<
https://charlotteclymer.substack.com/p/please-dont-ask-me-about-the-harry>
"I'm not sure what's the most graceful way to say this, so bear with me.
Some of you have reached out for my thoughts about the planned
Harry Potter
television series set to debut on HBO next year.
In the past, I have tried to be as understanding as I can with how friends and
colleagues enjoy the
Harry Potter books and movies.
My feeling has been for a while that this world belongs to fans, not J.K.
Rowling.
And thus, my advice has been to enjoy it if you want, but understand that not
every trans person is going to feel comfortable discussing this, and reaching
out to the trans folks in your life to ask if it's okay to enjoy
Harry Potter
puts us in a very uncomfortable position.
Because we know that—in most cases—non-trans folks are hoping to enjoy
Harry
Potter without guilt rather than better understand how painful it's been to
watch J.K. Rowling slowly turn into a vicious anti-trans extremist.
In these cases, we are essentially being asked to ameliorate your guilt whilst
simultaneously refrain from offering context on Rowling's transphobia because
it only kindles said guilt.
I grew up reading
Harry Potter, and I was a huge fan of Rowling, both as a
writer and a human being. Watching her become someone who believes trans folks
shouldn't be affirmed and protected has been beyond heartbreaking, to say the
very least.
If someone you admire adopted views that amount to claiming you don't deserve
human rights, you'd probably feel the same way. In fact, I assume a lot of
non-trans folks in other vulnerable communities understand this feeling deeply.
I'd prefer your money not go into Rowling's pockets and that you read used
copies of her books and watch used copies of the adapted films (hint: your
public library).
I'd prefer you put at least half as much effort into understanding trans rights
as you do into enjoying the world of
Harry Potter.
I'd prefer you speak up against Rowling's transphobia.
I’d prefer you talk to your kids about respecting others and not being afraid
of those who are different from them and why it’s important to read and watch
things we disagree with—especially when we disagree—if only to better
understand that perspective.
And so, I have tried my best over the past many years to gently encourage
people to do those things while also saying it's okay to enjoy the books and
movies.
I feel this is a reasonable middle ground. I still believe that."
Via Janet Logan.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
