In the Lower Saxony town of Springe, a currently nameless square could soon be named after the well-known Hamburg drag queen Olivia Jones. According to Mayor Christian Springfeld (independent), 48 percent of participants in a municipal survey favored renaming the square next to the Old Town Hall to “Olivia Jones Square.”
About 18 percent of respondents, the survey found, preferred that the square remain unnamed. Two other proposed names drew far less support: “Square of Diversity” received about 13 percent, while “Square of Equality” only 0.9 percent. Roughly 15 percent expressed support for a renaming in principle but rejected all of the proposed names.
Overall, 352 people took part in the survey—a small slice of Springe’s roughly 30,000 residents. The organizers view the result as a positive mood and recommend the renaming. A final decision is expected from the City Council by the end of August. Citizens were able to vote on the renaming until July 12.
Olivia Jones was born in Springe as Oliver Knöbel and grew up there. She is the city’s honorary ambassador and has been involved for many years “in the cause of tolerance, diversity and social cohesion,” the city said.
The Olivia Jones Square proposal came from Mayor Springfeld after the broadcast of the ZDF biopic “Olivia” in May. The push for the survey originated with the local mayor Uwe Lampe (independent), who remains critical of the plan (TheColu.mn reported). (mize)
