Real-life Quidditch changing its name due to J.K. Rowling’s transphobia

Two real-life Quidditch organizations are working to change the name of the sport, seeking to escape the limitations imposed by Warner Bros.’ trademark on the term and to distance themselves from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s “anti-trans positions,” the organizations announced Wednesday.

“Our 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,” US Quidditch and Major League Quidditch said in a joint news release. “Both organizations feel it is imperative to live up to this reputation in all aspects of their operations and believe this move is a step in that direction.”

Major League Quidditch’s website will be updated and US Quidditch’s brand will go through a major rebrand. The acronyms of both organizations will be kept, which suggests that Quidditch’s new name may continue to start with Q. “The leagues will conduct a series of surveys over the next few months to guide a decision regarding the new name,” they said.

Quidditch, as seen in Harry Potter movies and books, is played using flying broomsticks that have enchanted balls. There are some adaptations that must be made for life. Players will run across the field with their brooms between each leg, throwing volleyballs, dodgeballs and following a yellow-dressed player around. The sport of Quidditch, which is now played worldwide, was founded on Middlebury College’s campus in 2005. US Quidditch, the sport’s governing body in the United States, oversees competition featuring an average of 150 teams and 3,500 players in each season. Major League Quidditch is a league that was founded in 2015. It has 15 affiliates across the U.S.

Rowling’s repeated transphobic comments over the past few years have alienated many Harry Potter fans and caused issues for new projects in the Wizarding World franchise. Warner Bros. Games unveiled a Harry Potter video game. Hogwarts Legacy, in September 2020, the publisher felt it necessary to clarify in an FAQ that Rowling was “not directly involved in the creation of the game.” US Quidditch and Major League Quidditch are not the only Harry Potter-inspired groups to rebrand in light of Rowling’s transphobia. In June, international nonprofit activist organization The Harry Potter Alliance rebranded to Fandom Forward, in part due to Rowling’s stances.