In Edinburgh for the Fringe, saw @alexfranklinhallo.bsky.social with @dizzy.omelette.gay, hilarious, relatable and infected with her energy. Loved it and recommend!
Chris Northwood
@chrisn.xyz
trans 🏳️⚧️ (she/her); autistic; tech lead for a charity & author of The Full Stack Developer; councillor for Ancoats & Beswick/deputy Lib Dem leader on Manchester City Council 🔶 (promoted by Lib Dems, 1 Vincent Sq SW1P 2PN)
At long last, the cooler weather has returned – perfect for getting out and about! After yesterday’s advice surgery at Beswick Library, @alangoodld.mcrlibdems.uk and I did a spot of litter picking along Limetree Walk, clearing everything from crisp packets and beer cans to a blanket and trolley… 🛒
I've just read @rutgerbregman.com's latest book "Moral Ambition" and really blown away by it (despite the awkward use of Hogwarts as an analogy), it's really fired me up and made me really want to find my own group of tight knit people who share the world view and want to put it into action.
Had a scrutiny meeting where the importance of trans people being in the rooms of power matter (#ElectTheDolls), and I was able to push back against a small change that would have accepted a transphobic framing of sex.
Lucy Powell has today replied to this letter, in which she agrees with all the concerns, but stops short of actually committing to any action which will make any sort of difference, and seems content to let the current situation continue to play out. The trans community needs more than words.
Chris Northwood@chrisn.xyz · 3mo agoI've written to the MP for Manchester Central following yesterday's release of the EHRC code. It can not pass silently, and we need to move towards new legislation to fix the mess the Supreme Court ruling caused.
Exempting broadly-defined "health" services from this bill would be a bit like exempting "fuel" services from a bill about CO2 reduction. There must be no carve-outs or loop holes for abusive practices, in healthcare or otherwise, for this to be anything like what has been promised, for years.
Conversion practices draft bill
gov.uk
Rich is one of the best councillors I know and I'm proud to be supporting his campaign. Let us know if you intend to vote for Rich or otherwise at www.mcrlibdems.uk/votepledge
Liberal Democrats@libdems.org.uk · 2mo agoRichard Kilpatrick is our candidate for Greater Manchester Mayor. Best of luck Richard! 🧡
Protecting trans young people means listening, understanding and acting with compassion so that every child has the support they need to face the future with confidence and care. www.facebook.com/share/v/193R...
Ten years since the Brexit referendum. It's caused chaos with us about to get a 7th Prime Minister in a decade, it's made everything more expensive and made our lives worse, taking away things we took for granted. We @libdems.org.uk want to fix this and build a closer relationship to Europe
When I was young, I was an active user of what would now be called social media. vBulletin and phpBB boards, IRC channels, LiveJournal... When I get married in a few months time, two friends I met on IRC and still switch between thinking of them as their handles or "real" names will be my bridesmen.
A government pledge to end IVF discrimination against lesbian couples has reached just four of England's 42 health boards. This Pride Month, @carolinepidgeon.bsky.social, Lib Dem Health and Social Care spokesperson, says equality can't stop at the fertility clinic door.
Last week I was on a podcast which was a little bit out of my comfort zone, talking to a church about my experience of being trans. It was a really interesting conversation, uncomfortable at times but one to try and help people understand, especially people who don't hear from trans people often
Church on Wheels: Being transgender, an honest conversation
YouTube video by Church on the Street Ministries
youtube.com
Last week I was on a podcast which was a little bit out of my comfort zone, talking to a church about my experience of being trans. It was a really interesting conversation, uncomfortable at times but one to try and help people understand, especially people who don't hear from trans people often
Church on Wheels: Being transgender, an honest conversation
YouTube video by Church on the Street Ministries
youtube.com
Today I'm at #LDX3 (the lead dev conference) and thought I'd post some insights and takeaways from the talks in this thread!
The idea that a sedated person's lack of opposition can be taken as consent is not okay. This is a deeply disturbing precedent and we must listen to disability rights campaigners when they warn about the removal of important checks and balances.
Katy Montgomerie 🦗@katymontgomerie.com · 3mo agoThe UK Supreme Court has now decided to strip disabled people of their human rights too "This judgement sets us back decades and removes safeguards that history shows us are vital for disabled people." Horrific www.mind.org.uk/news-campaig...
If you're in Manchester and want to join the fight, I'm doing what I can on the council to ensure Manchester remains a trans inclusive city. If you want to join my campaign team, mcrlibdems.uk/join and please get in touch!
Join the Liberal Democrats
Join the Liberal Democrats for a fairer, greener more caring Britain.
mcrlibdems.uk
Chris Northwood@chrisn.xyz · 3mo agoVery proud of my friends on @pluslibdems.bsky.social for preparing their briefing to our MPs on the EHRC, and for our MPs to turn up today, having listened to trans people to oppose Labour's trans toilet ban. And shame on Labour for doubling down with this cruel, unworkable plan.
Very proud of my friends on @pluslibdems.bsky.social for preparing their briefing to our MPs on the EHRC, and for our MPs to turn up today, having listened to trans people to oppose Labour's trans toilet ban. And shame on Labour for doubling down with this cruel, unworkable plan.
Very pleased to see today that @eddavey.libdems.org.uk has written a letter condemning the EHRC guidance and calling for a review of legislation. I spoke to him a little while ago when he was in Manchester about what the party are doing in this space
LGBT+ Liberal Democrats 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️@pluslibdems.bsky.social · 4mo agoThanks to @chrisn.xyz and @eddavey.libdems.org.uk for this. It's been a hard year, and we have work to do. But we're in the fight, and we're proud that the @libdems.org.uk are in it with us. Trans rights are human rights. 🧡🏳️⚧️
The new EHRC Code of Practice is not fit for purpose. It does not provide clear guidance or do enough to protect everyone from discrimination, and it is not compatible with longstanding British values. @EdDavey.LibDems.org.uk and @MarieCGoldman.bsky.social have written to Bridget Phillipson. ⬇️
Discrimination is always out there, it’s just the victims that change, so we must fight it wherever and whoever it effects, as Meg Challinor relates… www.libdemvoice.org/the-modern-n...
The modern “No Blacks, no Dogs, no Irish”
I, like many in the LGBT+ community am scared right now. I cried yesterday and today about the uncertainty of my future and my friends’ futures. If you are cis or trans it doesn’t really matter, it’s ...
libdemvoice.org
I've written to the MP for Manchester Central following yesterday's release of the EHRC code. It can not pass silently, and we need to move towards new legislation to fix the mess the Supreme Court ruling caused.
As our ability to live freely in society is minimised, Parliament might get a chance to debate how we live our lives, if the government lets them. But there'll be no trans voice in that debate. And already, the media talks over us and erases the tiny bits of nuance in the guidance that does exist.
🚨 EHRC guidance update: Polite exclusion is still exclusion. This CoP is about as unfair and unworkable as before, with only small tweaks. Clearly many service providers will just go gender neutral to avoid the headache, but this risks pushing trans people yet further out of public life.
Women belong in politics, and especially women from different backgrounds and with different life experiences. I'm pleased to be one of the panellists at this upcoming event!
5050 Parliament@5050parliament.bsky.social · 3mo agoHear from local councillors and MPs about how YOU can make a difference 💪 Join our inspiring, free, live event encouraging women from all backgrounds to consider active participation in democracy. Includes refreshments & networking opportunities. More info and book tickets here - buff.ly/9a418Sv
@chrisn.xyz responds to criticism of our campaign in Gorton and Denton from the perspective of someone who was there… www.libdemvoice.org/what-really-...
What really happened in Gorton and Denton
I’ve heard the calls a few times now, “if only we’d fought Gorton and Denton”, or “the local party got screwed over by HQ”, but as someone who was there coordinating the local party’s activity in the ...
libdemvoice.org
A side note on the Polanski council tax thing is that a few years ago we had some casework from boaters on the New Islington Marina where the operator wanted to move them away from paying council tax to including business rates in the mooring fee. But you can't get help with paying business rates...
After last week's election there is a bit of admin to get out of the way in the form of an election for positions in the Liberal Democrat group on Manchester City Council! I'm pleased to report that I was re-elected unopposed as Deputy Leader of the group 🎉
Difficult day yesterday, losing and not being able to welcome my amazing hard working colleague to the town hall. But in a complete coincidence the LGA have just published my case study in their "Be A Councillor" series www.local.gov.uk/be-councillo...
Councillor Chris Northwood
Democracy is strongest when elected representatives actually represent the whole gamut of lived experience in our society.
local.gov.uk
Polls are now open! Vote Lib Dem today and then help our team by letting us know when you've done so so we minimise the amount of doors we need to knock on www.libdems.org.uk/voted
Thanks to @chrisn.xyz and @eddavey.libdems.org.uk for this. It's been a hard year, and we have work to do. But we're in the fight, and we're proud that the @libdems.org.uk are in it with us. Trans rights are human rights. 🧡🏳️⚧️