San Francisco bookstore removes ‘Harry Potter’ series from shelves

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A San Francisco bookstore said that it would no longer be carrying the “Harry Potter” series after it claimed author J.K. Rowling recently established a private fund “dedicated to removing transgender rights.”

The Booksmith, located in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, announced the removal of the beloved “Harry Potter” books in a social media post on June 5.

“In May of 2025, author JK Rowling publicly committed to using her private wealth from the Harry Potter series to develop the J.K. Rowling Women’s Fund,” Booksmith wrote. “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.”

The J.K. Rowling Women’s Fund states that it helps fund legal representation “to individuals and organisations fighting to retain women’s sex-based rights in the workplace, in public life, and in protected female spaces.”

Having sold 600 million copies worldwide, the “Harry Potter” series is the bestselling book series of all time, according to Scholastic, and propelled Rowling into billionaire status.

In recent years, Rowling has come under scrutiny due to her well-publicized anti-trans views. Film actors from the “Harry Potter” universe, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Eddie Redmayne, have all criticized Rowling’s stances.

“As a group of queer booklovers, we also had our adolescences shaped by wizards and elves. Look at us, it’s obvious,” Booksmith wrote. “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.”