What we’re about
To all No-Majs and Muggles, Witches and Wizards!
There's plenty of us Potterheads lurking around Seattle, and it's about time we embraced our Harry Potter-ness. This meetup sets out to connect us together as we explore magical events happening around the city. I also organize weekly meetings! We overanalyze the wizarding world, have book clubs, play HP-themed board games, try our hand at crafts, and revel in our denial of muggledom.
Whether you could ace Potter trivia or you're new to fantasy altogether, everyone is welcome. But beware, there be Crumple-Horned Snorkacks here!
Our meet-ups usually take place on the weekends in Capitol Hill/First Hill, though we do roam around the greater Seattle area. If you have any suggestions for places or events, please let me know!
Cheers,
Audrey
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THE PANDEMIC EDIT: With COVID-19, we're mainly having online events for the time being. Though I'm still hosting book clubs and discussion nights weekly!
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As for the J.K. Rowling controversy? I HEAVILY avoid talking about this or politics at events (ie: I don't talk about them), but I do want to address it here as it's an elephant in the room. I used to have a longer piece here, but it was wisely pointed out to me that the time for that has largely passed. Plus, it was cluttering up the home page. So this is the compact version...I will point out that I'm a writer, and not at all an editor (feel free to skip it all, as it has nothing to do with the meetup).
J.K. Rowling wrote seven novels that bashed readers over the head with how important equality and compassion are...and yet people were quick to erase all of that in favor of a few Tweets. I personally view this whole controversy as being much more about sexism than most will admit.
Can I understand Rowling’s concerns about women’s spaces being erased? Honestly, yes. When you have debates about people wanting to change ‘breastfeeding’ to ‘chestfeeding’, or ‘women’ to ‘people who menstruate’, but no one’s talking about prostates...it starts to feel a bit sexist. Sexualized caricatures of women are being applauded in drag queens...yet there’s no male equivalent. The demeaning terms ‘TERF’, ‘Karen’, etc are tossed around wildly...when there’s, again, absolutely no male equivalent. People only seem to want to change the language around women, not men.
Do I agree with everything Rowling's said? No, of course not. I don't agree with anyone wholeheartedly or blindly. Please remember Voltaire's (really, Evelyn Beatrice Hall's) quote: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Rowling was once persona-non-grata to religious groups, and now the Left hates her. She also became an extremely generous philanthropist, after she wrote the all-time bestselling series in history: a series which emphasises treating others the way you'd want to be treated. Funny, it’s almost like she's a complex person.
This Meetup group embraces what the "Harry Potter" series does: we happily welcome everyone! Witch or wizard, muggle or dragon, it doesn't matter. I just ask that everyone's treated with common courtesy and respect.
