Beira's Place

{{gender}}'''Beira's Place''' is a [[British]] anti-trans hate group that masquerades as a "private support service for female victims of sexual violence." It is the [[transphobic]] pet project of [[J.K. Rowling]], who has taken it upon herself to redefine womanhood in ways that serve her transphobic [[worldview]]. Its sole purpose is therefore to exclude [[trans women]] while attempting to frame trans people as a threat to [[cis]] women.

Rowling cited her personal history as a motivation for funding the establishment of a private "support centre for female victims of sexual violence" in Edinburgh in December 2022.<ref>The Guardian: [https://web.archive.org/web/20221213021748/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/dec/12/jk-rowling-launches-support-centre-for-female-victims-of-sexual-violence JK Rowling launches support centre for female victims of sexual violence]"</ref><ref>The Times: [https://archive.ph/85ASU JK Rowling launches service for women victims of sexual violence before Scotland brings in self-ID law]"</ref> This service&nbsp;— named Beira's Place after the "[[Scotland|Scottish]] goddess of winter"&nbsp;— is frequently lauded as a "women's shelter," "[[rape]] crisis centre," and "refuge" by Rowling's supporters, but reading the website makes it clear it doesn't offer shelter space or crisis support.<ref name="beira1">Beira's Place: [https://web.archive.org/web/20240104165443/https://beirasplace.org.uk/about/ About Us]</ref><ref name="beira2">Beira's Place: [https://web.archive.org/web/20240104165443/https://beirasplace.org.uk/faqs/ FAQs]</ref> It provides one-on-one and group counselling by appointment only.<ref name="beira2"/> The centre is not wheelchair-accessible and clients are advised not to bring [[children]].<ref name="beira2"/> Board member Rhona Hotchkiss served as governor of the {{w|Cornton Vale}} women's [[prison]] until 2019.<ref>NHS Scotland Events: [https://web.archive.org/web/20210410132833/https://nhsscotlandevents.com/speaker/rhona-hotchkiss Rhona Hotchkiss]</ref> In 2016, it was reported that inmates faced "Victorian conditions" and long queues for access to a shared toilet, with some being instructed by staff to "pee in the sink" if they couldn't wait.<ref>BBC News: [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-35589196 Cornton Vale prisoners 'forced to use sink as a toilet']</ref><ref>Holyrood: [https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,cornton-vale-toilet-conditions-wholly-unacceptable-in-the-21st-century-warns-chief-prisons-inspector_6499.htm Cornton Vale toilet conditions 'wholly unacceptable in the 21st century', warns chief prisons inspector]</ref> Hotchkiss asserted in 2022 that she would've resigned if she'd still been governor during the {{w|Isla Bryson case||.}}<ref>The Telegraph: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230126185818/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/26/former-prisoner-governor-says-would-have-quit-trans-rapist/ Former prisoner governor says she would have quit over trans rapist]</ref><ref>Daily Mail: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230126091050/https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11678509/Ex-governor-Scottish-womens-prison-quit-Isla-Bryson.html Ex-governor of Scottish women's prison 'would have quit' if she'd been told to house transgender rapist with female inmates]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{stub|gender}}

[[Category:Denialist organizations]]
[[Category:Hate groups]]
[[Category:Transphobia]]
[[Category:TERFs]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]

Categories: Denialist organizations, Hate groups, Transphobia, TERFs, United Kingdom