Overview

• On June 5, Booksmith announced it would stop selling Rowling’s books in response to her support for the J. K. Rowling Women’s Fund, which critics view as opposing transgender rights.
• Fabulosa Books in the Castro followed suit, removing Rowling’s titles over concerns that fund proceeds could support legal efforts against trans inclusion in women’s spaces.
• Social media debates erupted over whether bookstores should exclude authors based on political views, with some customers vowing to shop elsewhere.
• Rep. Ro Khanna publicly criticized the moves as censorship and urged retailers to uphold free speech by offering diverse viewpoints.
• Booksmith has encouraged patrons to purchase used copies locally and hosted a Silent Reading Party benefiting a Trans Youth Emergency Fund to support community alternatives.