“Harry Potter” Fan Fiction Writers Continue to Create Magic
A wise wizard once told us, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.” This is proving to be true for Harry Potter fan fiction writers who have decided to turn the platform into a place of diversity, inclusivity, love, and support. This is just one of the ways the Potter fandom has been taking a stand to increase awareness of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The comments made by J.K. Rowling herself have hurt thousands of fans across the world, causing some of them to question if they could remain in the fandom at all. Many have been struggling, but they’re ready to make their mark. This is where HP TransFest on Tumblr comes into play. It seeks to “celebrate all non-cis characters in the Harry Potter extended universe” and calls upon fan fiction writers to create even more trans content.
The site is filled with terrific tales of genderqueer, intersex, trans, and nonbinary characters who make the Harry Potter world the wonderful place it is. Writers from all different walks of life are joining in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community and sharing some of their thoughts on the situation. Tristan Jensen, a trans genderfluid writer who has 17 works in progress on the site, shared this:
It made me realise that for years, I’d been moulding her world into whatever I wanted it to be. Plenty of people had. It wasn’t hers anymore, and I wanted to keep it.
It became very clear to writers that fan fiction gave them the power to regain control of some of the Harry Potter narrative. Stephanie Owen, a pansexual writer, shared her thoughts on the gloom hanging over the fandom at this time:
The HP [f]andom has this dark cloud over it because its creator, its life bringer, can’t even begin to comprehend the damage she does to those who already feel damaged or not good enough. […] Harry Potter as a fandom has become bigger than JK Rowling. So we continue to create magic, and bring new ideas.
Harry Potter has been a light for many of us in dark times. We’ve explored worlds where we can change our identity through potions and conjured magical creatures to drive away the dark ones. Coming together to fight for equality is something the golden trio taught us for years, and for the fandom to continue that fight is one way we can honor them.
