Queer bookshop owners in Leeds speak out after wave of threats and abuse
The owners of The Bookish Type, a celebrated queer indie bookshop in Leeds city centre, have spoken publicly about the escalating threats, harassment and violence they have faced inside their own shop. The trio - Emily Reynolds, 25, Liza Buhakova, 25, and Caitlyn Oakes, 26 - took over the business in 2025 and have been working to build a safe, vibrant community hub for LGBTQ+ people in the city. Yet despite their efforts, they say they have increasingly become the targets of hostility.
Liza explained that staff have endured repeated incidents of homophobic and transphobic abuse from individuals entering the store. “We’ve had people coming in and being homophobic and transphobic directly to staff,” she said, noting that tensions have occasionally escalated into frightening confrontations. One such incident involved a man who entered the shop from the street and threatened Emily.
Emily described the moment she felt in immediate danger when the man moved as though he was about to punch her. “There was a guy who was going to punch me,” she recalled. The situation intensified over several minutes, but quick‑thinking passers-by and customers rushed into the shop to intervene, removing the man before anyone was harmed. Emily said the experience was “pretty messed up”, though she expressed deep gratitude for the community who stepped in to protect her.
The abuse has not been limited to verbal and physical threats. Liza noted that displaying a “Freedom for Palestine” poster in the shop window has led to people spitting on the storefront. The team say that much of the hostility disproportionately affects those who present more visibly queer, including Emily, Liza and several of their volunteers. Caitlyn explained that those who “come across a lot more queer” tend to be targeted the most.
Despite these troubling episodes, Emily - who knew she was trans from a young age - emphasised that she refuses to feel unsafe in the space the team has built. She acknowledged that while the abuse can be emotionally draining, the overwhelming support from the wider community far outweighs the negativity. “For every one bad person, there is easily a thousand good people,” she said, expressing faith in the solidarity shown by their customers and neighbours.
The Bookish Type, founded originally as a queer market stall before becoming a bricks‑and‑mortar shop, has long been cherished for its commitment to uplifting LGBTQ+ voices, offering queer literature, hosting community events and advocating for inclusivity.
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