Beyond the Boy Who Lived

Trigger Warning: This Article discusses transphobia, including J. K. Rowling’s public statements and their impact on the LGBTQ+ community. Please take care while reading. Support-based resources are listed at the end.

For many of us, Harry Potter was a gateway to magic, belonging, and self-discovery. But for LGBTQ+ fans, particularly trans and nonbinary people, J. K. Rowling’s vocal transphobia has made loving the Wizarding World more complicated–and often, deeply painful.

This Pride Month, as we celebrate queer joy, resilience, and stories, it’s worth asking: Is it possible to engage with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter ethically? And if not, what alternatives are available that center on the very people Rowling excludes?

Spoiler alert: Yes, you can do both.

Why Many Fans Have Stepped Away?

J. K. Rowling’s repeated and public anti-trans rhetoric — documented extensively on social media and criticized by LGBTQ+ advocacy groups — has alienated many fans, particularly those within the trans community. Her posts have contributed to harmful narratives that paint trans people as “threats” rather than as human beings deserving dignity and rights.

The 2020 Instagram post by LGBTQ+-friendly podcast studios Ruthless Readers (@ruthlessreaders) outlines a key point: Rowling isn’t just a problematic fave. She’s a wealthy, influential figure who continues to use her platform to push anti-trans talking points. In this post, the message is simple–it’s not just about what Rowling says, but what she funds and amplifies with the money fans provide by purchasing official merchandise, attending Wizarding World events, or streaming her content.

It’s not just about “cancel culture”-- it’s about ethical consumption and ally ship.

Can You Still Love the World Without Supporting the Author?

Absolutely—but with intention. If you’re someone who grew up loving Hogwarts, it’s valid to feel emotionally tied to that universe. You don’t have to abandon the magic entirely to stand in solidarity with the queer community. What you can do is shift your engagement in ways that don’t line Rowling’s pockets.

Here are a few ideas to help you do just that:

• Buy Secondhand or Borrow

If you want to revisit the books or introduce them to a new generation, consider checking them out from the library, borrowing from a friend, or purchasing used copies. This ensures no additional money goes to Rowling. The same goes for movie box sets or merch — thrift stores and secondhand apps are your ethical friends.

• Support Fan Creations

Fanfic writers, fan artists, and cosplayers have long carried the emotional torch of the Wizarding World. Many have created queer-affirming spaces where trans and nonbinary characters are canon, and Hogwarts is more inclusive than Rowling ever envisioned. Check out platforms like AO3 or follow queer fan artists and writers on Instagram and Tumblr for rich, expansive reinterpretations.

As Ruthless Readers shared in this follow-up post, fandom belongs to the fans–not the corporations or creators who exploit it. Reclaiming Hogwarts as a space of inclusive imagination is a radical act of queer resistance.

• Redirect Your Money to Trans and Queer Causes

If you engage with Wizarding World media, consider “offsetting” it with a donation to a trans-affirming organization like Trans Lifeline, the Marsha P. Johnson Institue, or your local LGBTQ+ center. Let your engagement serve a bigger purpose.

Dive Into New Magic: Queer-Affirming Alternatives

For those who are ready to move on beyond Rowling altogether, the good news is: that magic didn’t die with Harry Potter. A new generation of fantasy books and fandoms is blossoming–many written by queer authors, or featuring dynamic, inclusive characters that reflect the world.

Here are just a few magical reads worth your wand:

• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

This viral fantasy sensation combines dragons, deadly academia, and slow-burn romance with an incredibly immersive world. Though not explicitly queer in the first book, the series promises deeper representation as it progresses — and has already fostered a robust and inclusive fan community.

• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.

The ACOTAR series may have started as a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but it’s since grown into a sprawling saga of found family, queer love, and anti-imperialist magic. The books’ popularity on BookTok is because of their emotional depth and representation of diverse relationships — including same-gender couples and trauma-informed story arcs.

• Queer-Centered Indie Books

The Hashtag Ruthless Resource Guide is a treasure trove of indie titles, authors, and content creators who are writing rich fantasy worlds where queerness is normalized, not a side plot. From trans wizards to nonbinary elves, this guide is a Pride Month essential.

Queer Joy Is Magic

Fans don’t owe Rowling their silence or loyalty–especially not when she actively contributes to transphobic harm. Choosing to divest from her works doesn’t mean giving up the magic. It means reclaiming it.

This Pride Month, whether you’re rereading an old fanfic, discovering new queer-affirming fantasy series, or donating trans-mutual aid funds, remember: magic has always been queer. Hogwarts taught us spells, but fandoms have all taught us how to fight back.

And that? That’s the real magic.

Conclusion

Engaging with the Wizarding World in 2025 comes with the necessary self-awareness. We can honor the joy it once gave us while acknowledging the pain it causes others–and make better choices because of it. We don’t have to pretend Rowling didn’t write Harry Potter. But we, as allies, can choose not to let her define it — or us.

So this June, light your wands, gather your chosen family, and remember: queerness and magic are not mutually exclusive. They’re symbiotic. And the most powerful spell of all is solidarity with our queer and trans friends and loved ones.

Resources for Support:

• Trans Lifeline
• The Trevor Project
• Marsha P. Johnson Institute
• GLAAD: LGBTQ Media Advocacy