Charles

Charles

@charleswheeler.co.uk

Cool dad, pro wrestling ref, temporarily paused poet, disabled rights activist and non-toxic sports fan. Permanently sleepy. Buy my poetry: charleswrites.itch.io Read some crap: stuporturf.substack.com 🏉 Leicester Tigers 🏈 Minnesota Vikings

308 followers172 following1.1K posts

Charles
@charleswheeler.co.uk

Disgusted at this, and utterly unsurprised at the cowardice of @uniofleicester.bsky.social declining to support their students. Current VC made a huge noise about equalities when he came in and it was all bluster. Lip service and chickening out when it matters.

Leicester Gazette@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over ‘absurd’ and ‘Orwellian’ decision by the BBC and ITV Studios to edit out pride pins worn on University Challenge

leicester.newsBBC edits out pride pins on University Challenge in ‘Orwellian’ move* * * This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**. * * * Astrophysics student Samuel Carlier and History student Emmeline Hague-Wright were shocked to find that their LGBTQ+ pride pins had been edited out of their University Challenge appearance earlier this year. The episode, initially scheduled for BBC Two on 24 August, was delayed twice before airing on 7 September 2026. The pins showed the progressive LGBTQ+ pride flag, the bisexual pride flag and a rainbow feather. Speaking to the Leicester Gazette, Sam said: “Living in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you ‘we’re editing how you look’, seems very Orwellian.” Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as “weird” and “absurd”. He said: “[Censoring] that seemed weird. If I had worn a rainbow shirt, would they have censored that? If the idea is to keep things impartial, where is that line in the sand?” A side by-side image of Sam wearing the pin and with it having been digitally removed. Photograph: supplied Sam contacted the BBC to try to understand why his pins had been edited out. He told the Gazette: “The BBC people said they’d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, that’s what I did.” Since then, Sam hasn’t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt ‘melted’ into itself occasionally, as a result of the editing. Photograph: supplied ## Students believe the decision was made following online transphobia Emmeline was also shocked when she found out that the feather pin she wore was due to be removed from the episode she was in. It was understood by Emmeline that there was online transphobia in response to previous episode of University Challenge, and she had been contacted by the BBC, anticipating support from the broadcaster. When the BBC contacted her, instead of an offer of support, she was told her pin was going to be removed. “At first it was mostly confusion,” she said. “I heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say ‘we have support services if needed,’ and that wasn't what I got at all.” Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. “It was out of left field, I was confused for a while,” she said. “This entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.” Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: “We were announced on the website and then delayed again, and then announced on the website a second time, and delayed even further. Speaking about the removal, she said: “It takes a lot of time” she said. “Making it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.” ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community. __Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__ ## Wider criticism on LGBTQ+ support The pins Sam wore during the episode. Photograph: supplied According to leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall UK, two in five LGBTQ+ students will hide their identities at university for fear of discrimination. Stonewall has reported that more than 36 per cent of trans students have received hostile conduct from university staff due to their gender identity. Reflecting on the digital removal of the pins, Sam spoke about how disheartening the choice was. He said: “There was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer – now that’s gone again.” he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for ‘an attack on the LGBTQ+ community’ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following “significant financial pressures” as the reason for axing their involvement. The criticism follows another recent controversial edit by the BBC. On its hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, a decision was made to edit out ‘Protect the Dolls’ from contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt. It’s a slogan which has become widely used to support the rights of trans women. The BBC defended their decision, saying the changes were made to meet editorial guidelines. It comes as the LGBTQ+ community has faced challenges amid an increasingly less tolerant political climate. ## What the BBC had to say When we asked them about editing out the pins worn by Leicester’s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: “In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming, along with clothing with obvious branding or slogans. If such items are not removed for any reason then a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding any edits to the programme.” The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: “University Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.” The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.** The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community. * * *

Charles reposted

Alex Zalben
@azalben.bsky.social

At long last, we have created a way for you to take away Nikki's free will, from the classic horror movie "don't take away Nikki's free will"

Bloody Disgusting@bloody-disgusting.com

Nikki from OBSESSION joins FORTNITE tomorrow. You wished for this...

Charles reposted

Chase Taylor-Carter
@chasecarter.bsky.social

Howdy! Any union experts (preferably with tabletop knowledge as well) willing to pinch hit for a podcast recording today or tomorrow about the Wizards of the Coast unions? Shares appreciated! DM me or email: chase@rascal.news

Charles
@charleswheeler.co.uk

Stupid fucking country

Irish Literary Times@irishlittimes.bsky.social

Sally Rooney: To publish my work in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offence. After a process of consultation and deliberation, and with my full agreement, my publisher Faber has therefore determined that it can no longer supply my work within the UK. www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

irishtimes.comSally Rooney’s books will no longer be available in UK over her support for Palestine ActionFaber blames UK antiterrorism legislation for decision to stop distributing bestselling author’s works

Charles reposted

luna stargays 🏳️‍⚧️
@stargays.bsky.social

I'm getting bottom surgery on December 9, two months from today!!! I've started a GoFundMe to help with recovery costs (including travel costs for my girlfriend, who'll be my primary caregiver during that time, and general living costs). Please help if you can! www.gofundme.com/f/support-lu...

gofundme.comDonate to Support Luna's Recovery From Gender-Affirming Surgery, organized by Luna BrekkeMy name is Luna Brekke, I'm a disabled trans woman from Minnesota,… Luna Brekke needs your support for Support Luna's Recovery From Gender-Affirming Surgery
Charles
@charleswheeler.co.uk

Hey anytime they talk about a “silent majority” of transphobes let’s please remember that they’re now having to astroturf the popularity of the most popular fiction series of all time because the author’s bigotry fuckin tanked it

Anthony Strand@durwoodclapper.bsky.social

Scholastic sent me a whole box of paperback copies of Sorcerer’s Stone that I sure didn't order. When I asked why, my rep told me they're sending complimentary giveaway copies to random schools that do Book Fair.

Charles
@charleswheeler.co.uk

Phone autocorrecting “omw” to “on my way” - not a fan but I see the vision Phone autocorrecting “omw” to “On my way!” - disgusting, unacceptable, heinous misrepresentation of my vibe, death penalty for all involved

Charles reposted

LaserPH
@laserph.bsky.social

Took some time off and made a match pack out of PAC's record-breaking reign as the 20th Open The Brave Gate champion (2010-2011). Only 1 match is missing (V1 against K-ness) since AFAIK there's no full footage of it available. A true legend. archive.org/details/dg-2... #DRAGONGATE 🤼

Charles
@charleswheeler.co.uk

A fun thing about Madden 27 is that sometimes it gives you a glimpse of the Ref Creature, a combination of every ref model in the game at once

Charles reposted

Wrestling Resurgence
@wresurgence.bsky.social

We're less than two weeks from Resurgence Day.

Wrestling Resurgence@wresurgence.bsky.social

"Warriors, come out to play-i-ay!" 🎭 The Y Theatre, Leicester Part 1: Saturday 10 October Part 2: Saturday 14 November   October show: bit.ly/WR10OCT Both shows: bit.ly/WROCTNOV

Charles reposted

David BASTARDspan
@davidbix.com

#Thread 🧵: Now that there's no more risk of it causing any harm to PAC and WWE is trying to exploit his death solely for the purposes of wrestling war bullshit, everyone needs to know the extent to which WWE ratfucked PAC in 2018-2019 to try to destroy his livelihood by fucking with his work visa.

David BASTARDspan@davidbix.com

Since WWE's trying to exploit PAC's death, it's time to talk about this: Remember how PAC suddenly had visa issues when AEW started? That's because, when the AEW trademarks were filed, WWE called USCIS to claim he walked out on his visa. After leaving him alone for a year and giving him his release.

Charles
@charleswheeler.co.uk

Very much enjoyed every person’s face in this video

Jason Koebler@jasonkoebler.bsky.social

it’s forbidden content but i have watched this video of the AI songs a man made for his mistress after murdering his wife being played in court maybe 20 times today. It is one of the most compelling things i have ever seen

Charles reposted

DBJ
@deadblossomjesse.bsky.social

Please consider following gok here, on youtube, on Instagram and everywhere while this hopefully gets sorted. They are the best. And I'll talk about this on stream, I have a lot to say about twitch Moderation and what the platform deems acceptable.

The Go Off Kings@gooffkings.bsky.social

Well, we're suspended from Twitch for (???) days. And we don't know what we did to get suspended. And Twitch won't tell us. So. Pretty cool! Thank you Twitch. Also we took down the VOD channel for the time being just in case that counts as "ban evasion." Anyway. Hopefully we'll be back soon???

Charles reposted

Arif Hasan, but NFL🔨⚒️🛠️
@arif.bsky.social

made this ridiculous chart too

Arif Hasan, but NFL🔨⚒️🛠️@arif.bsky.social

The Vikings are blitzing at even more absurd rates than I ever thought possible, so I tried to look into history to see if there was any precedent for it. Also, I talked about the game. wideleft.football/p/how-much-a...

wideleft.footballHow Much Are the Vikings Like History's Biggest Blitzers?The Vikings demolished the Bears in a showing that demonstrated that they may be more committed to sending extra rushers than almost any other defense in history. Let's investigate.

Charles reposted

Chris Steller
@chrissteller.bsky.social

Hi if you are in Minneapolis and are this 25-to-30-year-old white woman, about 5'5", with brown hair and a curly-haired golden retriever-like dog, get medical attention immediately!

taylr@taylordahlin.com

if you’re the white woman who was picking up a bat in downtown minneapolis on hennepin ave between washington & 3rd on 9/15 at noon, the minnesota department of health would like to talk to you because that shit was RABID! i would also like to talk to you because girl, wtf

Charles reposted

Andrew Krammer
@andrewkrammer.bsky.social

Vikings RB DeeJay Dallas has a story behind this headshot: "I was at the first [Kraken] game, they put his headshot up and I'm like, 'Ah, yeah.' I'm like, 'Bro, I got an idea.' Dallas says his Vikings one is "way better. It's an evolution, man. I'm back to having fun... This organization is fun"

Charles reposted

BuDS Disability Service
@buds-disability.bsky.social

A Covid wave is starting in England. The data is now unmistakable: as of 13 September, 1 in every 378 people were infected, up 78% on the previous week. The BuDS overall Covid risk level has been raised to Moderately High. A thread 🧵

Charles reposted

Casey Johnston
@caseyjohnston.bsky.social

Watching tech people tremble before the awesome power of AI feels like when an actor is “attacked” by a wild animal in a movie but they are just holding a raccoon pelt to their neck and pretending to wrestle with it