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Tess Stenson-Childs

@tessstenson.bsky.social

Sci-fi Author, mountain hag, lefty dork, rat queen. She/her. 🏳️‍⚧️ New book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DP3F2JL4

2197 Posts872 Follower180 Folgt
George Monbiot@georgemonbiot.bsky.social · yesterday

Direct, full-time jobs opening Rosebank oilfield would create: 450 D, f-t jobs opening Jackdaw gasfield would create: 27 D, f-t jobs in UK's net-zero economy: 300,000 + 400,000 more on the way D, f-t jobs in the rest of the green economy: 600,000 Is that really the hill Burnham wants to die on?

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell.bsky.social · yesterday

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
Ann Leckie@annleckie.com · 5d ago

For writers worried that they won't be able to "prove" their work isn't Spicy Autocomplete--worry not. You thought about every choice and will be able to talk about those choices easily and clearly. Folks who used the slop machine didn't make choices and won't have anything to say about why

Tess Stenson-Childs@tessstenson.bsky.social · 2d ago

The English psyche wasn't built for going this long without rain. Without a bit of a downpour, the occasional damp shoes, or the chance to tut to a passerby and sarcastically say "nice day, innit", it does one to our brains and we start to get weird ideas about the place.

Tess Stenson-Childs@tessstenson.bsky.social · 4d ago

Been inspired to play Overwatch, for the first time in like five years or so. Logging on feels like admin work but finally managed to dust off my old account AND WHO THE FUCK ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE? I don't recognise anyone.

Ed Newton-Rex@ednewtonrex.bsky.social · last wk.

The practice of AI companies secretly buying millions of old books (some vanishingly rare), scanning them for AI training, then destroying them, epitomises everything that is wrong with today's exploitative AI industry. 🧵 1/2

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Lee Hurley@hleehurley.com · last wk.

"What Féile an Phobail row has shown is that women’s rights are at risk — just not from a tiny trans minority" great piece from Allison Morris in the Belfast Telegraph. Please support Allison as she will no doubt be targeted now. Archive link below. archive.ph/oQ2Cs

What Féile an Phobail row has shown is that women’s rights are at risk — just not from a tiny trans minority Belfast Telegraph27 Jul 2026ALLISON MORRIS I’ve thought long and hard about commenting on the controversy over the cancellation of the Women’s Rights Network (WRN) event at Féile an Phobail — not because I don’t have an opinion, but because it is a debate that attracts the most toxic elements. WRN NI was not a group I was familiar with beforehand, so I did some research. No speakers were listed in the Féile programme for the planned event, which in itself is odd as there are for almost every other of the 90-plus debates and discussions. The group has since announced who its speakers were to be in a series of online posts. My research took me down quite the rabbit hole — a who’s who of the anti-trans movement not just on this island but Europe-wide. I don’t pretend to understand their motivation. In fact, I remain baffled as to why in one of the most dangerous places for women to live in Europe, the group — which has spoken out about femicide before — is obsessing about a small minority instead of the actual dangers we face from domestic violence and femicide. I have worked for decades covering violence against women and girls in all the distressing forms that takes. I know the names of every woman and child murdered in Northern Ireland in the last 10 years without even having to look them up. Not a single one was caused by a trans woman — I checked the list twice just to be sure. None of them were murdered in a public toilet either, which having looked at the online posts of WRN and their many affiliates, is apparently the most dangerous place on earth for women, with trans predators lurking in every cubicle. Apart from the absurdity of much of the group’s argument regarding the perceived dangers of trans women, the claim that women are being silenced by Féile is the most disingenuous of them all.
Tess Stenson-Childs@tessstenson.bsky.social · last wk.

You know what, Tomb Raider 3, if you want to have a Geordie street gang turned undead by an evil cosmetics boss lady send me on a quest to steal embalming fluid from a Mummy lord in the (not) British Museum, go ahead. Fuck it, nothing matters anymore, it's all good. You keep being bonkers, I'm in.

Gabby HC@scriblit.bsky.social · last wk.

Several whole towns have just had no water at all for days on end over the past year due to really normal things like 'a brief power cut' or 'a warm bank holiday' & we've really got to the stage where 'having privatised water' has a similar outcome to 'war crime/terrorist attack'

Farrukh@implausibleblog.bsky.social · last wk.

BBC News, "Both terminals at Gatwick airport have run out of water" "It means toilets there can't be flushed and hand washing facilities aren't working"

Tess Stenson-Childs@tessstenson.bsky.social · 2w ago

This evening's film: Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die. An entertaining, if disjointed film. Real gonzo nonsense that is charmingly silly. Nice to see the director of Monster Magnet's Negasonic Teenage Warhead video still being a weirdo.

Kat Tenbarge@kattenbarge.bsky.social · 2w ago

I’m glad that the walls seem to be closing in on Andrew Tate, but it took criminal investigations across three countries, dozens of outspoken victims, and a hit TV show implying he drives boys to murder girls for this to happen—and he still hasn’t been convicted yet. This is why 98% get away with it

Tess Stenson-Childs@tessstenson.bsky.social · 2w ago

Strange New Worlds is back with an episode laser targeted to appeal to dorks like me. It's got the germ of the kind of morality play that classic Star Trek made its bread and butter, one that I wish was explored in more detail, but the episode is so campy it's hard not to enjoy the silliness.

Tess Stenson-Childs@tessstenson.bsky.social · 2w ago

Tomb Raider 1: Oh my god, I've discovered this ancient lost valley with a Tyrannosaurus rex in! This is the most incredible discovery ever. Tomb Raider sequels: Lol, turns out they're everywhere and not that special. Shoot 'em up, champ! So I'm discovering just how silly the TR games really are.

Tomb Raider 3. Lara Croft has a boss fight with a T rex, just as she did in the previous two games. Picture shows Lara waving nonchalantly at the camera as a big green menacing T rex looms above her
Tess Stenson-Childs@tessstenson.bsky.social · 2w ago

Wow. Wasn't expecting the final reveal in the Avengers Doomsday trailer to be Doom taking his helmet off to reveal the impaled head of John Romero, saying "To win Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday™, you must kill me, John Romero" backwards.