Trans campaigners oppose Harry Potter Christmas lights

Transgender rights campaigners have launched a petition to stop Harry Potter themed Christmas lights being used to support author J K Rowling.

The Christmas lights in Oxford Street this year are being used to promote the new Harry Potter television series, produced by HBO, which launches on Christmas Day. Transgender rights campaigners, however, have opposed the theme as it will lend support to Harry Potter author, J K Rowling. Rowling has been an outspoken advocate of women’s rights and gender-critical views which have been labelled by some as transphobic.

The Good Law Project (GLP) have launched a petition on their website calling on the Christmas lights theme to be scrapped. The petition, which has already gained over 10,000 signatures, calls on the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to step in and stop the planned display. “Harry Potter lights in one of the busiest streets of London will not make trans people feel Christmassy, welcome, or safe,” the petition reads. “JK Rowling has promised she’ll use some of the money from the new Harry Potter series to fund the anti-trans rights movement. This will only make her more money.”

Earlier this year the GLP lost a High Court challenge to the Equality and Human Rights Committee’s new guidance saying that single-sex facilities should only be used by someone of that biological sex.

In response to the petition, which sends emails to Sadiq Khan on people’s behalf, The Mayor of London’s office pointed out that that it does not arrange the Christmas lights on Oxford Street. That is done by the New West End Company. “The Mayor is clear that he will always support and champion all of London’s diverse communities,” said the Mayor’s office, “including trans and non-binary Londoners.”

A spokesperson for the New West End Company said, “New West End Company has partnered with HBO Max for this year’s Oxford Street Christmas decorations, offering millions of fans an exciting way to discover the magic of Harry Potter as they look forward to the series coming this Christmas. The partnership celebrates the joy of the festive season and is intended to create an enchanting experience for visitors to Oxford Street and the West End, which continues to be a place where all are welcome.”