Quidditch leagues set to choose new name over 'Harry Potter' author and Quidditch creator JK Rowling's 'anti-trans' positions



U.S. Quidditch and Major League Quidditch on Wednesday announced that they will be sending out surveys in the coming months to decide on a new name for the sport, which was inspired by a wizarding sport depicted in J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series.

Rowling has come under fire recently for speaking out in defense of biological women's rights.

What are the details?

According to NBC News, Major League Quidditch Commissioner Amanda Dallas said, "For the last year or so, both leagues have been quietly collecting research to prepare for the move and been in extensive discussions with each other and trademark lawyers regarding how we can work together to make the name change as seamless as possible."

The leagues explained that one hurdle is that the name "quidditch" is trademarked by Warner Bros. Studios. The other hurdle? Rowling — who they said has "increasingly come under scrutiny for her anti-trans positions in recent years" — and her sentiments on biological women.

The leagues added that they support the transgender movement and said that the sport has "developed a reputation as one of the most progressive sports in the world on gender equality and inclusivity, in part thanks to its gender maximum rule, which stipulates that a team may not have more than four players of the same gender on the field at a time."

According to the report, there are more than 450 teams in at least 30 countries across the globe.

What else is there to know about this?

In 2020, Rowling wrote a lengthy op-ed in which she decried transgender activism.

“I want trans women to be safe," she wrote. "At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe. When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman — and, as I’ve said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones — then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside. That is the simple truth."

In 2020, she courted controversy after daring to criticize a news article that used the term "people who menstruate" instead of simply calling them "women."

At the time, she joked, "People who menstruate. I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?"

Following the incredible backlash, Rowling added, “If sex isn't real, there's no same-sex attraction. If sex isn't real, the lived reality of women globally is erased."

In November, Rowling announced that transgender activists had doxxed her, sharing her private address online in an apparent attempt to intimidate the best-selling author.

Undaunted, Rowling said that she will never stop defending biological women's sex-based rights and called out those who tried to shame her.

"I have to assume that @IAmGeorgiaFrost, @hollywstars and @Richard_Energy_ thought [doxing] me would intimidate me out of speaking up for women's sex-based rights," she said at the time. "They should have reflected on the fact that ... I've now received so many death threats I could paper the house with them, and I haven't stopped speaking out. Perhaps – and I'm just throwing this out there – the best way to prove your movement isn't a threat to women, is to stop stalking, harassing, and threatening us."

JK Rowling pillories trans activists who shared her address on social media, says she will never stop defending biological women's sex-based rights



Famed "Harry Potter" author J. K. Rowling has come out swinging against trans activists who reportedly attempted to intimidate her by sharing photos of her address to social media.

What are the details?

In a lengthy Twitter thread, the 55-year-old author — both a feminist and vocal supporter in defending biological gender — revealed that three transgender activists doxed her on social media.

She wrote, "Last Friday, my family's address was posted on Twitter by three activist actors who took pictures of themselves in front of our house, carefully positioning themselves to ensure that our address was visible."

"I want to say a massive thank you to everybody who reported the image to @TwitterSupport," the author continued. "Your kindness and decency made all the difference to my family and me. I'd also like to thank @PoliceScotland for their support and assistance in this matter."

Rowling also asked social media users if they would remove any instances of the photos featuring her personal information.

"I implore those people who retweeted the image with the address still visible, even if they did so in condemnation of these people's actions, to delete it," she continued, pointing out that women ought not be intimidated after speaking up for that which they believe.

She added, "Over the last few years I've watched, appalled, as women like Allison Bailey, Raquel Sanchez, Marion Miller, Rosie Duffield, Joanna Cherry, Julie Bindel, Rosa Freedman, Kathleen Stock, and many, many others, including women who have no public profile ... but who've contacted me to relate their experiences, have been subject to campaigns of intimidation which range from being hounded on social media, the targeting of their employers, all the way up to doxing and direct threats of violence, including rape."

Rowling pointed out that such women are no way as prolific as the worldwide best-selling author and have far less of an arsenal of protection with which to fight back.

"None of these women are protected in the way I am," she continued. "They and their families have been put into a state of fear and distress for no other reason than that they refuse to uncritically accept that the socio-political concept of gender identity should replace that of sex."

Rowling then went on to identify those she said intentionally revealed her private address, calling them out by name: Holly Stars, Richard Energy, and Georgia Frost.

"I have to assume that @IAmGeorgiaFrost, @hollywstars and @Richard_Energy_ thought [doxing] me would intimidate me out of speaking up for women's sex-based rights. They should have reflected on the fact that ... I've now received so many death threats I could paper the house with them, and I haven't stopped speaking out," she concluded. "Perhaps – and I'm just throwing this out there – the best way to prove your movement isn't a threat to women, is to stop stalking, harassing, and threatening us."

I want to say a massive thank you to everybody who reported the image to @TwitterSupport. Your kindness and decency made all the difference to my family and me. I\u2019d also like to thank @PoliceScotland for their support and assistance in this matter. 2/8
— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1637583756
Over the last few years I\u2019ve watched, appalled, as women like Allison Bailey, Raquel Sanchez, Marion Miller, Rosie Duffield, Joanna Cherry, Julie Bindel, Rosa Freedman, Kathleen Stock and many, many others, including women who have no public profile 4/8
— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1637583829
None of these women are protected in the way I am. They and their families have been put into a state of fear and distress for no other reason than that they refuse to uncritically accept that the socio-political concept of gender identity should replace that of sex. 6/8
— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1637583902
I\u2019ve now received so many death threats I could paper the house with them, and I haven\u2019t stopped speaking out. Perhaps \u2013 and I\u2019m just throwing this out there \u2013 the best way to prove your movement isn\u2019t a threat to women, is to stop stalking, harassing and threatening us. 8/X
— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1637583967

Rowling's thread has received tens of thousands of likes at the time of this reporting.

What else?

Stars ultimately removed the photo after heavy criticism of the move, the Daily Mail reported.

Stars, Energy, and Frost have also reportedly deleted their own Twitter accounts.

Rowling has been under fire since at least 2019 when she voiced her support for researcher Maya Forstater, who lost her job after insisting that people are not scientifically able to change biological genders.

In 2020, she took fire after criticizing a news article that referred to "people who menstruate" instead of calling them "women."

At the time, she quipped, "People who menstruate. I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?"

Following the incredible backlash, Rowling added, “If sex isn't real, there's no same-sex attraction. If sex isn't real, the lived reality of women globally is erased."