Warner Bros. Studios, under whose umbrella the Harry Potter franchise has been filmed, has made a statement regarding Joan Rowling’s recent gender tweets. In a very vague commentary, the company once again noted that it adheres to a policy of tolerance.
“The events of the past few weeks have confirmed our determination as a company to confront difficult social issues. Warner Bros. Position with regard to inclusiveness, it has fully developed, and the promotion of a culture of diversity and inclusiveness has never been so important for our company and our audience around the world. We highly appreciate the work of our authors, who, sharing their creations with all of us, give a lot of energy. We recognize our responsibility for developing empathy and promoting mutual understanding between all communities and all people, especially between those with whom we work and whom we embrace using our content, ”representatives of the studio told Variety.
The Rowling scandal began on the night of June 6-7. Then the writer commented on her Twitter the headline of the material, which dealt with the creation of a more equal society for "people with menstruation."
"Menstruation." I’m sure that these people used to have a name. Help remember - bershchiny? women? men? ”, the writer noted, not without a share of irony.
'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
This post caused a wave of indignation. Platform users criticized the writer for allegedly hating transgender people, as she did not take into account the peculiarities of their physiology. In addition, some have decided that Rowling denies women the right to be considered as such if they have health problems.
Soon, Joan Rowling posted other tweets on the same topic to clarify her position. “If sex does not exist, then there is no same-sex attraction. If gender does not exist, then the reality lived by women around the world is erased. I have familiar transgender people, and I love them, but if you destroy the concept of gender, it will deprive many of the opportunity to meaningfully discuss their lives. To tell the truth does not mean to hate, ”she said.
However, the persecution did not stop, and celebrities joined the public censure of the writer - in particular, actors who played in Harry Potter films.
Daniel Radcliffe posted his answer on The Trevor Project, which supports youth from the LGBT community. He stated that transgender women are women. The opposite point of view, the actor believes, humiliates them and goes against the opinion of health professionals.
“Transgender people are what they call themselves, they have the right to live their life without being constantly asked or told that they are not who they say they are,” Emma Watson said. She said that she made donations to relevant organizations and invited the audience to follow her example.
Eddie Redmayne, in an interview with Variety, also stated that he did not agree with Joan Rowling. Like Emma Watson, the artist advised leaving representatives of sexual minorities alone, as their identity is too often called into question.
- © Shot from the film “Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Green de Wald” (2018)
The performer of the role of Zhou Chang, Katie Lung posted links to petitions in support of black transgender people and specialized funds.
Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood, expressed her solidarity with the transgender people, but at the same time she urged her not to forget that Rowling was involved in charity work and supported people in distress.
“She said nothing wrong”
On June 10, the writer posted an essay on her own website, where she decided to clarify her position. Rowling stressed that she was concerned about the situation of women in the light of the initiative being discussed in the Scottish government.
“I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want the conditions for girls and women belonging to the female gender by birth to be less safe. When you open the doors of women's toilets and locker rooms for any men who consider themselves to be women, and, as I said, certificates confirming gender identity can now be issued to people without sex reassignment surgery or without hormonal treatment, - then you open the door to all men, without exception, who want to go inside. This is a simple truth, ”Rowling wrote.
She also said that she herself is a victim of domestic and sexual violence. At the same time, the author repeatedly emphasized solidarity with transgender people.
Among netizens there were those who spoke out in defense of the writer. So, microbloggers urge the audience to re-read Rowling's messages more carefully. “We need to find a tweet that calls to cheat on her, explaining where in her words transphobia or something is wrong. There are no such. Because she did not say anything transphobic or wrong. It’s just at odds with “Acceptable Discourse,” said one of the authors.
A similar view is shared by showman Jonathan Ross. “Brownie has just overeaten. Again. Oh and by the way. Joan Rowling is right and gorgeous. Those who accuse her of transphobia, please read what she wrote. She's clearly not transphobic, ”he wrote on Twitter.
Among the negative comments on the Rowling post, one can also find words of support addressed to her. “I support you, Joan! Spit what the "people" say. There is nothing transphobic about women defending their positions on the basis of undeniable scientific facts. The male body does not menstruate. And the point, ”wrote the user of the platform.
The hashtag #IStandWithJKRowling has spread on social networks for those who sympathize with the author of Harry Potter. "Joan Rowling said that" biological sex exists. " She did not call for the death of transgender people and transgender people; she did not deny their existence, did not propagate the deprivation of their rights. But all this did your imagination. This is a crowd of slanderers with totalitarian moods, that’s all, ”reads one of the notes with the corresponding note.