I’m a big Harry Potter fan, I saw every film in the cinema as they came out but I came a little late to the game with the books. I only read them about a year ago but I totally fell in love and was once again drawn into the Wizarding World.
Recently, it has come to the attention of the public that JK Rowling is not someone we want to support. She has said some pretty horrible things about people from the Trans community on twitter, and I am not okay with that. I’m not a big fan of ‘cancel culture’, and I think everyone deserves a chance to learn and change, but for the moment, Rowling is standing by her remarks and therefore I will not support her. I’ve been thinking about this a lot and I think there are ways you can still be a Potterhead and not financially support Rowling.
1. Buy secondhand books.
I’m pretty sure any charity shop I’ve ever been in has had at least one Harry Potter book. Amazon aways has a ‘used’ option too. This is something that not only ensures that Rowling isn’t receiving royalties but also is a step towards sustainable living. Buying second-hand books is something we should all try to do to reduce our carbon footprint, especially for books that have been around for a while.
2. Buy unlicensed merch.
By ‘unlicensed’, I mean buying from small shops that make their own Harry Potter themed merch, for example; buying from Etsy. This not only keeps the money away from Rowling but helps a small business owner, which is really important in the current economic state. You could also buy second hand from Depop or eBay or you could even make your own! I am slowly but surely knitting myself a Hufflepuff scarf!
3. Donate if you can.
If you’re visiting a Wizarding World Park or The Harry Potter Studios, try to donate to LGBTQIA+ organisations to balance out the economic support. This is a less achievable action, especial seen as the theme parks are so expensive it’s likely that you’ve saved to be there, so only donate if you can afford to. Here's a link to a list of LGBTQAI organisations you can donate to.
These are just some small and easy actions that can help you become a better Trans Ally. If you have any suggestions I would love to know!