It’s bad enough that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’s New York City and San Francisco Twitter accounts wished everyone a “Happy Pride Month” this week, but the even more tone deaf decision to use the Progress Pride flag, which incorporates the trans Pride colors into the rainbow spectrum, sent the internet into a tailspin.
The play’s author, JK Rowling, has firmly established that she is no friend to the trans community, regularly attacking their rights. Her repeated attacks have caused many LGBTQ Harry Potter fans to turn their backs on the franchise altogether.
Several commenters rose to the occasion with inspired responses, such as these ideas for Harry’s next big adventure:
Harry Potter and the Audacity of This Shit.
— King Kitt, Sunshine Goblin (@IndustrialPet) June 7, 2022
Harry potter and the Lack of Situational Awareness https://t.co/WidBOEFPKD
— ?????ZR1NZ03????? (@Z_R1Nzoe) June 8, 2022
Actor Anthony Rapp put all jokes aside, however, when he responded: “This tweet is the epitome of cowardice masquerading as allyship. The ultimate in virtue-signalling.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
“The folks producing this show have yet to openly condemn the monstrously damaging and violent words and deeds of its playwright. Will they donate to and amplify trans rights orgs?”
This tweet is the epitome of cowardice masquerading as allyship. The ultimate in virtue signaling. The folks producing this show have yet to openly condemn the monstrously damaging & violent words & deeds of its playwright. Will they donate to & amplify trans rights orgs? https://t.co/1Vehmb7ZfT
— Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member (@albinokid) June 8, 2022
Here’s what other folks had to say:
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAA
*Sigh*
AHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA 😂 This is too funny. A Harry Potter product sporting trans colours in the flag.
— Charlie Murray (@Kranitoko) June 7, 2022
— Kelly 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (@kellykurdt) June 7, 2022
— CJ✨ (@PopplioPup) June 7, 2022
First of all, lol. And indeed lmao.
Also what proportion of your show’s revenue will you be giving to actually help LGBTQI people? Or are we just free advertising?
— A Mad 🚬 (@DamselDystopia) June 7, 2022
No wizards at pride
— Sam Humphreys 🏴🚩 (@RhetoricalHype) June 7, 2022
* JK Rowling disliked this.
— Bill (@billdotmu) June 7, 2022
— Semy. (Semy Says…). (@SMeridoc) June 7, 2022
Siri, show me “rainbow capitalism” please.
— Natalie the Iconoclast (NHS gender assessment arc) (@larilille) June 7, 2022
donate every bit of profit you make this month to trans rights charities to counteract the harm that JK has done otherwise this means nothing
— Morgan Lloyd Malcolm (@mogster) June 7, 2022
This is grim guys, come on.
— CD (@claireyfairy1) June 7, 2022
Uh huh. Does Joanne know you used the progress flag? pic.twitter.com/lowhCycdu6
— Bronwen🌹🏳️🌈 (@Bronwen85) June 7, 2022
read the room
— Margaret, The Fell Omen (@EggmeatGentle) June 7, 2022
Polaro
LOL…some people will cut off their own nose to spite their face. Grow up. Not everyone loves you. And, no, trans women are not women, as much as I think they are cool, they just aren’t. Women do not have to transition…so there is that definition of what a woman is. The majority of us are getting tired of being lumped in with the left-wing nut jobs. There is a price to be paid for pushing nonsense too far and with such venom.
Flame on haters. Prove my point.
abfab
We hear you loud and clear, Lyndsey Graham. You’re common and tired. Not to mention sad and boring.
monty clift
Who exactly are the “majority of us”? What about you and your personality disorders?
DBMC
Who do you mean by “us?” Do you have a frog in your pocket?
Jaquelope
“Some people will cut off their own nose to spite their face.” And that may be what Rowling has been doing.
As with many things, the ideas that are coming out now may be slow to be accepted, but while there always a few sticks in the mud, it always eventually comes to be accepted as fact, and the majority does not deny it’s being a fact. History since time began has shown this, so you just might as well accept it now instead of later.
Diplomat
Rowling got it right, she doesn’t agree with where trans women stick their diks. With good reason. Otherwise she’s fine with them. It’s those nasty bathroom habits that they have that turns people’s stomachs.
The day the utterly rude and intrusive trans “women” (they are not women) ) pull their very male diks out of women’s bathrooms, locker rooms and sports teams is the day “the woke” zombies will actually wake up.
This is one time I’m happy to see Rs get on it and pass anti trans dik laws swatting their floppy drives back into their pants. Trans women don’t only piss real women off ad nauseam, many men can’t stand their tactics either.
I’m a staunch non religious Democrat and I approve this message.
monty clift
@Diplomat, stfu.
Diplomat
I protect women’s rights at every turn. Not into fakes. You shouldn’t be either.
mailliw110
Poor Dip. Are you lost and found this site by accident?
abfab
Hey DIP SHIT!
eve
Don’t expect everyone to love us, I do expect people to be decent human beings and give eachother basic human respect. Who said trans women were “cool” who thinks we’re cool, you mean the nasty men that fetishizes us, sure I’m sure they think it’s cool. But as a trans women its not cool, I get slurs yelled at me, I get discriminated against, I get made fun of, I get harrased, this isn’t fun or cool, its finally having the courage to be ourselves regardless of all the transphobic people harassing us. Who’s the majority again bc I don’t think u speak for anyone but yourself and other close minded transphobes. And your right cis women don’t have to transition, bc they were lucky enough to be assigned women at birth and grew up transitioning from non gendered baby with a vagina to a women. Really pushing this to far is damaging huh? What about all the research saying that support trans children is actually very beneficial to them. And ur so mad at us what about all the right-wing nuts trying to keep automatic guns in the hands of 18 yo children so they can go shoot up school, and what about how the right wing is trying to get rid of educating children on the history of racism and slavery, forgetting history like that will have a big price to pay.
Fname Optional Lname
and you have not addressed the topic at hand – JK Rowling spreads hatred and truly believes that trans women are waiting in restrooms to rape cis gendered females. She is obsessed with genitalia and pretends to actually be in support of LGBTQ rights.
man5996853
I didn’t know that they provided wi-fi access during your trips on the shortbus. Good for you.
Fahd
Hypocrisy needs to be exposed whenever and wherever. There are plenty more corporate interests pretending to be allies while at the same time promoting and financing anti-gay and anti-trans causes and politicians.
A curse on @cursedchildNYC and all of this widespread hypocrisy.
It’s important to stay angry and not relativize or aide or abet this kind of duplicity.
Jim
JK. You created a wonderful world in 7 outstanding books, but after that pablum.
Ya might want to . . . well just go away.
sfhairy
Oh, I guess her other best-selling crime genre books mean nothing. Most likely you’ve never read them.
mailliw110
sfhairy…yeah, they mean nothing. What are you going to do about that?
Brian
Agreed, it’s so weird! She chose a name for herself that was semi-anonymous and genderless, and then she collected billions of dollars… and then she decided to be very public and loud about gender. She is a bizarre woman. Just buy an island and go away forever!
monty clift
She’s a homophobic POS. Faking concern for LGB people when she’s been openly showing support to some of the most vehement homophobes.
Her and the rest of the TERF trash can go suck a fat one.
Mister P
The very tiny percentage of women who are trans sure do scare the hell out of a lot of people for some reason.
Jaquelope
That does seem to be the case.
mastik8
Agreed, but thinking that “the very tiny percentage of women who are trans” would think to ask themselves why, or if it is good in the long term, is itself considered transphobic by them.
mastik8
“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—i.e., 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.” So she dissents a bit? So what? That sounded like support. Sounds like perfect is the enemy of good to the trans community.
monty clift
Nobody is trying to erase sex, TERFs are the only thing that should actually be erased. JK Rowling’s half-assed virtue signalling tweets in support of LGBT mean nothing when she’s cheering on right wing bigots and nutcases who are advocating for the removal of LGBT rights. Nice try.
mastik8
@monty clift – She’s cheering on right wing bigots and nutcases who are advocating for the removal of LGBT rights? Who?
monty clift
@mastik8, Matt Walsh, Caroline Farrow, Helen Joyce….
Don’t be obtuse.
royalscribe_sf
She dissents to a completely nonexistent problem. She is saying that she’s being pressured to not identify as a woman. That’s complete bullshit. No one is saying that she cannot identify as a woman. If the trans movement stands for anything, it’s that each individual should be allowed to explain and express for themselves their own identity. Their OWN identity. No one is trying to make Rowling or you or anyone else express an identity that doesn’t fit.
Rowling has also lied and claimed that lesbians are being pressured to transition to be trans men. That’s a lie. It’s a dangerous, hurtful lie that has caused real world damage and violence to both trans people and lesbians.
She also claims that over 90% of trans people “de-transition.” It’s not true. It’s closer to 3%, and a lot of those did so either because they could no longer face the bigotry, or they identify as nonbinary, never had surgery, and simply decided to stop taking hormones.
mastik8
@royalscribe_s – Of what you wrote that could be fact checked I googled and most of what you wrote can’t be verified. Your 90 percent claim? Detransitioning? Lesbians being pressured I have heard but from lesbians. You said that, “If the trans movement stands for anything, it’s that each individual should be allowed to explain and express for themselves their own identity. Their OWN identity.” Then why is she being attacked for doing exactly that?
bachy
@mastik8: I wish Queerty would publish an article that collates JK Rowling quotes on the subject, because all we tend to hear is how much “everyone” hates her and what an asshole she is. Like you, I have read (some of) her commentary and I honestly don’t know what the big deal is. She supports trans rights, but proposes a defense of womanhood that has feminist legitimacy. OK, fine. Rowling is not inclined to lip sync trans party talking points, but I feel there is room for her position in the ongoing debate on gender.
edwardnvirginia
It is morally wrong to encourage children and adolescents to start powerful chemical therapies, and to have surgeries, that are more or less irreversible, because they ‘feel’ – or because someone else ‘feels’ – that they are a different gender identity that they want to achieve. Sadly, and hopefully adults who were ‘transitioned’ without full and complete informed consent (which btw, a child or adolescent is UN-able to give), who come to despise what was done to them, will become very wealthy by suing social workers, psychologists and counselors, surgeons, hospitals, … and all the LGBTQ+ groups! and media! – who encourage them.
stephen_25
Dead on.
I could be very wrong but I agree that kids shouldn’t start treatment and taking hormones until they are are 18 minimum.
Pumping themselves with chemicals and aggressive surgeries doing harm to their bodies
monty clift
Nobody is impressed with this TERF copy&paste garbage.
royalscribe_sf
Edward, I have great news! Not one minor in the U.S. has ever undergone transitional surgery — except in the old days when intersex babies were born with both male and female genitalia and the parents (or sometimes doctors on their own) decided which way to go. But in terms of trans affirming surgery? It does not happen for anyone under 18. Period.
As for “chemical therapies,” I assume you’re talking about puberty blockers. That’s a big step, but puberty resumes immediately once the individual stops taking the puberty blockers. You really should check out the details on the Mayo Clinics’ website or other sources.
You’re concerned about a nonexistent problem.
cheks
Hormone blockers have been and continue to be used on non trans children who start puberty too early. There are long term studies that show the effects of this treatment are not harmful, and children go on to have normal puberty at the appropriate time.
Puberty blockers have been proven safe in non-trans kids, there’s nothing special about trans kids that makes puberty blockers dangerous to them.
mastik8
Puberty is not optional.
Jellybeans
“Edward, I have great news! Not one minor in the U.S. has ever undergone transitional surgery — except in the old days when intersex babies were born with both male and female genitalia and the parents (or sometimes doctors on their own) decided which way to go. But in terms of trans affirming surgery? It does not happen for anyone under 18. Period.“
In the U.K. it has happened. There was a clinic in London that was shut down after a lawsuit. The debate in the U.K. gets used by Far Right crazies in the U.S. to pass anti-trans bills. It can not be ignored and needs to be discussed head on.
It’s the same with how gendered protection laws are written differently in the U.S. verses U.K. Not understanding those differences makes people talk past each other.
DannyParks
So J K Rowling herself did not make these Twitter statements and yet there is a Queerty story and lots of people giving her abuse as if she did?
Why not make a story or get angry at the NYC & San Francisco theatres that tried to cash in and get publicity from putting her name on Pride month together on the same Tweet.
On this occasion she has literally done nothing to get this negative press and reaction.
Brian
^ Somebody commented without reading.
DannyParks
I read it. Points still stand.
Neoprene
What rights of transgender people did JK Rowling attack? The article doesn’t mention it.
eve
Well one of her posts which I believe there were a few she said the following “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud.” Which is not only obviously devalidating to trans women but also to intersex people and ciswomen who can’t menstrate. But pretty much you can just look up “jk Rowling transphobic comments” and you’ll find her tweets and other social media stuff where she was transphobic.
leo1008
@eve: your response is fairly typical. When someone is pressed on anything that Rowling has said which is actually offensive, they struggle to come up with any conclusive examples. The example you provide simply is not particularly damning. At most, it could be asserted that the joke is in poor taste, but that hardly justifies the kind of vitriolic response that Rowling has received from Far Left extremists. Her point, quite frankly, is incontrovertible: in the statement that you’re trying to quote, Rowling is saying that there’s a biological element to our biological sex. If anyone actually wants to argue with that, they may as well proceed to announce that the Earth is actually flat.
inbama
@eve
Trans people should be able to live their lives without demanding everyone live in a topsy-turvy world where actual women can no longer be called women.
It’s just nuts.
mastik8
@eve – JK Rowling’s comments were “obviously devalidating” to trans and intersex but asking women, over half the population, to now be called “people who menstruate” isn’t? Then the presumption of the trans community in appointing themselves to speak for Cisgender women who can’t have periods by saying that it devaluates them as well? When did Cisgender women appoint the trans community as their spokespeople? Also, if you can do it to them why can’t they do it to the trans community?
johncp56
Who cares hateful twat, billionaire
Deacon
Y’all need to get over it and move on….It took the alphabet community what ummmm over 40yrs to jump on the trans lives band wagon…
abfab
J.R.R. Tolkien. Can you tell this ”woman” to go to hell please. Over her. How boring were her books. Done. Talk about an annoying bitch.
inbama
She’s classier than you’ll ever be.
abfab
You’re common.
iminheatlikeacat
I love how each time you post a JK Rowling story they get more and more comments each time from people standing up for her and not seeing the stuff you’re trying to pull. It also brings out the crazies who resort to name calling because they know (and they know that we know) their argument doesn’t have a leg to stand on (paging Monty Cliff)!