When Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling made even more transphobic comments on Twitter, Daniel Radcliffe and other cast members spoke out against her views. Two years later, Radcliffe talks about returning to Rowling’s comments and how.
Moreover, he wanted to reassure fans, especially gender non-confirming and transgender fans. Moreover, their favourite character, Harry Potter, isn’t a transphobe. Radcliffe talked about why he felt compelled to write an open letter with the Trevor Project. Most importantly, this was about Rowling’s transphobic tweets in 2020 in a recent interview with IndieWire.
What did Daniel Radcliffe say in her remarks?
Daniel Radcliffe said, “I felt very strongly that I needed to say something when I did. As, especially since finishing Potter, I’ve met so many queer and trans kids and young people who related a lot to Potter in that way.”
“So when I saw how sad they were that day, I told them that not everyone in the franchise felt the same way. And that was a big deal.” He also said that if he hadn’t spoken up, he didn’t think he “would have been able to look [himself] in the mirror.” Radcliffe said, “But it’s not my job to guess what someone else is thinking.”
What did he write about trans people?
“Transgender women are women,” he wrote. “Anything to the contrary takes away the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all the advice. Moreover, it was given by professional health care groups who know much more about this topic than Jo or I do.”
He also said that “some news outlets will probably try to portray this as a fight between J.K. Rowling and me,” but that “is not what this is about, and it’s not what’s important right now.”
“Jo is definitely to blame for the way my life has turned out,” he said. “But as someone who has been honoured to work with and help The Trevor Project for the last ten years. Moreover, just as a person, I feel compelled to say something now.”
Why did he extend his support to them?
Radcliffe said that the Trevor Project says that 78% of transgender and nonbinary youth have been mistreated because of their gender identity. “We need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people.”
“Moreover, it does not invalidate their identities and not do more harm,” he said. He suggested that people start by reading The Trevor Project’s Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth.
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