Beira's Place
Formation2022
FounderJ. K. Rowling
Legal statusCompany
PurposeSexual violence support
HeadquartersEdinburgh, Scotland
Isabelle Kerr
Websitebeirasplace.org.uk

Beira's Place (/ˈbaɪrə/ BY-rə)[1] is a Scotland-based private support service for victims of sexual violence.[2] Founded in 2022 by J. K. Rowling, the organisation describes itself as a "women-only service", because it does not hire or provide services to people assigned male at birth.

Description

Beira's Place is a privately owned and operated domestic violence service that was formed to provide support to women assigned female at birth aged 16 and over in Edinburgh and the Lothians who are survivors of sexual violence.[3][4]

The organisation was established in December 2022 by British author and philanthropist J. K. Rowling as its founder and financial backer, with the express goal of providing "women-centered and women-delivered care".[5][6] Rowling said the impetus to set up the centre was her fury on hearing that the trans CEO of the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre had said that victims of sexual abuse must "reframe their trauma" if they disagreed with being treated by a trans woman.[7][8] The organisation was named for Beira, the Scottish goddess of winter who represents "female wisdom, power, and regeneration".[1][9]

The group's founding came shortly before a vote on the Gender Recognition Reform bill.[10] Single-sex services in Scotland, and whether or not trans people should be included in them, are reportedly associated with the bill.[10] Beira's Place is not a registered charity of Scotland.[5] As such, it does not accept donations and is entirely funded by Rowling.[11] Alongside Rowling, the current board members of the organisation are Rhona Hotchkiss (former governor of Cornton Vale prison[12]), Johann Lamont, Susan Smith (director of For Women Scotland), and Margaret McCartney.[11] The founding CEO of the organisation is Isabelle Kerr, formerly manager of Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre, and its deputy CEO is Sue Domminney.[8][1] Interviewed on the anniversary of the service's opening, Kerr said that its phone service had helped almost 2000 people seeking support, and over 250 survivors of violence had used its safe space.[13]

After the founding of Beira's Place, numerous public figures and organisations expressed their support for the service. Rape Crisis Scotland publicly welcomed the new services while noting rape crisis centres in Scotland had served trans and non-binary people without incident.[5] British author and feminist Julie Bindel wrote, "Beira’s Place will be an oasis, and hopefully signal the beginning of a new feminist revolution."[14] Woman's Place UK released a statement of solidarity and support for the new organisation.[15] UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women Reem Alsalem welcomed the new service, stating "the prevention and response to violence against women requires an all-society approach, so it is great to see different actors who have the means, including private individuals, play their part."[16]

The organisation has been criticized by supporters of transgender rights for being exclusionary towards transgender women.[3] In a statement provided by the organisation, Beira's Place wrote "we believe that women deserve to have certainty that, in using our services, they will not encounter anyone who is male. Where appropriate, we will refer men or individuals identifying as trans women to other appropriate services."[17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About Us". Beira's Place. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  2. ↑ "Beira's Place Home". Beira's Place. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  3. 1 2 Glass, JD (14 December 2022). "J.K. Rowling Funds Sex Abuse Crisis Center That Excludes Trans Women". The Advocate. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  4. ↑ Dagelty, Susan (12 December 2022). "JK Rowling opens new sexual violence support service for women in Edinburgh". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Carrell, Severin (12 December 2022). "JK Rowling launches support centre for female victims of sexual violence". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  6. ↑ "J.K. Rowling Launches A Service To Help Victims Of Sexual Violence". www.barrons.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  7. ↑ Sanderson, Daniel (12 December 2022). "JK Rowling says she's rich enough to take the flak as she launches women-only support service". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  8. 1 2 Meighan, Craig. "JK Rowling opens 'women-only' centre for sex abuse survivors in Scotland". The National. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  9. ↑ Turner, Janice (12 December 2022). "JK Rowling launches sex abuse centre for women only". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  10. 1 2 Wade, Mike (13 December 2022). "Rape Crisis stands by trans survivors after JK Rowling opens single-sex centre". The Times. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  11. 1 2 "JK Rowling funds women-only rape help centre". BBC News. 12 December 2022. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  12. ↑ "Jailing of trans rapist Isla Bryson is 'shambles', says prison chief". BBC News. 26 January 2023. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  13. ↑ Scott, Marion. "Beira's Place: Thousands helped by JK Rowling rape centre". The Sunday Post. Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  14. ↑ Bindel, Julie (12 December 2022). "JK Rowling works her magic again". UnHerd. Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "WPUK statement: For Women Scotland vs the Scottish Ministers". Woman's Place UK. 14 December 2022. Archived from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  16. ↑ Horne, Marc. "Rape Crisis founder backs Rowling's trauma centre". ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  17. ↑ Sanderson, Ginny (13 December 2022). "JK Rowling opens Beira's Place, 'woman-only' sexual violence support service in Edinburgh". Edinburgh Evening News. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022 – via MSN.
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