Please Don't Ask Me About the Harry Potter HBO Series
I beg you.
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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.
But Rowling is deeply involved with the planned television series, and she will make money from it.
I can ask you to not watch the show when it's released, but I'm not sure how much good that will do. I think the vast majority of folks are gonna do whatever they want on this, regardless of how they feel about trans rights.
So, all I feel the need to say on the matter is this: you have to decide for yourself if watching the show is the right thing to do and what could be the potential consequences of supporting the work of someone this openly hateful towards trans folks.
I can't make that decision for you. No trans person can. There may be trans folks in your life who are willing to offer their perspective in a good faith conversation, and if so, that’s wonderful.
But I do have a request: please don't reach out to me or any other trans person for permission or to absolve whatever guilt you feel.
Please don't place the burden of your conscience's calculus on us, I beg you.
We're seven years into this terrible chapter of Rowling being openly hateful towards trans people, and I honestly can't stomach yet another conversation with a non-trans person who's looking to soothe their conscience, so that they can enjoy some entertainment.
I don't like how it feels to be asked to help non-trans folks run the math on something that is fairly obvious in its character.
So, please don't.
That's my request, and I appreciate in advance your consideration.
Amen. And I will not be watching either. Will make a donation to PFLAG instead of spending time/money that could ultimately line her pockets. I WAS a huge fan. Not anymore.
I never would ask, because I think such questions place a burden on the community being harmed. But when I open the topic with friends, mostly it's because I'm hoping they, too, no longer want anything to do with HP--not because I want a "there, there, that's okay." Because it's not.
Most of my specfic community is actively Done With Her. There have always been conversations about separating the art from the artist, but when the artist crosses certain lines...nope.