Two of the biggest Harry Potter fan sites have distanced themselves from author JK Rowling because of her beliefs about the rights of transgender people, calling them at odds with the empowerment message in their best-selling books.
The Dripping Cauldron and Mugglenet websites said Thursday that they would no longer provide links to the British author’s personal website, use photos of her, or write about achievements unrelated to the world she created.
The joint statement from fan sites said Rowling conveyed “damaging and disproven beliefs about what it means to be a transgender person” during Pride Month and her views on “marginalized people [are] out of tune with the message of acceptance and empowerment that we find in his books and celebrated by the Harry Potter community. “
It follows a lengthy personal essay by Rowling last month in which she detailed her beliefs about the rights of transgender people, including examples of where she believed that the demands of transgender activists were dangerous to women.
The trial was criticized by LGBTQ + advocacy groups as divisive and transphobic.
In recent weeks, stars of the Harry Potter films, including Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed the main character, and Eddie Redmayne, who starred in the spinoff film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, have spoken out against comments from Rowling on transgender people. . Four authors left Rowling’s literary agency in June after accusing the company of refusing to issue a public statement in support of transgender people’s rights.
The fan sites, which together have more than a million Facebook followers, said members found it difficult to speak out against Rowling because they had admired his work for so long, but said, “It would be wrong not to use our platforms. to counter the damage. ” she has caused. “
“Our stance is firm: transgender women are women,” the statement said. “Transgender men are men. Non-binary people are non-binary. Intersex people exist and should not be forced to live in the binary. We are with Harry Potter fans in these communities.
“Although we do not approve the mistreatment [Rowling] has received for conveying their views on transgender people, we must reject their beliefs. “
Rowling’s representatives declined to comment on Friday’s statement.
