Trans Rights Protesters Crash Grand Opening of U.K.’s Largest ‘Harry Potter’ Store

The grand opening of a flagship Harry Potter store on London’s Oxford Street has been disrupted by transgender rights protesters. A group gathered outside the building — officially the U.K.’s largest Harry Potter shop, spanning 21,000 square feet and two floors at The Ribbon development — on Wednesday with signs reading “protect trans lives” and “stop funding trans erasure.” According to U.K. outlet The Standard, they led chants through a megaphone and told those entering the enormous store: “You should not be reading Harry Potter to your children and then bringing them to this store.” The protesters also drew the trans flag and statements such as “Buy another author” and “Harry Potter isn’t the only kids’ book” in chalk on the sidewalk outside. Police were also called and stationed outside. Among the film stars celebrating the store’s opening were Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton and Warwick Davis, who is set to reprise his role as Professor Filius Flitwick in the upcoming TV show adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone on HBO. Franchise author J.K. Rowling, a staunch advocate for anti-trans policies in Britain, has regularly come under fire for her transphobia. She has often been publicly criticized over her politics and creation of The J.K. Rowling Women’s Fund, a legal fund for individuals pushing anti-transgender views across the country. The controversy has been renewed by the TV series, with stars John Lithgow (playing Albus Dumbledore), Nick Frost (Rubeus Hagrid) and Bel Powley (Petunia Dursley) among the cast members distancing themselves from Rowling’s views. She serves as an executive producer on the series. “I find it ironic and somewhat inexplicable that Rowling has expressed such views,” said Lithgow earlier this year. “I’ve read about them, and I’ve never met her. She’s not really involved in this production at all. The people who are re-adapting Harry Potter and turning it into an eight-year-long TV series are remarkable. … These are people I really want to work with.” Powley said in August: “I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling’s views on gender. I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance,” while Frost said last year: “[Rowling]’s allowed her opinion and I’m allowed mine, they just don’t align in any way, shape or form.” The protest comes just days before the ceremonial unveiling of Oxford Street’s Harry Potter Christmas lights, timed to coincide with the launch of the TV series, and which have been promised to transform the city’s most iconic shopping destination into “one of the world’s most beloved stories, bringing a host of Potter-inspired celebrations and attractions to shoppers, commuters, international visitors and fans throughout the festive season.” More than 11,000 people have signed a petition calling for London mayor Sadiq Khan to “pull the plug on transphobia” and axe the Potter-themed display. “Sadiq Khan says he’s an ally of the trans community, declaring that trans rights are human rights, and that London will remain a safe, welcoming space for trans people,” wrote organizers the Good Law Project. “So why is he allowing one of the most famous anti-trans people in the world to take over Oxford Street?” The Hollywood Reporter has approached reps for J.K. Rowling and the store for comment.