Harry Potter Oxford Street lights petition passes 10,000 signatures

Petition against the lights

Oxford Street's Christmas lights are due to have a Harry Potter theme, but a petition with more than 10,000 signatures is calling for the display to be cancelled over JK Rowling's views on transgender issues. The campaigners are concerned that Rowling may profit from the franchise she created. The petition organisers have refused to back down.

Mayor not the organiser

The petition is aimed at the Mayor of London, asking him to stop the display. Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said this is the wrong target because the Mayor of London is not organising the lights. The display is run by a separate independent company, he said. He accepted that campaigners have the right to protest to that company and to call for the lights to be cancelled.

Rowling and the Harry Potter theme

Tatchell said he supports Rowling in her defence of women's rights, but disagrees with her when she says defending women's rights requires discrimination against trans people. He argued that the Christmas lights are not a celebration of Rowling. They are a celebration of the Harry Potter series, which he described as being about inclusion and the celebration of difference. He said it was unfair to conflate the author with the display.

Free speech debate

The discussion also touched on freedom of speech. Tatchell said people should not be cancelled for their views, but he made an exception for those advocating hate or discrimination. He said neo-Nazis or people stirring up crime should be opposed. The row continues as the festive display is prepared.