Latest news with #TheTrevorProject
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Harry Potter Actors On JK Rowling Views
J.K. Rowling's views on gender identity haven't just angered fans — they've upset the Harry Potter cast, too. But while some have called out the author's controversial views, others have publicly supported and defended her. Here's where 19 Harry Potter actors stand on J.K. Rowling. Daniel Radcliffe — who famously portrayed the boy who lived — spoke out against J.K. following a series of anti-trans tweets in 2020, saying in a letter to The Trevor Project that "trans women are women." 'Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either [J.K.] or I," he wrote. Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy, had "complicated" feelings about J.K. He told the Telegraph, "There's a bunch of stuff about Jo. You know, I play complicated people, I'm interested in complicated people. I don't want to get drawn into the trans issues, talking about them, because it's such an extraordinary minefield. She has her opinions, I have mine. They differ in many different areas." Emma Watson publicly disagreed after J.K. made anti-trans tweets in 2020. "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are," tweeted Emma, who portrayed Hermione Granger. She added, "I want my trans followers to know that I and so many people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are." Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, said he has a "tricky" relationship with J.K. While he doesn't share her views, he's appreciative of the role she had in shaping his career. "I am hugely grateful for everything that she's done," he told the Times. "I think that she's extremely talented. I mean, clearly her works are genius. But I think also you can have huge respect for someone and still disagree with things like that." Chris Rankin, who played Percy Weasley, slammed the "damaging" rhetoric in a 2021 interview with the Eastern Daily Press. "I do a lot of work with charities that are LGBTQ+focused," he shared, adding that many of his family members are also LGBTQ+. "It is a huge part of my life and I think, by saying that, you can probably guess where my allegiances lie in that respect." Chris also said, "What is important to highlight is that, when a trans person says they are male or female, that is what they are and that is how we should treat them. It is damaging to them to say otherwise." Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne said he disagrees with J.K.'s beliefs — but he also thinks fans have taken their criticisms too far. He told the Daily Mail that some comments were so "disgusting," he even reached out to J.K. over private DMs. Ralph Fiennes, who played Lord Voldemort, also couldn't "understand the vitriol" directed at J.K. "J.K. Rowling has written these great books about empowerment, about young children finding themselves as human beings," he told the New York Times. "It's about how you become a better, stronger, more morally centered human being." That said, he thought: "The verbal abuse directed at her is disgusting, it's appalling." Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton has said he hasn't really paid attention to the backlash. "The only thing that I always remind myself is that I've been lucky enough to travel the world," he said at this year's Tony Awards. "Here I am in New York — and I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. And [J.K. is] responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful." Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid, didn't see the big deal in J.K.'s comments. "I don't think what she said was offensive really," he told the Radio Times, per the Independent. "I don't know why, but there's a whole Twitter generation of people who hang around waiting to be offended. They wouldn't have won the war, would they?" "That's me talking like a grumpy old man," he teased, "but you just think, 'Oh, get over yourself. Wise up, stand up straight, and carry on.'" Ginny Weasley actor Bonnie Wright made her thoughts clear when she tweeted support for the trans community amid J.K.'s anti-trans tweets. She wrote, "If Harry Potter was a source of love and belonging for you, that love is infinite and there to take without judgment or question," adding that, "Transwomen are Women." Evanna Lynch, who starred in Harry Potter as Luna Lovegood, has "compassion for both sides of the argument." Speaking with the Telegraph, Evanna explained, "I know what it was like to be a teenager who hated my body so much I wanted to crawl out of my skin, so I have great compassion for trans people and I don't want to add to their pain." At the same time, she wished people would have "more grace" for J.K. and "listen to her," including when sharing "the voices of de-transitioners." In an interview with the Sunday Times, Helena Bonham Carter criticized the public's "horrendous" treatment of J.K. in response to her tweets. "I think she has been hounded," Helena, who played Bellatrix Lestrange, shared. "It's been taken to the extreme, the judgmentalism of people." She argued that J.K. is "allowed her opinion" and stated the cast "should let her have" her thoughts. "But I think they're very aware of protecting their own fanbase and their generation," she added. Jim Broadbent, who portrayed Professor Horace Slughorn, also shared support for J.K. Reacting to the criticism, he told the Telegraph: "It's really sad. I think J.K. Rowling is amazing. I haven't had to confront [the backlash] myself, but I would support her in that, I think, if it came to it." Not only has John Cleese (Nearly Headless Nick) defended J.K. — he's also made several anti-trans tweets of his own, prompting widespread backlash, including from Jonathan Van Ness and former Nine Inch Nails creative director Rob Sheridan. After J.K.'s anti-trans tweets, Katie Leung showed support by posting a thread of resources for trans women. Filius Flitwick actor Warwick Davis is "out of touch" with the controversy surrounding J.K. In May, he told Entertainment Weekly: "I don't tend to read the news. It's kind of one of those things I just don't do. So, I'm kind of out of touch with what's going on. It's not really something I'm particularly interested in — producing entertainment is what I do." David Thewlis was also reportedly out of the loop when asked about the controversy in a 2020 interview with the Sunday Times. "I'm not on social media," he allegedly said. Also, "I don't know Jo Rowling – I met her briefly at the premiere – so I don't feel engaged." Harry Melling, who appeared in the movies as Harry's spoiled cousin Dudley Dursley, believes "everybody has the right to choose" who they are and how they want to identify. He told the Independent, "I can only speak for myself, and what I feel, to me, is very simple, which is that transgender women are women and transgender men are men." Finally, David Tennant, who played Barty Crouch Jr., said, "J.K. Rowling is a wonderful author who's created brilliant stories, and I wish her no ill will. But I hope that we can all, as a society, just let people be. Just get out of people's way."
CBS News
4 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Maryland LGBTQ+ advocates vow to bolster resources with 988 lifeline set to end
Maryland LGBTQ+ organizations are stepping up for youth as a national resource is set to end in less than a month. The Trump administration announced that the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will end its lifeline dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth by July 17. The lifeline has also been known as the Press 3 Option. Advocates are making sure the youth who rely on this service continue getting the help they need. Preparing for the lifeline's end The end of the lifeline came as no surprise to Cleo Manago, CEO of The Pride Center of Maryland. So, to prepare, he and his team have been working to create a suicide warm line. "During traditional work hours, there will be live people to speak to about any suicidal concerns or ideations," Manago said. "For the rest of the time, there will be a recording that will alert people where they can call and where they can go [for help]." This is on top of bolstering other suicide prevention and youth programming that the center does. In its announcement, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, said the lifeline -- also known as the Press 3 option -- is ending on July 17. The need for the lifeline LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to die by suicide, according to The Trevor Project, a national nonprofit that is dedicated to ending LGBTQ+ suicide. In its annual survey looking at mental health in LGBTQ+ youth, The Trevor Project found in Maryland that 40% considered suicide, 57% experienced symptoms of anxiety, and 48% experienced symptoms of depression. When looking at the numbers for transgender and non-binary youth specifically, all categories reported higher numbers. Tanner Mobley, an advocacy manager for The Trevor Project based in Baltimore, said about half of their contacts come from 988. Right now, he and his team are working to get Congress to reverse the decision to keep the lifeline operating. "I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, we're gonna lose lives," Mobley said. "These are kids who have been kicked out of their homes, who have been bullied at school for being LGBTQ+, and have been rejected by their communities. When they're calling in a moment of crisis, they need someone who understands that." Until the lifeline leaves or stays, Mobley and Manago say they're gonna work even harder to ensure LGBTQ+ youth are cared for. "Something is always bound to happen, and there's always a great potential for a lack of support. So, I've been doing what I can to bolster the support systems and diversify our resources to make sure we can survive these kind of attacks." A full listing of services provided by The Pride Center of Maryland can be found here. For services from The Trevor Project, you can find them here.
USA Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Because of Trump, this Pride Month feels different. Hateful. But we will win.
Republicans aren't going to stop until we're all back in the closet. We must continue to fight for progress, for the benefit of all. In the end, history will remember who was on the wrong side. For those of us in the LGBTQ+ community, this Pride Month feels different. Hateful, even. To President Donald Trump and those in his administration, that's the point. On June 18, it was announced that the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline would no longer be partnering with The Trevor Project and other groups to provide specialized support services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults in crisis. According to the Trump administration, this is 'to focus on serving all help seekers.' To LGBTQ+ people and our allies, it's clearly a move to show that our mental health is not a priority to the Republican Party. And how does removing something help anybody? This isn't the only instance of Trump and Republicans trying to destroy the progress made by LGBTQ+ people in the decades since Pride Month celebrations began. Here are some of the other ways the LGBTQ+ community has been targeted this June. Remember, the point from Republican leaders is to inflict pain for political points. It's not to help children. Unforgivable: It will cost LGBTQ+ lives if Trump shuts down 988 suicide hotline | Opinion Supreme Court rules against trans youth In the months following Trump's second inauguration, the transgender community has borne the brunt of Republican ire. Another blow to the community was handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 18, when the justices voted 6-3 to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The court ruled that the law, which prevents young people from using puberty blockers or hormone therapy, doesn't violate the 14th Amendment. In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the court 'abandons transgender children and their families to political whims.' Chase Strangio, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union and the first openly transgender person to argue in front of the Supreme Court, called the decision a 'painful setback' but stressed the need to continue the fight for trans rights. The children who do seek this type of gender-affirming care know who they are. Hormones and puberty blockers aren't prescribed unless these children can prove that they are suffering from distress that would be eased by treatment. This ban, and the Supreme Court's decision to uphold it, show that the 'debate' over trans people's identity isn't about keeping kids safe. It's about controlling people who are different. It's not about protecting kids; it's about hurting them to make Republican leaders feel good about themselves. Opinion: As a gay man, I'm finally flying a pride flag. I don't know what took so long. Navy may no longer honor Harvey Milk with vessel It's not just the present that is being affected by the Trump administration. It's also how we remember the past. On June 3, U.S. officials confirmed that the USNS Harvey Milk, a naval oil tanker named for the late LGBTQ+ rights activist. Milk, who served as a U.S. Navy operations officer on rescue submarines during the Korean War then went on to become the first openly gay man elected to public office in California, was assassinated in 1978. While it's unclear when the renaming will occur, it's clearly part of the Trump administration's efforts to scrub anything related to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives from the public record. Opinion: I told you GOP would come for marriage. Southern Baptists just proved my point. It's disgraceful that Trump wants to rid the government of as much LGBTQ+ history as possible. It is shameful that something as simple as a dedication is being questioned. It may not seem like a big deal to some people, but it shows that the primary goal of the Trump administration is to make people feel like their lives and their history don't matter. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. All of this started well before this Pride Month. One of the first things Trump did upon his second inauguration was declare that the country would only recognize two genders. In February, his administration removed references to transgender people from the Stonewall National Monument's website. Bills have been introduced in several state legislatures that attempt to overturn the Supreme Court ruling Obergefell v. Hodges that legalized same-sex marriage. The LGBTQ+ community is strong. We have remained defiant for decades, and we'll continue to speak out as Trump and Republican lamakers try to silence us. It's just heartbreaking that this is happening during a month that we are supposed to be celebrating. Republicans aren't going to stop until we're all back in the closet. We must continue to fight for progress, for the benefit of all. In the end, history will remember who was on the wrong side of history – and it certainly won't be those of us fighting to keep our rights. Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter: @sara__pequeno You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.
Black America Web
7 days ago
- Politics
- Black America Web
Trump Administration Shutters Suicide Hotline For LGBTQ Youth
Source: picture alliance / Getty The 'pro-life' party is once again proving that it only cares about the lives of straight, cisgender people. Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced that it would be shuttering a line on the national suicide hotline specifically made for LGBTQ youth. According to CBS News, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced that the 'press 3 option' will be removed from the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 'On July 17, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will no longer silo LGB+ youth services, also known as the 'Press 3 option,' to focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option,' the statement released by SAMHSA reads. 'Everyone who contacts the 988 Lifeline will continue to receive access to skilled, caring, culturally competent crisis counselors who can help with suicidal, substance misuse, or mental health crises, or any other kind of emotional distress. Anyone who calls the Lifeline will continue to receive compassion and help,' the statement continued. The 'press 3 option' was created in 2022 as a pilot project in conjunction with The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth. When the press 3 option launched in 2022, the hotline saw a 40 percent increase in calls. It's unclear if the people who worked on the specialized line would be folded into the mix of current crisis counselors or cut from the hotline outright. Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, released a statement condemning the move by the administration. 'We received official notice that the Trump administration has ordered the closure of The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program, effective July 17, 2025. This means that, in 30 short days, this program that has provided life-saving services to more than 1.3 million LGBTQ+ young people will no longer be available for those who need it,' the statement read. Source: EvgeniyShkolenko / Getty 'This is devastating, to say the least. Suicide prevention is about people, not politics. The administration's decision to remove a bipartisan, evidence-based service that has effectively supported a high-risk group of young people through their darkest moments is incomprehensible.' It shouldn't be lost on anyone that this particularly cruel move comes during Pride month, which has already been more subdued as a result of the actions by the Trump administration. The crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has seen multiple pride events scaled down as funding usually set aside for pride has been withdrawn. The statement was also particularly gross in how it dropped the 'T' in 'LGBTQ,' which Black also noted in his statement. 'The fact that this news comes to us halfway through Pride Month is callous – as is the administration's choice to remove the 'T' from the acronym 'LGBTQ+' in their announcement. Transgender people can never, and will never, be erased' Black wrote. It's clear that the Trump administration wants LGBTQ people to die. I'm not even being hyperbolic, as the National Institutes of Health have slashed millions of dollars in funding for several grants aimed at sexual health for LGBTQ Americans. A recent court ruling blocked a Trump executive order that pulled funding from several LGBTQ non-profits, saying that the vague wording of the order infringed on their First Amendment rights. Across the board the Trump administration is doing everything it can to make life harder, and quite frankly, deadlier for queer and trans youth. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here . The Trevor Project's trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at , or by texting START to 678678. SEE ALSO: Judge Blocks Trump EO Pulling Funds From LGBTQ Health Nonprofits Corporate Sponsors Have Us Asking: Where's The Pride? SEE ALSO Trump Administration Shutters Suicide Hotline For LGBTQ Youth was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump admin. to shut down LGBTQ suicide prevention hotline
The Trump administration will shut down the national LGBTQ youth suicide lifeline in 30 days. The agency said it will "no longer silo LGB+ youth services" — notably removing the "T" representing the trans community in the initialism. MSNBC's Chris Jansing was joined by The Trevor Project's CEO, Jaymes Black, to discuss the impact.
