Harry Potter | Photo by Ariel Parker | The Wright State Guardian
JK Rowling is one of the most popular authors in the world, and most well known for her beloved Harry Potter series. However, recent comments Rowling made against the trans community has many fans worldwide wondering how best to support the trans community.
This is not the first controversy Rowling has had over the years. Suggesting that trans activism negates the lived experiences of cis women, having anxiety over trans women using the bathrooms to assault cis women and taking issue with language intended to be inclusive to trans people, Rowling has doubled down on her views in a way that cannot be ignored.
Wright State University (WSU) is full of Potterheads, and many students are young enough to remember reading the books and watching the movies as they came out. While fans around the world are grappling with this controversy, students and faculty share their thoughts.
Student opinion
Sophomore English major H who grew up watching and loving the Harry Potter franchise, was sad when Rowling released her statements.
“[Harry Potter] really represents community to me. They’re just something that everyone loves and a topic that I could bond over with anyone,” said a sophomore English major at Wright State.
“My initial reaction was that I wish she wouldn’t have spoken out because it made me sad to see the happy, wholesome Harry Potter community be torn apart by a personal opinion. It’s okay to have opinions, but I was a little disappointed that she voiced them on a public platform with how much was at stake,” said the student.
Sophomore English major Calvin Cusack is also a big fan of the series and was upset by Rowling’s statements.
“I was disappointed in the attitude she took that women are the only people who menstruate, as this disputes the lived experience of trans people. I was disappointed with these statements, as I disagree with them wholeheartedly,” said Cusack.
“I fully understand people not wanting to spend money on things JK Rowling has created, in light of her expressed views… It’s much better to use the power you have as a consumer. If you don’t support someone, don’t pay them your time or attention. At the same time though, don’t pester or attack people if they choose differently than you,” said Cusack.
A WSU Sophomore English Literature major was initially confused by Rowling’s statements.
“She has the right to speak, just as you and I do, but she should’ve been more aware of the weight of her words before posting anything that could be so harmful to others. This oversight on her part is a bit ironic considering she’s the one who’s words helped shape an entire generation,” the student said.
“There’s no way of knowing if [cancel culture] will actually encourage Rowling to change her viewpoint, but the public has made it clear that our patience with the author, which has been tested in the past, has come to an end and we will not tolerate anything that resembles transphobia from her in the future,” said the student.
Professors and faculty share their thoughts
Senior lecturer in English and Program Coordinator for Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies Cynthia Marshall Burns says the world of Harry Potter has been a huge part of her life, even as an adult.
“It can be very challenging to separate the work from the artist, no matter how much we want to. …The immediacy of social media only intensifies a sense of connection between author and work,” said Burns.
“Some of Rowling’s concerns also mirror ridiculous and demonstrably untrue claims we’ve heard about dressing rooms and bathrooms suddenly becoming unsafe because of the presence of trans people, and that kind of ill-informed knee-jerk panic does cause harm,” said Burns.
WSU English professor Dr. Hope Jennings was also disappointed. Though she is personally not a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, she recognizes the harm an influential woman like Rowling holds.
“It’s so strange for someone who has inspired a really supportive community to then be so vocal about excluding certain people from communities,” said Jennings.
If Rowling was as supportive of trans issues as she claims, Jennings argues, “she wouldn’t try to exclude trans people from spaces or to continue to view trans women and make comments that disparage or exclude them from their own gender identity.”
“We already know that trans people are victims of violence and murder simply for being trans. Rowling’s speech is creating a really violent rhetorical space that then can encourage broader social-cultural anti-trans language and then inspire real acts of violence against trans people. We should stop and analyze what’s motivating that,” said Jennings.
Jennings hopes that if readers are disappointed by Rowling, this will encourage them to broaden their reading and read something else from the genre.
“We want to support trans issues, let’s also support trans authors,” said Jennings.
Associate Director of LGBTQA Affairs Emily Yantis-Houser is a long time fan and has many memories of reading the books and watching the movies with her family.
“For me, the real issue here is her expansive influence. Whether she’s ‘just expressing her opinion’ or not, she is expressing things that have an impact on others and that some people will take to mean discrimination is okay,” said Yantis-Houser.
Yantis-Houser is also mindful of the ongoing conversation our society has in regards to trans issues.
“Although this is an important issue at the moment, it also influences how we act or not in the face of pressing challenges to the trans community like housing discrimination, the denial of healthcare rights and the horrific amount of trans people murdered in our society,” said Yantis-Houser.
“An author’s experiences inherently influence their writing, no matter who they are or what they write about, so I don’t think you can pull them apart,” said Yantis-Houser.
Supporting trans authors
While Rowling has faced backlash for her transphobic views, critics and Potterheads are rising to challenge these harmful viewpoints and making a point to call them out.
For those who are interested in perusing and supporting books written by trans, nonbinary or genderqueer authors, be sure to check out authors such as Akwaeke Emezi, J.Y. Yang and Aiden Thomas. For adult fantasy, check out Sarah Gailey, Charlie Jane Anders or Annalee Newitz.
There is no doubt that the Harry Potter series has made its mark on an entire generation of readers. Rowling’s series is here to stay, and its influence will be present for many, many years to come, topping lists of best fantasy series along with “Lord of the Rings” and “A Song of Ice and Fire.”
However, readers can be mindful of what books they invest their time with, and that by reading books written by trans authors, we can move towards a more accepting society.
