A Letter to LitJoy's Transgender Community and Allies

Dear LitJoy Transgender Community and Allies,

We love you with our whole hearts. We stand with you and affirm unequivocally that trans women are women, and trans men are men. Transgender people are real, valid, and loved. J.K. Rowling’s statement saying otherwise did real harm to the trans community.

For people who delved into the world of Harry Potter and found inspiration, comfort and acceptance there, the actions of J.K.R. are a betrayal. As individuals, we each have to grapple with how this author's betrayal influences our deeply personal relationship with the Harry Potter stories.

You may decide to extinguish your love for Harry Potter and erase it from your life. That is valid, and we completely understand.

You may decide that you could no sooner rip out your own heart than deny the positive influence of these stories in your life. That is also valid, and we completely understand.

Whatever you decide, do not let anyone shame you for what you love. Your choice is based on your personal experience, and involves factors that no other person can ever fully know. We hear you, you are valid, and you are not alone.

In his essay to the Trevor Project, Daniel Radcliffe says:

“I really hope that you don’t entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you. If these books taught you that love is the strongest force in the universe, capable of overcoming anything; if they taught you that strength is found in diversity, and that dogmatic ideas of pureness lead to the oppression of vulnerable groups; if you believe that a particular character is trans, nonbinary, or gender fluid, or that they are gay or bisexual; if you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life — then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred. And in my opinion nobody can touch that.”

(“Daniel Radcliffe Responds to J.K. Rowlings’s Tweets on Gender Identity”, June 6, 2020; )

At LitJoy, we want our community to feel safe to be themselves. We know that the magic-loving, book-loving community is diverse, and we don’t always agree. We would never ask you to follow us or purchase from us if that makes you uncomfortable.

Here is what we would like you to know about us:

LitJoy is not affiliated with J.K. Rowling or Warner Bros. Studio
All LitJoy products are designed in-house by LitJoy or commissioned from independent artists.
LitJoy makes donations to a growing list of charitable organizations, including The Trevor Project, HP Alliance and OUR Rescue. We do not make a performance out of these donations.
LitJoy gives customers the opportunity to make donations to charitable organizations, including The Trevor Project, The HP Alliance, and OUR Rescue, conveniently at checkout. You do not need to make a purchase at LitJoy to make a donation.
LitJoy does not discriminate on the basis of a person's race, color, religion, sex (including Transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, or disability.

Whether you are a fan, or former fan, of Harry Potter, what matters now is how you choose to embody those values that spoke to you from the stories. For us, those values are courage, compassion, and above all, love. Always.

Sincerely,
The LitJoy Team

Below are some resources to help you if you are struggling.

Check out the Harry Potter Alliance
https://www.thehpalliance.org/

If you have more resources to share, please send them our way! @litjoycrate

A Letter to LitJoy's Transgender Community and Allies

More LitJoy for You!

Celebrate Pride with these Book Recs

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Special Edition

Chain of Thorns

Search