Work Text:
The Magic Mirror, 12 June 2020
Wizarding Sports
Reject Author's Transphobia, Stand Up for Trans People
by
Carbuncle Steeptea
Today, the Department for Sport and
Recreation, the Quidditch League Director, and, most forcefully, the
entirety of the players and management of the Holyhead Harpies put
out separate statements all addressing the recent transphobic
controversy sparked by You-Know-Who and reaffirming that trans people
are their genders and are welcomed and respected as such in the
Quidditch League. The Holyhead Harpies went even further in their
statement.
'Trans women are women,' it says, 'and are thus
welcome on and encouraged to join our team. Regardless of the intent
of The Author in creating us as an all-woman team, as a women's
collective, we believe trans rights are human rights and that trans
girls and women are, and always have been, girls and women. We
appreciate all our fans' support for Apollonia Steeptea as she
successfully fought Authorial Intent and the Ministry and League to
join us as a sister Chaser [of which we here at the Mirror supported
and chronicled her whole journey to triumph] and encourage other
trans women to give it a go at the next team try outs. Furthermore,
we are stepping up our trans girl outreach and will have more to
announce about that soon. We are very disappointed that
[You-Know-Who] has taken the spotlight from black lives at this
crucial moment to instead focus on her own, bigoted agenda. Again,
trans women are women, black lives matter, and "the Death of the
Author" should be heeded.'
Retired Holyhead Chaser
and Quidditch Sports Editor Ginny Potter, when reached for comment,
said, "Trans women are women. I see and love you." Husband
Harry, who accompanied her, added, "It’s clear that we
need to do more to support transgender and non-binary people, not
invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm.”
In
her response to the statements, former Holyhead Harpies Seeker Bao
(misnamed 'Cho' by You-Know-Who) Chang pointed out that You-Know-Who
waited until her fellow Muggle white liberals seemed to finally be
admitting that black lives matter to say this. Ms Chang then
pointedly gave this paper a list of Muggle and Wizarding
organisations supporting black trans women (see accompanying table on
page 5). This is Chang's first public statement on You-Know-Who's
racism since her famous "I Am Bao" series of protests
earlier this century.
The Author could not be reached for
comment.