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Ewan Spence

@ewanspence.co.uk

Scottish storyteller in online, media and tech; podcasting, smartphones, music, retro gaming, Scotland's baseball scorer, (he/him), #freelance #cats #podcaster #smartphones #forbes #music #EliteDangerous ewanspence.co.uk/blog

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Owen Blacker@owen.blacker.me.uk · last wk.

A few days ago, on the eve of a Bank Holiday weekend, the Welsh Gender Service, who handle all trans healthcare across Wales, cancelled all surgeries with immediate effect, including patients in pre-op at the time. This is the speech I gave at y'day's protest: owen.blacker.me.uk/posts/blog/2...

My speech on the Welsh Gender Services’ suspension — Owen Blacker

I was asked if I would speak at today’s protest on the WGS suspension; this is the speech I gave…

owen.blacker.me.uk

Ewan Spence@ewanspence.co.uk · 2w ago

This is a rough week... Peter Cullen RIP '“His family asks that you honor his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember ‘be strong enough to be gentle,’” the family statement continued.' variety.com/2026/tv/news...

The death of Optimus Prime
Micah@rincewind.run · 4w ago

now that we know how the new season of Reacher is (excellent), a thread about why you should watch What If A Man Was Large, The Show, in the form of a Q&A

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell.bsky.social · last mo.

I’ve written to the Mayor of London: “I urge you now to work with councils across London to support their efforts to make sure the (EHRC) guidance cannot be used to diminish the everyday rights of 🏳️‍⚧️ trans Londoners and to seek the wider adoption of these approaches across our city.” [1/3]

Letter to the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Code of Practice for Service providers, Public Functions and Associations I am writing following our conversation at Mayor’s Question Time (12 June 2026) where I raised concerns about the distress and anxiety trans Londoners tell me they are feeling following the publication of the revised Code of Practice for service providers and associations by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). You told me that your “priority is to ensure London remains a city where everyone, regardless of gender identity, can thrive, feel safe and belong.” [1] You'll be aware that this week, on 5 August 2026, the Government's updated EHRC Code of Practice comes into effect, following an order from the Minister for Women and Equalities. Trans led organisations, such as Trans Actual, have maintained that the Code remains unworkable; it does not protect trans people, it does not help service providers and it does not respect the UK’s human rights obligations. [2] Despite cross party condemnation, with 166 MPs signing Early Day Motion (EDM) 240, tabled by Nadia Whittome MP, in an effort to halt this discriminatory guidance, there has been no debate in Parliament. The government's own Equality Impact Assessment admits that this code of practice would have wide-ranging negative impacts on Trans people and that Trans women could face a "disproportionate risk of violence and sexual assault.” [3] page 2 I would like to know what work you and your Deputy Mayors have been doing, since we spoke about this in June, to prepare for the changes coming into effect on 5 August. Londoners need to know how you intend to uphold the rights of trans people and support service providers to remain trans inclusive. As an elected London politician, I am particularly concerned because London has the highest proportion of people in England whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. [4] These are people in our community, work colleagues, neighbours, friends and family members, who should be able to participate in public life without fear of being outed, harassed or discriminated against at work or in public when using a toilet or changing room. Lambeth Council recently announced that it would challenge the implementation of the Draft Code of Practice on Services, Public Functions and Associations. Councillors backed a motion condemning the draft code as “incoherent and self-contradictory, discriminatory, and impossible to implement in a reasonable and proportionate manner.” [5] The motion called on the council to protect LGBTQIA+ workers and service users by refusing to implement the guidelines should legal advice confirm that such a move would be lawful. When we spoke at MQT in June, you said “the GLA will continue to work closely with boroughs, service providers, community organisations and partners to ensure our services remain welcoming, safe and appropriate.” [6] I urge you now to work with councils across London to support their efforts to make sure the guidance cannot be used to diminish the everyday rights of trans Londoners and to seek the wider adoption of these approaches across our city. This is about Trans people's right to exist in society free from abuse, discrimination and segregation, with the autonomy to be who they know themselves to be. Yours sincerely, Caroline Russell AM Leader of the Green Group on the London AssemblyLetter to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Links to refs. All available at this link. https://www.london.gov.uk/caroline-russell-am-letter-mayor-ehrc-code-practice
Ewan Spence@ewanspence.co.uk · last mo.

Once more, I implore any company that does online presentations, demos, or briefings to consider sending its speakers to improv classes. Locked into reading legally signed-off scripts makes you feel more like an AI avatar that can't punch any emotion into a text file.

Ewan Spence@ewanspence.co.uk · 2mo ago

When all your players are in the same union, the union's power is very useful in negotiations. My viewpoint of watching an American institution having to deal with unionised staff from Scotland is mighty interesting.

Classic Baseball Radio@classicbaseball.bsky.social · 2mo ago

This is fun. If the lockout (you know it's coming) goes on too long, the Media Rights automatically roll over into 2027, and there's another year on the old revenue numbers. How much will that mean on the downside, and is it still less than the increase in franchise value from a fixed salary cost?

Jill Hayward@frdragonspouse.bsky.social · 2mo ago

You know what Burnham could do immediately, which wouldn't cost a penny, and would indicate he's vaguely progressive and not the moral coward his predecessor was? Ditch the inhumane EHRC guidance and KSIE regulations before they come into force and wreck trans lives.

Ewan Spence@ewanspence.co.uk · 2mo ago

I do not think that 'significant' means what you think it means. If you mean it's going to cause one of the biggest financial bubbles that will take down rather a lot when it pops, as it burns through huge amounts of energy (Google Gemini uses as much as *New Zealand*), then yes, it's significant.

Owen Boswarva@owenboswarva.bsky.social · 2mo ago

"AI is likely the most significant technology in human history," says Kanishka Narayan MP, the UK's new Minister for Artificial Intelligence, in a Linkedin post www.linkedin.com/posts/kanish... #techpolicy #AIpolicy #PPEOxford #koolaid