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Daniel Radcliffe Hits Back Against J.K. Rowling's Comments On Transgender People

Daniel Radcliffe Hits Back Against J.K. Rowling's Comments On Transgender People

He's also sent a message to Harry Potter fans who might have been hurt by the comments.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Renowned author J.K. Rowling found herself in hot water over the weekend after she tweeted out several comments on transgender people.

The Harry Potter author explained her fears that the shared existence of women is being erased because of the trans community.

She wrote on Twitter: "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.

"The idea that women like me, who've been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they're vulnerable in the same way as women - ie, to male violence - 'hate' trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences - is a nonsense.

"I respect every trans person's right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I'd march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it's hateful to say so."

She was reacting to an opinion piece that had 'people who menstruate' in the headline.

Ms Rowling's tweets suggest that men who transition to women aren't truly women because the 'lived reality' of being a woman is inherently different to being born a man and then changing biological sex later in life.

PA

The posts have copped severe backlash from Harry Potter fans around the world as well as LGBT activists and organisations.

But, interestingly, the star of her Hogwarts universe has spoken out about the comments. Daniel Radcliffe, who played The Boy Who Lived in the film franchise, issued a statement through The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention non-profit for LGBT youth.

He said: "While Jo is unquestionably responsible for the course my life has taken, as someone who has been honored to work with and continues to contribute to The Trevor Project for the last decade, and just as a human being, I feel compelled to say something at this moment.

"Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.

"According to The Trevor Project, 78 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth reported being the subject of discrimination due to their gender identity. It's clear that we need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm."

PA

Daniel also took the time to address Harry Potter fans and urged them not to turn away from the magic contained in the books and movies.

"I really hope that you don't entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you," he said.

"If these books taught you that love is the strongest force in the universe, capable of overcoming anything; if they taught you that strength is found in diversity, and that dogmatic ideas of pureness lead to the oppression of vulnerable groups; if you believe that a particular character is trans, nonbinary, or gender fluid, or that they are gay or bisexual; if you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life - then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred.

"And in my opinion nobody can touch that.

"It means to you what it means to you and I hope that these comments will not taint that too much."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Celebrity, News