The only thing worse than Susan’s Place is the world where nobody ever created something like it.

Now THAT'S What I Call Mixed Feelings

ONLY ON ASSIGNED MEDIA: The controversial grandmother of the trans internet, a forum known as Susan's Place, narrowly avoided closure due to lack of funding. @alyssaur.bsky.social has our story. www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...

1. Can confirm that this is an excellent read. 2. Subscribe to @assignedmedia.org!

This is a great idea. Here's a big feed of independent and nonprofit media to support. My quick list: @marisakabas.bsky.social @404media.co @theflytrapmedia.com @propublica.org @statesnewsroom.com @globalvoices.org @heatmap.news @boltsmag.org @capitalb.bsky.social @assignedmedia.org

A specific reporter knowing something does not mean the institution knows. That is not how reporting works, not how newsrooms work, not how any of it works. Institutions are not omniscient.

Okay, I'm about to block this woman, but for people who in *good faith* don't understand this, a work email does not mean your employer is reading your communications, and in newsrooms it *very much* does not mean that for source protection and liability reasons.

Intriguing ...

If you've got some coin, please toss some in the plates of trans journalists covering trans stories from a trans perspective. The corporate media sure as fuck aren't going to do it.💜

13 Nov 2025 -- Leaders of Unitarian Universalists, Reform Judaism, Presbyterians, Disciples of Christ, Episcopal Church & others faiths sign landmark group statement of support for trans and intersex people. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

13 Nov 2025 -- A trans TSA agent has filed a lawsuit against Secy of Homeland Security Kristi Noem alleging new policy preventing trans TSA officers from performing pat-downs constitutes sex discrimination. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

There's a virtual event for journalists who cover trans issues being offered by @objectivejournos.bsky.social tomorrow. @valorievandieman.bsky.social interviewed the organizer and wrote about the event and its goals for Assigned Media today. www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...

This is extremely true. We need your support!!

I've finished writing the newsletter, and it might be my favorite this year. Here's that link again: www.assignedmedia.org/newsletter

A preview:

Didn't we already come to the conclusion that this is a bad thing? Cis women were identified as intersex and had whole careers upended over genetic testing. This won't end well for the IOC.

The IOC appears to be gearing up to ban trans athletes, and any other athlete they deem not woman enough, from competing. This story brought to you by @alyssaur.bsky.social

NEW: Firings of LGBTQ staff at NBC and Condé Nast have worsened an already dire picture for legacy news media when it comes to covering the trans community. From @billiejsweeney.bsky.social, a close look at our increasingly degraded media environment. www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...

Great piece by @oriion.bsky.social and a great representation of what research suggests is more the norm than the exception. Detransitioners generally do not identify as cisgender even after detransition and often do not regret their transition.

In 2023, long before Weiss-hating was cool, I wrote this piece for Assigned asking "What is Bari Weiss' Free Press?" I concluded that it wasn't a news organization but something designed to look like one while pushing a right wing political agenda. www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...

I think for the newsletter this week I may try to write something about the New York Times. Please do subscribe if you possibly can. Our members are the backbone of our funding, absolutely essential to keeping us going. www.assignedmedia.org/newsletter

12 Nov 2025 -- Some TN libraries closing their doors so they can review their inventory and comply with new letters from Secy of State threatening funding if they have non-age appropriate books, with trans content books esp. being targeted. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

12 Nov 2025 -- WI state legislators introduce bill allowing civil lawsuits against clinicians who provide GAC to under-18s up until they turn age 33. Another attempt by Reps to TRAP pediatric care out of existence (Targeted Restrictions on Affirming-care Providers). @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

An analysis of news pieces about Trump’s anti-trans decrees found that “70 percent did not include a quote from a single trans person. Instead, journalists turned to cisgender sources — mostly government officials — to speak about trans people, their lives, and how they would be affected.”

11 Nov 2025 -- As Fenway Health, Children’s Hospital LA & others abandon affirming care, NYC's Callen-Lorde Center refused to, so Trump withheld $2m in funding. Last week at its annual gala it raised ~$1m in donations for critical programs. [HT Kelley Winters] @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

In reporting this piece for @assignedmedia.org, it was striking how corporate media has similarly targeted people of color, and Black women in particular. WaPo’s disgraceful firing of Karen Attiah is Exhibit A. Please please watch her interview w Al Jazeera: www.youtube.com/watch?v=89qM...

11 Nov 2025 -- As happened at Washington State U, now Michigan State Medical Society has approved content from anti-trans hate group Genspect in its Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses intended to keep doctors up-to-date so they can maintain their medical licenses. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

11 Nov 2025 -- California Supreme Court rules that LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination law protects elderly trans residents in long-term care from being misgendered and mispronouned after a lower CA court held that employees could do so bec. of their 1st Amendment rights @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

11 Nov 2025 -- A group of transgender servicemembers who have served up to 18 years in the Air Force are suing after being promised pensions when the Trump ordered them separated from the military which there later withdrawn. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

We’re living through evidence of the death rattle of old, white, cis, het, bigoted power-grasping. Words matter. Representation & visibility matters. It’s our duty as compassionate, connected humans to seek out, support, & amplify trans people’s truths. 🏳️‍⚧️💟 (Great resources at article’s end)

"Although young trans people were most frequently and viciously targeted by Trump, the report found that “transgender youth under 20 were quoted in just 6% of articles. Who did msm corporate media turn to? Trump, a member of his administration, or other Republicans were quoted in 50% of articles"

NEW: Firings of LGBTQ staff at NBC and Condé Nast have worsened an already dire picture for legacy news media when it comes to covering the trans community. From @billiejsweeney.bsky.social, a close look at our increasingly degraded media environment. www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...

Here are some outlets that people with a bunch of money should support in my view ... @equalaccesspublicmedia.org equalaccesspublicmedia.org

The courts are moving ahead with a scheme to make trans people as a category of second-class citizen, unprotected by law. More by @valorievandieman.bsky.social and @billiejsweeney.bsky.social here:

10 Nov 2025 -- U.S. Court of Appeals in 10-7 en banc decision finds OH school district's policy barring students from misgendering transgender students and requiring correct rather than “biological pronouns” likely violates 1st Amendment. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

that's bs!!!!

Coming soon on Assigned Media:

10 Nov 2025 -- Supreme Court turns down right-wing appeal to re-visit gay marriage decision Obergefell v Hodges, and potentially carve out exceptions for (mainly Christian conservative) anti-marriage officials. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

10 Nov 2025 -- IOC reportedly close to agreeing to issuing a blanket ban on trans women from all women's sports events @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

Without a high court that will challenge the administration’s human rights abuses, Americans can look only to the ballot box for relief. They began to speak on Tuesday. Among the major Democratic victories last week, Pennsylvania saw the election of its first openly transgender mayor, Eria Deuso

The courts are moving ahead with a scheme to make trans people as a category of second-class citizen, unprotected by law. More by @valorievandieman.bsky.social and @billiejsweeney.bsky.social here:

9 Nov 2025 --Heartbreaking op-ed in Teen Vogue by Katelyn Burns --"Politicizing Transgender Athletes Is Dangerous. Lia Smith Deserved Better" @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

8 Nov 2025 -- New UK poll finds 64% agree that culture wars are a serious problem up from 44% in 2020. Belief that trans rights have gone ‘too far’ doubled 17% to 39% -- so despite draconian UK govt anti-trans measures, still just over a third of the public. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

8 Nov 2025 - Good Advocate piece on how GOP failure in VA Monday. Money quote from State Sen. Danica Roem, 1st trans person in VA legislature: “They thought running nonstop ads was going to be their ticket to ride [but] Loudoun County told them ‘Get that out of here.’" @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

8 Nov 2025 -- Good explainer from TIME. Money quote from Chase Strangio: "What these Executive Orders do is open the door to sex-based policing that cannot be enforced without subjecting everyone to some sort of scrutiny & invasive process that will harm us all.” @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

8 Nov 2025 -- Masha Gessen in the (uck) NYTimes with op-ed titled, "The Ruling About Passports Isn’t About ID. It’s About Social Control." @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

When you start defining woman things go bad quickly. Don't say we didn't warn you! www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...

shoutout every sibling who purposely preemptively misgendered themself when applying for a passport bc traveling with the X felt too risky

7 Nov 2025 -- Supreme Court today discussing (in private) taking up the appeal by Kim Davis, the former KY clerk who refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Her case could lead to protections for other anti-gay Christians & challenge the legality of gay marriage. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social

Oh boy, the 12 people that are kicking up a fuss about trans people at the ponds are gunna hate this 😆