Why It’s Time to Let Go of Hogwarts

For many of us, the Boy Who Lived was a lifeline. We grew up in those hallways; we found friendships in the pages when we felt alone in the real world. So, when the conversation turns to why supporting Harry Potter is harmful, the immediate reaction is often defensive. We want to protect our childhoods. We want to "separate the art from the artist."

But as a new TV series looms on the horizon, we have to move past our own comfort and look at the ripple effect this franchise creates in the present day. This isn’t about "policing" your favourite childhood book, it’s about understanding that Harry Potter is no longer a frozen piece of literature. It is a living, breathing cultural force that is actively being used to impact the lives of trans people and other marginalised groups.

The Myth of the Neutral Fan

A common refrain is: "I don’t agree with J.K. Rowling, but I still love the world she built." It’s an understandable sentiment, but it ignores how the world actually works. Harry Potter is a billion-pound franchise. Every time it is rebooted, merchandised, or trended on social media, it reinforces Rowling’s cultural relevance. She has explicitly stated that she views continued support of the franchise as a "win" for her views and a sign of public backing.

Even if you aren't buying a ticket or a wand, visibility is currency. Engagement keeps algorithms boosting the content, which keeps studios investing, which keeps Rowling positioned as "too important to ignore." In this ecosystem, there is no such thing as a "neutral" fan.

Real-World Power, Real-World Harm

This isn't just about "mean tweets." J.K. Rowling uses her massive platform and wealth to align with anti-trans organisations and fund groups lobbying against trans rights. This directly impacts healthcare, legal protections, and the daily safety of trans individuals.

When trans people say, "This hurts us," they aren't asking for a literary debate. They are telling us that the continued celebration of this world makes them feel unsafe and shows them who is willing to trade their dignity for a bit of nostalgia.

The Rot in the Foundation

Even if we could ignore the author’s current actions, we have to look at the text itself. The harm in the series is intersectional - it doesn’t just affect trans people; it targets race, disability, and religion through deeply embedded tropes.

• Racial Stereotyping: From the "interchangeable" Asian identity of Cho Chang to the "absent Black father" narrative surrounding Dean Thomas, the series often relies on lazy, harmful caricatures. Characters of colour like the Patil twins are frequently treated as "last resorts" or background noise, reinforcing a hierarchy of who matters in the Wizarding World.

• Antisemitic Imagery: The depiction of Goblins - hook-nosed, gold-obsessed bankers - mirrors historic antisemitic tropes used for centuries to justify the persecution of Jewish people.

• Slavery Apologism: The narrative surrounding House Elves is perhaps one of the most jarring. The text tells us they like being enslaved and that those who seek their liberation, like Hermione, are "annoying" or "naive." It normalises dehumanisation and mocks the very idea of resistance.

• Ableism and Purity: The concept of "Squibs" as family shames and the obsession with "Blood Purity" echo real-world eugenics and the idea that a person’s worth is tied to their "wholeness" or "purity."

  
  

Choosing Solidarity Over Comfort

Solidarity is not a passive thing. It requires us to ask uncomfortable questions: Who is being harmed by my choice? Whose safety am I trading for my comfort?

"Separating the art from the artist" is a luxury that only works when the artist is gone and the harm is in the past. But the harm is happening now. The stories we tell shape the world our children grow up in. When we continue to centre a franchise built on these tropes, and led by an individual actively fighting against human rights, we are telling marginalised communities that their pain is an acceptable price for our entertainment.

We Can Choose Better Stories

Letting go of one franchise is not the great loss it feels like. We live in a golden age of diverse, magical, and inclusive literature. There are countless creators out there building worlds where trans kids, Black and Brown kids, disabled kids, and Jewish kids are the heroes - not the stereotypes.

This isn't about shame. but we need to start taking responsibility. We can building a world where we listen when people say they are hurting. We have the power to choose better stories. We have the power to centre people over objects.

It’s time to close the book on Hogwarts and open a new one...

Better Stories to Get Lost In

If you’re looking for magic that loves you back, these authors and series are a fantastic place to start. They offer the wonder of "the chosen one" and secret worlds, but they centre the voices of the marginalised.

1. For the "Magical School" Fix

• "A Deadly Education" (The Scholomance Trilogy) by Naomi Novik

  The Vibe: A much darker, high-stakes magic school where the protagonist, El, is a biracial girl who is "prophesied" to destroy the world but chooses to save it instead. It tackles systemic inequality and the "cost" of magic.

  
  

• "Akata Witch" by Nnedi Okorafor

  The Vibe: Often called the "Nigerian Harry Potter," this follows Sunny, a girl born in New York but living in Nigeria, who discovers she has magical abilities. It’s steeped in West African mythology and features a beautiful "found family" dynamic.

  
  

2. For Trans & Non-Binary Heroes

• "Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston" by Esme Symes-Smith

  The Vibe: A fantastic Middle Grade series featuring a non-binary protagonist who wants to be a knight in a world with rigid gender roles. It’s joyful, defiant, and full of heart.

  
  

• "Cemetery Boys" by Aiden Thomas

  The Vibe: A story about a trans boy, Yadriel, who summons a ghost to prove his gender to his traditional Latine family. It’s a perfect blend of urban fantasy, mystery, and queer joy.

  
  

3. For Intersectional & Disabled Representation

• "Fourth Wing" (The Empyrean Series) by Rebecca Yarros

  The Vibe: (New for 2025/2026) A massive "Romantasy" hit featuring Violet, a protagonist with a chronic illness (EDS-coded) who has to survive a brutal dragon-riding academy. It explicitly addresses ableism and finding strength in different ways.

  
  

• "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

  The Vibe: A diverse heist crew in a magic-laced world. The leader, Kaz, is a cane user with PTSD, and the cast includes characters dealing with addiction, dyslexia, and different cultural backgrounds, all treated with deep complexity.

  
  

4. For Reclaiming the "Chosen One"

• "Children of Blood and Bone" by Tomi Adeyemi

  The Vibe: An epic West African-inspired fantasy about Zélie, who fights to bring magic back to her people after a monarchy tries to wipe it out. It is a direct and powerful response to systemic oppression and colorism.

  
  

• "The Gilded Ones" by Namina Forna

  The Vibe: Follows a girl who is deemed "impure" because her blood runs gold. She joins an army of girls just like her to fight for their own freedom.