For those of us outside Wales - now is the time to be following Wales trans organisations and activists, and keeping an eye on how we might act in solidarity. Also potentially writing to our own local representatives and expressing our concern.

In terms of protesting the Welsh trans surgery ban, I definitely recommend looking to local community organisers rather than someone in Scotland like me! But I would suggest directly targeting decision-makers - e.g. Plaid politicians, NHS Wales management, Cardiff and Vale Health Board.

This is the most fucked up and immediately harmful policy decision I think I've ever seen in adult trans healthcare in the UK, and that's saying something. The Welsh Gender Service is one of the best in the country. It is widely praised by the patients it helps. That is why it is being targeted.

QueerAF@wearequeeraf.com · 18h ago

🚨🆕 @wearequeeraf.com and @whatthetrans.com can reveal that the NHS has cancelled all gender-affirming surgeries for adult patients of the Welsh Gender Service Some trans patients received the news just days or even hours before they were due to take place 👇 www.wearequeeraf.com/nhs-cancels-...

I didn’t really get Charli xcx’s (I just had to check if those letters were capitalised) ‘brat’ album. I felt far too old & uncool to appreciate what appeared to be a going out album. I am really enjoying her new ‘Music, Fashion, Film’ album. Maybe I’m cool now. Maybe she’s entering her 6music era.

The Spook School are back from the moon! New album coming in January and a single streaming from today. What an excellent piece of news. The kind of band who can make an optimistic soundtrack for the end times we’re living in.

We’re advertising a Lectureship in British Romantic Literature - please circulate. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DSS069/l...

Lecturer in British Romantic Literature at University of Glasgow

Discover Lecturer in British Romantic Literature jobs and more in higher education on jobs.ac.uk. Apply for further details on the top job board.

jobs.ac.uk

Come & do a funded PhD with me & Prof Matt Smith at Strathclyde! We are looking for a historian with an interest in activism who wants to design a cool project on unorthodox health movements in Britain after 1948. #histmed #AcademicSky www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DSR502/p...

PhD Studentship: Unorthodox health activism in Britain after 1948 at University of Strathclyde

jobs.ac.uk now advertising a PhD Studentship: Unorthodox health activism in Britain after 1948 Visit jobs.ac.uk to apply and to browse more PhD opportunities.

jobs.ac.uk

Didn’t get the emergency alert (in scotland), which is good because my hearing aid is connected to my phone and I think that would have caused some issues. It’s ok a friend sent it to me so now I know not to set off a firework. Important use of the system for emergencies there.

I love Mmmbop by Hanson. And Dawson’s Creek. I am not and have never been cool.

andy [known agitator]@meltedmasks.me · 2w ago

"i hate a popular thing" is mostly boring sooooo instead tell me the piece of media you love despite everyone else hating it me? i have many, but the two that spring to mind are Milla Jovovich film Ultraviolet which i own twice accidentally, PS3 game NeverDead, and Super Mario Bros. (film, 1993)

It’s A Level results day & I am an academic on BlueSky. I could tell you I did well (in 1 subject) & badly (in the rest) & turned out alright (have a PhD) or not (& a fixed term contract in a dying sector). Instead I would like to share the books I still have from my A Levels that I wrote all over 🧵

I am On Holiday! I did approximately 2 weeks work this week which really shouldn’t be how this works. But I’m now on holiday until the 20th when I’m back for one day. Then I’m away until August 31st. If I owe you anything I’d love to say I’ll do it on the 20th but obviously that day is already full🙃

We‘ve been watching the Lockerbie BBC/Netflix show. It’s quite good. There are locations that are meant to be FBI offices in Quantico. It’s the Pathfoot building at Stirling Uni. Definitely outside & rooms inside near an entrance. Pretty sure it’s A corridor too (I haven’t visited in over a decade).

A few weeks ago, after a 7 year delay, the UK government quietly dropped the results of their 2019 Call for Evidence on variations in sex characteristics The results are striking but will of course seem deeply familiar to anyone working in this field. www.gov.uk/government/c...

Variations in sex characteristics (VSC): experiences of life in the UK for people with VSC and those who care for them

gov.uk

I’m starting to get draft videos in for my students’ news projects. They are brilliant. I’m so impressed by what they are producing in just a few months. A fun highlight is how many contributors I personally know. Very grateful for colleagues & friends (some from my own student days) who took part.

Excellent writing and reflection on 20 years of trans protest and possibility from the wonderful @notrightruth.bsky.social I hope trans pals reading it get the same sense of hope I did. If you’re a cis ally of some kind I ask you to read this section (in image with alt) if nothing else:

Ruth Pearce@notrightruth.bsky.social · 3w ago

A new essay for all my trans siblings and our allies. "As the UK enters a new era of state-mandated segregation, I find myself asking: was it all worth it?"

Important update from my Dad. The local paper is reporting that Ely is getting a Greggs! In the centre. This is bigger than when Ely got a Sainsbury’s.

Today in my very full post-holiday inbox there’s a competition for PhD students to describe their research as a dessert to win boxes of ice cream. Where are the ECR ice cream contests?! In unrelated news a nurse told me my diabetes score is low. My ice cream consumption hasn’t come for me yet.

We know that despite advances for disabled students, access issues still drive withdrawals from study. UK universities are responding to 'market' forces and government policies by shrinking access to degrees that afford disabled students good access to university. That's a problem, isn't it? 5/5

What happens if we place the UK university crisis in the Humanities (and some Social Sciences) within the context of students with known disabilities? We know that regional cold spots increasingly limit HE choices for many disadvantaged students. What do the stats suggest for disability? A 🧵 1/5

David Turner@profdavidturner.bsky.social · 3mo ago

My 500 year history of disabled people's political activism is out now! Thanks to The Independent for making it their non-fiction book of the month! www.penguin.co.uk/books/455782... #disabilityhistory

We downloaded the @tinybookshopgame.com game for PlayStation last night and have played it all day today. Think I might understand this gaming thing now. You drive around a little town with a bookshop trailer recommending books. There are queer vibes. Everything about it is great.

We need your help! We’re carrying a giant quilt through London with London Trans+ Pride on Saturday July 25th, and we need volunteers to join us in making a big, beautiful statement of trans community and strength. Volunteer 💪 🏳️‍⚧️ https://goodlawproject.org/campaign/the-trans-unity-quilt/

Everyone - can you help us carry all 96m of the @transunityquilt.bsky.social through central London as an enormous statement of trans strength and solidarity? Can you help us find people who will? Saturday July 25th with London Trans+ Pride - sign up at the link below from @goodlawproject.org

Good Law Project@goodlawproject.org · 2mo ago

We need your help! We’re carrying a giant quilt through London with London Trans+ Pride on Saturday July 25th, and we need volunteers to join us in making a big, beautiful statement of trans community and strength. Volunteer 💪 🏳️‍⚧️ https://goodlawproject.org/campaign/the-trans-unity-quilt/

The University of Manchester is hiring a full time fixed-term (11 month) Lecturer in Theatre and Performance Studies (Teaching & Scholarship) to cover for colleagues on Research Leave. The application deadline is 14 July. www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

Lecturer in Theatre and Performance Studies:Oxford Road

jobs.manchester.ac.uk

“Many reported feeling anxious, overworked and unsure about their future in academia. Early-career researchers in particular said they often feel isolated and lack consistent support from their institutions, and international researchers faced added risks when discussing their LGBTQ+ identity". 3/3

'The study was carried out by researchers from Sheffield Hallam University, Swansea University, the University of Bristol, and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and is presented in a report titled Is All Publicity Good Publicity?'. 2/3

Is all publicity good publicity? Addressing Public Harassment in LGBT+ Research Impact and Engagement | The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Is all publicity good publicity is a research project funded by the EDICaucus and a collaboration between Tig Slater, Sheffield Hallam University, Charlotte Jones, Swansea University, Rosie Ola-Marie,...

cssd.ac.uk

“Academics want to promote their research outside of the university....However, in an increasingly queerphobic and transphobic public environment, this is becoming more difficult and riskier for researchers working on LGBTQ+ topics and they often face a backlash.” (Dr Charlotte Jones) 1/3

Academics researching LGBTQ+ topics face hostility and career risks, study finds

They say all publicity is good publicity, but new research has revealed the significant challenges academics researching LGBTQ+ topics face when bringing their work into the public eye.

swansea.ac.uk

I’m on a research trip in Dublin for an LGBTIQ+ project (looking at youth and mis/disinformation on social media) with @pauljreilly.bsky.social & Judas from @uofgsociology.bsky.social. It’s just before pride. And it’s like the whole city is set up to welcome us/our research. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Interested in how disabled people experience rest & free time? Do you self-identify as a disabled person (&/or chronically ill, neurodivergent, or other similar self-identifying terms), are over 18, & live in the UK? Consider this research questionnaire: breadrosesdisability.uk/questionnaire/

I’m in a hotel and the live BBC feed has been showing the door of number 10 with not much happening. But now a podium has been wheeled out. So I assume Kier is stepping down or Larry the cat has launched a coup.