Separating From JK Rowling

Question

What's the deal with JK Rowling right now?

Answer

As of June 2020, mostly through Twitter, Rowling has been sharing thoughts and opinions that are directly impacting the trans and LGBTQ+ community. She has continued to share transphobic and dangerous opinions online and, in doing so, has pushed many fans further and further away from her and the Harry Potter series. The problem is that so many of us are connected back to this franchise and these characters so completely that it can hurt to not talk about it, to cut ourselves off from the world completely, or both.

Question

But, it seems like your wedding will have some Wizarding World elements. Isn't that contradictory?

Answer

After some discussion, we decided that the Wizarding World meant so much to us both individually and as a family. We grew up with our noses stuck in the books, the books being read to us and now we are reading the books to Savannah. We hope to continue that tradition in the future if we are lucky enough to become parents again. Simply said, the Wizarding World is important to us. We wanted that to be represented in what will be the start of the next chapter in our lives. That being said, we don't condone or support any of the statements made by Rowling. We want to do everything we can to make sure that the LGBTQ+ community feels supported and knows that we stand behind them 100%.

Question

So, what *actually* happened with JK Rowling?

Answer

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling came under fire in early June 2020 for controversial tweets she posted about the transgender community. Her stance has caused fans and stars like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Eddie Redmayne to speak out against her. For a full breakdown of the timeline and links to her statements, you can read this article: https://www.glamour.com/story/a-complete-breakdown-of-the-jk-rowling-transgender-comments-controversy

Question

What kind of impact is this having on the trans community?

Answer

While I would love to list the many reasons that we personally believe her speech and words to be dangerous, I don't think that it's quite our place to speak on behalf of those that are actually in the trans community. Instead, I would like to direct you to a wonderfully concise and clearly communicated video created by someone in the trans community. She does a great job at breaking down exactly why this type of speech can be dangerous and lead to further transphobia all while maintaining empathy towards anyone that disagrees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gDKbT_l2us

Question

The Harry Potter series was written by J.K. Rowling but, in a lot of ways, it has become something more than the world she built and so how can we separate it from her?

Answer

If we start to make Harry Potter adjacent properties with new writers and creatives, it can start to separate the world from Rowling herself. It can be something completely new and different while still holding to the characters and the franchise they came from. You can use your voice to let her know that the dangerous speech she uses is frankly no different than the things we hear in the series about "Mudbloods." Some ways to do that include not purchasing the things she still makes royalties on, acknowledge the problems, support trans-friendly authors (Stephen King has spoken out alot about his support for the trans community), and even supporting causes that help combat transphobic problems.

Question

What are some things Rowling makes money off of?

Answer

Here are some (but not all) of the ways JK Rowling still profits from the Wizarding World. I encourage you to do extra research if you want more ways she gains profit. 1. Official merch: This one shouldn't be too much of a surprise. 2. The Wizarding World: This one is a little trickier. Their contracts currently are set to last until 2029, at which point i'm not sure about what happens. However, if i'm understand the contract between Universal and Rowling, she receives a set amount of money each year. It is NOT dependent on how many attend the parks. So, it's one of those that will be up to the individual how far they want to go to support the cause. 3. The Cursed Child: Rowling directly profits from tickets to The Cursed Child. This includes both the UK production and the US production.

Question

So, how can I still support the community without supporting her?

Answer

The good news is that there are TONS of ways to still be a part of the Wizarding World. 1. Buy books and movies second hand. You can visit Goodwill stores, garage sales, even your local libraries! 2. Buy merchandise like wands and clothing from small businesses. 3. If you are craving a stage production for Harry Potter, I HIGHLY recommend Puffs. It was an off-Broadway play that follows all the same years as the books. With one exception: it's from the perspective of the Hufflepuffs. You can find the play on Amazon Prime or Broadway HD. 4. Support the Harry Potter Alliance: The Harry Potter Alliance is an organization that, in their words, “turns fans into heroes.” They take on so many incredible activist causes, such as racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, immigration and so much more, by encouraging young people to get excited about these causes through their passion for Harry Potter.