USA San Francisco Bookstore Drops J.K. Rowling Titles Over Anti-Trans Controversy

[Social Media]

 

San Francisco Bookstore Drops J.K. Rowling Titles Over Anti-Trans Controversy

 

A beloved independent bookstore in San Francisco has decided to stop selling any works by J.K. Rowling, including her globally celebrated "Harry Potter" series, in response to what it views as the author’s continued hostility toward transgender rights. The move comes after Rowling launched a new legal initiative, which the bookstore claims crossed a final line.

 

Booksmith, a fixture in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood since 1976, made the announcement on Instagram earlier this month. The decision follows Rowling’s public declaration that she would be using her personal fortune to back the J.K. Rowling Women’s Fund — a legal project aimed at defending what she and her supporters call “women’s sex-based rights.” The fund states it will support “individuals and organisations fighting to retain women’s sex-based rights in the workplace, in public life, and in protected female spaces.”

 

Although the fund does not explicitly mention transgender individuals, critics point to Rowling’s outspoken opposition to the inclusion of trans women in women’s spaces as a clear indication of the fund’s intent. Activists and advocates for transgender rights argue that rhetoric framed around “sex-based rights” is often code for policies that exclude or disadvantage trans people.

 

“With this announcement, we’ve decided to stop carrying her books,” the Booksmith team wrote on Instagram. “We don’t know exactly what her new ‘women’s fund’ will entail, but we know that we aren’t going to be a part of it.”

 

The post was deeply personal for the store’s staff, who openly identify as queer and described how Rowling’s books had shaped their youth. “As a group of queer booklovers, we also had our adolescences shaped by wizards and elves. Look at us, it’s obvious,” the statement continued. “If you or someone you love wants to dive into the world of Harry Potter, we suggest doing so by buying used copies of these books.”

 

A representative for Rowling said she was unavailable for comment.

 

In addition to pulling Rowling’s titles, Booksmith also published a list of recommended fantasy novels that serve as alternatives to the “Harry Potter” universe. The list is available on their website and is intended to spotlight authors who, according to the bookstore, reflect values of inclusivity and diversity in their work.

 

However, the decision has not come without backlash. On social media, some users criticized the move as political censorship and accused the bookstore of ideological gatekeeping. “So you’re going to curate your selections to only sell books by authors that you agree with politically,” one commenter wrote. “Good to know. I’ll be shopping elsewhere.”

 

Despite the criticism, Booksmith has remained firm in its stance. The shop joins a growing number of institutions and individuals reckoning with the legacy of Rowling’s work and her polarizing views on gender identity. The incident is yet another example of the evolving relationship between artists, their politics, and the cultural spaces that once celebrated them.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from NBC  2025-06-28

 

 

[Emdog]

Unwise move. Stores carry copies of Mein Kampf, but that doesn't mean they are Nazi sympathizers. 

I consider myself a liberal, but banning of books puts that store in the authoritarian section of the arena. Bad move, hypocritical and narrow minded,