J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books, creating a rich fantasy world that millions cherish. She has had a huge, positive impact on millions of people worldwide. She is also a transphobe, frequently attacking vulnerable transgender people, usually in the guise of defending women. Of course, women don't need to be defended against trans people because trans people do not threaten women in any way. Transgender people, on the other hand, face high levels of violence, discrimination, and poverty. Attacking trans people harms them, legitimizes violence, and is a hateful, horrible thing to do.
Not surprisingly, Rowling has been criticized for this.
Unfortunately, a lot of celebrities feel like they should speak out in support of Rowling. The latest is actor Brian Cox.
"I don't like the way she's been treated, actually. I think she's entitled to her opinion, she's entitled to say what she feels," the 76-year-old Succession star said over the weekend on British talk show Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, per a Metro video. "As a woman, she's very much entitled to say what she feels about her own body. There's nobody better to say that, as a woman. So, I do feel that people have been a bit high and mighty about their own attitude toward J.K. Rowling."
What a load of crap.
No one is preventing Rowling from speaking out. No one is denying that she is entitled to her opinion or that she can say what she feels. People are criticizing her and her hateful opinions because they are garbage. And since she keeps using her very large public platform to make bigoted statements, she has opened herself to criticism. If Rowling is entitled to her opinions, so is everyone criticizing her. This is not hard, sheesh.
"As a woman" Rowling isn't talking about her own body; she's explicitly talking about other people's bodies and how they are perceived and should be treated by society. Her words literally endanger other people.
Finally, condemning bigotry is not "high and mighty", it is an act of responsibility and kindness. Condemning bigotry is incumbent on all of us if we want to move humanity into a better future. If we don't condemn bigotry, we doom millions of people to continued hatred, violence and discrimination.
In short, stop defending assholes who can't keep their hatred to themselves.
2 comments:
I really don't give a shit about her views on transgender although to be honest. The transgender community haven't really done any favors in getting other people to sympathize with them. After all, when you have an asshole like Bruce Jenner as the face of the community. Then we have problems.
My issue with J.K. Rowling is that she's become the new George Lucas and have managed to fuck up her own legacy as well as not realizing when to stop writing about the Harry Potter universe. It was done after the 7th book and its films and didn't need to be anything else. I didn't like the Cursed Child. The first Fantastic Beasts film was alright but the 2nd film was one of the worst fucking things I had ever seen. I haven't seen the third one and don't have any interest in it nor do I want to see the next 2 films she wants to be made. I'm like "fuck that!"
I agree with your take on the Harry Potter franchise. She should have stopped with the seventh book. The Cursed Child is terrible and the new films are just a trainwreck. Apparently the series has been cancelled.
I disagree with your take on the transgender community. Caitlyn Jenner is NOT considered the face of the community and I'd be shocked if you have any support for that idea. She may be the most famous transgender person in the world, but that doesn't make her an ally and her support for right wing policies and politicians who hate transgender folk makes her an enemy of transgender progress (and safety).
The transgender community is innocent of harming others, is historically reviled and currently being targeted by hate and violence. That's more than enough for me to support them.
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