An LGBTQ+ bookshop in Glasgow has been targeted by vandals for a second time in just a few weeks following an earlier “transphobic” attack. Category Is Books in Govanhill suffered a smashed window on Wednesday, September 23, after a similar attack took place two weeks ago.
Second attack on Govanhill shop
The first attack saw part of the window where the word “TRANS” was painted smashed, and the owners believe this made it clear that it was a transphobic attack. The second incident this week saw another window violently smashed.
A GoFundMe was launched following the first incident to install protective shutters around the shop, raising £14,000 in 12 hours, reports Glasgow Live. After reaching their target, the owners of Category Is Books closed the fundraiser. However, they have been forced to reopen it after the second attack, and the page is currently sitting at over £22,000.
Owners call for community support
Owners Charlotte and Fi Duffy-Scott wrote on GoFundMe: “After months of experiencing regular spitting and other forms of aggression, we can no longer tolerate the increasing ways in which our space is being threatened.
“This has led us to the difficult decision to install roller shutters around the bookshop as an additional step to protect the bookshop, and safeguard ourselves and our community who use this space.”
The fundraiser was initially paused after raising £15,000, but the shop said a further £6,000 would then be required to fix both windows and install galvanised steel full-lath shutters around the shop, which is going ahead next month.
First LGBT bookshop in Scotland in over 20 years
The owners added: “It is difficult to find ourselves asking for your help again so soon. But the response to our first fundraiser reminded us that Category Is Books has never existed in isolation. This space is sustained by a much wider community of people who care about it, use it, organise through it and want to see it continue.
“We're asking for your support once again whether that’s through donating, sharing the fundraiser, or simply continuing to show up for the shop. Thank you for continuing to have our backs, it blows our mind every time.”
Category Is Books became Scotland's first LGBT bookshop in more than 20 years when it opened on Allison Street in the city's Southside in 2018. Charlotte and Fi hoped to create a space for the queer community to learn about, be inspired by and share in their love of queer books, art, history, activism, writing and storytelling, and has attracted customers worldwide. The shop stocks new and second hand queer books, magazines, graphic novels, comics, zines, badges and stickers. Category Is Books burst onto the scene as the first LGBT bookshop since the closure of Lavender Menace in Edinburgh.
