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."