Dear JK Rowling,

Girl, we need to talk. First, I am and always will be a hardcore Harry Potter fan. I have a tattoo of “After all this time? Always” on my arm…so I’m not just some ‘hop on the wizarding world bandwagon’…’oh, I watched all the movies so I’m an HP expert’ type of fan. Every Fall of every year, I reread the Harry Potter series. Why? For the warm and fuzzies. Rereading good books is like visiting old friends.

But, JK, you disappoint.

When you posted your views on transgender folk a few years ago, my biggest reaction was confusion. The strongest themes in Harry Potter are acceptance, inclusion, family, friendship and love. It is those themes that keep the books alive, the reason that fans keep rereading them and sharing them. I defended your right to have your opinion, an opinion, I suspected, that had to do with your DV history.

In our culture we plop celebrities on pedestals, and when they reveal themselves to be human like the rest of us, with prejudices and trauma, we tear them apart…what fun. I was also unsettled at the number of actors who immediately distanced themselves from you. I think it was a lost opportunity for the Harry Potter alumni to come together to educate. Instead, each of them protected their brand, which must have been painful for you.

I understand your belief that you are fighting the feminist fight so that all women feel safe. I don’t understand why that does not include transwomen. But I admittedly have crazy ideas about gender. I sometimes imagine we are all beams of light bumping into each other. And in a hundred years, I see a world where gender is as fluid as the seasons. This preoccupation with what genitalia people are sporting is a distraction from real issues: greed, bigotry, the end of democracy as we know it…

Fast forward to a week ago, when you felt the need to voice your disdain for people of the world who identify as Asexual on Asexual Day, a day we celebrate asexuality because it must suck living in societies where everything is marketed toward libidos (Don’t know what asexual is? Educate yourself. Google it). Your comment was: “Happy International Fake Oppression Day to everyone who wants complete strangers to know they don’t fancy a shag.”

Really, JK?

Also…inquiring minds want to know…WHY do you care? With all your bazillions of dollars, this is the fight you choose? This is your legacy? Acting like a troll and spewing hate for the sake of churning the shit pot? Creating chaos and pitting people against each other? It reminds me of something…

“Lord Voldemort’s gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great.” (Dumbledore, HP and the Goblet of Fire, written by JK ROWLING)

Hm…

Oh, wait. That’s not the whole quote: “We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.”

Wait, what was that?

“…our hearts are open.”

Just a reminder, YOU wrote those words. And what beautiful words they are. Spoken in the book by one of the most beloved characters ever, Albus Dumbledore.

There are some celebrities, book characters, cartoons, etc., that I feel such a connection with I know if we met in real life, we would be besties. Dumbledore comes to me in moments when I need a wise, grandfather-like figure with amazing fashion sense. He reminds me to be patient, but strong, and that love always wins.

He also says that we all must…“make a choice between what is right, and what is easy.”

It is easy to spew hate on social media. It is easy to sit on the throne of righteousness instead of turning that judgmental eye toward ourselves. It is easy to ignore our faults and close our hearts to the things that unite us.

For the love of Dumbledore, get educated, JK. Sit down with transgender women and men and GET EDUCATED. LISTEN to their stories. Have conversations, challenge yourself. Do the hard things.

In a world that feels filled to the brim with Voldemorts these days, choose to be a Dumbledore. He’s obviously part of you. Choose love. Choose kindness. And if you can’t PLEASE just go buy an island and build a ridiculous castle with all sorts of secret passages, and drink butterbeer all day. Market VIP visits with your fans and give out free hugs…it will heal you.

My fear is that these wonderful books, filled with friendship and unity and adventure, these cherished stories that show us the best of humanity, are going to be shoved in the shadows by your meaningless word vomit. Someday, they may be banned not because of their content, but by their association with you.

My hope is that you find a new purpose, a new magic…or maybe just the capacity to ask yourself, “What would Dumbledore do?”

Xoxo

Amanda