Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Rob Mullins

@robertmullins.bsky.social

460 followers 590 following 1.5K posts

Law lecturer, University of Queensland. My views are not the views of my employer.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · Jun 16

My article "Does Nature Need Rights?" (coauthored with the wonderful Lulu Weis), forthcoming in the OJLS, is now available open access: academic.oup.com/ojls/advance...

Does Nature Need Rights?

Abstract. Rights of nature (RoN) appear to provide a promising alternative to anthropocentric environmental rights. But do they meet the demands of transfo

academic.oup.com

2 4 17

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 16h

You are absolutely right about this. I always forget that the court were interpreting two statutes not one (I blame the Court, who basically ignored the GRA.)

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 17h

Yes. Is it the ecological fallacy? Anyway it's an abhorrent turn of reasoning, especially when it's used to justify discrimination. I'm not even sure it should be used against individual cis men.

1 3

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 17h

Yes absolutely, and the much higher risk that trans women will be assaulted (not to mention outed and humiliated) if they are forced to use male facilities.

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 17h

"Males at birth are more likely to harm women, 3 year-old boys are male at birth, ergo three year-old boys are more likely to harm women."

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 17h

Gnder critical lawyers like to rely on the syllogism: those who are male at birth are more likely to harm women, trans women are male at birth, ergo trans women are more likely to harm women. But you don't need to be a stats whiz to see what's gone wrong here.

3 1 16

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 17h

To the extent that we have evidence, it supports the conclusion that trans-inclusive toilets and changing rooms present no additional risk to cis women and girls. It's important to note this.

Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · 18h

🏮 He's very concerned about measures which oblige trans people to out themselves publicly and significantly increase their vulnerability to harassment, abuse and even violence

🏮 And he asks for an evidence-based approach. This ought to be common sense but sadly none of this is evidence based.

1 1 11

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 20h

The Twyborn Affair is Patrick White's best novel.

Rachel Feder @rachelfeder.bsky.social · 1d

Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 23h

I just rewatched the Baldwin vs Buckley debate (for teaching), and I had forgotten how brutally compelling Baldwin is, and how feeble Buckley is in reply.

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

It's genuinely hard to fathom how an employer that perceives a woman who they know to be trans as a woman could lawfully prevent her from using facilities of her acquired sex. What a mess.

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

Looks like they picked a bad time to be smug and triumphalist about Your Party's split on trans rights.

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

Begriffsschrift.

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

*fait accompli

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 1d

I'm sorry. I think you are right not to have any hope. I suspect it's just that The Times editorial staff are true believers, but it strikes me as odd to weigh in on this if it were a fait accomplis.

2 1

Reposted by Rob Mullins

Andy McKay @korimakoecology.bsky.social · 2d

There's an assumption here that at some point in the near future this will all be over. Eg Germany post 1945.

There's also another possibility: that the US continues down this path for decades. Eg Iran post 1979.

For all of our sakes let's hope it's the first one.

Ari Cohn @aricohn.com · 3d

Some weirdo on Twitter has been absolutely melting down for like 36 straight hours because I posted:

When this is over, do not forget what ICE did, and what ICE is. And do not make room for them in society. Make sure they know that they are, and will continue to be, reviled and beneath contempt.

2 2 7

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 2d

I think people are underestimating the chance that e.g. California and Texas become nations in their own right within the next century.

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 2d

It's awful that any trans person in the media has to be a model of trans people everywhere. Trans people are just people. Some are going to be rude, impolitic, unpleasant, or even just eccentric.

1 8

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 3d

Some unedifying comparisons: can you be prosecuted if you lie about being an amputee, or a Christian, or having a history of mental illness?

2 2

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 3d

Yeah that's the tell isn't it? You can have a rule that you prosecute deception as to identity, but you have to enforce it equally.

3 4

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 3d

I think from that perspective, the failure to hear from a single trans person was the cruellest part of it. (I genuinely think it is because they could not have looked a trans person in the eyes while they delivered the judgment.)

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 3d

Yeah. I have friends at the bar and their strategy seems to be more or less "don't get sick", but I think you should all take it easier on yourselves

1 2

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 3d

How would you manage it if you really had to? It nearly happened to me once lecturing and I have no idea what I would have done.

1 1

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 4d

I've seen e.g. Yglesias and Shor taking him very seriously, which is more grist to the "they're secretly race science guys" mill.

1 3

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 4d

Oh dear

1 1

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 4d

What's the go with Astral Codex 10? I have seen suss people refer to them but haven't got the fortitude to read it.

1 1

Rob Mullins @robertmullins.bsky.social · 4d

Yes, I agree. There is also the unforgivable sleight of hand from birth sex (per Corbett) to biological sex, which is just deceptive. No biologist would accept the Corbett criteria.