A Leeds bookshop has drawn sharp criticism from gender-critical campaigners after organising a fundraising event that allows participants to vandalise copies of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books in exchange for donations towards transgender healthcare.
Maya Forstater, chief executive of Sex Matters, a sex-based rights charity, described the initiative as “the most striking example I’ve seen of trans activists misrepresenting where the real harm lies.” She characterised the vandalism scheme as “childish displays of petty destruction.”
Ms Forstater added that the author had been vindicated for raising concerns about trans issues “well before the Government and NHS started to recognise this scandal,” stating: “Thankfully, the adults are now back in charge when it comes to the health and safeguarding of gender-distressed children.”
The Bookish Type, a trans-owned independent establishment, is accepting 25p donations to allow customers to deface pages of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, with proceeds supporting healthcare for five local transgender individuals.
Messages scrawled across the pages include one addressing the 60-year-old author by her first name: “Trans people will outlast you, Joanne.” Another reads: “You’ve ruined yourself, ruined the name of feminism and ruined the precious childhood of thousands of women and girls.”
A spokesman for the bookshop defended the event, citing the work of Camille Sapara Barton on addressing grief within political movements. “We believe a similar thing can be said about tending to joy, hence, the desire to spread joy among the community is central to this initiative,” the spokesman stated.
The bookshop emphasised that existing as a transgender person in the current political climate proves “both exhausting and terrifying,” adding it felt “especially important to give the community a way to release some emotion.”
According to The Bookish Type, the campaign has received widespread international support, with donations arriving from Portugal, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. Numerous individuals have offered to contribute pre-owned copies of the bestselling series for vandalism purposes.
The fundraising will continue during Second Hand Sunday, an event featuring second-hand LGBTQ+ literature at the shop.
The controversy emerges as HBO prepares to launch a new Harry Potter television series, with Mrs Rowling serving as executive producer. The trailer was released earlier this week featuring three new actors in the lead roles.
Actor John Lithgow, cast as Albus Dumbledore, described accepting the role as a “hard decision” due to what he termed the author’s “inexplicable” gender-critical stance. Meanwhile, Keira Knightley faced criticism after claiming ignorance of boycotts against Mrs Rowling’s works ahead of voicing Professor Dolores Umbridge in new audiobook editions.
