'Conflicted' Edinburgh tour guide replaces Harry Potter tours with LGBTQ ones
An Edinburgh tour guide has dropped all his Harry Potter walking tours in June and replaced them with LGBTQ+ tours.
Fraser Horn, the founder of Edinburgh tour company Street Historians, told Edinburgh Live that he was "really conflicted" about whether to continue Harry Potter tours amid ongoing controversy surrounding series author J.K. Rowling.
The Harry Potter franchise is baked into the fabric of Edinburgh, with Rowling famously residing in the Scottish capital and deriving elements of the iconic series from features of the city.
However, in recent years the author has been at the centre of the culture wars, most recently inspiring a 2024 Fringe play entirely about her political views.
Fraser, a queer tour guide, has decided to cut all Harry Potter tours from his lineup this June.
On his blog, Fraser explained his thought process behind the decision.
He shared: "There's an increasing amount of negativity around the [Harry Potter] series which is making it much harder to conjure up affection and for that reason the Edinburgh Street Historians are having internal discussions.
"JK Rowling, for years beloved by many due to her championing of some pretty great causes related to children's books and funding research into multiple sclerosis, got involved in politics. In particular, LGBTQ politics was her issue. In particular, comments about the trans community."
(Image: Alvaro Palomo)
He told Edinburgh Live: "It felt good to make my position clear on this. Street Historians as tour company wants to be different.
"Some companies have put out statements [about Rowling] and others have said nothing and seem to feel it's not their business to comment. I think it is our business. We're in a position to say things and we have a responsibility. If the world is becoming a less welcoming place, it's our job to make world a more welcoming.
The tours tell the story of prominent queer Scots from throughout history. It also delves into how Scotland has transformed into a more accepting place for queer people.
One notable figure discussed on the tour is Harry Whyte, an Edinburgh-born spy for the United Kingdom campaigned for the acceptance of same-sex relationships in the Soviet Union during the 1930s.
Fraser wants to tell the stories of these littler-known queer historical figures with ties to Edinburgh.
The tours last around 90 minutes and take guests through Bristo Square where Edinburgh Pride Marches conclude and up Forest Road, George IV Bridge, the Royal Mile, and Calton Hill.
Fraser will resume Harry Potter tours after June but says he is unsure about whether to continue including them. He was "keen" on Harry Potter for "a very long time" but has his doubts about continuing to platform the series.
Fraser added: "I'm good at the Harry Potter tours and I like way the guests love it. People are still really committed and love the books even 20 years later.
"I have a passion for giving them a great part of their trip. Overall, guests don't seem to mind Rowling's opinions on things and you've got to appeal to the people who are here. But there comes a point where it's harder to justify.
"I'm really conflicted on this and a lot of tour guides are thinking similar. Not all, but some definitely are."
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