Michaela Jaé Rodriguez Repsonded To J.K. Rowling's Anti-Trans Comments
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Maybe her career is just getting started, but I would already consider Michaela Jaé Rodriguez a pioneer.
The 32-year-old actor was the first transgender performer to win a Golden Globe, and she was also the first trans actor nominated for a top Emmy category for her role in Ryan Murphy’s Pose.
In a recent feature with Variety, Michaela was asked about J.K. Rowling's most controversial position on trans rights, and she was unfazed and steadfast in her response.
The Loot actor clarified that she'd separated the art from the artist. “[Harry Potter] is a childhood memory that all of us have grasped onto and don’t want to let go. Because of the story,” she said. “We’re not thinking about J.K. Rowling, I can promise you."
"I’m thinking about Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley and their silliness and also their growth.”
When asked what she would say in response to J.K. Rowling's suggestion that trans women should not be considered women, Michaela thoughtfully responded, "Some of the stuff that she says really doesn’t faze me so much. I’m not here for it. I will always remain a trans woman. I will always call myself a trans woman."
"I will always refer to other biological women as cis women, in a non-derogatory way. But I’m a strong girl. I’m a strong woman. I was raised by a strong Black woman, which J.K. Rowling was not. I would love to have a conversation with her."
If they were to meet one day, this is what Michaela has reserved for the dialogue. "I would start off with something that’s very lighthearted, just to let her know I’m not someone who is abrasive or who is intimidating, because I’m sure there are trans people who are intimidating her a little bit and making her feel this way."
"I would first start off by saying, “Girl, OK, tell me what is the tea? Is there a trans person in your life that’s really making you feel a certain type of way about your womanhood?" she added. "Because I can promise you that there are other trans women who will show you what it’s actually like to walk in our shoes."
"Because I can promise you, as a cis biological woman, you just will never understand, just as we will never understand you. But we’re women, so we have to be there for each other.”
However, not all of Michaela's words of wisdom are set aside for J.K. Rowling. The "Something to Say" singer had a beautiful message for the youth embattled by the hateful rhetoric and harmful legislation. "I’m talking to all human youth: hetero, trans, gay, lesbian, bi, gender non-conforming, intersectional, asexual, all of you, every single young human being in the world who has a mind of their own, who knows how to graciously approach conflict when needed."
"Keep doing it with grace. Keep doing it with love. Don’t ever stop your motivation, your momentum on changing the world and changing human’s hearts. Please don’t be in fear. Be you. Thrive as hard as you can," she continued.
"If you have parents who are not understanding, try your best to help them know where you’re coming from. And if you can’t, and it gets to a point where it’s hard, find a family that will understand."
Michaela, born in Newark, New Jersey, is half Puerto Rican and half African-American. So, of course, she also had a final message directly for her community. "And specifically, to my Black families out there. I know there’s a lot for us to learn when it comes to us as marginalized people. And I know hurt people hurt people. But it’s time for us to break out of that because now we are all under attack."
"Trans people who are Black are Black people, so you have to show your love to us, because we are under attack. After the fight, love is the answer."
