Latest news with #Booksmith
Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Bookshop stops selling JK Rowling titles over trans views
JK Rowling 's books have been removed from shelves in a San Francisco shop after the author said she would fund her transgender critical advocacy with the profits from sales. Booksmith, which refers to itself as a 'group of queer book lovers', has stopped selling Rowling's titles in response to her new legal fund, created to support 'women's sex-based rights'. 'With this announcement, we've decided to stop carrying her books,' the San Francisco bookshop wrote on Instagram, encouraging fans of the Harry Potter series to buy second-hand copies instead. '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. As a group of queer book lovers, we also had our adolescences shaped by wizards and elves. Look at us, it's obvious,' the post read. '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.' On Monday, Booksmith, which has operated in the city's Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood since 1976, published a list of fantasy books on its website similar to the Harry Potter series, under the heading: 'Wizards, but not That Wizard'. 'Please find below a list of bookseller-curated suggestions for books we genuinely love that also might fit the HP brief for you and yours,' the website read. The move sparked a censorship row on social media, with one person commenting: 'So you're going to curate your selections to only sell books by authors that you agree with politically. Good to know. I'll be shopping elsewhere.' Another accused Booksmith of 'choosing to silence someone you disagree politically with'. The shop responded by claiming the ban on Rowling's novels is 'not politics at all' and is 'no different' to encouraging readers to buy from independent book stores. 'There are plenty of books we carry that we don't 'agree' with, but in this case, it's not politics at all,' it said. 'When the author of a book states that all sales of those books will contribute to an anti-trans fund, the only way we can choose not to participate is by not selling the books any longer. it's no different than when we encourage you to buy your books in indies rather than purchase them on Amazon. 'It stands in direct opposition to everything we believe in and that we have tried to uphold in our nearly 50 years of selling books. 'If you want to read the HP books, we implore you to buy them used locally, where the money stays in the community you love.' The author in May announced that she would funnel her personal wealth into a JK Rowling Women's Fund, described as a legal endowment to support 'individuals 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 mention the transgender community specifically, Rowling has been a vocal defender of women's spaces and sex-based rights. Booksmith is one of several US cultural institutions that have boycotted Rowling over her gender-critical views. In August 2023, the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle scrubbed its Harry Potter exhibits of all mention of the author, describing her as ' She Who Must Not Be Named '. Despite public backlash against Rowling for her views on transgender issues, there is little evidence of activism impacting on her book sales. The Harry Potter books have sold 230 million copies in the US and 600 million worldwide, making it the bestselling book series of all time, according to US publisher Scholastic. Forbes estimated Rowling has earned more than $80 million (£60 million) a year from book sales and Potterverse brand extensions including films, theme parks and theatre shows since she first began speaking out on women's rights in 2020.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
JK Rowling has exposed how desperate the gender extremists have become
Long used to riding roughshod over anyone who dared to challenge them, gender extremists are now beginning to lose the battle. Could that be the reason their arguments seem to be becoming even more ridiculous? Consider the latest example. A bookstore in San Francisco – a city known for its adherence to transgender ideology and extreme wokeism – has declared that it will no longer sell any of JK Rowling's books because of, wait for it, her role in supposedly 'removing transgender rights'. Announcing this brave and stunning move on Instagram, Booksmith explained that the final straw was a legal fund recently established by Rowling for the purpose of defending and protecting women's 'sex-based rights in the workplace, in public life, and in protected female spaces.' Yes, that's right – protecting women's rights apparently now amounts to bigotry and prejudice towards the transgender community. The fact that this fund is necessary only because women on both sides of the Atlantic have been bullied and hounded out of their jobs and off college courses, and prevented from applying for promotions if they are deemed 'anti-trans', seems irrelevant to these people. The bookstore is a commercial enterprise that seems quite happy to forego certain profit by refusing to stock such hugely popular titles as the Harry Potter series and Robert Galbraith Strike novels; virtue-signalling is clearly considered much more important. But when it comes to identity politics and gender nonsense, publishing is one of the worst-affected institutions. During a tour in the US to promote my book on feminism, one bookstore cancelled my event at the last minute because a trans activist customer had complained. This was despite the fact that it had sold out. The revenue from JK Rowling's books probably funds a good chunk of the publishing industry worldwide, yet these for-profit enterprises would rather have huge display tables groaning under the weight of books by trans activists that barely sell at all. A new report on this kamikaze phenomenon was launched just this week in the UK by Sex Matters. Written by Matilda Gosling, it highlights the fact that several female authors have had contracts broken, manuscripts rejected, and even been pushed out of the industry, because of accusations of transphobia. Rowling herself, with her stratospheric success and wealth, need not worry about pointless gestures such as the one by Booksmith – but the careers of other authors have been left in tatters. This is exactly why Rowling's women's legal fund is so necessary. The fund is the first of its kind: many women, and some men, have found themselves in a terrible situation for merely stating scientifically correct facts on sex and gender, and expressing a view with which the vast majority of people agree. It would be interesting to know whether this particular bookstore will be ploughing through its thousands of titles to check that all of its staff agree politically with the premise of each and every author and the contents of each and every book. It looks very much as though this so-called civil rights movement is actually a witch hunt against women – for the crime of daring to assert our rights rather than rolling over and capitulating to misogynistic bullies. As it dawns on the extremists that they are going down with a sinking ship because they overreached on their demands and bullied and cajoled refuseniks, their rising desperation only makes them look more ludicrous. Some time ago, when yet another trans activist announced on X that he was burning Rowling's books, she had the perfect riposte: 'I get the same royalties whether you read them or burn them. Enjoy your marshmallows!'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Harry Potter novels now unwelcome in bookstores in this US city
San Francisco bookstores, including Booksmith and Fabulosa Books, have removed J.K. Rowling's ' Harry Potter ' books from their shelves. The decision by the bookstores is a protest against J.K. Rowling's anti-trans views and the recent launch of her private legal fund, the J.K. Rowling Women's Fund. Booksmith stated they would not be part of the fund, characterizing it as an organization dedicated to removing transgender rights. The J.K. Rowling Women's Fund claims to support 'individuals and organizations fighting to retain women's sex-based rights' in various spheres. Actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson have publicly criticized Rowling's opinions, while Tom Felton expressed gratitude for her creation.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
San Francisco bookstores pull ‘Harry Potter' books in protest of J.K. Rowling's anti-trans pledge
Bookstores in San Francisco have pulled 'Harry Potter' books from the shelves over J.K. Rowling's anti-trans views and in protest of a new private legal fund the author has launched. Booksmith, a popular bookstore in the city's Haight Ashbury neighborhood, announced the move in response to the launch of the J.K. Rowling Women's Fund. The legal fund, which doesn't specifically mention transgender people, will support 'individuals and organizations fighting to retain women's sex-based rights in the workplace, in public life, and in protected female spaces,' its website says. The bookstore characterized the fund as 'an organization dedicated to removing transgender rights' in a statement. 'With this announcement, we've decided to stop carrying her books. We don't know exactly what her 'women's fund' will entail, but we know that we aren't going to be a part of it,' the statement said. 'As a group of queer booksellers, we also had our adolescence shaped by wizards and elves. Look at us, it's obvious. 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,' it continued. Booksmith added a list of suggested titles for customers that 'might fit the [Harry Potter] brief' as an alternative. Fabulosa Books, another San Francisco bookstore, also announced it would no longer be buying or selling Rowling's books 'as she is devoting her life to nastiness,' a post on its Instagram page said. Rowling's fund was announced at the end of May. 'I looked into all options and a private fund is the most efficient, streamlined way for me to do this,' the author said. 'Lots of people are offering to contribute, which I truly appreciate, but there are many other women's rights orgs that could do with the money, so donate away, just not to me!' Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, the trio of child actors who played Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, have all publicly shunned Rowling over her apparent anti-transgender views. The author has said she would not forgive them for criticizing her opinions, telling them to 'save their apologies.' Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the films, was recently asked whether Rowling's views 'impact you at all or impact your work in the world of Harry Potter at all.' 'No, I can't say it does,' he replied. 'I'm not really that attuned to it.' 'The only thing I always remind myself is that I've been lucky enough to travel the world – here I am in New York – and I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. And she's responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful.' The remarks overshadowed the announcement he will reprise the role of Draco in the Broadway play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
NBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
San Francisco bookstore stops selling J.K. Rowling titles due to 'Harry Potter' author's anti-trans views
A bookstore in San Francisco announced earlier this month that it will no longer sell titles by J.K. Rowling, including her popular 'Harry Potter' series, due to the author's anti-transgender views and advocacy. Booksmith, which opened in 1976 and is in the city's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, said the final straw came last month, when Rowling announced on social media that she would use her personal wealth to fund the J.K. Rowling Women's Fund, which describes itself as a legal fund to support 'individuals and organisations fighting to retain women's sex-based rights in the workplace, in public life, and in protected female spaces.' Though the fund doesn't mention trans people specifically, Rowling has been vocally opposed to trans women's inclusion in women's spaces, and proponents of efforts to restrict trans rights often describe such efforts as advocating for women's 'sex-based' rights. 'With this announcement, we've decided to stop carrying her books,' Booksmith said in a statement 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. As a group of queer booklovers, we also had our adolescences shaped by wizards and elves. Look at us, it's obvious. 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.' Rowling did not immediately return a request for comment. On Monday, Booksmith provided a list on its website of fantasy books similar to the 'Harry Potter' series for readers who are interested in alternatives, sparking some backlash and a debate about whether bookstores should make decisions about which books their customers can access. 'So you're going to curate your selections to only sell books by authors that you agree with politically,' one commenter wrote on social media. 'Good to know. I'll be shopping elsewhere.' Booksmith responded: 'There are plenty of books we carry that we don't 'agree' with, but in this case, it's not politics at all. When the author of a book states that all sales of those books will contribute to an anti-trans fund, the only way we can choose not to participate is by not selling the books any longer. It's no different than when we encourage you to buy your books in indies rather than purchase them on Amazon. It stands in direct opposition to everything we believe in and that we have tried to uphold in our nearly 50 years of selling books. If you want to read the HP books, we implore you to buy them used locally, where the money stays in the community you love.' Other commenters thanked the store and said they would be returning to shop soon. Rowling first faced backlash for her views on trans people in 2019, when she tweeted in support of a British researcher who lost her job over social media posts that said allowing trans women into female spaces poses a safety threat to cisgender girls and women. In 2020, after facing repeated criticism that her views were transphobic, Rowling doubled down in a 4,000-word blog post in which she said she fears that social media is fueling a 'contagion' that has led to more young people coming out as trans and that, as a survivor of domestic abuse and assault, she is concerned about allowing trans women into female spaces. In that post, she said she wanted 'trans women to be safe,' but, 'at the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe.' Trans-inclusive policies, particularly for restrooms, do not increase safety risks, according to a study published in 2018 and another earlier this year. Her views have become more extreme over the years, with her recently referring to trans women as men on social media. In August, she also perpetuated misinformation that Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif is a man, leading Khelif to file a cyberbullying complaint against her later that month. Rowling has not publicly responded to the complaint except to share an article on social media that criticized Khelif for a beauty PR campaign and called for her to release DNA results. Khelif's lawsuit against Rowling is ongoing.
