Pedro Pascal has once again stepped forward to champion the cause of transgender women. Following his viral outcry against J.K. Rowling two months ago for her "revolting conduct" after she voiced support for an anti-transgender ruling in the United Kingdom, Pascal delved into the rationale behind his stance in a cover story interview with Vanity Fair, published on June 24th.
Pascal, whose sister Lux Pascal came out as transgender in 2021, lashed out at Rowling in the comments section of an Instagram video that criticized her endorsement of the U.K. Supreme Court's April 16th ruling, which defined a woman legally solely based on biological sex under Britain's Equality Act. "Absolutely despicable and revolting—a heinous display of loser behavior," penned the long-standing and fervent advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
Reflecting on his decision to call out the Harry Potter author, Pascal confided in Vanity Fair that the ensuing attention momentarily made him feel like "that kid in Texas who was frequently sent to the principal's office for behavioral issues in public school, feeling terrified and pondering, 'What have I done?'"
Nonetheless, his heart was riddled with doubts, tormenting him over whether his actions were aiding or impeding the situation. "One thing that has truly tested my soul is the question, 'Am I actually making a difference? Am I truly helping?'" He confessed, "This scenario demands the utmost finesse in handling to ensure meaningful progress and genuine protection for all involved.""Listen, I want to shield the people I cherish," Pascal continued. "But it's more than that. Bullies make me utterly disgusted." Pascal's other sister, Javiera Balmaceda Pascal, also came to his defense, asserting to the publication that Rowling's actions constituted "heinous loser behavior." "And he spoke up as the older brother of someone saying that our little sister doesn't exist," she added.
Pascal had earlier demonstrated his support for transgender women by wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with "PROTECT THE DOLLS" to the U.K. premiere of Marvel's Thunderbolts* in London on April 22nd. "Dolls" is a term endearingly coined by the LGBTQ+ community to refer to transgender women. The shirt was part of a campaign by American designer Conner Ives, drawing attention to anti-transgender sentiments.
Pascal's upcoming film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, is set to release on July 25th. He also stars in Materialists, which is currently showing in theaters.
