A resurfaced clip of Harry Potter actor Emma Watson emphatically standing up for trans rights in an interview has fans and allies all over the internet cheering.
The clip, which has been circulating on TikTok, comes originally from a 2019 interview with British Vogue journalist Paris Lees, who is a trans woman.
In it, Lees asked Watson for her thoughts on trans issues, and Watson's response was movingly and passionately on the side of the trans community. See the clip below.
"That's another human being"\n\nEmma Watson shining a light on how many of us cisgender women feel.\n\nThis is true feminism and sisterhood \n\n#TransWomenAreWomen \n#TransRightsAreHumanRightspic.twitter.com/hDBy7tK68t— Amz \ud83c\udf19 (@Amz \ud83c\udf19) 1649540975
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is never mentioned in the discussion, but the pall of the author's frequent alignment with anti-trans activists on Twitter and in public statements is implicit to the discussion and the questions Lees asked.
Watson's response couldn't be more dissimilar to Rowling's. Asked by Lees if Watson would feel comfortable using the same restroom as her, Watson exclaimed “Oh my God of course!” clearly feeling the notion was absurd.
Lees then went on to ask Watson what she would say to people who do have an issue with a trans women being treated equally with cisgender women. Watson's response was heartfelt and empathetic, and she implored people to educate themselves on the issue.
“Oh my goodness, I would say… that’s another human being...”
“...I understand fearing what you don’t know. I understand, kind of, being like I don’t really understand about this and I’ve never met someone….”
“But go! Go and speak... [G]o and look into the whites of someone’s eyes that’s had this experience and tell me... there’s any part of you that feels that it’s OK to make that person not feel included.”
Watson has repeatedly been outspoken in her support of the LGBTQ community, and has pushed back against Rowling's transphobia on several occasions as well.
Watson made a joke at last month's BAFTAs that was widely assumed to be a dig at Rowling's obsession with transgender people, and she joined her Harry Potter co-stars Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe in condemning the author's controversial tweets and blog post in 2020.
On Twitter, people absolutely loved Watson's impassioned support of the trans community.
Good on Emma. I\u2019m an architect and this TERF argument is nonsense. Bathrooms can be designed to address all their concerns. It\u2019s a silly non issue. Be kind and if you can\u2019t manage that at least be smart— Carl Stanford \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea (@Carl Stanford \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea) 1649618137
I've never seen that before. What a well presented thought out & genuinely kind & inspiring response.— Stephanie Dale (@Stephanie Dale) 1649546899
*This* is what she's getting all this hate for? Asking for dialogue, understanding and inclusivity?\n\nIt's...lovely. Warms my plastic heart.— Bev Buckland (@Bev Buckland) 1649571583
100% this. Read trans peoples lived experiences, listen to trans voices. Ask yourself do you really want to hurt these people. Are you that person?— Alison Joyce (@Alison Joyce) 1649578520
She\u2019s so well spoken and intelligent wish more people were like her— Em (@Em) 1649633008
THIS is the video that got the TERFs all riled up? \n\nShe's basically saying have compassion and educate yourself and the TERFs are PISSED.— Zak Emstad (@Zak Emstad) 1649604729
You see and feel that it comes from the heart! From an emotional space! I love this! #TransRightsAreHumanRights— Lea\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f (@Lea\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f) 1649630365
EW is right. Talk to a senior secondary school teacher who has watched the pain and fear of a transitioning teen. We just want these kids to be happy and well and to learn. They are not a threat to us. Let them be.— Czzzz (@Czzzz) 1649624140
Emma Watson is a great person because she is always working at being a good person— Ben Phillips (@Ben Phillips) 1649606169
@jk_rowling should watch this & learn something.— Jenan (@Jenan) 1649597002
Watson's words in the clip has also enraged the community known as TERFs--which stands for "trans-exclusionary radical feminists"--which is how you know she's on the right side of things.
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