- Title: Harry Potter fan sites step back from Rowling over transgender views
- Date: 3rd July 2020
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - APRIL 22, 2018) (REUTERS) ***WARNING:CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF "HARRY POTTER" AUTHOR J.K. ROWLING POSING FOR PICTURES AT "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" BROADWAY OPENING VARIOUS OF ROWLING SPEAKING TO REPORTER ROWLING POSING FOR PICTURES ROWLING WITH HUSBAND, NEIL MURRAY, POSING FOR PICTURES FANS AT OPENING WAVING AND CHEERING FAN SHOWING AUTOGRAPHED COPIES OF "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" COVERS EXTERIOR OF THE LYRIC THEATER
- Embargoed: 17th July 2020 11:08
- Keywords: Harry Potter J.K. Rowling Mugglenet The Leaky Cauldron fan websites fans transgender issues
- Location: INTERNET/ NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City: INTERNET/ NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Celebrities,Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA003CL97XVX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Two of the biggest Harry Potter fan sites on Thursday (July 2) distanced themselves from author J.K. Rowling because of her beliefs on transgender issues, calling them at odds with the message of empowerment in her best-selling books.
Websites The Leaky Cauldron and Mugglenet said they would no longer provide links to the British author's personal website, use photos of her, or write about achievements that do not relate to the Wizarding World she created.
The joint statement by the fan sites said Rowling's views on "marginalized people (are) out of step with the message of acceptance and empowerment we find in her books and celebrated by the Harry Potter community."
It follows a lengthy personal essay by Rowling last month in which she detailed her research and beliefs on transgender issues, including examples of where she thought demands by transgender activists were dangerous to women.
The essay was widely criticized by LGBTQ advocacy groups as divisive and transphobic.
Rowling's seven "Harry Potter" novels about a boy wizard have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide and were turned into eight blockbuster movies. She followed up with a spin-off movie franchise "Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them."
The fan sites, which together have more than one million Facebook followers, said they found it difficult to speak out against Rowling because they had admired her work for so long, but said "it would be wrong not to use our platforms to counteract the harm she has caused."
"While we don't condone the mistreatment JKR (Rowling) has received for airing her opinions about transgender people, we must reject her beliefs," the statement added.
Rowling's representatives declined to comment on Friday's statement.
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