More Harry Potter stars are speaking out against J.K. Rowling after the billionaire author posted a series of transphobic tweets over the weekend. Daniel Radcliffe, who played the titular role in the film franchise, released a lengthy statement to The Trevor Project site, denouncing Rowling’s words. Now Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the series, is also speaking out.
“Feeling like you don’t fit in or aren’t accepted for who you are are the worst, most lovely feelings a human can experience and I won’t be helping marginalize trans women and men further,” Lynch wrote. “I applaud the immense bravery they show in embracing themselves and we should we all should listen to their stories, especially as it is Pride Month.”
Lynch continued her statement by writing that she doesn’t think Twitter is a proper forum for this conversation, and took great pains to note that Rowling had done lots of philanthropic work over the years, which she said shouldn’t be erased as a result of her transphobic remarks.
“I think it’s irresponsible to discuss such a delicate topic over Twitter through fragmented thoughts and I wish Jo wouldn’t,” Lynch said. “That said, as a friend and admirer of Jo I can’t forget what a generous and loving person she is…she is still fighting for vulnerable people. I disagree with her opinion that cis-women are the most vulnerable minority in this situation and I think she’s on the wrong side of this debate. But that doesn’t mean she has completely lost her humanity.”
She also added that trans Harry Potter fans should block Rowling on Twitter and “move on.” In addition, she noted, fans shouldn’t “bully or hate people on the other side of the debate.” Some fans responded strongly to that notion, telling Lynch that her statement centralized Rowling too much, and also falsely posited that there is a “debate” to be had about trans personhood. At the end of her statement, Lynch vowed to make the Harry Potter fandom feel inclusive to the trans community “because trans women are women.”
“I need to be more intersectional activist rather than solely focusing on veganism and I’m working on evolving that way,” she added.
In her initial Twitter thread, Rowling posted several transphobic tweets, making statements including: “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”