Twelve teams from all over France meet this weekend in Lyon, at the Gerland playground. For what occasion ? The French Quidditch Cup. Discipline, straight out of the Harry Potter saga, mixes handball, rugby, dodgeball… and a one meter PVC pipe between the legs. “In the very beginning, when the discipline came out of books and movies, people played with capes and real wooden brooms. It was like cosplay “, remembers “Run”, player of the Lyon team Crookshanks since 2014. Very quickly, the practice wanted to dissociate itself from the magical universe and the young wizard to be “more sporty”, “to be taken more seriously”. But also, to get away from the one who imagined it: JK Rowling, the world-renowned author criticized for her opinions on the LGBTQIA + community and who has been making transphobic remarks for several years.
“From 2005 and the creation of the activity in real life, the American students wanted to integrate everyone, boys and girls, without restriction as it can be in other clubs”, explains Naomi, also a member of the Crookshanks. Thus, the rules are clear: there cannot be more than four players (out of seven) from a team of the same gender on the field. “Compulsory diversity makes it possible to avoid the social reproductions present in sport, completes Mélanie, treasurer of the Lyon association. We thus stop thinking that men are too strong and that they must occupy all the key positions. The women are not there to do extra work in the field. »
Quidditch wants to “go even further in inclusiveness”
These rules, which evolve every two years via the International Quidditch Association (IQA), will go “even further in inclusiveness”, supports Mélanie, who is also a chaser. “We would like the regulations to increase to a maximum of three people of the same gender on the field. It’s also a way to highlight that we don’t only play on two genres and that it is necessary to evolve on these issues. Quidditch is one of the few sports that recognizes non-binarity.
Diversity is therefore part of the identity of quidditch, especially in Lyon where “many are part of the LGBTQIA + community”, specifies Mélanie. Among the 30 people dismissed this season, many have joined and remained in the team specifically for inclusion. This is the case of Clara, president of the club, who says: “I can really be myself. The Crookshanks also signed in February the Charter to foster inclusivenessjust like the Copper Foxes of Metz.
Recently, the Lyon club even initiated a system of “gender armbands”, based on an idea by Jules, chaser. He develops: “The goal is to offer something that avoids gender [action, volontaire ou non, de désigner une personne par un genre qui ne correspond pas à son identité de genre], because I have been a victim of it in different matches. Thus, on a voluntary basis, the player indicates, using the color of the headband worn on the arm, whether he or she considers himself a cis man or woman. [qui se reconnaît dans genre assigné à sa naissance]non-binary [qui ne se reconnaît pas comme strictement femme ou strictement homme] or gender [qui ne se reconnaît dans aucun genre]and the pronouns to use to define him or her.
“A big middle finger to” JK Rowling
“The French Quidditch Federation has decided to support us and has financed the purchase of armbands for the other teams, continues Mélanie. This device was even deployed during a European competition. This proposal has made it possible to launch a broader reflection and, thus, to continue to build a discipline that is as inclusive as possible. At its own level, the Lyon team also spent time raising awareness among its members on gender and sexuality issues.
It is in this context that it therefore seemed obvious to dissociate oneself from JK Rowling. The IQA had already declared in July 2022 definitively abandon the term “quidditch” for that of “quadball”. In France, the Federation will adopt the new name after this weekend’s tournament in Lyon. “It is important to separate from JK Rowling to keep the values of the sport that the fans have built, independently of her and her work”, supports Mélanie.
However, she indicates that it was necessary to find new terms also because of the rights that belong to Warner Bros. “Changing the name of the sport, I see it as a big middle finger to the author, smiles Jules. We reclaimed her concept and made it what she hates. Trans people play freely, in a place safe, surrounded by kindness. “And the pursuer to tell how important the Crookshanks were to him:” I made my transition over the seasons. The quadball field was the only place where I felt no judgment. I received a lot of support there. That’s why this sport will always have a special place in my life. »