‘Harry Potter’ Store Opening in London Draws Trans Rights Protesters Amid J.K. Rowling Controversy

Transgender rights protesters gathered outside the opening of London’s new “Harry Potter” flagship store on Wednesday, as controversy surrounding author J.K. Rowling’s views on gender identity continues to follow the franchise. A group of around 16 demonstrators assembled outside the shop on Oxford Street, carrying signs reading “protect trans lives” and “stop funding trans erasure.” […]

Transgender rights protesters gathered outside the opening of London’s new “Harry Potter” flagship store on Wednesday, as controversy surrounding author J.K. Rowling‘s views on gender identity continues to follow the franchise. A group of six demonstrators assembled outside the shop on Oxford Street, carrying signs reading “protect trans lives” and “stop funding trans erasure,” according […] Transgender rights protesters gathered outside the opening of London's new "Harry Potter" flagship store on Wednesday. Transgender rights protesters gathered outside the opening of London’s new “Harry Potter” flagship store on Wednesday, as controversy surrounding author J.K. Rowling‘s views on gender identity continues to follow the franchise.

A group of around 16 demonstrators assembled outside the shop on Oxford Street, carrying signs reading “protect trans lives” and “stop funding trans erasure.” Using megaphones, protesters chanted “trans rights are human rights,” “the queers united, we’ll never be defeated” and urged fans waiting in line to reconsider supporting the franchise. The queue — which was fairly long — slowly filed into the store, mostly ignoring the protest. The demonstration was at the opening of the U.K.’s largest official “Harry Potter” store, a 21,000-square-foot retail destination spanning two floors at The Ribbon development on Oxford Street. A representative for Rowling