15.2: Sorting It Out: J.K. Rowling, transphobia, and what just happened to our community (with Jackson Bird)

Welcome to a very special episode of PotterCast!


This week, J.K. Rowling angered and saddened many fans when she
came out in support of a woman whose company had not renewed her
employment contract because she refused to recognize the legally
protected rights of trans people. In coming back from a
months-long Twitter hiatus, J.K. Rowling mischaracterized the
facts of the case in support of a dangerous and unscientific
movement that invalidates the trans experience, and in doing so
flies in the face of medical consensus worldwide.


Her comments also confused a lot of fans who are not fully
familiar with the issues at stake, or cannot understand how
someone whose book series is so vehemently about tolerance can
express support for a woman whose views invalidate so many
people's existences. That's why in this episode, we are going
over it all.


Jackson Bird, longtime friend of the podcast and
of Leaky, as well as author, trans activist and educator, and
expert Waffler, joins us to explain and process what this means
for Harry Potter fans. We discuss:


What actually happened

What J.K. Rowling said versus what happened to the woman in
question, Maya Forstater

Why many fans saw this coming

What to do now that the creator of the series we love so
dearly has taken this stance

How to support trans and non-binary communities

How we as fans are feeling about all of this

What to do now, especially since we still love this community



We hope you'll listen and share. Here are some helpful resources,
including things we mention in the show:


Jack's book! SORTED: Growing up, coming out, and finding my
place

A list of information from medical communities around the
world validating that trans and non-binary people exist

GLAAD's transgender media program has great resources, FAQs,
ways to take action, and ways to learn

Transstudent.org has more Information regarding sex and
gender

GONADS, the great series by RadioLab



News articles regarding this incident:


The Cut

Vox (on British culture and the "gender critical" movement)

The Mary Sue



News articles regarding past incidents that have also upset the
community:


The Mary Sue on Johnny Depp and the Crimes of Grindelwald

Past indicators that J.K. Rowling was following
trans-exclusionary ideologies

The Guardian on J.K. Rowling's writings on Native American
cultulre

"The Harry Potter Series Makes a Mess of Its Commentary on
Racism" — The Mary Sue

"Is Fantastic Beasts 2 Racist? Not Quite" — The Washington
Post



PotterCast and Leaky stand with our trans and non-binary friends
and colleagues. 


This episode is in the process of being transcribed. For more,
see pottercast.com.