Daniel Radcliffe moderates a talk with trans and non-binary youth: “It was a privilege to listen to them”

While JK Rowling continues to cause controversy for her views on gender and trans people, Daniel Radcliffe, the star of the saga based on her books, ‘Harry Potter, continues to show her unconditional support for the LGBTQ+ community. The British actor, who has distanced himself on several occasions from Rowling’s views, moderates a talk with trans and non-binary youth, whose premiere coincides with the International Transgender Day of Visibility.

Radcliffe participates in a round table with several trans and gender non-binary youth, which is part of a series of conversations grouped under the title ‘Sharing Spaces’ and organized by The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ youth. The 33-year-old actor acts as moderator in the first episode.

In statements made exclusively to The Hollywood Reporter, Radcliffe expresses his appreciation for being part of the initiative and stresses the importance of listening to the trans and non-binary community:

“We hear a lot of people talk about trans youth and we do so very often in the news, but very rarely do we really hear from those youth directly. It was an absolute privilege to meet and hear from this incredible group of young people. After all , if you want to talk about trans youth, it might help to really listen to trans youth“.

Six trans and nonbinary young people sat down with Daniel Radcliffe in a candid and heartfelt conversation about their journeys and what genuine allyship looks like.

?The first episode of #SharingSpace Premieres on YouTube tomorrow at 12 PM ET. ?? https://t.co/nlE3HxCkKn pic.twitter.com/nSjLLB5OZO

? The Trevor Project (@TrevorProject) March 30, 2023

“Six trans and non-binary young people sat down with Daniel Radcliffe for a real, candid conversation about their journeys and what it’s like to be a true ally,” The Trevor Project says in its series announcement. ‘Sharing Space’ will premiere a 20-minute episode every 15 days, each one on a different topic around the LBGTQ+ community, with a different moderator and participants in each one. The Radcliffe episode is available from March 31 on the organization’s YouTube channel.

Ally since long before the controversy with Rowling

Radcliffe has been working closely with The Trevor Project for over a decade. The actor was recognized in 2011 with the Trevor Hero Award for his work as an ally to the LGBTQ + community and in 2012 he recorded an advertisement for the organization. Over the years, Radcliffe has reaffirmed his support for the collective and was, along with his ‘Harry Potter’ co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, one of those who responded openly against Rowling’s statements about gender and trans people.

In June 2020, Radcliffe posted a letter on The Trevor Project website stating that “trans women are women” and saying that “any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all the advice given by professional health associations who have far more experience in this issue than Jo or me.” In November 2022, the actor, who has just announced that he is expecting his first child with his girlfriend, Erin Darke, reiterated his position against Rowling and talked about how important it was for him to position himself on the matter:

“I don’t think I could have looked in the mirror if I hadn’t said anything. The reason I felt very, very strongly that I had to say something when I did was because, especially after finishing ‘Harry Potter,’ I’ve met so many people. queer and trans kids and young people who identified very strongly with Potter. When I saw them hurt that day, I wanted them to know that not everyone in the franchise felt that way.. And that was very important.”