On the 1st of September, Harry Potter first rode the Hogwarts Express to begin his journey at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Therefore, September is officially the start of Harry Potter Season!
I’m a Potterhead. Always have been. I was first introduced to Harry Potter in Year 4 (2004, age 8) when my class teacher would read us chapters before or after lessons. We loved it. My mom bought us the books when she could, too. She took us to watch the films.
I truly believe Harry Potter is the reason I’m a fantasy author
Just because the author turned her back on the morals written into the series, that doesn’t mean she can take away the love I and many others have for the series.
But what do you do when you are vehemently against her ideology and don’t want to fund her campaign against the rights of trans people? Here are some of my ideas (and please share if you have any more).
Watch physical copies
I have owned physical copies of the DVDs for about a decade. This means I can rewatch the series as many times as I want without more money going into her pocket and funding hate campaigns. If you don’t already own a physical set, don’t worry. I’m sure it’s easy to find them second hand online or in stores like CEX. Buying these second hand means you get to enjoy the series without spending money that will go directly to her.
Read physical copies
Similarly, you can read the physical books as many times as you like if you own them already and have done for years like me. If not, source them second hand. Borrow them from the library (although a small royalty may go to her if you do). Search Vinted, charity shops, carboot sales, or ask family and friends. I’m sure you can find one quite easily without giving to her campaigns.
Don’t say the name
From now on, refer to HER as:
- She Who Must Not Be Named
- You Know Who
- HER
- The Author
- Harry Potter’s Original Creator
Remember the story NOT the artist
The product, the books, are an entity all their own. They exist outside of her and have done for decades now. Once each was published, they were no longer a part of her. They are an immortalisation of who she was and what she created back then. Not now. Who she was then created this phenomenon that shaped a generation and nothing should take that from us. Those of us who were shaped by those stories will have HP engraved in our skin forever. The nostalgia, comfort, and joy they still bring shouldn’t be taken from us.
Remove the name. Remove her stamp. The person she became does not change the person she was. The person who gave us this gift.
I can’t find the quote but I believe it was Elizabeth Gilbert who said that once a book is published, it’s no longer the author’s. It belongs to the reader. Each person takes something different from a book, regardless of what the author intended.
So Harry Potter is ours, not hers.
Speak up for and augment the trans community
Sharing the experiences of the trans community that She Who Must Not Be Named is actively trying to suppress is one way to counteract her influence. We are standing with them during their fight for visibility and existence in an increasingly hostile society. Trans people are being used as scapegoats for all the problems in the West. It’s illogical. It’s hateful. It’s cruel.
How you can support the trans community:
- Follow trans creators online
- Share trans voices
- Read trans books
- Review trans books online
- Nominate trans voices for prizes
- Give donations to charities and campaigns supporting trans folks
- Befriend trans folks
- Attend Pride events
- Educate yourself to understand their lived experience
- Shut down negative talk about trans individuals in conversation with peers
Use this statement “There are no trans individuals here to speak for themselves, so let’s end this conversation when we don’t know their lived experience”
Speak out against her
If it’s safe and you feel comfortable to do so, actively speak out against her ideology and TERF campaigns online. Use education and reason to show others that what she is doing is wrong. Attend trans rights rallies and protests (again, if you feel safe to do so). Use your social media platform for anti-hate.
Resources for trans support
365 Trans Visibility | Celebrating Trans Voices
Useful contacts for LGBTQIA+ mental health | Support | Mind
Trans Unite | Find a Transgender Support Group in Your Area
Sources of support – TransActual
Trans Resources – LGBT Foundation
Trans Directory: Comprehensive UK Support for Transgender People
Resources I used for my Gender Essays
Sincerely,
S. xx
S. R. Crawford 