Eddie Izzard has spoken out about JK Rowling’s stance on trans issues.
The Harry Potter author has attracted widespread criticism for her comments on gender identity, but vehemently denies she is transphobic.
Eddie, who is gender-fluid and uses the pronouns she/her, told the Daily Telegraph that she hates “the idea we are fighting between ourselves”.
The comic and actor said: “I don’t think JK Rowling is transphobic. I think we need to look at the things she has written about in her blog.
“Women have been through such hell over history. Trans people have been invisible, too.
“I hate the idea we are fighting between ourselves, but it’s not going to be sorted with the wave of a wand.
“I don’t have all the answers. If people disagree with me, fine – but why are we going through hell on this?”
In June last year, Rowling sparked a backlash when she commented on an article titled Creating a More Equal Post-Covid-19 World for People Who Menstruate, pushing back against the headline for not referring to those who have periods as just ‘women’.
Many reminded the author that transgender people, non-binary people and gender-nonconforming people can also menstruate.
In the wake of her comments, Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson both spoke out in support of the transgender community.
Eddie was recently referred to as “she/her” on Sky Arts series Portrait Artist Of The Year.
“I didn’t push for it (on the programme). This isn’t the big thing. I’ve been out for 35 years,” Eddie told the Telegraph.
“When I was called ‘she’ on getting my honorary degree at Swansea (in 2019), no-one gave a monkey’s….
“If they call me ‘she’ and ‘her,’ that’s great – or ‘he’ and ‘him,’ I don’t mind. I prefer to be called Eddie, that covers everything. I’m gender fluid.”