Harry Potter’s J.K. Rowling Accused of Promoting Transphobia in Tweet
In a touching moment in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Rubeus Hagrid—who has just offered to resign from his teaching position at Hogwarts—lets his three favorite students in on his personal philosophy on self-acceptance. “I am what I am, an’ I’m not ashamed,” the friendly giant declares. “’Never be ashamed,’ my ol’ dad used ter say, ‘there’s some who’ll hold it against you, but they’re not worth botherin’ with.'”
It seems J.K. Rowling could take a lesson from her own character.
The Harry Potter author, 54, set off a firestorm Thursday morning after tweeting her support of a British researcher who was fired for making anti-transgender comments. The researcher, Maya Forstater, claims a prominent nonprofit did not renew her contract this year because of her refusal to accept trans women as women. On Wednesday, an employment tribunal judge ruled that Forstater’s “absolutist” views were fair grounds for dismissal.