Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has slammed author JK Rowling for her controversial tweets on transgender people. Earlier this month, Rowling received flak on Twitter when she criticised an opinion piece that used the phrase “people who menstruate” and said that discussion of gender identity invalidates biological sex.
Now, Radcliffe has addressed the row through an essay posted to the website of the Trevor Project, reports a website.
“Transgender women are women,” said Radcliffe, adding: “Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.”
The 30-year-old star stated that 78 per cent of transgender and nonbinary youth have reported that “they have been discriminated against due to their gender identity”. “It’s clear that we need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm,” Radcliffe wrote.
The author was criticised for denying the “lived consequences” of trans people’s experiences.
Radcliffe addressed the row, saying: “To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you.” (IANS)