Look, I don’t need to go into why exactly JK Rowling is problematic. Plenty of people have already written explanations far better than I ever could. JK Rowling is transphobic. And if you disagree, you likely are too, despite any good intentions. We have to call things what they are.
So, now that we are on the same page, let’s move on. We have established that you don’t want to hurt others — that’s great! Now you’ve got to walk the walk. JK Rowling’s books, and any other Harry Potter-franchise related items, are off-limits. There are, obviously, some exceptions as it is a nuanced thing, but we’ll get to those later in this article.
As many of my generation do, you are probably struggling with the fact that Harry Potter was an integral part of your childhood and you have a nostalgic love for it. Me too. I’m not going to pretend that this series didn’t have a substantial impact on me, or in fact make me love reading altogether. There’s no reason to deny the positives, and in a way, I’d even say I am grateful for JK Rowling. She created a world that meant a lot to me as child and that isn’t something that just gets erased. But it also doesn’t make up for the fact that she has done and continues to do irreversible harm to a group of people, and in my heart I know that to be wrong.
This might not be a relatable analogy (and in fact it might drive some of you away), but it is kind of like being a vegan. Stick with me here. Just because I’m a vegan doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes crave a chocolate cake. But because I respect myself and my personal code of ethics, I refrain. It’s a choice.
I’ve rambled on before about the power of the consumer. In a capitalist society, it is the greatest power the average person has. Whether you like it or not, money makes the world go round, and yes, you have control over where yours ends up. Vote with your wallet. (We could segue into a conversation about buying books from Amazon here, but I’ll give you a break.)
Another common argument you hear from readers struggling to justify their HP addiction is that the art is different from the artist.
If you want to know my personal thoughts here, I am a firm believer that once the art leaves the hands of the artists, it ceases to become theirs. However, that isn’t really the issue we are discussing here. We can debate all day long if the art can be separated from the artist, but it isn’t that black and white when the artist is still the one financially benefitting from the art in question.
And that is where I draw my line, personally. If any of my actions directly or indirectly benefit Rowling, I refrain. That means anything from buying a new Harry Potter book to chatting online about Harry Potter in any context other than this one out of concern that I might contribute to normalising it further.
Something that doesn’t hurt? Indulging my own nostalgia by picking up the well-worn copy of Goblet of Fire I’ve owned for years. Continuing to love those characters and what they mean to me in a personal sense alone.
But no, I will not contribute to Rowling’s hate and bigotry. And if you believe trans lives matter, you will do the same.
Remember, love conquers all. (And ironically, JK Rowling taught me that.)
