Laura Levett

Laura Levett

@lessboringhandle.bsky.social

(26yo, she/her) levett_laura off Twitter, ie the one who overuses semicolons and crashes bicycles

399 followers297 following105 posts

Laura Levett reposted

Rose Schmits
@roseschmits.bsky.social
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. * * *

Laura Levett reposted

Rose Schmits
@roseschmits.bsky.social

I think we should ban Labour MPs from hospital wards cause it really distresses me to share a space with them, how am i gonna explain to my nan or my child that soulless husks walk among us

Laura Levett reposted

BASH BACK
@bashback.bsky.social

The scale of negligence committed by the NHS' Gender Clinics cannot be understated, and yet only 3 of the 13 clinics asked in QueerAF's survey actually disclosed suicide figures. To the NHS GCS: DISCLOSE THE DEATH TOLL Every trans suicide is murder, every cover-up is intentional xoxo BASH BACK

QueerAF@wearequeeraf.com

QueerAF can reveal figures that show 618 people have died while under the care of an NHS gender clinic, at least 21 by suicide. www.wearequeeraf.com/the-deadly-t...

wearequeeraf.comThe deadly toll of the trans healthcare crisis: 21 suicides and over 600 other deathsQueerAF can reveal figures that show 618 people have died while under the care of an NHS gender clinic, at least 21 by suicide.

Laura Levett reposted

Chloe
@addamschloe.bsky.social

every cis person that abandons us is another anvil on the backs of every trans person who now has to try and keep us all alive whilst we wait for you to realise how badly you've all fucked up

Laura Levett reposted

alyson “october” greaves
@badambulist.bsky.social

I don’t care if you like its cultural output. The BBC has been a major player in the immiseration of this country, in the persecution of trans people, immigrants, muslims, travellers and disabled people, in the spread of dangerous rhetoric about climate change and vaccines. It must be dismantled.

Laura Levett reposted

Mallory Moore
@sexabolition.blog

It's so difficult to get cis people to understand the jk Rowling thing isn't that she doesn't like us so you should punish her. It's if you give her franchise any kind of support you are contributing to trans people being excluded from society

Laura Levett reposted

Cal Horton (they/them)
@fiercemum.bsky.social

Just had meeting with kiddo's school. She has been fully supported, treated with full equality & dignity for years. All of that changes from September. Full segregation & humiliation across the board. The school staff cried in the meeting. This will absolutely lead to children's deaths 1/2

Laura Levett reposted

Roz Kaveney
@rozkaveney.bsky.social

The Attorney General of Texas has ordered an undercover investigation for terrorist conspiracy of anti-fascist and trans groups. The forcefem fiction practically writes itself...

Laura Levett reposted

NASFACTS
@nasfacts.bsky.social

there’s is so much more to nascar than just going fast and turning left. there are also pit stops. also, the screams. oh, god. the screams.

Laura Levett reposted

Bethany~
@picklebee.bsky.social

My Voice Therapist: Please think about using the exercises I've taught you, you're really close to your goals but you need to concentrate more. Me trying to hold back my new Matt Berry voice but failing: you really are the most devious voice therapist in Glasgow Citayyyyyyyy

Laura Levett reposted

Jane
@fightingpride93.bsky.social

1/2 way through the month and I still need 142 sign-ups to make rent and cover bills. You get literally 1000s of posts, over 800 recipes for £5 and more added every day. 16% off if you sign up annually! Please just give it a try. You improve my life and can cancel anytime.

Jane@fightingpride93.bsky.social

I'm a black trans woman fighting poverty and homelessness. To support myself, I set up a patreon where you can get access to all my recipes, poetry, artwork and photography for just £5. Something new EVERY SINGLE DAY. You won't regret it. http://patreon.com/fightingpride93

Laura Levett reposted

rax ‘levon honkers’ king
@raxkingisdead.bsky.social

🚨 HEY DC 🚨 if you can participate in tonight’s emergency ride to provide critical resources to your unhoused neighbors you should. MPD & feds are expected to sweep EVERY tent of EVERY encampment as soon as 6:30pm tonight. stand up for your community and show the feds whose streets these are