Trans rights are human rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About 1% of the population identifies as trans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than 40% of trans people have attempted suicide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Around 80% of trans people have sought medical health treatment from licensed professionals, compared to only around 45% of cis people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’m making this list to paint a clear picture, which is that around 1% of our population are vulnerable, often in crisis, and they deserve our compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’m cis gender, male, heterosexual. This isn’t about me, and it’s not about any specific person I’ve known, though I have been friends with quite a few trans folks. I’m not claiming to be an ally, or “virtue signaling,” or any of the other B.S. we throw up to keep people from being kind and doing the right thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are in another election cycle, and the last one had the Republicans airing anti-trans propaganda all over the place. I remember watching one of the screens in a Mel’s Diner tuned to ESPN2, flabbergasted at the naked hate on display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trans rights are human rights, and I’ve already seen some hints at scapegoating trans people again, which sucks. So, with whatever voice I have, I’m going to say again that we should be looking out for trans people, not demonizing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rowling made a ton of money, and donated bunches to charity. I’m not going to ignore her generosity and her philanthropy. She acquired wealth and did some real good with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Rowling identifies as a TERF, and has also used some of her considerable wealth to support politicians and policies that are anti-trans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TERF stands for “trans-exclusionary radical feminist.” TERFs are bad. TERFs are attacking people that are already vulnerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rowling uses her wealth and her voice to hurt some of the people that are in the most danger, as I described at the beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is no ethical way to consume Harry Potter media at this point. Some of the money goes back to Rowling, and Rowling uses that money to fuel hate. That sucks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since Rowling revealed who she is, and repeatedly doubled-down on her messages of hate, people have looked at the Harry Potter franchise critically, and found reasons to hate on the series. Some of these criticisms are fair, but a lot of it feels like revisionist history, to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Harry Potter series captured the imaginations of an entire generation and got them reading again. There are good things about the series. Rowling did some clever things that I’ve learned from, such as hiding things in plain sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, Rowling represents other cultures and races in Harry Potter by leaning into cheap stereotypes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The franchise is undeniably a cultural touchstone, and Rowling made an indelible mark on the world with her story about The Chosen One and his fantastic wizarding school. Unfortunately, the franchise is now poisoned, and should probably not be read or enjoyed by anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There’s Macy Gray<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bette Midler<\/a>, unfortunately. She doesn’t seem to understand the effects of her words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dave Chapelle<\/a> is always looking for different ways to be super problematic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n