kay

kay

@functionofkay.bsky.social

they/them โ€ข ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ โ€ข AuDHD

391 followers375 following790 posts

kay reposted

Aurelien Mondon
@aurelmondon.com

The news from Brazil and Serbia are great and show that you don't defeat the far right by copying it or trying to appeal to their supporters You do it by being uncompromising, showing the danger they pose and offering something different to the many crises people suffer from

kay reposted

Dan Sohege
@danielsohege.bsky.social

People, including myself, talk a lot about intersectionality in policies and campaigns. This is a perfect example of why it is important. Ending rough sleeping by Christmas is a nice soundbite to throw out there, but entirely undermined by policies elsewhere which cause more people to be homeless.

kay reposted

TransActual
@transactualuk.bsky.social

Ace Week, formerly Asexual Awareness Week, is an international campaign dedicated to raising awareness and expanding education of asexuality. We stand in solidarity with our Ace siblings, team members and supporters!

kay
@functionofkay.bsky.social

Okay but these storm winds are some of the worst I've ever heard. Every time I feel myself relaxing the wind batters against my house and I hear like 17 things outside fall over or get dragged across the road. I went outside to try to sort the bins and had to give up, lest I be blown away lmao

kay reposted

LiLBazula ๐Ÿ‘ป ๐ŸŽƒ
@lilbazza.bsky.social

Comes around earlier every year

Leicester Gazette@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over โ€˜absurdโ€™ and โ€˜Orwellianโ€™ 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 โ€˜Orwellianโ€™ 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: โ€œLiving in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you โ€˜weโ€™re editing how you lookโ€™, seems very Orwellian.โ€ Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as โ€œweirdโ€ and โ€œabsurdโ€. He said: โ€œ[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?โ€ 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: โ€œThe BBC people said theyโ€™d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, thatโ€™s what I did.โ€ Since then, Sam hasnโ€™t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt โ€˜meltedโ€™ 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. โ€œAt first it was mostly confusion,โ€ she said. โ€œI heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say โ€˜we have support services if needed,โ€™ and that wasn't what I got at all.โ€ Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. โ€œIt was out of left field, I was confused for a while,โ€ she said. โ€œThis entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.โ€ Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: โ€œWe 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: โ€œIt takes a lot of timeโ€ she said. โ€œMaking it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.โ€ ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up โ€“ 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: โ€œThere was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer โ€“ now thatโ€™s gone again.โ€ he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for โ€˜an attack on the LGBTQ+ communityโ€™ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following โ€œsignificant financial pressuresโ€ 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 โ€˜Protect the Dollsโ€™ from contestant Bethany Antoniaโ€™s T-shirt. Itโ€™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 Leicesterโ€™s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: โ€œIn 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.โ€ The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: โ€œUniversity Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.โ€ The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you goโ€ฆ** Weโ€™ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering weโ€™re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, weโ€™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. Itโ€™s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media โ€“ owned by the community. * * *

kay reposted

Zoom Earth
@zoom.earth

Itโ€™s raining everywhere in the UK right now, thanks to Storm Boelo โ˜”๏ธ

kay reposted

Rose Schmits
@roseschmits.bsky.social
Leicester Gazette@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over โ€˜absurdโ€™ and โ€˜Orwellianโ€™ 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 โ€˜Orwellianโ€™ 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: โ€œLiving in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you โ€˜weโ€™re editing how you lookโ€™, seems very Orwellian.โ€ Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as โ€œweirdโ€ and โ€œabsurdโ€. He said: โ€œ[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?โ€ 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: โ€œThe BBC people said theyโ€™d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, thatโ€™s what I did.โ€ Since then, Sam hasnโ€™t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt โ€˜meltedโ€™ 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. โ€œAt first it was mostly confusion,โ€ she said. โ€œI heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say โ€˜we have support services if needed,โ€™ and that wasn't what I got at all.โ€ Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. โ€œIt was out of left field, I was confused for a while,โ€ she said. โ€œThis entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.โ€ Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: โ€œWe 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: โ€œIt takes a lot of timeโ€ she said. โ€œMaking it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.โ€ ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up โ€“ 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: โ€œThere was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer โ€“ now thatโ€™s gone again.โ€ he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for โ€˜an attack on the LGBTQ+ communityโ€™ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following โ€œsignificant financial pressuresโ€ 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 โ€˜Protect the Dollsโ€™ from contestant Bethany Antoniaโ€™s T-shirt. Itโ€™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 Leicesterโ€™s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: โ€œIn 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.โ€ The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: โ€œUniversity Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.โ€ The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you goโ€ฆ** Weโ€™ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering weโ€™re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, weโ€™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. Itโ€™s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media โ€“ owned by the community. * * *

kay reposted

Spyro the Antifascist Dragon
@antifaspyro.bsky.social

Insisting that kids accept kisses and physical contact they don't want is one of the foundation stones of rape culture.

The Journal@thejournal.ie

Adverts run by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre looking at consensual hugs between children and their grandparents has been suspended after criticism. Aontรบ's Peader Tรณibรญn called the ad "bonkers", as he urged a "need to build resilience" among children. www.thejournal.ie/grandparents...

thejournal.ieRape Crisis Centre suspends consent advert focused on grandparents' hugs after backlashThe advert depicts the discomfort of the young girl after her grandparents looked to embrace her.

kay reposted

Dead Meat
@deadmeatjames.bsky.social

FRESH MEAT IS NOW AVAILABLE TO RENT DIGITALLY! We're so excited to launch our digital rental period on Pijama, a new streaming site made by and for independent filmmakers. It gives a much higher revenue split to creatives than the mainstream alternatives.

kay
@functionofkay.bsky.social

I got tickets to the last show!๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ™Œ

kay@functionofkay.bsky.social

I found out this morning that one of my favourite podcasts is ending after 13 years. I saw one of their first ever live shows/episodes at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015 so I'm gonna try and see the last one as well next year. End of an era.

kay
@functionofkay.bsky.social

Got to love the instant feeling of dread and panic that happens when you get a brown envelope through the door. I wonder if there will ever be a day when the benefits related trauma doesn't get to me quite so quickly and absolutely..

kay reposted

Lauren
@ljo87.bsky.social

Hey @zackpolanski.bsky.social fancy talking about the trans apartheid in this country or the NHS guidance that will kill lots of trans people. Be great if you mentioned it. Itโ€™s heartbreaking how the greens have let us down.

kay reposted

Dan Sohege
@danielsohege.bsky.social

Why am I in no way surprised that the MP who has proven herself to be a conspiracy theorist transphobe is also a batshit conspiracy theorist in other areas

Toby Buckle@polphilpod.bsky.social

the labour mp who wants to ban trans people from hospitals also thinks 5G causes cancer because of course she does

kay reposted

Dan Sohege
@danielsohege.bsky.social

Is it perhaps time to address the venn diagram of far right rhetoric, racism and prominent transphobes? I would say yes to be honest, because that particular venn diagram appears to be a circle.

Peter Walker@peterwalker99.bsky.social

Fairly open racism and far right talking points from someone who is, last time I checked, a Conservative peer.

kay reposted

Kelly
@broadwaybabyto.bsky.social

โ€œHe is one of four serving or former Police Scotland officers who have been exposed as rapists in the space of 5 months. Itโ€™s also emerged that 45 serving officers are currently suspended over allegations of violence against women and girls.โ€ This is why women donโ€™t go to the police.

bbc.comPolice officer who raped two women jailed for 12 yearsCampbell Petrie was found guilty of physical and sexual abuse towards the women between 2006 and 2022.