Judy Blume (from Facebook)
Judy Blume is under fire from LGBTQ groups over comments the famed children’s writer made in support of Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling. In an interview with Sunday Times writer Hadley Freeman Blume said of Rowling, “I love her. I am behind her 100% as I watch from afar.”
The Jewish born writer was forced to issue a clarification of her comments, explaining that she in no way intended them in support of J.K. Rowling’s’ anti-gay position.
Judy Blume tweeted, “I wholly support the trans community. My point, which was taken out of context, is that I can empathize with a writer — or person — who has been harassed online. I stand with the trans community and vehemently disagree with anyone who does not fully support equality and acceptance for LGBTQIA+ people. Anything to the contrary is total bulls**t.”
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But the real question here is why Judy Blume – or anyone for that matter – needs to defend herself when nothing that she said constituted a support of anything bad, or wrong or discriminatory in any way.
And in a recent interview with Variety, Judy Blume condemned book banning and censorship. “What are you protecting your children from?” she asked. “Protecting your children means educating them and arming them with knowledge, and reading and supporting what they want to read. No child is going to become transgender or gay or lesbian because they read a book. It’s not going to happen. They may say, ‘Oh, this is just like me. This is what I’m feeling and thinking about.’ Or, ‘I’m interested in this because I have friends who may be gay, bi, lesbian.’ They want to know!”
According to her official bio, Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We’re Together and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge, beginning with Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Judy has also written novels for adults that include Wifey, Smart Women, Summer Sisters and her most recent In the Unlikely Event, all of them New York Times bestsellers.
Together, her 29 books have sold more than 90 million copies in 39 languages, and have been a touchstone for countless young readers, many of whom have been inspired, as grownups, to write their own books. Judy’s knowing voice and honesty come with a price: the American Library Association has consistently placed Blume at or near the top of its list of authors most frequently banned. In turn, she has championed intellectual freedom by working diligently with the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) to support teachers and librarians who fight to keep challenged books on their shelves.
