A laser clinic in Manchester is making headlines after offering a special promotion aimed at helping fans move on from their Harry Potter-themed tattoos, and making a bold statement in support of trans rights.
Manchester Laser NQ, located inside The Old Volt tattoo studio on Swan Street, announced on Instagram that it is offering 50 percent off the cost of removing Harry Potter tattoos. The promotion comes in direct response to author J.K. Rowling’s controversial and widely criticized views on the transgender community.
“Trans rights are human rights,” the clinic wrote in its now-viral post. “So, I will be offering 50 percent off removal of any Harry-Potter-themed tattoos, for anyone.”
The message quickly resonated with fans, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community, who once found comfort and belonging in the wizarding world, but now feel alienated by Rowling’s stance on trans issues.
A Franchise That Lost Its Magic for Many
Rowling, 60, first sparked controversy in 2019 when she publicly supported Maya Forstater, a U.K. tax researcher who lost (and later regained) her job after expressing “gender-critical” views. Since then, Rowling has doubled down on rhetoric many view as harmful to trans people, often equating advocacy for transgender rights with threats to women’s rights.
While the author has maintained that she supports trans individuals and opposes discrimination, her repeated comments have ignited backlash from LGBTQ+ activists, fans, and even actors from the Harry Potter films. Yet, many celebrities, including actress Keira Knightley, who recently voiced interest in the franchise, have been criticized for failing to distance themselves from Rowling’s statements.
The promotion from Manchester Laser NQ reflects the deep disillusionment many queer fans feel toward the brand.
“Around 16 percent of people regret getting a tattoo, less than one percent of people regret gender-affirming surgery, and 100 percent of queer people regret their Harry Potter tattoos,” the clinic joked in their caption, adding a disclaimer: “(Last stat not fact-checked).”
‘I Wanted to Make It Easier’
In an interview with Attitude, Manchester Laser NQ manager El shared the personal motivation behind the offer.
“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,” El 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 clinic’s message has garnered an overwhelmingly positive response online, with many praising the gesture as both compassionate and empowering. The promotion is especially poignant in a time when trans rights are under increasing threat in the U.K. and beyond.
A Larger Cultural Shift
The discontent around Rowling’s comments has led to broader cultural shifts in how the Harry Potter franchise is perceived. Earlier this year, Fraser Horn, founder of Edinburgh Street Historians, told Gayety that the organization decided to stop offering Harry Potter-themed walking tours in the Scottish capital.
