In the latest chapter of the ongoing debate over transgender inclusion in sports and public life in the United Kingdom, two high-profile incidents have reignited fierce arguments and drawn attention to the deep divisions within British society. J.K. Rowling, the world-famous author of the Harry Potter series, has taken her opposition to transgender rights to a new level by declaring her religion as a "believer in biology" on Scotland’s most recent census. Meanwhile, veteran pool player Lynne Pinches is taking legal action against the Ultimate Pool Group (UPG) after being banned for wearing a body camera at a competition—a move she says was for her protection following threats and an assault linked to her activism against trans women competing in female tournaments.
According to Instinct Magazine, Rowling’s declaration was not a whimsical gesture but a deliberate political statement. Out of more than five million Scottish residents, 2,883 individuals wrote "believer in biology" in the religion box on the census—a phrase popularized by For Women Scotland, a group opposed to transgender equality. Rowling confirmed online that she was "one of those people." This unusual move follows years of public statements and social media posts in which Rowling has insisted on the primacy of biological sex over gender identity, often to the distress of Scotland’s LGBTQ+ community. In her own words, Rowling has said she would be "prepared to go to jail" if misgendering became a criminal offense and has even questioned the historical persecution of transgender people under the Nazi regime.
2025 has seen a marked escalation in these tensions. In April, the UK Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling narrowing the legal definition of "woman" under the Equality Act to biological sex only. This change effectively stripped some anti-discrimination protections from trans women and was hailed by gender-critical activists as a major victory. Rowling, for her part, responded on X (formerly Twitter) by dubbing the decision "TERF V-E Day"—a term referencing Victory in Europe Day, which marks the end of World War II in Europe. She posted a photo of herself lounging with a cocktail and cigar, captioned, "I love it when a plan comes together." For many trans people and their allies, this was a clear sign that their loss of rights was being celebrated as a personal triumph by one of the UK’s most influential cultural figures.
Yet, as Instinct Magazine notes, Rowling’s stance appears increasingly out of step with the broader direction of Scottish society. The census data revealed that 51.1% of Scots now report no religion, a dramatic cultural shift toward secularism and, arguably, inclusivity. Approximately 184,000 Scots aged 16 and over identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and nearly 20,000 identify as transgender or have a trans history. This trend toward acceptance stands in stark contrast to the backlash embodied by the "believer in biology" protest, which, while loud, was embraced by only a tiny fraction of the population.
The census itself has become a flashpoint in this culture war. A 2020 court ruling allowed Scots to record their sex on the census based on biological sex, legal sex, or lived gender identity—a decision intended to make demographic data more accurate and inclusive. For Women Scotland’s campaign urging people to write "believer in biology" was, in many ways, a reaction to this move toward greater recognition of gender diversity. However, the overwhelming majority of Scots chose not to participate in the protest, suggesting that the country’s future is being shaped by those who favor openness over exclusion.
While Rowling’s actions have dominated headlines, the real-world consequences of these debates are being felt most acutely by people like Lynne Pinches. As reported by The Times, Pinches, a 52-year-old pool player and tournament winner, is now suing the Ultimate Pool Group after being banned from competitions for wearing a body camera. Pinches says the camera was for her own safety following an incident in Norwich where she was assaulted with a bottle of water at a Let Women Speak event, as well as a barrage of threats from trans activists. "I’ve been told kill myself. I’ve been called everything from bigot and transphobe to Nazi far-right," she told The Times, describing the emotional toll of her activism.
Pinches has long campaigned against the inclusion of trans women in female pool competitions, arguing that it is unfair due to perceived physical advantages. In 2023, she staged a protest by conceding a game before it began when trans player Harriet Haynes was included in the Women’s Champion of Champion final. Along with 29 other women, Pinches sued the International Eightball Pool Federation and UPG over their rules allowing trans women to compete. Her activism, she claims, has made her a target for abuse and left her feeling unsafe at tournaments.
The incident that led to her ban occurred in April 2025 at a UPG tournament in Wigan, where Pinches was attending to support her 11-year-old son. Security staff ordered her to remove her body camera, accusing her of filming illegally. Pinches says she complied, but was nonetheless ejected from the venue moments later, left outside in tears. In June, she received a letter from UPG warning that her ban would become permanent if she breached any more rules or made derogatory comments about the group on social media. However, UPG stated they might reconsider if she admitted fault in writing.
Pinches’ lawyer, Peter Daly of Doyle Clayton solicitors, has described her treatment as "Kafkaesque," suggesting the ban is more about her campaigning than any genuine rule violation. "This is in our view unlawful conduct — indeed, it is a Kafkaesque situation — and we have been instructed by Lynne to litigate it to a conclusion," he told The Times. UPG, for its part, has denied any causal link between Pinches’ activism and her ban, stating that their eligibility rules for women’s competitions were guided by the recent Supreme Court decision and two expert reports on whether pool is a gender-affected sport. "Ms Pinches was also welcome to enter and/or attend our events at the outset of the 2025 season," UPG said in a statement, emphasizing that other women from her group had participated in events without issue.
The practical impact of the ban on Pinches has been significant. Not only has her own path to professional pool been blocked—"It feels like I’m being bullied," she said—but she is now unable to watch her son play at UPG events, forced to wait outside venues instead. For her and others caught in the crossfire of this debate, the personal costs are high and the emotional strain considerable.
Taken together, these stories highlight the complex and deeply personal stakes of the debate over transgender rights in the UK. While Rowling and her supporters see themselves as defending women’s rights and biological reality, critics argue that their actions amount to exclusion and discrimination against an already vulnerable group. The courts, sports bodies, and the public are all being asked to weigh in, often with no easy answers. As Scotland’s census data shows, the country is moving—albeit unevenly—toward greater acceptance and diversity. But for those on the front lines, the struggle is far from over.
In a nation wrestling with the meaning of identity, fairness, and inclusion, the voices of those most affected will continue to shape the debate, even as the headlines focus on its most famous participants.