The magical world of Harry Potter is as real to me as breathing. I couldn’t give up my ties to this fandom any more than I could cut my heart out of my chest. However, J.K. Rowling has lost all respect and admiration from me. I can’t sit back and ignore the raging transphobia that she is spewing.
Though I do struggle with what is right and how my reaction to the debate furthers or detracts my devotion to the trans community, which is a cause that I fully support. But, do my actions convey this message to those who need to hear it? In this moral dilemma, my answer is complex in that I don’t know.
Separating the Art From the Artist
Separating the art from the artist is usually not a problem for me. I have been boycotting Chick-Fil-A for years due to their inability to accept the LGBTQ+ community.
The difference is that I wasn’t tied to Chick-Fil-A in the first place. That is not the case with Harry Potter. Harry came to me as an adult. His magic allowed me to share his world with my children. After taking two of my girls to see The Prisoner of Azkaban, I knew that I needed to read the books. After the first chapter, I was hooked.
But, is it possible to morally separate the art from the artist? I think that it is. I believe that we each need to ask ourselves if this is possible. Not everyone will agree with me, and their way of thinking is not wrong. It is up to each person to decide how their internal belief system will handle this type of moral dilemma.
Agree to Disagree?
In this age of cancel culture, is it possible for two opposing views to coincide? Can we agree to disagree?
I certainly hope so, though it is a world divided now, and it seems that no one can agree to disagree. We have so many people on the wrong side of history right now, and everything is politicized.
But, can we come together as lovers of literature? Can we look past our differences in this debate of Harry Potter, the character, and J.K. Rowling, the transphobic author? I feel that we can come together though you may disagree with me. I accept that we may not agree but hold onto the hope that we can be friends anyway.
Is My Continued Affection for the Harry Potter Franchise Selfish?
This is a debate that has been volleyed back and forth in my mind for weeks. Is my continued love of Harry and company selfish? Would it be better for the Transgender community if I did give it up?
I know that I am a generally selfish person at heart. I want what I can’t have, and then I want even more on top of it. This is a fundamental flaw in my character that I recognize as wrong.
However, I also have a big heart and try to give as much as I get. Is it enough to dismiss J.K. Rowling, though? Is this deniability of a tarnished hero sufficient to prove my love and devotion to those who have little voice?
What Does It Mean When I Say I Dismiss J.K. Rowling?
By dismissing J.K. Rowling, I am saying goodbye to one of my most trusted heroes. However, I can’t stand idly by while she attacks the trans community.
I always cherished Jo because of her commitment to children’s charities, and I enjoyed her rags to riches story. Knowing that I had hope in that one day, I could pull myself up too.
In a published essay on her website, she argues that she can’t tolerate trans women because she was sexually assaulted. This opinion is laughable. I have been sexually assaulted, and never once have I been afraid to share a bathroom with a trans woman. I am more scared of finding a spider in the bathroom than I would ever be with a trans woman for crying out loud.
So, I gladly say goodbye to an old hero who should know better and do better.
My Truth Regarding Harry Potter
The world of Harry Potter has saved me from the deepest depths of depression and anxiety. I have come back from my suicidal ideations by the friends I have made through a shared love of the fandom. Therefore, I will not cancel Harry Potter from my life.
I want to believe that I am doing the right thing in accepting Harry Potter as a salve to help me with my mental health. Though, I also must realize that my balm could be a trans person’s poison.
I know for sure that if I decide to give up the world of Harry Potter, it will not be done overnight. I know myself enough to know that something ingrained in my psyche is not something that I can lose without a lot of soul searching and years of therapy.
In Summary
J.K. Rowling seems determined to die on the hill of transphobia. Her near-daily rants are becoming viler as time goes on. She will bury herself and those who are standing with her.
I will not stand with her, as my goal in this life is to stand on the hill of equality. I want to be one of those who land on the right side of history.