Brussels To Name Public Square After Brontë Sisters
A square in Koekelberg will soon be named after the Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Anne, and Emily, in recognition of their literary achievements and of Charlotte and Emily’s brief residence in Brussels to study French. This decision comes with a larger movement to rename public areas and streets after women, after city councilors noted that many landmarks are named after men. The new Brontë square has undergone renovations and pedestrianization, and the new name will be made official in 2021.
Harry Potter Fan Sites Distance Themselves From J.K. Rowling Over Gender Identity Comments
Two of the biggest Harry Potter fan sites, Muggle Net and The Leaky Cauldron, have officially spoken out against J.K. Rowling’s essay about gender identity. They’ve taken steps to not link to the author’s site, they’ve promised to not share pictures or quotes from the author going forward, and they’ll stop posting about the author’s future work, excluding her charity work. They’re the latest in the wave of Harry Potter fans to speak out against Rowling’s statements, saying that they’d like to use their platform to counteract the harm that Rowling has caused by not supporting trans people.
Author Colson Whitehead Cancels Appearance At The Free Library In Solidarity With Black Employees
Author Colson Whitehead tweeted that he will be cancelling an upcoming appearance at the Free Library in Philadelphia, PA in support of its Black employees. Black employees have written official letters calling out the fact that they’re paid less than white employees and they’ve experienced racism on the job, and voicing concerns about being expected to return to work without a plan to safeguard against COVID. Whitehead tweeted “I love doing events at the Free Library, but I am canceling my appearance next week as I am told the situation has not improved.”