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"Harry Potter" author JK Rowling
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Yui Mok / ZUMA Press / IMAGO
Because of the controversial statements of "Harry Potter" author Joanne K. Rowling about trans people, an English school building named after her has been given a new name.
As announced by the Boswells School in Chelmsford, Essex, the building is no longer called the Rowling Building, but the Holmes Building - after the British runner and Olympic champion Kelly Holmes.
School principal Stephen Mansell said his facility, for children aged 11-18, aims to create "a dynamic, inclusive and democratic school community where we encourage students to become independent and confident citizens."
Back and forth with naming
The school's six buildings are named after outstanding British people.
The "Daily Mail" reports that Rowling's name was deleted from the school building's logo in a newsletter in July.
The BBC quotes the headmaster, according to which the school building was renamed in autumn 2021 after numerous requests from students and staff as well as an internal vote.
The conflict began, among other things, with a tweet from Rowling in which the 56-year-old spoke out against the use of the term "people who menstruate" and instead demanded to simply speak of women.
Many trans activists accused her of being trans hostile because transsexual women did not menstruate.
The author's statements also led to a falling out with some of the stars of the "Harry Potter" films, including leading actor Daniel Radcliffe.
Rowling also received a lot of aggressive reactions.
In November she wrote on Twitter that she had "now received so many death threats that I could use them to paper the house."
She criticized three trans activists for posting a photo showing their home address.
sun / AFP