A laser removal clinic in the UK is making headlines after launching a bold promotion: 50 per cent off the cost of removing Harry Potter-themed tattoos — in a powerful show of solidarity with the trans community.
Manchester Laser NQ, located inside The Old Volt tattoo studio on Swan Street, announced the offer via Instagram, directly linking it to author J.K. Rowling’s controversial and widely criticised views on transgender rights.
“Trans rights are human rights,” the clinic wrote in the viral post.
“So, I will be offering 50 per cent off removal of any Harry-Potter-themed tattoos, for anyone.”
The move has resonated deeply with LGBTQ+ fans who once found connection in the Harry Potter universe, but now feel alienated due to Rowling’s comments on trans issues.
From Beloved to Burdened
Rowling, 60, began facing backlash in 2019 when she publicly defended Maya Forstater, a U.K. tax researcher who lost (and later regained) her job after expressing “gender-critical” beliefs. Since then, Rowling has repeatedly made statements many view as transphobic, claiming that advocacy for trans rights threatens women’s rights.
Despite her insistence that she opposes discrimination against trans people, Rowling’s repeated comments have fuelled growing outrage from LGBTQ+ groups, fans, and even actors from the Harry Potter film series.
Manchester Laser NQ’s offer reflects this growing disillusionment. The clinic added a cheeky caption to their post:
“Around 16% of people regret getting a tattoo, less than 1% of people regret gender-affirming surgery, and 100% of queer people regret their Harry Potter tattoos. (Last stat not fact-checked).”
‘I Wanted to Make It Easier’
In an interview with Attitude, Manchester Laser NQ manager El shared the personal inspiration behind the promotion.
“Like many queer people, I loved Harry Potter when I was younger, and it only lost its magic because of the woman who wrote it,” they said.
“I know there are a lot of people walking around with HP tattoos that they no longer want, or even feel ashamed of, and I wanted to make it a bit easier to get them removed.”
The response online has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the clinic for offering not just a discount — but also a message of compassion and empowerment at a time when trans rights are increasingly under attack across the UK and beyond.
The Cultural Shift Around Harry Potter
The unease surrounding Rowling’s views has had wider cultural impacts. Earlier this year, Edinburgh Street Historians stopped running their Harry Potter-themed walking tours in the Scottish capital. Founder Fraser Horn told Gayety the decision reflected a desire to distance the organisation from Rowling’s politics.
Even celebrities, like actress Keira Knightley, have faced criticism for expressing interest in the franchise without publicly addressing Rowling’s views.
As the backlash grows, Manchester Laser NQ’s offer signals how many in the LGBTQ+ community are choosing to reclaim agency over their fandom — and their skin.
