**Welcome Harry Potter Fans!**

We are **HP-NYC**, "*The Group That Shall Not Be Named*". We are the largest HP fan club in the world with over 4000 members. Our members span every type of person possible but we are united in the community that we have formed around these stories.

We understand that many people are wondering what it means to be a Harry Potter fan today, specifically because of the words and actions of the author of the Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling. In the 15+ years that we have been active, our members have formed countless bonds, relationships, friendships, families and more, and we refuse to give that up. So please accept the following as our Meetup “About Us”:

We at *The Group That Shall Not Be Named* fully condemn the words and actions of J.K. Rowling that seek to harm our trans, gender nonconforming, intersex, Jewish, and BIPOC brethren. Yet, we acknowledge not only the cultural importance, but also the personal importance of the Wizarding World that she has created. For many of us, especially the members of color and LGBTQIA+ members of this group, the story of Harry and his fight against Voldemort resonated with us as a story of good triumphing against evil, of the oppressed fighting the oppressor, of social justice winning against encroaching fascism. We came together as a fandom to identify with and celebrate those values as well as the characters and stories that came to represent them. Little did we know that the author harbored ill intent against many of those who found refuge in her words. 

But we grew up. And we came to understand that the meaning we found in the Wizarding World came not from Rowling’s words but from our interpretations, our lived experiences, and the community we found together. As such, we continue to gather as *The Group That Shall Not Be Named*, not in spite of J.K. Rowling’s transphobia and hate, but to show the world that folks who are a part of and who support the trans and intersex communities and communities of color have always been here and refuse to be silenced. Every day that this story and this author continues to have cultural impact is a day that we seek to put ourselves in this narrative as those who have found each other through this community and celebrate each other’s unique contribution to this world. 

We meet up, we enjoy each other’s friendship and camaraderie, and we show other HP fans that there is still a home for them. We also hope to educate others about this and provide a viewpoint for those who might not know about JKR’s hurtful messages.

That being said, what DO we do at **HP-NYC**? Well, 

We meet regularly on the 1st Thursday of every month and have special events almost every month. If you are looking for a way to meet new friends and forge new relationships in this huge city of ours, then you've come to the right place.

**Our Events:**

We have a wide range of events and activities that are as diverse as the interests of our members. We strive to provide an experience that allows you to indulge in your talents and creativity while having a tremendously fun time.

Some of our events include:

\- Trivia Nights
\- Board Game Nights
\- Movie Screenings
\- HP Themed Crafting
\- Fan Fiction Readings
\- Cosplay Photoshoots
\- Convention Presentations and Appearances
\- In\-Costume Ice Skating

We look forward to meeting you and hope you will join and help us make some magic!