Is it time to just let the Harry Potter series go?

Over and over again we try and figure out what to do with the Harry Potter series moving forward and should that be a question? Or should we give it up?

For so long we’ve clung to the idea that we could somehow save the Harry Potter series by separating it from J.K. Rowling but is it time to finally let it go? Should we just take a step back and ask if it is worth it when it causes pain to the trans community because of Rowling’s harmful tweets and blogposts?

We, as fans of the series, have a unique opportunity to treat this series for what it is: Something we grew up loving but maybe something we’ve outgrown. Sure, we loved to still call ourselves Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and Slytherins, but that was before the true beliefs of J.K. Rowling were widely known from her Twitter presence. And yes, there is the argument that you can separate the art from the artist but when said artist benefits from it still, can we say that?

To be honest, maybe it is time we take a step back from the series. Re-evaluate our love for it and see how it can move forward at all with Rowling still taking in money from it every time we go to a park or spend money on merchandise. Maybe we need to think about who is being harmed in this process and ask ourselves if we’re willing to be complicit.

We loved the Harry Potter series growing up and it gave us a love to keep fighting for what’s right and what’s right now is to protect those in the trans community and stand up for them and if that means leaving Harry Potter behind, then we need to listen and do so. Because no fictional world is more important than the real one and those we have to support and love in it.

Remember to be kind to one another.