Claims that the late-great Sir Terry Pratchett, author of the Discworld novels, would have been anti-trans prompted a rebuttal from his daughter, and an outpouring of stories from trans fans showcasing the support that the author showed them during his life.
Terry Pratchett sadly died of Alzheimer’s in 2015 but remains a revered writer for his sci-fi and fantasy work which often used parody and allegories to explore themes of humanity, morality, class divides and gender norms.
His daughter, Rhianna, was forced to shut down anti-trans campaigners who tried to co-opt her father’s legacy and claim that, were he still alive, he would be ‘gender critical’ (GC).
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Rhianna refuted these claims, stating: “This is horrifying. My father would most definitely not be a GC if he was still alive. Read. The. Books.”
“If you’re desperately trying to recruit the dead to your cause then you should probably have a big think about just what you’re supporting.”
In fact, many fans pointed at Pratchett’s character, Cheery Littlebottom, the first dwarf to present as a woman. Although the bearded dwarf is technically not a trans character, the subtext of a gender non-conforming character who fights to defend her identity as a woman spoke to many trans readers.
The Discworld fandom refused to let TERFs and anti-trans groups co-opt their much-loved author, and many trans fans of Pratchett shared stories of meeting the writer, and the kindness and support he shared with them.
“I met Sir Terry several times during my transition. My trans friends did the same,” recalled one fan. “He was a great supporter, sadly missed. His fan chat rooms were a haven of trans rights and we met there every day to have people to talk to.
“He treated us like people at a time [when] others wouldn’t.”
Another, described a beautiful interaction at a book signing, recalling: “Terry whomst, at a book signing, asked my name, and being a young egg, I told him, adding “for now” so he leaned in, asked what it *will* be, and signed my copy of ‘Guards Guards’ ambiguously enough that it can be read either way. He was the first human to know of Tal.”
