Tessera

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social

Pedant, contrarian, gardener, European, lady gay, rugby, cricket, cycling, softball, baseball- y’know sport

Not In Our Name (NION) Women @nionwomen.bsky.social · 2w ago

You don't have to be an activist or an expert on trans issues to know that exclusion doesn't speak for you. More than 110,000 women have already signed our letter because they want another voice to be heard: one of fairness, compassion and solidarity with the trans+ community. notinourname.org.uk

Two middle-aged women hug and smile. The quote says

“We need to join together to show that 'gender critical' anti-trans lobbyists do not speak for the majority."

#WhyWeSigned

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 3w ago

OMG @countbinface.bsky.social is on View from the Boundary. FTW!

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 3w ago

Be more Star Tre-

George Takei@georgetakei.bsky.social · 4w ago

Sixty years ago today, the starship Enterprise launched and with it, a vision of the future where humanity had moved beyond its divisions. I was there at the beginning, and I can tell you...

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 4w ago

Well said-

Tanita Tikaram@tanitatikaram.bsky.social · 4w ago

Dear UK 🇬🇧 government. It’s ok , your vote isn’t going to collapse if you name & shame fascists & racists . It may well increase . Your silence in not standing up to bullies makes it look as if you’re standing with them . Their expression more brutal but you’re playing for the same team 💔

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 4w ago

Please sign if you’re in Wales

Gwrach Gymraeg@cherylmorgan.bsky.social · 4w ago

People in Wales, please sign: petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/24...

Not In Our Name (NION) Women @nionwomen.bsky.social · last mo.

These letters remind us that trans allyship isn't abstract, it's personal. It's choosing to stand with trans+ people through difficult times and making sure they know they're loved, respected and welcome. 💗 #WithTheT Add your voice ✍️ notinourname.org.uk

I'm so proud of you.

I can hardly imagine the journey you've taken to discover who you are and tell the people you love.
But I suppose it's been a difficult path, and you've came so far.

Please never forget that you are worthy and that you deserve to be loved. You are beautiful in so many ways.

Sincerely, Tina

Just to say - my family and I love you, we see you, we accept you and we stand with you.

Stay strong and know that you have allies who truly care x x x

I have so much respect for you and really appreciate the difficulties that many are experiencing because of ignorance and an unwillingness to learn about the realities for trans people.

Sending you my support and every hope that things change for the better.

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · last mo.

I took my time but finally made it to the Vulcan… last time I was in there it was on Adam St, 5 miles away!

Poncho Rojo poses in front of the newly reconstructed Vulcan Pub, museum of Wales, St Fagans

Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · last mo.

“I wouldn’t even say I’m religious, though I grew up with that background. But I have a lot of faith in myself.” Timely to re-read the wonderful interview with Dolly Parton in @newhumanist.bsky.social - a joyful inspired person with a broad and creative worldview newhumanist.org.uk/articles/the...

The Queen of Country on her personal philosophy

Dolly Parton talks to New Humanist about her latest album, her remarkable career and her liberal approach to faith

newhumanist.org.uk

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · last mo.

Dolly. ❤️

Not In Our Name (NION) Women @nionwomen.bsky.social · last mo.

The voices that seek to divide are not the only voices that exist. These messages are part of a growing chorus of women choosing compassion, solidarity and hope for the trans+ community. Add your voice ✍️ NotInOurName.org.uk #WithTheT

The world is a better place with you in it. Never forget your worth.

You are loved.

Never forget that you loved

We are so proud of you and your journey and understand how hard it’s been and continues to be day by day.

As proud Auntie of someone in the trans community just continue to stand proud and continue to be your amazing self.

Lots of love and respect xxxx

To the incredible trans community, including our son - I see you. I honour your courage. I am endlessly proud of you.
In a world that can feel loud, uncertain and sometimes unkind, your authenticity is an act of bravery. The way you continue to show up as yourselves, fully, honestly and without apology, inspires me more than you will ever know.
You are not a debate. You are not a headline. You are not a “topic”.
You are human.
You are loved. You are needed.
Watching our son grow into himself has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. His strength, joy and determination remind me every day why allyship is not optional, it is essential.

To every trans person reading this: you deserve safety, dignity, celebration and belonging. Not just survival but thriving.

I will keep listening. I will keep learning. I will keep speaking up.

With love, solidarity and unwavering support

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · last mo.

Tonight’s prom. Marvin Gaye- get it on!

Chris Packham @chrisgpackham.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Anyone else get this earlier? petition.parliament.uk/petitions/767687

Andy the Storyteller ᚛ᚐᚅᚇᚔ @andygwaith.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Journo request: are there any totally non-partisan journalists who are interested in breaking a transphobia/homophobia story (we have receipts, really good ones)? Shoot me a message. #SpeakingUp #Transphobia #ItGetsBetter Please share.

Joanne Harris @joannechocolat.bsky.social · 2mo ago

There is a story the bees used to tell, which makes it hard to disbelieve.

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Mads Pedersen what an amazing performance. #LeTour #TourdeFrance

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I have not fact checked this

Vagina Museum@vaginamuseum.bsky.social · 2mo ago

On this day in 1969 a man walked on the moon. Meanwhile, you couldn't buy adhesive menstrual pads in a shop because they didn't go on sale until later that year.

Antinous the Gay God @antinousgaygod.bsky.social · 3mo ago

🪷 14 July is #InternationalNonbinaryDay! 💛💜🖤 Being #NonBinary can be very frustrating at times, but being completely yourself outside of the gender binary is liberating. On #NonBinaryDay followers of #Antinous shout it loud: I'm valid! You're valid! We're all valid! 💛💜🖤 🪷

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 3mo ago

ok so I’m old but the totp2 on bbc4 from 1983 was amazing- ended with the glorious Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart. Rest in Power. ❤️😔

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Just this

Budd@n7eoj.bsky.social · 3mo ago

It has been criminally underreported but Kelsey Pfendler has just rowed solo across the Pacific Ocean from the US coast to Hawaii in record time. A 2,400-mile unsupported journey in 43 days, 17 hours, and 55 minutes. Notably beating the Men’s record by 9 whole days.

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 3mo ago

England v Norway has history… horrible history: m.youtube.com/watch?v=pKZG...

The Viking Song | Vicious Vikings | Horrible Histories

YouTube video by Horrible Histories

m.youtube.com

Gillian Branstetter @gbbranstetter.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Very thankful for this letter to Becky Pepper-Jackson (the 16 year-old trans girl SCOTUS ruled against yesterday) from James Dale, a gay man whose expulsion from the Boy Scouts was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2000.

To the Trans Girl Who Just Lost at the Supreme Court: So Did I 26 Years Ago

A letter to Becky Pepper Jackson about her trans sports case defeat at SCOTUS yesterday

medium.com

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 4mo ago

It’s all going off at Lords! #englandcricket

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Pride hapus pawb. It was always a protest!

Natacha@natacha.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Just under 5 years ago, The Guardian censored these words of non-binary academic Judith Butler arguing that transphobia is fascism. Butler has quite obviously been proved right. A good day to share this widely.

It is very appalling and sometimes quite frightening to see how trans-exclusionary feminists have allied with rightwing attacks on gender. The anti-gender ideology movement is not opposing a specific account of gender but seeking to eradicate "gender" as a concept or discourse, a field of study, an approach to social power. Sometimes they claim that "sex" alone has scientific standing, but other times they appeal to divine mandates for masculine domination and difference. They don't seem to mind contradicting themselves.
The Terfs (trans exclusionary radical feminists) and the so-called gender critical writers have also rejected the important work in feminist philosophy of science showing how culture and nature interact (such as Karen Barad, Donna Haraway, EM Hammonds or Anne Fausto-Sterling) in favor of a regressive and spurious form of biological essentialism. So they will not be part of the coalition that seeks to fight the anti-gender movement.
The anti-gender ideology is one of the dominant strains of fascism in our times. So the Terfs will not be part of the contemporary struggle against fascism, one that requires a coalition guided by struggles against racism, nationalism, xenophobia and carceral violence, one that is mindful of the high rates of femicide throughout the world, which include high rates of attacks on trans and genderqueer people.
The anti-gender movement circulates a spectre of "gender" as a force of destruction, but they never actually read any works in gender studies. Quick and fearful conclusions take the place of considered judgments. Yes, some work on gender is difficult and not everyone can read it, so we have to do better in reaching a broader public. As important as it is, however, to make complex concepts available to a popular audience, it is equally important to encourage intellectual inquiry as part of public life.
Unfortunately, we are living in anti-intellectual times, and neo-fascism is becoming more normalized.

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Force the government to rip up the EHRC’s transphobic guidance. We have less than a month. Join us goodlaw.social/de78a7

Force the government to rip up the EHRC’s transphobic guidance

It’s been a year since the Supreme Court's decision that accelerated the rollback of trans rights in the UK. It’s been a difficult year, but it’s also been a year of coming together and fighting back....

goodlaw.social

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Why not Space Raiders?!

Dean Craddock@dean5150.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Fantastic.

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 6mo ago

The irony of this being in the Guardian that appears to never differentiate is pure Gruaniad www.theguardian.com/media/2026/a...

Voters in Wales failed by inaccurate UK media reports on devolved issues, study finds

Reports on English policies seen in Wales as relating to whole of UK contribute to widespread confusion, researchers say

theguardian.com

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Add your name to stand against Christian Nationalism and religious extremism: humanists.uk/action/chris...

Stand against Christian Nationalism and religious extremism

🚩 Across the UK, extremist voices are trying to fuse religion with politics, meaning rights rolled back, freedoms undermined, and tolerance eroded. Fanaticism is not defeated with more fanaticism. Th...

humanists.uk

Mr. Blabalino 🇳🇴🇺🇸💙@blabalino.com · 6mo ago

Artemis II launch caught from an airline flight. Incredible video.

@tamsinvonpenguin.bsky.social · 6mo ago

if you’ve in the U.K. or a U.K. citizen please sign:

Helen 🏳️‍⚧️✊🏻💕@mimmymum.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Launch a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28 on LGBTQ people - which specified that Local Authorities could not intentionally promote, through material or teaching, homosexuality or same-sex relationships as a 'pretended family relationship’ petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...

Hub Cymru Africa @hubcymruafrica.wales · 6mo ago

🌍 As Wales heads towards the #2026SeneddElections, Global Climate Justice Cymru is calling for bold, fair, internationally responsible leadership. Hub Cymru Africa is proud to be part of this coalition. Read the full manifesto:

Wales, Africa and the World | Hub Cymru Africa

The measure of a nation’s character is how we respond to those who need help. In Wales, our heritage demands solidarity at home and abroad. As too many world leaders are turning away from global solid...

hubcymruafrica.wales