSIVE)", Variety Universal Parks"Universal Parks Issues Statement on JK Rowling's Anti-Trans Messages", CBR.com (which operates the Wizarding World theme park) and Warner Bros."Warner Bros. Responds to J.K. Rowling Controversy: ‘A Diverse and Inclusive Culture Has Never Been More Important’", Variety put out more generalized statements supporting diversity and inclusion. As of 2021, the only cast members who have defended Rowling are John Cleese (Nearly-Headless Nick),"John Cleese is 'baffled' by the criticism JK Rowling has faced since her anti-trans tirade", Pink News"John Cleese Supports J.K. Rowling, Mocks Trans Rights on Twitter", Vulture Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort),Harry Potter's Robbie Coltrane Doesn't Find J.K. Rowling's Comments About Trans People 'Offensive'", People</ref> However, fans noted that Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) liked a tweet from her transphobic Twitter binge in June.Tweet from @notallbhas on Twitter. Published June 10, 2020. (Accessed July 1, 2020).
Planned and in-development projects have been left with uncertain futures due to the fallout. Eddie Redmayne reportedly wants Rowling let go as the screenwriter of the Fantastic Beasts films."Eddie Redmayne reportedly wants J.K. Rowling let go from Fantastic Beasts franchise", Looper Some believe this has further imperiled the spin-off series' prospects, as it was already beleaguered by scandals surrounding stars Johnny Depp and Ezra Miller, an underperforming and poorly-received second installment, and a forced halting of production on the third due to the COVID-19 pandemic."Has J.K. Rowling jeopardised the future of "Fantastic Beasts 3"?", Yahoo.com Avalanche Software staff working on an open-world Harry Potter RPG were reportedly also feeling conflicted about the project following Rowling's remarks."Some Harry Potter Game Developers Rattled by J.K. Rowling Backlash", Bloomberg"Report: Harry Potter Game Devs Distressed Over J.K. Rowling’s Rampant Transphobia", Kotaku
The controversy has also rocked the publishing world. Several staffers at publisher Hachette UK reportedly threatened to suspend work on Rowling's upcoming book The Ickabog over her transphobic comments."REPORT: Rowling Publisher's Staff Threatens Shutdown Over Anti-Trans Tweets", CBR This prompted Hachette to release a statement declaring that they were "proud" to publish the book and that they believe "everyone has the right to express their own thoughts and beliefs." Four authors resigned from The Blair Partnership, the literary agency that represents Rowling, after internal discussions failed."Four Authors Quit J.K. Rowling Agency Over Transgender Comments", Variety"Authors quit JK Rowling agency over transgender rights", The Guardian The authors had tried to get the agency to issue a statement supporting trans rights and offer sensitivity training to its staff. The agency fired back at the authors in a public statement, characterizing their requests as "demands to be re-educated to their point of view." However, Canadian bookstore chain Indigo released an official statement that they "stand firmly and positively with the Transgender community" and find Rowling's comments "disappointing,""Indigo calls out author J.K. Rowling for transphobic tweets", CTV News and Left Hand Books, an independent bookshop in St. Louis, Missouri, removed Rowling's books from its shelves."St. Louis book store takes down all books by JK Rowling after comments about people who are transgender", KMOX Arthur A. Levine, editor of the American editors of the books, has come out in support of trans rights,"UPDATED: More Wizarding World Alumni Stand Against Transphobia", MuggleNet as has Hebrew translator Gili Bar-Hillel.Tweet thread by @gilibugg on Twitter. Published Jun 11, 2020. (Accessed June 30, 2020). Chuck Tingle released a niche erotica parody novel entitled Trans Wizard Harriet Porber and the Bady Boy Parasaurolophus.Tweet from @ChuckTingle on Twitter. Published on June 13, 2020. (Accessed July 26, 2020).
Some celebrities have been unwittingly pulled into the fray by reacting to Rowling's tweets. Mark Hamill set off a wave of alarm when fans noticed he had liked Rowling's December 2019 tweet supporting Maya Forstater. However, he later apologized and explained that while "ignorance is no excuse," he had liked the tweet for its apparent uncontroversial feminist sentiment, without "understanding what the last line or hashtags meant" or realizing it that it had "any transphobic connotation.""Mark Hamill Apologises For Liking JK Rowling Tweet With 'Transphobic Connotation'", The Independent On June 29, 2020, Stephen King liked a tweet from Rowling quoting Andrea Dworkin,Dworkin opposed the type of sex binary/essentialism that Rowling advocates, but her views on trans people apparently evolved over the course of the 1970s, shifting from radically (for the time) supportive of trans rights and to tacitly trans-antagonistic. In Woman Hating (1974), Dworkin wrote that transexuality (the book predates the term "transgender") "is a 'disease' with a cure: a sex-change operation will change the person’s visible sex and make it consonant with the person's felt identity," adding that "every transsexual has the right to survival on his/her own terms" and thus should be "entitled to a sex-change operation [...] provided by the community as one of its functions." However, she felt that this was an "emergency measure for an emergency condition," arguing that deconstructing binary sex roles and creating a "community built on androgynous identity" would "mean the end of transsexuality as we know it," as it it would allow everyone to adopt a "fluid androg­yny." After Dworkin's views were sharply criticized by Janice Raymond, she helped edit Raymond's 1979 book The Transsexual Empire, often considered the founding text of trans-exclusionary radical feminism. which dealt with men reacting negatively to women's words but was not overtly transphobic. This led Rowling to tweet thanking King for his apparent support and gushing over her love of his work. When King affirmed that trans women are women shortly after, Rowling deleted the praising tweet and reportedly blocked King."JK Rowling deletes tweet praising Stephen King after he supports trans women", IndependentJ.K. Rowling Deletes Stephen King Praise After He Supports Trans Women", Newsweek"J.K. Rowling Blocks Stephen King After He Tweets Support of Trans Women", Consequence of Sound King stated in a 2021 interview that Rowling "canceled" and "kinda blocked" him for his support of trans women."J.K. Rowling 'Canceled' Stephen King For Supporting Transgender Women", Forbes"Stephen King says JK Rowling 'cancelled' him over trans row", The Independent
Rick Riordan, the author of the Percy Jackson series, has also been hailed by some fans as an "anti-JK Rowling" in the aftermath of Rowling's remarks, since his books feature LGBT representation and he has been receptive to fannish criticisms and concerns.Tumblr post by thebreadthatcausedlesmis, published June 6, 2020 (Accessed June 7, 2020).Tumblr post by who-runaway, published June 6, 2020 (Accessed June 7, 2020).jk rowling is spiraling on twitter and pissing people off so badly she got rick riordan trending, Tumblr post by nicosdefensesquad. Published June 6, 2020 (Accessed June 7, 2020). However, Riordan gently rejected this as a "setting up a false dyad" that "makes [him] very uncomfortable", and suggested that readers seek out works by trans and non-binary authors instead.Tweet by @rickriordan. Published on Jun 7, 2020. (Accessed on June 29, 2020.)
==Fan Reactions==
===General Response===
Rowling's increasingly obvious transphobia, along with other persistent issues with the Harry Potter series (racism, cultural appropriation, poor queer representation), has forced fans to reassess their feelings for the once-beloved creator. Some have proclaimed that death of the author applies and that Rowling's views do not alter the world she created. These fans want to separate Rowling's views from the meaning that the series has held for them, especially if it previously made them feel understood, uplifted, or valid as members of a marginalised group. Some fans joked that the true author of the Harry Potter series was in fact Britney Spears or Hatsune Miku, drawing a parallel between Rowling and Markus Persson, the creator of Minecraft, who also made transphobic comments and was pushed back by a parody account of Hatsune Miku who claimed to be the true creator of Minecraft. Other fans have pointed out that transphobic and other bigoted themes are entrenched in the Potterverse, and that disowning the creator won't fix the content.
As alternatives to the Potter series, some fans have promoted transformative works like A Very Potter Musical, a parody featuring canonically queer characters and created by fans openly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.Tumblr post by ogre-fucker 8000, published June 6, 2020 (Accessed June 7, 2020). Fans have also taken to producing fanworks that portray Harry Potter characters as trans or intersex, imagining them challenging bigots within the wizarding world, or instead finding love and acceptance. Many exchanges and challenges dedicated to these headcanons and AUs emerged in the wake of Rowling's comments.
Some fans have continued to support Rowling despite her transphobia, creating hashtags such as #IStandWithJKR and #IStandWithJKRowling. These hashtags were quickly flooded with fancams by K-pop stans, who have similarly mobilized to spam white supremacist hashtags, such as #WhiteLivesMatter."‘Harry Potter’ Author J.K. Rowling Draws Fire For Controversial Transgender Tweets", Deadline"Stan Twitter Has Been Innovative With The Ways It Spreads Information About Racial Injustice, BuzzFeed
Many fans with Harry Potter-themed tattoos have been left in an uncomfortable position as a result of Rowling's remarks. Some are now seeking to have their tattoos removed or modified, and at least one artist has been designing cover-ups for fans in exchange for donations to a trans charity.
===Reactions From Fansites And Prominent Fans===
Notable figures within Potter fandom have also denounced Rowling's transphobia and sought to affirm their support of trans and non-binary fans."Harry Potter Fans Reimagine Their World Without Its Creator", The New York Time"Harry Potter Stars And Fan Community Reject J.K. Rowling’s Statement On ‘Trans Activism’ And Gender Identity", Forbes"What J.K. Rowling’s Anti-Trans Views Could Mean for ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Franchise — and ‘Harry Potter’ Fans", Variety MuggleNet, one of the earliest and longest-running fansites, stated that the fandom is a "beautiful, inclusive, supportive environment for all - no matter what anyone tries to tell us."Tweet by @MuggleNet on Twitter. Published Jun 7, 2020. (Accessed June 29, 2020). A volunteer for the site, Renae McBrian, stated that "J.K. Rowling gave us Harry Potter," but the "the magic and community" was created by fans and "that is [theirs] to keep." Melissa Anelli, creator of the The Leaky Cauldron fansite and a BNF in Potter fandom, declared Rowling's "rhetoric" on trans people "harmful, hateful, and wrong."Tweet by @melissaanelli on Twitter. Published June 9, 2020. (Accessed June 13, 2020). HPANA, another long-standing fansite, condemned Rowling for "rejecting science and just plain human dignity," writing that her "words and actions have amplified anti-trans voices."Tweet from @HPANA on Twitter. Published May 28, 2020. (Accessed on June 29, 2020). In another tweet, HPANA hit back at transphobes accusing distraught and angry fans of biting the hand the feeds them, stating "We. Supported. JK. Rowling. For. 20. Years.," and noting that "our support [...] enabled her to attain her level of wealth, fame & power."Tweet from @HPANA on Twitter. Published Jun 9, 2020. (Accessed June 29, 2020). The Harry Potter Alliance, a fan-run non-profit that has advocated on a range of issues including LGBT rights, stated that "affirming and respecting people's gender is kind, loving, and literally saves lives.""J.K. Rowling tried to make her work more inclusive. Then she tweeted support for an anti-trans researcher", The Washington Post The organization launched the Protego campaign (named after a protective spell in the series) in 2016 to lobby for trans rights."Protego", TheHPAlliance.com
On July 1, 2020, MuggleNet and The Leaky Cauldron released a joint statement rejecting Rowling's beliefs on transgender rights as "out of step with the message of acceptance and empowerment we find in her books and celebrated by the Harry Potter community," with both sites committing to ceasing coverage of Rowling and her non-wizarding world projects going forward."Our Commitment", MuggleNet (archived link)"Addressing J.K. Rowling's Recent Statements", The Leaky Cauldron (archived link)
Notable LGBT voices within the Harry Potter community have also spoken out against Rowling's transphobia. Jackson Bird, a YouTuber and life-long Potter fan who wrote Sorted, a memoir recounting how the fandom helped him come out as trans, called out Rowling for using her "incredible platform" to be "very critical and hateful" toward a marginalized group. In another interview, Bird noted that Rowling's books "taught an entire generation about unconditional love, acceptance, and fighting supremacy," and humorously suggested that she re-read them to "learn something.""Trans Harry Potter fans plead with JK Rowling to read her own books and learn a thing or two about unconditional love", Pink News The Gayly Prophet Podcast, a queer-oriented fan podcast, encouraged fans to boycott official Potter-related products.Tweet by @thegaylyprophet on Twitter. Published Dec 27, 2019. (Accessed June 29, 2020.)
As for fans who have taken Rowling's side, Mugglenet founder Emerson Spartz tweeted that she is "NOT transphobic" after the joint MuggleNet/Leaky Cauldron statement, prompting Rowling to personally thank him."J.K. Rowling Thanks Fan Site Founder for Saying She Is Not Transphobic", Newsweek Hannah Tay, a British BookTuber, released a video defending her, arguing that she isn't transphobic.(TW: Transphobia) "JK Rowling isn't transphobic + Mermaids 'charity'" by Hannah Tay on YouTube This caused outcry from the BookTube community. As a result of this pushback, Rowling reached out to Tay privately on Twitter, offering what Tay described as a "beautifully supportive and encouraging message."Tweet from @YAYHANYAY on Twitter. Published Jun 18, 2020. (Accessed June 30, 2020). Readershark,"IN RESPONSE TO HANNAH TAY (& JKR): PLEASE STOP TALKING" by readershark on YouTube Crescent Moon Reads,"jk rowling and the army of terfs" by Crescent Moon Reads on YouTube Kelsey Carol,"Booktube's newest TERF: Hannah Tay's Transphobic Rant" by Kelsey Carol on YouTube and sammyreadss"my response to hannah tay by sammyreadss on YouTube all made critical response videos. Tay posted links to these videos on her Twitter, prompting her thousands of followers, newly bolstered with Rowling-supporting TERFs, to descend upon the lesser-known BookTubers.Tweet thread by @PagesTwisted (Kelsey Carol) on Twitter. Published Jun 18, 2020. (Accessed June 30, 2020.)Tweet thread by @rhiannonthropp (Crescent Moon Reads) on Twitter. Published June 18, 2020. (Accessed June 30, 2020). Tay also encouraged her followers to report the videos in an attempt to get them taken down.Tweet by @readersharks on Twitter. Published Jun 19, 2020. (Accessed on June 30, 2020).
===Comments===
====Death of the Author/Separating the Art From the Artist====
====Reclaiming the Text====
==="Thoughts on Cho Chang"===
In early June 2020, in the wake of Rowling's doubling down on TERF ideology, Cho Chang began trending on Twitter as fans weighed in another aspect of the series that had long irritated them - the fact that the only named East Asian character was called "Cho Chang", "Cho" and "Chang" both being surnames. Although due to the nature of Chinese romanization and linguistic diversity of the nation, "Cho Chang" could also be a perfectly acceptable and real Chinese name. Is "Cho Chang" a plausible name for a girl of Chinese descent?
	
Actress Katie Leung, who portrayed Cho in the Harry Potter films, responded to this with a tweet reading, "So, you want my thoughts on Cho Chang? Okay, here goes...(thread)"Tweet by @KT_Leung, posted Jun 7, 2020 (Accessed Jun 22, 2020). The subsequent thread contained a number of links to fundraisers and petitions supporting Black trans people, particularly Black trans women. She concluded with the hashtag #AsiansForBlackLives. While some found this confusing, many interpreted it as an implicit statement of support for trans people and a subtle critique of Rowling's transphobia.
==Fanworks==
thumb|right|200px|Trans!Harry art by myrkky
====Fanfiction====
* Trans Fics Against TERFs: A Twitter account created in December 2019 to tweet links to fanfic featuring trans Harry Potter characters at JK Rowling
* My Very Brightest Star by Lumeleo. When young Cassiopeia wants to tell her father something, Draco does his best to be a better father than his own was. If that means he's going to have a son instead of a daughter, well, he'll have the most amazing son anyone could hope for. (December 2019)
* of all the things that help by luckybarton. Harry comes out as a trans man at Hogwarts to little fanfare or dramatics, because Wizarding society is like that. The Dursleys are another story. (December 2019)
* My Hogwarts Will Be Intersectional Or It Will Be Bullshit by swingandswirl. Four (of many, many) trans Hogwarts students the castle welcomed home. Because fuck you, JKR. (December 2019)
* just harry by displayheartcode. Finding yourself isn’t a race. (June 2020)
* A Skirt's Not So Bad by tekomandor. Harry Potter ends up taking the place of Pansy Parkinson via polyjuice rather than Gregory Goyle. She discovers being a girl is pretty great, in her view. (June 2021)
====Fanart====
*Transwitches(2) by Samwitch (August 2019)
*#SupportTransKids by damianimated (December 2019)
*Trans Rights by UnityFlare (December 2019)
*trans Harry Potter by myrkky (December 2019)
*Trans Harry Potter by Afayeff (December 2019)
**hand slips* whoopsie I guess she’s trans huh by rxbbits (December 2019)
*an art i made to “bully” jk rowling on twitter by pseudalopex (June 2020)
*Since JK Rowling is still a terf and being absolutely wild rn, I drew a black trans Hermione in hopes she blocks me :) by undedturtle (June 2020)
*Protego Fabulousa: a spell to guard against trans antagonists. by theojulienforrester, posted by thegaylyprophet (June 2020)
*Trans!Harry drawing by naser-art (February 2020)
*Happy Pride Month from Luna and I! by jackofallplagues (June 2020)
*The Harry Potter crew says trans rights! by NavyPon (June 2020)
*Trans!Luna and Trans!Remus by vagueenthusiast (July 2020)
====Moodboards====
*aesthetic: trans!hermione granger by lotsoffandomimagines (June 2020)
====Meta====
*hey do you think you could expand a bit on separating the art from the artist? clearly you’ve done it with jk rowling but what are your thoughts on it as a general idea?; [archived link] by accio: meta/ask response about why JK Rowling's text can't simply by divorced from her bigoted views (or portrayals of certain characters) and how the concept of blood ties and biological family is central to the series. (May 2020)
* by Q. Pheevr: meta that uses a scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in which Hermione transforms into Harry - but retains the same pronouns and gender identity - to make a point about gender. (June 2020)
*With Rowling revealing herself as a full on TERF yesterday, I feel the need to say something about this whole thing… by LeahDraws: meta post about how Harry Potter fans can deal with the cognitive dissonance of having their childhood shaped by Harry Potter and why it's crucial to consume media critically. (June 2020) (offline as of at least June 13, 2020)
*Harry Potter and the Shame of Being an Adult Fan in 2020 - essay zine which touches on multiple topics including JKR's transphobia
* A Collection of Writing Against JK Rowling, by trans writer HFE Productions, regarding whether or not fans should continue creating and posting HP fanworks
*Harry Potter and the Problematic Author - zine by nonbinary author Maia Kobabe
===Exchanges, Challenges and Events===
* HPTransFest, a fest dedicated to trans Harry Potter fanworks.HPTransFest on Tumblr
* Expelli-gender! 2020, a fic exchange for trans and intersex portrayals of characters in Harry Potter and its spin-off series
*The Trans Wizard Tournament, a fandom auction in support of various charities that help and adovcate for trans and nonbinary people
* hp_trans_meme, a Dreamwidth prompt meme community
==Links and Further Commentary==
===Reading===
*Is J.K. Rowling Transphobic? A Trans Woman Investigates by Katelyn Burns, them.. (March 28, 2018)
* by Aja Romano, Vox. (December 19, 2019)
*Why I Believe J.K. Rowling’s Tweet was Transphobic by Chelsea Korynta, MuggleNet. (February 7, 2020)
* by Em Rowntree, The Geekiary. (June 10, 2020)
* by Dawn Ennis, Forbes. (June 11, 2020)
*, Emmet Asher-Perrin, Tor.com. (June 11, 2020)
* by Mary McNamara for the Los Angeles Times. (June 18, 2020)
* by Aleesha Khaliq, CNN (July 3, 2020)
*Who Did J.K. Rowling Become? by Molly Fischer, The Cut. (December 22, 2020).
===Video===
*Is JK Rowling Transphobic? Yes... and I'll Explain How by Council of Geeks, YouTube. (22 Dec 2019)
*JK Rowling is a TERF (but You Can Still Enjoy Harry Potter) by Rebecca Watson (24 Dec 2019)
*So... Let's Talk About JK Rowling's Tweet by Kat Blaque, YouTube. (23 Dec 2019)
*JK Rowling & Why Death of the Author Doesn't Work by Jessie Gender, YouTube. (10 Jan 2020)
*JK Rowling Transphobia Explained (A Rant) by Jessie Gender, YouTube. (7 June 2020)
*JK Rowling's Anti-Trans Tweets | Trans Guy Reacts by Jammidodger, YouTube. (7 June 2020)
*JK Rowling is Transphobic... So What? by Kat Blaque, YouTube. (7 June, 2020)
*Does JK Rowling's Transphobia Ruin Harry Potter? by Sarah Z (12 June 2020)
*Discussing the Autistic Community's Response to JK Rowling by Autie Jake, YouTube. (20 June 2020)
*Do You Need to Love J.K. Rowling to Love Harry Potter?" by moviebob/The Big Picture, YouTube. (25 Jun 2020)
*How JK Rowling Helped Stall the Equality Act by Rebecca Watson, YouTube. (26 Jun 2020)
*Responding to JK Rowlings Essay | Is It Anti-Trans? by Jammidodger alongside Shaaba, YouTube. (28 Jun 2020)
*Death of the Author 2: Rowling Boogaloo by Lindsay Ellis, YouTube. (6 Jul, 2020)
*i still like harry potter, is that bad? creator vs creation | Shaaba., YouTube. (7 July 2020)
*J.K. Rowling by ContraPoints (26 Jan 2021)
==Notes==
==References==
Category:Harry Potter
Category:Scandals