An exciting new project from @wearetradehealth.bsky.social

Help us record stories about the impact of the Supreme Court ruling and other recent government announcements on the health and wellbeing of trans* people in Leicestershire. Scan the QR code in the image to share your story. We are particularly keen to hear from Leicester South constituents.

It's the monthly Trade Power Hour this Thursday at 6pm. A gentle fitness class for queer bodies of all shapes and sizes. Places are limited, so book now. Suggested donation is £5 (pay more if you can, but no-one is turned away for lack of funds)

Today, I was at was at an event with a Cabinet minister. I was there for work, so I bit my tongue and was on best behaviour. Luckily, the event was in a primary school, and well-primed Year 6 kids are *very* good at catching politicians out with a sweet smile and then calling them on their bullshit

We have joined many other HIV charities and services in voicing unambiguous opposition to the EHRC draft Code of Practice. There should be no barriers to affirming and inclusive sexual health services and HIV care

We have launched our PrEP CLINIC for new starters to PrEP. PrEP CLINIC runs every first and third Thursday of the month between 4pm-6pm at the Trade office This is also an opportunity to see if PrEP is right for you Book here - bit.ly/TSHbooking

Rad Trans Leicester have something planned for next Wednesday lunchtime

One of my former academic colleagues is setting up a group for trans* academics living and working in the East Midlands. We're happy to offer the group space to meet at Trade in Leicester. Please help spread the word.

Come and work with me and nurture trans* thriving in Leicestershire

Now for some good news...

Trade is starting a book group! Join us for the first meeting on Tuesday 20th May. Out in Print is a casual, friendly space for members of the community to get together and talk about LGBTQ+ fiction. We’ve chosen books accessible via local libraries Sign up for email updates at bit.ly/OutInPrint

This month's NeuroQueer hangout takes place on Tuesday 13th May, 6-8pm, at the Trade office in central Leicester. This month's topic is 'Justice'. As neurodivergent people we often have a strong sense of right and wrong and get upset about perceived injustices. Let's talk about that.

Geographers! Please join 300 of us — at every career stage — who are urging the Royal Geographical Society to reaffirm its commitment to trans inclusion in the face of Supreme Court ruling, and to oppose the EHRC’s interim update. Sign by WED 30 April 1700 GMT docs.google.com/document/u/0...

Autism and adhd and the rest are not modern phenomena. The overstimulation and constant barrage of information which causes them to become a disability is, to an extent, a modern phenom. It’s a complex and multifaceted situation but what it is not, is new.

Not a day goes past where Dawn Foster wasn’t 100% correct about Wes Streeting

39 years years ago, a protest started that profoundly shaped my life - the Non-Stop Picket of the South African embassy in London. I wasn't there on day 1, but when I did show up, I stayed because I found a community of fired up young queers nonstopagainstapartheid.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/l...

It's good to see that a lot of the (UK) sexual health/HIV voluntary sector has spoken out against yesterday's Supreme Court ruling. But that makes the silence of others all the louder

Trade fiercely disagree with the decision of the UK Supreme Court. It betrays a wilful and profound ignorance of trans life, in keeping with their refusal to hear trans voices. This ruling will sow division and endanger countless vulnerable people. We condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

I feel like Selma James, Mariarosa Dallla Costa, and Silvia Federici had something to say about this nearly 60 years ago

Universities call in more consultants to stave off collapse caused by previous influx of consultants

This. I say this so much. I’m quite tired of saying this. Human connection is what learning is about.

University of Derby faces mass job cuts as management plans to make half of senior academics redundant. Please spread the word. www.ucu.org.uk/article/1398...

I am still mightily impressed that @deborahftoner.bsky.social was able to look at a photo of a group of 55 year old blokes and correctly identify which of them I had a crush on nearly 40 years ago

We are expanding our support services for people living with HIV and expanding our work into Northamptonshire for the first time. We are recruiting a part-time HIV Peer Support Worker to lead this work. For further details and to apply, visit: www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/trade-s...

The plant pot of Cthulthu

No surprise here: gender affirming care reduces the risk of HIV transmission for trans people and helps trans people living with HIV maintain an undetectable viral load, so they can't pass on HIV

35 years ago this afternoon, I was in Trafalgar Square with the Poll Tax Riot happening around me. Here's something I wrote a few years back about the attack on the South African apartheid regime's embassy that afternoon: nonstopagainstapartheid.wordpress.com/2013/03/31/t...

Remember the 90s when everybody only hurt sometimes.

I stopped counting at 31. But that's at least 31 of my published works - books, academic papers, and book reviews that Meta have used without permission for their own profit

I've just realised that the Association of American Geographers handle over here is just @geographers.bsky.social - I guess it was too much to expect them to be geographically specific?

Thank you to @annabland.bsky.social for provoking deep thealogical reflections while wandering around Aldi this morning. Nice video!

Criticism is not bullying Conflict is not abuse (and Wendy Larner is another embarrassment to 'critical geogrqphy')

I'm launching a campaign for calmer Wednesdays. Who's in?

This is a useful article by Helen Yaffe about US sanctions and Cuban medical internationalism jacobin.com/2025/03/cuba...

It's the 7th anniversary of this #InternationalWomensDay action when campus buildings were renamed (I got the year wrong in the original post). The university now officially has a Kathleen Kenyon Building. Still waiting for the Aleksandra Kollontai Tower and the Jayaben Desai School of Organising

Come on Leicester people, we've got some work to do

Have you witnessed or experienced hate targeting the LGBTQ+ community in #Leicestershire? Join us for our community safety training sessions - share your experiences, know your rights, stay safe, get support Next event: 8th March, 11:00-15:00, Hinckley Sign up: forms.office.com/e/C9ue3V6D3A

A filthy, cowardly move by GSK. Total betrayal of the minority communities that put bodies-on- the-line in drug trials for GSK. GSK is the majority owner of ViiV - developer of the first HIV injectable PrEP. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

A 'Mutually Assured Resignation' scheme? More like Mutually Assured Destruction

I just realised that I have no need or obligation to read social media posts and polemics from the UCU Bolshevik LARPers anymore (and felt a huge relief)

The School of Archaeology was actually named after Kathleen Kenyon by staff and students on International Women's Day, 2019 BBC News - University of Leicester to honour pioneering female archaeologist - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

João Florêncio asks "What would it mean to think community as an ethics of living towards the other, of guiding one’s life by a duty of care towards the other that is not predicated on a recognition of the self in the other? What would a community of strangers look like?" Then goes cruising

One of our supporters shared this with us—people are getting creative tonight!

I don’t know if you need another reason to not use Airbnb (academics, looking at you), but here’s one:

I enjoyed speaking on this panel last night. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but it turned into three angry queers in their 50s talking about the need to oppose resurgent fascism, defend trans people, and learn from LGBTQ+ movements outside Europe and North America