Lilly Wachowski on Her New Studio Anarchists United, the Black Power Origins of ‘The Matrix’ and How ‘Harry Potter’ Fans Are ‘Supporting Trans Genocide’
In 2014, Laverne Cox made history as the first transgender person to appear on the cover of Time magazine under the headline “The Transgender Tipping Point.” The accompanying story, written by Katy Steinmetz, positioned the fight for trans rights as the next big civil rights movement “poised to challenge long-held cultural norms and beliefs.” It’s […]
In a recent interview, filmmaker Lilly Wachowski made a controversial statement regarding Harry Potter fans. She asserted that these fans are contributing to "trans genocide," arguing that supporting J.K. Rowling's works is essentially supporting her transphobic views and actions. Wachowski, founder of the Anarchists United Foundation and Anarchists United Studio, which aims to support marginalized filmmakers, drew a parallel between boycotting the entertainment industry and boycotting Tesla, suggesting that not watching the HBO adaptation of Rowling's Harry Potter series would be a way to protest against Rowling's harmful stance on transgender rights.
She emphasized that the money spent on her works directly funds her efforts to push anti-trans legislation worldwide. Wachowski's stance follows Rowling's successful campaign against Amnesty International UK, which had previously criticized Rowling's trans-excluding organizations. Despite this backlash, some actors involved in the HBO reboot have faced pressure to distance themselves from Rowling's views, while others have continued to participate in the project for financial reasons.
Wachowski, who has faced rejection for her own trans-inclusive projects in the past, sees this as an opportunity to tell "cool and queer trans stories" through her new ventures.
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