Rosario Monachino
Hogwarts Legacy is facing a backlash from Harry Potter fans over the name of its first trans character.
The video game spinoff allows fans to roleplay as Hogwarts students in the 1800s.
It is one of the most anticipated games of recent times, with fans eager to revisit the wizarding world.
But while many are praising the game’s storyline and attention to detail – others are slamming it over the name of its newest character.
Watch the trailer for the game below…
The company behind the game, Avalanche Software, says it wanted to pay tribute to the LGBTQIA+ community by introducing the first-ever trans character in Harry Potter history.
“The team felt that it was very important to create a game that is representative of the rich and diverse world of Harry Potter as well as the groups of people who play games, which includes the LGBTQIA+ community,” the company told IGN.
“We have a diverse cast of characters that players will encounter throughout the game.”
The character, Sirona Ryan, runs the Three Broomsticks tavern in Hogsmeade.
However, her name has not gone down well with fans.
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The name has been slammed as tone-deaf as it includes the words ‘Sir’ and ‘Ryan’ – which both have masculine connotations.
Blasting the name, one person writes: “F***ing hell they called the ONLY trans witch in like, ALL OF BRITAIN, SIRona RYAN.”
Another adds: “They really put a trans woman in Hogwarts Legacy and named her Sirona Ryan. They literally put ‘sir’ in her f***ing name.”
While one fan says: “I’m trying to think about a lot of girl names, I don’t see any that begins with ‘sir’ or ‘guy’ or something like that.
“The last name is a male name. Names aren’t chosen randomly: when you are in the spotlight for transphobia and it’s your ‘first trans character’, it looks bad.”
Somebody else comments: “I’m all for the developers adding in a trans character, but why the f*** did they name her SIRona RYAN?”
Another writes: “Sir and Ryan. Feels like an insult.”
Harry Potter fans have called out J.K. Rowling in the past for giving ‘racist’ names to non-white characters, such as Cho Chang and Kingsley Shacklebolt.
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Referencing this, one person fumes: “It’s actually that deep because it’s not a first offence! Cho Chang and Kingsley Shacklebolt exist!”
Another writes: “As a South Korean who always felt grossed out by the name Cho Chang for the one East Asian character in that one wizard world, I don’t know what I expected going forward in that universe with the new media coming out.
“But it wasn’t f***ing Sirona Ryan for their trans character.”
However, others have defended the name and the character’s inclusion.
One person pens: “To the folks outraged about Sirona Ryan, you are f***ing stupid.
“The developers intentionally gave her a name with connotations of healing and rebirth, a reference to a Celtic goddess, and people choose to be bothered by it.”
In agreement, another adds: “Sirona is a Celtic goddess of healing by the way. It’s a feminine name
“At this point, you’re just trying to find ways to bring everything HP-related down.”
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