Feminist bookstore the Second Shelf is going to troll Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling with a donation to a transgender organization every time someone buys one of her books.
The announcement comes a few months after Rowling tweeted support for Maya Forstater, who was fired from her job at the Centre for Global Development for making anti-transgender statements on her Twitter account.
Related: The Mysterious Case of J.K. Rowling and Her Transphobic Twitter History
Now London bookstore the Second Shelf decided to offset money that would go to Rowling from her book sales by sending a donation to the transgender youth organization Mermaids every time one of her books is sold at their store.
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Making a donation to @Mermaids_Gender every time we sell J K Rowling. 💥 https://t.co/gaDb769mgg
— The Second Shelf (@secondshelfbks) February 12, 2020
People are praising the Second Shelf for finding a solution for the struggle between enjoying Rowling’s books and paying her money.
TERF offsetting? I like it.
— She Read He Said (@SheRead_HeSaid) February 12, 2020
I pledge to make a donation to a trans org every time I purchase a Harry Potter item and also when one is purchased on my behalf.
— shara (@Knittyqueengal) February 13, 2020
Rowling’s tweet referred to Maya Forstater, who took her employer to court claiming that her anti-transgender point of view is protected under the U.K.’s Equality Act.
The judge ruled against her, saying her employer had the right to fire her because her views of transgender people, “violates their dignity and/or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. The approach is not worthy of respect in a democratic society.”
In the wake of the controversy, Rowling tweeted: “Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real?”
Dress however you please.
Call yourself whatever you like.
Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you.
Live your best life in peace and security.
But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 19, 2019
Rowling’s support of Forstater, in addition to other past transphobic tweets, left many fans of Harry Potter devastated, wondering if and how they can remain connected to their beloved wizarding world.
Mermaids responded to the bookstore with just one word: Wizard.
Wizard. 🧙♂️
— Mermaids (@Mermaids_Gender) February 12, 2020
The Second Shelf is hoping others will follow in their footsteps.
“Still looking for other indie bookstores to join us!” they tweeted. “We’ll search high and low until we have a coven.”
Still looking for other indie bookstores to join us! We'll search high and low until we have a coven.
— The Second Shelf (@secondshelfbks) February 13, 2020