Growing up like many millennials, “Harry Potter” came at a time in my life when I felt like an outcast at school. Like Harry, I was bullied, and this idea of some grand magical place where wizards and witches could go to was so intriguing. In my mind, everyone was equal. Villains could be redeemed so long as they put in the work. And heroes had the moral compass I was already so instilled with. May 2nd is International Harry Potter Day because it commemorates the Battle of Hogwarts. A pivotal event in the Harry Potter story where Harry and his allies defeated Lord Voldemort. The battle, which concluded on May 2, 1998, is considered the final conflict of the Second Wizarding Wars. But why should we be celebrating when there’s a silent war going on right in our own midst. And one that has to do with people just wanting to exist.
It wasn’t until growing up that most of us learned the absolute horror of who the author really was for this series. JK Rowling, who was once praised by fans as being one of the most brilliant story-tellers on the planet has become an open and proud antagonist against understanding that gender is more complicated than a binary. She has had no problem becoming the face of a movement to maintain the idea that that trans women aren’t women. The woman who told us that people like Professor McGonagall could transform into a cat at will, the person who taught many of us that we should stand up for what we believe in even in the face of adversity, took a dump on a population that makes up less than 1% of the population. It feels crazy that because we’re upset with her for voicing her opinions, she has become more antagonistic and gloats with every victory. But all people should have basic human rights regardless of your position on them. And to publicly use her platform as a stomping ground for a group of individuals is really actively making peoples lives a living hell.
While I’m not writing this as a trans woman, I am an ally. I’m a very privileged cis woman living the lifestyle that would be honored and accepted by old JK Rowling. But just because I don’t fit the bill on those she’s oppressing doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t be loud about my opinions, like her. It’s very hard for Trans people to even find a space to exist. It’s hard for women and it’s especially hard for trans women. She has criticized bills that aim to make it easier for transgender people to legally change their gender, and argued that these changes could harm women’s rights and safety. It is important to be able to look at her actions and make an informed decision on where she stands. And if you’re wondering what she’s done that’s so wrong, here’s a list.
1. Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill:
Rowling has been a vocal critic of the Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which sought to simplify the process for transgender people to legally change their gender. She argued that the bill would make it easier for men to access female-only spaces and could potentially endanger women.
Soon, then, in Scotland, it may be easier to change the sex on your birth certificate than it is to change it on your passport. In consequence, intact males who’re judged to have met the meagre requirements will be considered as ‘valid’ and entitled to protections as those who’ve had full sex reassignment surgery, and more male-bodied individuals will assert more strongly a right to be in women’s spaces such as public bathrooms, changing rooms, rape support centres, domestic violence refuges, hospital wards and prison cells that were hitherto reserved for women.
2. Scotland’s Hate Crime and Public Order Act 2021
She has deliberately misgendered transgender women in social media posts, and while these posts have been reported to the police, they were not considered criminal under the new law. This is the effective equivalent to allowing bullying and hate crime to continue against trans individuals. Her posts which should have been considered criminal were overlooked by not only the Scotland PD but also the Prime Minister. She even challenged them publicly to “arrest me” over the posts, to which they did not. Showing the extent of what that act could actually do.
3. UK Supreme Court Ruling on The Definition of “Woman”
In April 2025(Just this year), the UK Supreme Court ruled that the definition of “woman” under the Equality Act 2010 referred to biological sex, excluding trans women with gender recognition certificates. Rowling celebrated this ruling, which she viewed as a victory for women’s rights.
Multi-millionaire author Rowling, who reportedly helped fund the women’s rights campaign group which brought the Supreme Court case, shared a photo online from on board her superyacht puffing a cigar in celebration.
She told her 14.3million followers on X, formerly Twitter: ‘I love it when a plan comes together.’
On June 6, 2020, Rowling retweeted an op-ed piece that discussed “people who menstruate,” apparently taking issue with the fact that the story did not use the word women.
‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?
Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate https://t.co/cVpZxG7gaA
3b. Note that – if Rowling was receiving criticism for holding views she did not hold, this could easily have been remedied by her making a clear statement of support for trans people.
— 🤦♂️ Andrew James Carter (@Carter_AndrewJ) June 10, 2020
I don’t know what more you will want as far as reasons why. I don’t think people who like Harry Potter are bad. But I do believe that celebrating a character created by such a woman might not be the best look right now. With all the hate in the world and all of the backwards advances on woman’s rights, ANY women’s rights, maybe it’s time to take a step back and just say, “You know what? That’s NOT OK.”
It is HARD to have to separate ourselves from something that means so much to millions of people. There is no 100% right answer for everyone, for a lot of reasons. As much as trans people have become more visible, the scrutiny and pushback is real and threatening. Whether that is something you can overlook is purely a personal decision. But our world is unfortunately becoming a place where you can’t play dumb, especially when people are in danger for the simple crime of being themselves. If you still love Harry Potter, I truly hope that it gives you that enjoyment, but it just isn’t something I feel good about supporting. I’d rather use that time to educate people about how people are being demonized to hide much bigger problems in our world.
If you can look outside and see trans people as the biggest threat to the world, then I encourage you to go find joy with your group and leave the rest of us alone.
