Leeds Bookshop Launches Controversial Fundraiser Targeting JK Rowling's Harry Potter
A trans-owned independent bookshop in Leeds has sparked debate by inviting customers to vandalise copies of JK Rowling's Harry Potter novels for a charitable cause. The Bookish Type is charging 25p per page for patrons to deface an edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, with all proceeds directed towards transgender healthcare funding.
Cathartic Campaign Draws International Attention
The initiative, described by organisers as "a silly and cathartic way" to raise funds, has attracted participants from across the globe. Customers can mark "as many pages" as they wish, with the shop planning to auction the completed book once sufficiently filled. Originally conceived for their periodic Second Hand Sunday events, where second-hand book sales support local trans healthcare, the campaign launched early due to popular demand.
"We have had an overwhelmingly positive response from not only our local but also the international community," a representative told the Daily Mail. "People from Portugal, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand and the US have reached out to donate to the campaign." Many individuals have offered to donate old copies of the Harry Potter franchise to support the initiative.
Background: JK Rowling's Gender-Critical Stance
The campaign directly responds to JK Rowling's position as one of Britain's most prominent gender-critical voices. The 60-year-old author first faced criticism in 2018 after liking a tweet describing trans women as "men in dresses" – an action her spokesperson later called a "clumsy middle-aged moment." Since then, Rowling has actively campaigned against what she perceives as threats to women's rights, drawing from her personal experiences of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
In a comprehensive 2020 statement on her website, Rowling expressed concerns about transgender rights legislation, particularly regarding access to single-sex spaces. "When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he's a woman... then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside," she wrote. Critics have labelled her a TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist), though Rowling maintains she acts in solidarity with women.
Harry Potter Cast Members Voice Opposition
Rowling's views have created divisions within the Harry Potter community, with several lead actors publicly distancing themselves from her stance while acknowledging her role in their careers. Emma Watson, who portrayed Hermione Granger, stated: "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are."
Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter, penned an article for an LGBT+ suicide prevention charity asserting that "transgender women are women." He emphasised that "not everybody in the franchise felt that way" about Rowling's comments. Rupert Grint, known for playing Ron Weasley, similarly declared: "I firmly stand with the trans community... Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgement."
Bookshop's Philosophical Justification
The Bookish Type explained their motivation by referencing activist Camille Sapara Barton's work on processing grief within social movements. "We believe a similar thing can be said about tending to joy," they noted. "Existing as a trans person in this political climate is both exhausting and terrifying; it feels especially important to give the community a way to release some emotion."
The shop plans to continue fundraising through their Second Hand Sunday events, combining practical support for transgender healthcare with what they describe as an emotional outlet for community members facing daily challenges.
