JK Rowling backs campaign to protect Soho from closures

JK Rowling has backed a campaign to ‘save Soho’ – after the closure of a number of venues.

The Harry Potter author tweeted her support for the campaign, after a number of London venues – many of them gay bars – closed their doors.

Drag and cabaret venue Madame JoJo’s closed its doors in November, after its license was revoked following a serious incident.

Manbar also shut down earlier this month, while The Green Carnation announced it will close to make way for a new venue.

The Yard was also battling closure, but won a reprieve when plans were put on hold.

JK Rowling tweeted her support yesterday, with a nod to her detective character Cormoran Strike, whose fictional office is based in Soho.

She wrote: “I sincerely hope we can #SaveSoho or Strike’s and Robin’s office will be demolished.

“Please RT https://ow.ly/IHmed @WeAreSaveSoho”

The author previously assured fans that wizarding school Hogwarts is a “safe place” for LGBT students.

Rowling has previously described the Harry Potter series as “a prolonged argument for tolerance” and in 2007 revealed that Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore was gay.

She said: “It has certainly never been news to me that a brave and brilliant man could love other men.”

A study earlier this year showed that children who read the Harry Potter books are more gay-friendly.