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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Trans People Launch High Street Protest Against Sale of Harry Potter Merchandise

379 replies

IwantToRetire · 17/05/2026 01:31

Trans rights activists launched a peaceful protest outside Waterstones in Guildford this afternoon (May 16), chalking messages on the pavement to draw people’s attention to the company’s marketing of Harry Potter merchandise.

Protest group Defund Transphobes says Harry Potter author JK Rowling uses money from the sale of merchandise to fund what they describe as her “anti trans campaign”.

Continues at https://guildford-dragon.com/trans-people-launch-high-street-protest-against-sale-of-harry-potter-merchandise/

Guildford Dragon NEWS

Guildford News

https://guildford-dragon.com/trans-people-launch-high-street-protest-against-sale-of-harry-potter-merchandise/

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DramaAndBullshit · 18/05/2026 18:27

InstantlyBella · 17/05/2026 01:43

Because it is about standing up for what is right and not making a prestigious bookstore feel unsafe for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Standing up for what’s right? You mean the biological fact that no one can change sex and many fetishists are using ‘gender’ ideology to invade women’s single sex spaces?

Considering the aggressive nature of TiMs it’s actually women who are unsafe in the store not LGBTQRSTWXYZ people. No woman, including JKR, has ever threatened or incited violence on the trans community.

Trans People Launch High Street Protest Against Sale of Harry Potter Merchandise
Trans People Launch High Street Protest Against Sale of Harry Potter Merchandise
Trans People Launch High Street Protest Against Sale of Harry Potter Merchandise
Realityvbelief · 18/05/2026 18:02

As an LGB person (no I'm not writing the rest of the alphabet bollocks) I went into Waterstones a couple of days ago and was absolutely fine! I know ? Astonishing isn't it ? No need for anyone to tell me how brave I am.

CornishDaughteroftheDawn · 18/05/2026 17:33

Asunciondeflata · 18/05/2026 09:27

Thank you for this. It's very frustrating for ordinary, moderate Muslims to be lumped in with extremists who call for violence and murder.
This poster is colluding with that.

Thank you. I listen to what Muslim people are saying - both the extremists and moderate Muslims, and they gave very different views.

I am always amazed at how eager some on the the ‘progressive’ left are to ignore the moderate Muslims, many of whom have left their countries to get away from the extremists but then are shut down in raising concerns by British people arguing on the side of the extremists.

There are Iranians here who fled the IRGC only to find they have followed them to the UK and the British government are enabling them and turning a blind eye to the persecution of Iranians here. We are becoming an unsafe place for refugees and Brits alike.

Even in so many threads on here, people are happy for moderate Muslims to lose their democratic right to a free vote to so called ‘family voting’ and other coercive practices, as long as they get the result they want.

Our own Prime Minister seems to be unable to differentiate between people with extreme views (the actual far right) and British people (including moderate Muslims and assimilated immigrants) with views on immigration. He lumps us all into the same ‘hate group’ rhetoric. He is obviously not winning hearts and minds with this approach. I do wonder if he actually doesn’t want to be PM any more and is trying his best to insult us all and get booted out.

His failure (and that of the ‘progressives’ to even acknowledge British values, let alone uphold them is harmful for all.

Asunciondeflata · 18/05/2026 17:17

Ghostmartin · 18/05/2026 17:16

No, that's Salman Rushdie.

The poster meant Salmon Rushdie, which is a rather different kettle of fish

😂

Ghostmartin · 18/05/2026 17:16

No, that's Salman Rushdie.

The poster meant Salmon Rushdie, which is a rather different kettle of fish

FashionVixen · 18/05/2026 17:14

InstantlyBella · 17/05/2026 06:30

Would you say that to a Muslim if Waterstones stocked a book by notorious Islamophobe Salmon Rushdie? I think you would rightfully find that hurtful and offensive, which is the same for trans people who have their identity disregarded by stocking books written by that woman.

https://www.waterstones.com/author/salman-rushdie/85331 ?

Maaate · 18/05/2026 17:11

InstantlyBella · 18/05/2026 09:40

No I am not colliding with any extremists please don't put words in my mouth. Honestly the whole experience on this thread has been pretty hard to read, but even so, saying that I am just as bad as an extremist is one of the most hurtful things somebody has ever said about me.

I will go away and reflect on the matter. Thank you to the few people who took the time to message me support after the onslaught I received in this topic, your kindness has touched me ❤️

Did you do a little buttergasp before posting this?

FashionVixen · 18/05/2026 17:10

InstantlyBella · 17/05/2026 01:43

Because it is about standing up for what is right and not making a prestigious bookstore feel unsafe for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

This made me laugh tea out of my nose.

PeachOctopus · 18/05/2026 16:59

InstantlyBella · 17/05/2026 01:43

Because it is about standing up for what is right and not making a prestigious bookstore feel unsafe for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

I think this sort of pandering to trans activists has got us into this mess, no one ever in the history of the world has felt’unsafe’ shopping at Waterstones.

Lins77 · 18/05/2026 16:51

'I challenged my cousin who was parroting Stonewall and said, "They can't use the men's toilet because they will get raped".'

It's a strange take on it. Why would they get raped? Because the other men think they're women and will automatically rape any woman in their vicinity? Or because they know they're men and will rape them because... not sure.

Realistically the most that's likely to happen is a bit of side-eye and possibly some remarks/sniggering (more likely if people are drunk).

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 18/05/2026 16:33

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 18/05/2026 16:29

sashh · 18/05/2026 07:36

There is a £1 million prize for anyone who can find anything she has said or written that is transphobic.

They are such drama lamas, which is better than them being violent.

I challenged my cousin who was parroting Stonewall and said, "They can't use the men's toilet because they will get raped".

I asked if he had that little respect for men? A perfectly normal average guy who could be your DH, partner, son etc who has never assaulted anyone in their life but if a trans woman walks in to the toilet they suddenly turn in to rapists.

Even the 6% or so of men who do rape usually go after women and girls. Men, even the ones in frocks, are usually pretty safe.

Galaxylights · 18/05/2026 16:08

InstantlyBella · 17/05/2026 01:43

Because it is about standing up for what is right and not making a prestigious bookstore feel unsafe for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

A book doesn't do that.

You can separate the book from the author.

You can separate the franchise from the author.

It is okay to like harry potter and not a fan of Mrs. Rowling. People are allowed to like what they like and it doesn't mean they are transphobic.

I am tired of being told you cannot like this or that for the sake of offending others.

Bugger that.

SidewaysOtter · 18/05/2026 16:08

murasaki · 18/05/2026 15:50

I felt unsafe in a bookshop once.

At the moment I realised I'd missed my footing on the stairs in Piccadilly Waterstones post cocktails upstairs and realised I was about to fall down them.

Oddly, nothing to do with the books.

There must be something about that branch. I went in there on my way back to the Tube, having had one or two sherbets over the course of the afternoon, for a browse of all the lovely books.

My credit card definitely felt unsafe.

Asunciondeflata · 18/05/2026 16:05

murasaki · 18/05/2026 15:54

My resilience (or rather my resilient arse) is well known.

Good work 👏

EmpressaurusKitty · 18/05/2026 16:04

murasaki · 18/05/2026 15:50

I felt unsafe in a bookshop once.

At the moment I realised I'd missed my footing on the stairs in Piccadilly Waterstones post cocktails upstairs and realised I was about to fall down them.

Oddly, nothing to do with the books.

Did you manage to save yourself?

I find the genderwoo section of Waterstones irritating so I don’t visit it. Easy.

murasaki · 18/05/2026 15:54

Asunciondeflata · 18/05/2026 15:52

You are mentally strong 💪!

My resilience (or rather my resilient arse) is well known.

Asunciondeflata · 18/05/2026 15:52

murasaki · 18/05/2026 15:50

I felt unsafe in a bookshop once.

At the moment I realised I'd missed my footing on the stairs in Piccadilly Waterstones post cocktails upstairs and realised I was about to fall down them.

Oddly, nothing to do with the books.

You are mentally strong 💪!

murasaki · 18/05/2026 15:50

I felt unsafe in a bookshop once.

At the moment I realised I'd missed my footing on the stairs in Piccadilly Waterstones post cocktails upstairs and realised I was about to fall down them.

Oddly, nothing to do with the books.

RhannionKPSS · 18/05/2026 15:47

InstantlyBella · 17/05/2026 01:43

Because it is about standing up for what is right and not making a prestigious bookstore feel unsafe for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

😂😂😂you keep telling yourself that, the rest of us can see hyperbole and pointlessness of it.,

Fgfgfg · 18/05/2026 15:23

SidewaysOtter · 18/05/2026 15:22

To be fair, anyone who has ever stood on Lego knows EXACTLY how unsafe it is.

😂

SidewaysOtter · 18/05/2026 15:22

Fgfgfg · 18/05/2026 15:19

Keep up. It's not about the books it's about the merchandise. We need to ban the lego.

To be fair, anyone who has ever stood on Lego knows EXACTLY how unsafe it is.

Fgfgfg · 18/05/2026 15:19

Mingou · 18/05/2026 14:11

How is the bookshop "unsafe" because it has HP books, exactly?

Keep up. It's not about the books it's about the merchandise. We need to ban the lego.

Harry Potter Loop GIF by Xbox
Mingou · 18/05/2026 14:11

InstantlyBella · 17/05/2026 01:43

Because it is about standing up for what is right and not making a prestigious bookstore feel unsafe for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

How is the bookshop "unsafe" because it has HP books, exactly?

Ghostmartin · 18/05/2026 14:09

Wobbling-bottom-lip emoji required

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