Okay, but like…what’s really being accomplished here? What is making some (admittedly gorgeous) fanart of Harry with top surgery scars going to do to solve anything? The TERF is still benefiting from all this, hp and all support for it (even non monetary or fanmade) is still elevating HER voice more than anyone else’s… what’s the harm in just giving up hp? Moving on to better things that don’t threaten people’s existences? I’m pretty sure still supporting it is doing WAY more harm than good.
Thank you for sending in this ask. This post is long but does a good job responding to some of the issues you bring up in your ask.
The existence of the Magical Trans community is never meant to imply that people have to continue creating for HP. JKR’s stance on trans people (and her other bigoted views) are vile, and we completely understand and support people who want nothing to do with her.
However, there are trans people who still participate in this community, for many reasons, including those who have connected with other trans people and are creating for themselves and their friends. The Magical Trans community exists to support them, uplift their voices, and connect us in a massive fandom.
The truth is that most people who still interact with official HP content will never go onto the internet looking for trans Harry Potter art or fic. We are not affecting the popularity of HP as a whole by writing fic and making art on niche corners of the internet. HP as a franchise is so encompassing that fandom is barely a drop of water in it’s visibility, and if making connections and trans content in this fandom brings trans people even the tiniest bit of joy, then we support them.
Again, it is a always choice– if someone personally does not want anything to do with Harry Potter, then we understand and support them in not engaging with content. But others have found community here and they also deserve respect.
Overall, trans people and allies deserve to engage with HP fandom in the capacity they choose for themselves. We are already hyper-aware of JKR’s views and create works in spite of and in direct opposition to those views, not in support. If this is something that upsets others, we encourage them to disengage and take care of themselves first and foremost.
There will always be a community here for those that need it. ♥
- Bee and the mods
