BIG NEWS: The federal government has given up their appeal in our National Guard case from last fall – meaning we’ve permanently succeeded in keeping National Guard members off our streets. #orpol

My spicy opinion tonight: The most autistic species in Star Trek is the Klingons.

Most telling about this is that I'm not even easily visually overstimulated compared to a ton of autistics. I work with bright artificial lights on, for instance, while most autistics I know prefer dim lighting. My sensory sensitivities are mostly hearing, touch, and introception, not vision.

Jesse Jackson was an early and ardent supporter of gay rights. In fact, on July 17, 1984 at the DNC in San Fransisco, the first speech EVER at a national political convention calling for gay rights was delivered by none other than Rev. Jackson himself.

Australia’s Social Media Ban Is Isolating Kids With Disabilities—Just Like Critics Warned We've been covering Australia's monumentally stupid social media ban for kids under 16 since before it went into effect. We noted how dumb the whole premise was, how the rollout was an immediate mess, how a…

I had *hundreds* of "uhs" and "ums" in a keynote I delivered last year. This is normal. Sure, I want to get better when speaking, but it happens. And I wasn't answering questions, I was giving a speech I rehearsed a bunch! Answering questions is far more difficult.

And just maybe the transphobic Dem voter will need to hold their nose and vote for a trans-supporting candidate. That's what they want us to do with candidates that want to take away our rights, so transphobes can do it with policies that won't impact the transphobe one bit.

My great-grandmother, who I knew personally and was alive until I was 25, was born to a woman who was born enslaved. My mother grew up in the Jim Crow south, and personally experienced segregation. My dad as a young lawyer in NY would not be hired by a law firm. It was not that long ago.

Colorado voters: "Forced prison labor is slavery. We vote against forced labor." Blue state electeds: "It's voluntary now. Either you do the labor or we put you in solitary the rest of your sentence. But, yep, voluntary!" Court: "Do what the voters said to do." www.denverpost.com/2026/02/16/c...

Them: "I'm doing well financially." Me: "If you were diagnosed with cancer, could you afford treatment without insurance or work?" You need *millions* in the bank to "do well" financially.

Colorado is considering SB26-097 in the legislature to decriminalize sex work. You can search online and find arguments in favor of that, particularly *from sex workers*, whose opinions matter on this. In RI, done by mistake, it may have reduced rape and STIs. newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/dec...

I want *good* reading overlays. I want a blue overlay with a guideline on it that is roughly 10-15cm (2-3in) tall and 21.6cm (8.5in). I want it to be durable (the color shouldn't be possible to rub off with heavy use). Hell, I'd probably pay $20 for one of these.

There are some things that are clear red lines for me when voting. Raping women. Raping kids. Nazi tattoos. Christian nationalism. Being a transphobe. Enjoying war. I don't care if the person is a D or R, they won't get my vote. Because it's not game theory and because I do have a moral compass.

A4 #AutChat: Sure, but having lived nearly 50 years doing exactly that, I'm tired. I shift my participation in activities towards those which are more accessible.

A2 #AutChat Also, sadly, some of it is vice signaling (opposite of virtue signalling) to show that you aren't "woke". Some organizations think people should "tough it out" or they resent being asked to do the most minor modifications. I.E. lack of sign interpreters in gov press conferences now.

A2 #AutChat Usually ignorance (I don't mean that in a judgemental way). They just don't realize why something is important. For commercial establishments, it's marketing and wanting to appear him (if it's loud, it must be good, I guess).

A1 #AutChat Also not using captions when they are available on media (think classes or meetings). Or, in meetings when a microphone is available for a largish room (or for captioning): "I don't need this, I can talk loud!" (No, you're not too good to use a mic)

A1 #AutChat I could name dozens. Bad signage, background noise (TV, music), disorderly queues are probably some of the top. Also being asked to eat with people indoors in noisy places -- outdoors when weather accommodates is much easier.

I don't think many cis people realize how much... 1) Blatant transphobia and harassment by the "you have to support Newsom" crowd. 2) UK tearing apart trans rights under a centrist/liberal gov. 3) Blue state govs refusing to enforce trans protections. Is reshaping how we see liberals and Dems.

When I first transitioned, I would drive a mile to a public gender neutral bathroom rather than use one at work. I found out later a dozen staff held “meetings” about what they would do if I used the women’s room. I was their boss’s boss at the time, still had no recourse, just had to let it happen.

It's not just getting the employment, but it's also the risk of losing the employment you get. I expect if I got laid off, I'd not be able to find new work -- despite being very senior, qualified as a software engineer, DBA, IT security, SRE, networking, and in management. 3 decades of experience.

Fuck ICE. And I post with my legal name.

nobody posted the clip anywhere so i went and dug the whole episode up

*rubs temples* As I've spent the better part of the day explaining why I don't think Newsom should be the Democratic nominee for president, it pains me to "defend" this, but... The governor of California is legally obligated to proclaim each Feb 6 Reagan Day per a 2010 state law.

There seems to be a lot of discussion about Gavin Newsom today. I wanted to re-share this piece that I wrote, because I have a lot of center-to-left Dems that follow me that want to understand. There are very good reasons transgender people do not like Gavin Newsom.

Eliminating gender studies courses helps to ensure that universities and other institutions will continue to protect men who benefit from the abuse of women and girls, either directly or through their connections to those who exploit girls and women for profit. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

ICYMI: I introduced my Trans Bill of Rights with @markey.senate.gov — legislation to defend trans people across this country as Republicans continue to push anti-trans rhetoric and bills. To our beloved trans community: We see you, we love you, and we will always stand with you.

I am so angry at the government for making me take a drug company's side.

Labour benefited greatly by destroying trans rights in the UK. Oh, wait, no, they didn't. So now US Democrats seemingly want to do the same playbook. I will vote third-party before I vote transphobic Democrat. And I don't give a shit about the vote blue no matter who folks here.

With new court decisions and laws, I'm reminded that when these things are ambiguous in some way towards trans people, that the reality is that the ambiguity is expected to be resolved in whatever way harms trans folks. Cis people's discomfort always trumps trans folks' rights.

I'm an abolitionist, but there is a need for justice. I'm not sure what the right thing to do is, but it's not letting these assholes do whatever they want.

please submit a talk idea limited time remains it will definitely make the event better ok? pretalx.northbaypython.org/nbpy-2026/cfp

I have two bachelor's degrees -- one in computer science (CS), one in gender, women, and sexualities (GWS) studies. The GWS degree was more rigorous than the CS one. I'd also estimate that 80% of the students cheated on the CS one (in the 1990s when I was at my first school).

A poem I wrote back in December -- "Questions":

A school that admitted me as a grad school sent me some info about grad school housing. Under "Everything you need to thrive", they have this bullet point. Stay here, no need to chuck your trash out the windows, we have a better solution!

Reminder: If someone who has a trait does something awful and others with that trait who didn't do anything awful face the consequences of the other person's evil, that's evidence of bigotry.

THIS is why you let people with an understanding of science direct our science and medical institutions, rather than conspiracy-focused people whose sole qualification is name recognition. The scientists spotted the problems. RFK lacks the scientific background to do so.

AG Bondi calls Rep Joe Neguse (D-CO) “Senator Neguse.” If Senator Bennet wins CO Gov and appoints Neguse to the Senate, let the record show Bondi called it.

So the USA military shot down a party balloon. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpu5...

"When we accept that certain women can be abused because of their past actions, we fundamentally undermine the belief that gender-based violence is wrong." From @kwanetaharris.bsky.social @theflytrapmedia.com:

When I was a young child, I always wished I could have long hair. As an adult, I get to (It’s currently just a bit above my waist). :) #GenderEuphoria

Some of my non-USA friends have asked me how they can help me. Here's how: Keep your country from following the path of the USA. It can happen *REALLY FUCKING FAST*. Don't give even one millimeter to your right wing parties.

Remember those viral charts @wardqnormal.bsky.social did where he stuck Regan's face on them? He's going to be able to do that with Trump's face now.

Donald Trump’s DOJ just tried—and failed—to indict me in front of a grand jury. We will continue to fight back against their rising tyranny. Don’t Give Up the Ship.

Reminder: If you joke about ICE being somewhere they aren't, particularly if you're making this "joke" to an immigrant, you're a piece of shit.

by autistic people for autistic people tbqh

I explained gay in like two seconds, that was easy, and then she asked me to explain electricity

im here for this level of petty

As an autistic person, I found the conference last year lovely. Being in a barn meant less echo-y noises, it was somewhat dim, and there was tons of space around yourself (and you could walk a bit if you wanted even more space). Oh, great people and good talks! :)