Actor Daniel Radcliffe is speaking out regarding the controversy surrounding “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling and her recent tweets that drew backlash from the LGBTQ+ community. Rowling came under fire over the weekend for taking issue with an op-ed using the phrase “people who menstruate,” and seemingly poked fun at the non-gendered language. “I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. someone help me out. wumben? wimpund? woomud?” she wrote.
Radcliffe responded with a statement published on The Trevor Project’s website, acknowledging that Rowling is “unquestionably responsible” for his success and he doesn’t wish to perpetuate the idea that he and the writer are at odds personally. However, Radcliffe said he felt “compelled” to share his take on Rowling’s position. “Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I,” he wrote in part.
Rowling stood by her original comment in multiple follow-up tweets. However more celebrities, including Sarah Paulson and Jonathan Van Ness, slammed Rowling’s remarks; and GLAAD issued a response in which they encouraged followers to direct their support to initiatives helping black transgender people amid the current climate.
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