ILGA-NAC Statement on Tim Horton’s Harry Potter Partnership.
ILGA-NAC Statement on Tim Horton’s Harry Potter Partnership.
July 31, 2026 – ILGA–North America and the Caribbean (ILGA-NAC) joins member organisation EGALE Canada, national and international 2SLGBTQIA+ advocacy groups, and actors from the Harry Potter film adaptations (such as Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson) in condemning Tim Hortons’ decision to partner with the Harry Potter franchise for its upcoming promotional campaign.
Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has repeatedly used her wealth and public platform to oppose the rights, dignity, and inclusion of transgender people. As recently as Sunday, July 26, 2026, Rowling posted the following on X, “Trans women aren’t women, and if that hurts your feelings, be grateful you live in a society where you are just as free to espouse gender ideology as I am to speak the truth.” By partnering with the Harry Potter franchise, Tim Hortons helps sustain the commercial success of a brand whose creator has leveraged its profits and global reach to support anti-trans advocacy. Her sustained advocacy has extended beyond public commentary to supporting organizations and initiatives that seek to undermine the rights and legal recognition of trans communities. These actions have caused real harm and contributed to an increasingly hostile environment for transgender people.
Susan Gapka, ILGA-NAC Board Member and Trans Representative, said:
“Tim Hortons has brewed a poisonous partnership with J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter franchise, prioritizing profits over the human rights of trans, gender diverse, and non binary people. In Canada, these communities are protected by human rights legislation from harassment, discrimination, and violence. As ILGA-NAC’s Trans Representative, Tim Hortons and J.K. Rowling must both be condemned for advancing and legitimizing harmful anti-trans rhetoric.”
As an organization committed to advancing the human rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ people across North America and the Caribbean, ILGA-NAC stands in unwavering solidarity with transgender communities. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people deserve recognition, dignity, and respect. Their rights are human rights and are not subject to compromise.
ILGA-NAC Canadian Co-Chair Rob Boulet expressed concern for the thousands of 2SLGBTQIA+ people employed by Tim Hortons across Canada, emphasizing that they should not bear the consequences of decisions made in corporate boardrooms.
“We recognize that thousands of 2SLGBTQIA+ employees work in Tim Hortons restaurants across Canada and should not bear the weight of decisions made in corporate boardrooms,” Boulet said. “They deserve to feel safe, respected, and supported in their workplaces, regardless of the public debate surrounding this decision.”
Boulet added that ILGA-NAC’s intention is not to create further division, but to encourage meaningful dialogue and corporate accountability. “Our hope is not to deepen division, but to encourage reflection, accountability, and meaningful dialogue that leads to better decisions.”
We urge Tim Hortons to reconsider this partnership and to engage meaningfully with transgender communities and 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations about the impact of this decision.
We also encourage our members, partners, and allies to continue supporting businesses and institutions that demonstrate a genuine commitment to the safety, dignity, and inclusion of transgender people.
At a time when anti-trans rhetoric and policies are escalating globally, solidarity is more important than ever. We remain committed to standing with trans communities and to advocating for a future where every person can live free from discrimination, violence, and exclusion.
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ABOUT ILGA-NAC
ILGA–North America and the Caribbean (ILGA-NAC) was established in 2021, evolving from ILGA–North America to better reflect and respond to the distinct realities of both North America and the Caribbean. ILGA-NAC is committed to creating tailored advocacy and support for 2SLGBTQI+ communities across these regions. Today, ILGA-NAC works to strengthen inclusive, effective, and region-specific advocacy, advancing the rights and well-being of 2SLGBTQI+ people in all their diversity. Learn more at ilganac.org or email info@ilganac.org
For more information, please contact:
Sharon Mottley, Executive Director, ILGA-NAC, smottley@ilganac.org