'Harry Potter' Star Daniel Radcliffe Explains Comments on Rowling, Trans Women

"Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe revisited the open letter he wrote in 2020 defending trans women in response to comments made by J.K. Rowling, the author of the popular fantasy novel series.

Looking back on the letter, which was published on The Trevor Project's website, Radcliffe told IndieWire that it was Rowling's own writing that spoke to LGBTQ+ youth and, being the star of the film franchise that was based on the books, he felt a need to rise to the occasion when transphobic comments Rowling made on social media made headlines in June of 2020.

"The reason I [felt] very, very much as though I needed to say something when I did was because, particularly since finishing 'Potter,' I've met so many queer and trans kids and young people who had a huge amount of identification with Potter," Radcliffe explained.

"And so seeing them hurt on that day I was like, I wanted them to know that not everybody in the franchise felt that way," Radcliffe went on to add. "And that was really important."

The Trevor Project is dedicated to offering support to LGBTQ+ youth, who commit suicide at far higher rates than their heterosexual and cisgender peers.

As reported at the time, Radcliffe stated unequivocally in his June 8, 2020 letter that "trans women are women" – the very point that transgender women have been making for years in the face of social and political hostility.

"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," Radcliffe added in his 2020 missive.

The actor went on to note: "According to The Trevor Project, 78% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported being the subject of discrimination 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 invited readers to join him in learning how to "be a better ally" by reading The Trevor Project's Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth.

"It's an introductory educational resource that covers a wide range of topics, including the differences between sex and gender, and shares best practices on how to support transgender and nonbinary people," Radcliffe explained in the open letter.

In his recent interview with IndieWire, the actor noted his longstanding association with the youth support organization and said, "I don't think I would've been able to look myself in the mirror had I not said anything" in answer to Rowling's comments.