“Now we’ve got to go back and educate people”: Stonewall Inn owners accuse JK Rowling of using global platform to harm LGBTQ+ community

The billionaire English author-turned-film producer, JK Rowling, who has previously been accused of racism for how she dealt with racial and cultural representation in her Harry Potter franchise, has once again been reportedly accused of taking advantage of her global platform to cause damage to the LGBTQ+ community.

According to The Pink News, Kurt Kelly and Stacy Lentz, owners of the popular gay pub Stonewall Inn in New York City, reportedly accused the Harry Potter author, JK Rowling, of using her worldwide reach in a manner that is harming the people of the LGBTQ+ community, stating that Rowling's negative statements towards transgender people are contributing to the loss of social protection and legal rights that they have fought hard and for years to win.

As cited by The Pink News, during a conversation with The National, Lentz and Kelly, who runs the Stonewall Inn, a historic gay bar, which is considered to be a hotspot for people of the LGBTQ+ community, regarding JK Rowling's influential status being not limited to the United Kingdom, said:

"JK Rowling, through her books and movie franchises and everything globally, has a platform and it has done damage. Even though she’s based in Scotland, it’s affected people globally. Now we’ve got to go back and educate people."

NYC's Stonewall Inn, which back in the day used to be horse stables, was remodelled in the 1930s and eventually became a historic gay bar in 1967. Interestingly, the bar was earlier operated by the Mafia in New York City. While the famous establishment witnessed several changes over the years, in February 2000, it was declared a National Historic Landmark.

After accusing JK Rowling of harming the LGBTQ+ community with her rhetoric, owners of the Stonewall Inn argued that trans people have become "political fodder"

According to The Pink News, Stacy Lentz and Kurt Kelly shared their opinion on how the people of the LGBTQ+ community are being treated as ammunition for a campaign and stated that they only make up for just a percentage of the population. The Stonewall Inn owners said:

"I would say the one percent you have to worry about are the billionaires that are making us all divided at the bottom of the pile. That’s who’s taking away your rights."

While talking to The National about Stonewall Inn's history, Kurt Kelly stated that it was crucial to protect the bar's history, specifically for future generations. He said:

Trending

"People fought for the right to say who they love and who they are. They have to remember that they have to fight back when it’s being taken away from us, which it is starting to be."

Keep an eye on Soap Central for more.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback