A motion passed by the Vancouver park board apologizing to the 2SLGBTQ+ community for its decision to hold a Harry Potter in the Forbidden Forest event in Stanley Park in November has caught the attention of author JK Rowling.
On Thursday, she wrote to X in response to a message from Commissioner Tom Digby in which he said the board did the “right thing”: his movementapologized and “disowned” the author and her political activism regarding transgender rights.
“To be honest, I didn’t even know that Vancouver Parks and Recreation recognized me, so the rejection wasn’t a big blow to me,” Rowling wrote.
The comments followed an emotional meeting Tuesday in which commissioners discussed an earlier decision in closed session to introduce Immersive Harry Potter experience in Stanley Park with seemingly little understanding of the polarizing figure of JK Rowling.
To be honest, I didn't even know that Vancouver Parks and Recreation had recognized me, so the rejection wasn't a big blow to me. Next time, send me a certificate of recognition, wait for me to proudly frame it, hang it on my computer and take a selfie with it, and THEN revoke it. pic.twitter.com/3dpWWCAXsF
Rowling made public that she does not believe that people can change their biological sex, and that if people self-identify as their gender, it could pose a threat to women and children who are not transgender.
Rob Hadley, member of the Vancouver 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Committeepresented to commissioners at their meeting Tuesday, and said Rowling's views and activities threaten transgender rights and that approving a themed installation related to her work was a mistake.
“Many in our community tell us they remain deeply concerned that the board is giving a platform to a high-ranking individual who they believe continually reinforces negative messages about transgender people,” Hadley said.
“The decision to present her work at a government-funded event risks overlooking or minimizing the lived experiences and challenges of many of our city’s transgender residents.”
Hadley also said the advisory committee is not trying to encourage people to boycott the Harry Potter series, but there are concerns that any financial benefit Rowling may receive from paying for the Vancouver installation could be used to pay legal fees related to transgender issues.
“Conflicts with Vancouver's stated values”
“Although unintentional, hosting this event sends a message that runs counter to Vancouver's stated values of inclusion, safety and respect for all communities,” Hadley said.
Kai Sargeant, a representative of Vancouver's Qmunity, one of the largest non-governmental organizations serving 2SLGBTQ+ people in British Columbia, told commissioners that since 2016 the city has done significant work with Transgender, Gender Diverse, Two-Spirit Action Plan (TGD2S)but the decision to install it was a step backwards.
“It is partly because of the trust that has been cultivated over the years that news of this event has been met with such great shock and disappointment… it is so clearly at odds with the values this council has demonstrated over a number of years.”
Commissioners took a conciliatory approach to their previous decision when addressing Hadley and Sargeant at Tuesday's meeting, and their proposal directs the council to find ways to make amends.
“I’m very sorry about what happened,” Commissioner Angela Haer said.
The Digby movement is called Reaffirming the Park Board's commitment to protecting the lives and rights of transgender people.
It says the Vancouver Park Board “unequivocally supports the lives and rights of TGD2S people” and recognizes that “transphobia sets a precedent for human rights violations that affects us all.”
The movement also “disavows JK Rowling's political activism and acknowledges the harm she causes around the world” and ensures that the installation will only run for this season.
