transphobia – Page 2 – Hearts Still Care

Imane Khelif has emerged as a prominent figure in women’s boxing, known for her skill, dedication, and perseverance. As a representative of Algeria, she has become a symbol of hope and inspiration, particularly for young women in her country and beyond. Khelif’s journey in boxing is a testament to her hard work and the barriers she has broken in a sport that is often dominated by men. In fact, her father had not wanted her to join the sport of boxing as it isn’t considered appropriate for a Muslim girl to participate in what is considered to be a “man’s sport”.

Ironically, the controversy began when Khelif was accused of being a man by Carini, a rival boxer who refused to fight her. The accusations were baseless and seemed to stem from Carini’s inability to face Khelif in the ring. After a day of backlash and public outrage, Carini issued an apology. However, the damage had already been done. The initial accusations had spread far and wide, casting a shadow over Khelif’s reputation. The apology, while necessary, could not undo the harm inflicted by the reckless and irresponsible comments.

Social media platforms can amplify misinformation at an alarming rate. The accusations against Khelif quickly went viral, leading to widespread speculation and judgment. The power of social media lies in its ability to reach millions of people instantaneously, but this power comes with a responsibility that is often neglected. When influential personalities share unverified claims, the consequences can be devastating for the individuals involved.

The damage was done, and the repercussions were swift and severe. Prominent figures like J.K. Rowling, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, and Boris Becker weighed in, with some stating that Khelif might be transgender. The hate was clear when the designated pronouns were he/him/his. Such statements, particularly when made without evidence, have a catastrophic impact due to the influential status of these individuals.

It is worth noting that it took an entire day for concerned individuals to raise their voices. Hate spreads rapidly, while wisdom takes time to take hold. It’s crucial to diminish the influence of those who spread hate, but it is disheartening to see that those in positions of power often perpetuate it.

Elon Musk acquired Twitter, then rebranded it as X. He is powerful and wealthy. While his intentions for the platform are varied, he unfortunately contributed to the controversy by calling Imane Khelif “crazy”, a distressing stance, which is particularly noteworthy given that his own daughter is transgender. It is no surprise then that his daughter chose to publicly disown him.

I once adored J.K. Rowling and all of her work, writing essays and articles about her rise and brilliance. As a gay individual with a tough childhood, I found solace in her books, especially in the character of Dumbledore, whom she outed in 2007 after the series had concluded. At the time, I dismissed any reservations, accepting it as her right to explore her creations.

However, in 2019, my admiration turned to dismay when she posted a tweet rife with transphobia. Since then, I’ve felt a deep sense of disgust and betrayal, especially with her recent tweets about Imane Khelif. Without any basis, Rowling questioned Imane’s gender, an act that is particularly appalling from someone who calls herself a feminist. What she is doing is despicable.

I must further note, J.K. Rowling adopted the pen name “J.K.” to appeal to a broader audience, particularly aiming to attract young male readers who might have been hesitant to pick up a book written by a woman. This strategic choice, advised by her publisher, underscores the gender biases in the publishing industry. Now, as a prominent figure who publicly champions feminism, this decision might seem hypocritical, especially in light of her controversial views on transgender issues, which many critics argue are at odds with inclusive feminist principles. The dissonance between her early career decisions when she wanted to be read and her current stance once she has all her wealth, highlights the complexities and contradictions in her public persona and advocacy.

All of this brouhaha definitely reflects the complexities and contradictions present in the social media landscape and the urgent need for more responsible dialogue. This incident highlights several critical issues. First, it underscores the need for responsible behavior on social media, especially from public figures. The spread of misinformation can have real-world consequences, tarnishing reputations and causing emotional distress. Second, it brings to light the prejudices and biases that still exist in sports. Accusations of being transgender as a means of undermining an athlete’s success are not only baseless but also reflect a deep-seated intolerance.

Furthermore, the incident raises questions about the measures in place to protect athletes from such slander. Governing bodies in sports must take a more active role in addressing and preventing such controversies. Athletes, regardless of gender, deserve respect and fair treatment, free from baseless accusations and societal prejudices.

White privilege often upholds narrow and exclusionary standards of beauty and behavior, marginalizing those who don’t conform. Not just Imane Khelif, but Serena Williams, and Simone Biles have all faced bigoted criticism for not aligning with these restrictive ideals of how a woman “should look.” Khelif just faced racial and gender prejudices that undermine her recognition. Williams, despite her dominance in tennis, is frequently subjected to racist and sexist remarks about her physique. Biles, an extraordinary gymnast, has been scrutinized for her appearance rather than celebrated solely for her achievements. These instances highlight how deeply ingrained stereotypes about race and gender continue to limit the respect and recognition that diverse individuals deserve, revealing the intersectional challenges women of color face in their respective fields.

Imane Khelif’s experience serves as a terrible tale about the power and pitfalls of social media. While it has the potential to celebrate and elevate athletes, it can also be a platform for spreading harmful and unfounded claims. The involvement of high-profile individuals in propagating such misinformation only exacerbates the issue. As a society, it is imperative that we strive for greater accountability and responsibility, ensuring that the successes and struggles of athletes like Khelif are recognized and respected for what they truly are.

I have always been a fan of fantasy. Before I began my journey with the books of Tolkien, Rowling, Paolini, Guin, Pullman, I devoured Enid Blyton, Tintin, Asterix and then historical romances. Yep, I am a sucker for a happy ending and knights in shining armour. Then you have Strider, blazing through the North and rescuing Frodo. Gandalf the Grey standing at the bridge of Khazad-dum and yelling, well, you know. And then when I turned 23, at the pinnacle of heart break, a friend gifts me my first Harry Potter. In it, he inscribes, “to magic your pessimism away.”

I will never forget that. Twenty-two years later we still reminisce on that moment. But twenty-two years later, Rowling tweets, “Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real?” With this she declared herself firmly on the side of a transphobe who refuses to acknowledge that people born as men can transition into women and vice versa.

There are so many things wrong with the world today. Too many to count. I have been disillusioned and crestfallen at the plight of humanity. Through the years, though I have been allowed to build certain notions about certain people. People who otherwise seem woke. I mention this because I have people whom I love and cherish, who love me in return, but who have blinded themselves to certain political stances that abuse basic human rights. These are people I live with and break bread with.

So, I understand that everyone has a right to their own opinion. But some opinions are just – so against open-minded thought. How can I not say that the opinion is wrong? One of my friends, who is well-versed in mythic structures, tells me how the west, rooted in Abrahamic thought, sees things as absolutes. These are black and white pillars, with not a shred of grey in between. And I would argue with him about Tolkien and Rowling…

Irrespective of the fact that Sauron is all evil, I point out that Gollum is an amalgamation of grey. Irrespective of the fact that Voldemort is purely black, I point out how Harry and Ron both show tendencies of the negative. For the sake of what I am feeling, I will restrict this piece to Rowling. She helped me leave the world that seemed so bleak, at a time when my heart broke by the shattering of a first love. She took me into a flight of fantasy that I had not felt since I understood Tolkien. I loved Hedwig and I loved Hermione and I loved Dumbledore.

I have been effeminate growing up. I have been ridiculed and harassed and bullied. I have been beaten and terrorised by my own father, for being a boy who was understanding a different sexuality. I learnt to behave in a certain way through fear and conditioning by my peers. I never thought that I needed to transition. I was asked this once by a very dear aunt. I knew I liked boys then, I knew I was gay and I did not want to transition into a woman. But I followed all stories of any alternate sexuality and I felt a bond with them, like most of us who are searching for camaraderie and similarity, in a world that doesn’t make sense and that is bent on rejection, instead of acceptance. I learnt that the world is built from many, many colours and mine could be my own and I could allow it to be different, at different times.

Life is fluid.

When I read Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone, I wondered why this stark differentiation between Slytherin and the rest of the houses? Would all Slytherins prove to be negative? When I read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, I identified with Remus Lupin. But Rowling had other plans for him with Tonks. Then I realised something unexpected was afoot, when Dumbledore takes Fawkes and disappears from his office in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. “He’s got style” could be said of so many queer people, after all. The hints of his relationship with Grindelwald made me squirm with joy. But nothing was ever – ever – overtly mentioned. I made arguments on the reason for this. I stood up for her writing.

As I read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, I was so consumed by the brilliance of Snape, I avoided the horror that was the portrayal of Voldemort. The dark in the villain let in not a shred of light. He became Palpatine, he became Sauron. There was nothing fluid there. It was just a void. That was the only book of the series that I read only once.

After the series ended, after the Deathly Hallows broke its records, after the hoopla died down, she calmly mentioned that Dumbledore was gay, in 2007. When I heard the news, I was over the moon. Gradually, I heard the arguments of how she had kept Dumbledore in a closet according to convenience and how she outed him as per similar suitability… of course, I once again had my arguments ready. She didn’t need to explain his sexuality when she had hardly mentioned anything much about his past in the first place. And Dumbledore was hardly a happy character, he was manipulative, a recovering fascist, a person who believed in ultimate sacrifices from those who could only be conceived as ‘casualties of war’. Although there was one question, I never really asked –

Would it have made a difference to me, as an out, proud, gay man? All those years ago, while getting over a heart break, and worrying about society, and coming out and father figures letting me down… would it have made any difference to read if someone I admired in a fictional work, that was breaking records all over the world, that was bringing children back to the written word? Would it have? Would it have made a difference knowing that the Dumbledore, I grew with in the course of a decade, was gay? That Dumbledore who had a twinkle in his eyes, who wore outlandish clothes and said the most bizarre and beautiful things, who helped the main three at every turn, who so, so many looked up to, was gay?

Simply put, yes.

On a blog, a writer stated, Rowling “has fetishized Dumbledore’s gay pain so much that she is unwilling to write any healing for him.” Which is a complete fact. Both the homosexuals, in the series, suffer and probably, justifiably, but there you have it – crime and punishment. Where is the rising above? Where is the buoyancy of spirit? Where is the resurrection? Where is the coming out – if not of sexuality, of love? Queer identity, by its history, finds momentum by acts of bravery and expression. But I forget, that happens in the real world, in my world.

On 19th December, 2019, I read Rowling’s tweet. At first, I thought I mistook the meaning behind what was written. Then I searched for context. I found it. I understood it. Then read the tweet again. I was shaken. At that point in time, I understood that she did not understand. She, like so many others in life, did not comprehend the beauty of difference, of diversity and the spectrum of existence. None of us can know it all. Most of us try. She was not one of those. Hermione Granger would probably look at her creator and cringe … because irrespective of the fact that Harry Potter and J K Rowling share the same birthday, to my chagrin, I find that Rowling has more in common with James Potter.

That being said, a writer I value a lot, a mentor, realised how I was feeling. He appreciated my perspective and tried to help me align world views. He quietly sent me a WhatsApp message: “Someone who hates Nazis can be awkward with homosexuals. We don’t have to punish her. Why does she have to carry a flag for gay people, when it’s not her lived experience. She did her best. We can’t love people when they do ‘approved’ behaviour.” He ended, “The jackfruit does not bear grapes.” And I felt as though I was Harry, at the end of one book, in the series, and he was Dumbledore, (a confident, wise, out gay man) talking to me of the lessons I needed to learn after experience.

I have wondered what the ones with alternate sexuality who are also fans of the series are feeling. When someone with a voice as big as Rowling’s speaks out against one’s identity, how does one consign to the fact that hers is just one voice? But that is just what we have to remember! No matter how big or dynamic it is, another voice should have no impact on who you are or who you wish to become. It is a voice, with great power, but we have to understand, it speaks from its own limitations and experiences. Every human being is flawed. Dumbledore is flawed. Rowling is flawed. And so, ultimately, the voice that you have to listen to must always come from within you and based on your own experiences.

Edited: 29 November, 2024