When Heroes Disappoint
I’ve been a fan of JK Rowling for 20 years now. And like a lot of devoted fans, when I first read JK Rowling’s tweet, my gut instinct told me that there was more to it than I thought.
After very little research on the the woman the tweet referenced, I knew I wanted nothing to do with her. Maya Forstater not only holds the belief that biological sex is indisputable, she champions this cause to the extent of invalidating people that work through their entire lives to feel comfortable in their own skin.
So the fact that JK Rowling would find the need to voice exactly on what side of this fight she stands on is disappointing. A woman who championed the ideals of acceptance, diversity, inclusion, and all encompassing love has let us down by loving and accepting everyone except trans people. All people are people. They deserve our love and understanding, not invalidation that ultimately puts people at risk for suicide.
As an ally with limited understanding, I can only say so much on the subject. However after listening to Mugglecast’s standalone episode on the subject titled Why J.K. Rowling’s Tweet Was Transphobic and Hurtful, I feel better equipped. And like the hosts of Mugglecast, I will continue to champion the positive ideals put forth in the messaging of the series, but I’m done worshipping false idols. We are all flawed human beings, but I will not stand for the hurtful degradation of others.