Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Rose Schmits @roseschmits.bsky.social · 7h

Quick push through the segregation laws before more people call us out!!!!

Helen 🏳️‍⚧️✊🏻💕 @mimmymum.bsky.social · 7h

Yesterday, the Council of Europe criticised the EHRC for failing to protect trans people.

So today, Kishwer Falkner and the EHRC doubled down, pressuring the government to fast-track new trans-exclusionary legal guidance! 😬😳

🔗 news.communication.equalityhumanrights.com/2A33D7DE5117...

Update on Code of practice for services, public functions and associations
Wednesday 15 October 2025
We have written to the Minister for Women and Equalities, asking that they revoke the 2011 code of practice for services, public functions and associations and lay our updated version of the code as soon as possible so that it has legal status.
Read the letter to Minster and further details about today's announcement
Tomorrow, Thursday 16 October, marks six months since the Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd v Scottish Ministers and six weeks since the draft code was sent to the minister.
The submitted code is an accurate reflection of the law and takes into account consultations that heard from over 50,000 organisations, legal professionals and individuals across England, Scotland and Wales.
The UK government is responsible for the process that will result in the updated code becoming statutory. The new Code will be the expert guide to how duty bearers can make sure that they follow the law. It will supersede the previous code.
You can read more about what will happen next, and the work that we have already done, on our website.
Read about our work on the meaning of sex in the Equality Act

16 54

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 7h

Pro-Palestine activist couple have UK bank account closed without explanation

John Nicholson and Norma Turner’s joint retirement savings account was shut by Yorkshire Building Society A retired British couple who are members of a grassroots pro-Palestine organisation which had its bank account frozen have had their joint personal account closed without explanation. John Nicholson, 70, and Norma Turner, 76, who, as treasurer and chair respectively, were signatories to the Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine (GMFP) account with Virgin Money, said their account with Yorkshire Building Society (YBS) was intended as a nest egg. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

17 43 68

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Chris Franklin @errant-signal.com · 9h

Between this and the revelation that The Escapist is also a gambling content site now I think it's fair to conclude that

A) Games journalism is no longer seen as viable by Money People
B) More terrifyingly, gambling is getting culturally normalized and is becoming a demo of people to market to.

Alex Donaldson @apzonerunner.com · 11h

Videogamer's new logo a screaming exclamation mark on the 'support independent games media' argument. Legitimately thought this was someone taking the piss when it was first posted in a discord, but no, it's on the site. You have to laugh (or else you'll cry)

6 36 200

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Foxdie @foxdie.bsky.social · 8h

Whats super infuriating is that until 60s our drugs policy was pretty good (heroin was available on prescription) and our addiction rates extremely low and health complications as a result of heroin very little issue. After pressure from US it was banned and rates + illness from addiction increased

3 3 20

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Working Class History @workingclasshistory.com · 1d

#OtD 14 Oct 1977 anti-gay crusader Anita Bryant was "pied" by Thom Higgins, a gay rights activist. She then began praying and burst into tears. Following a boycott, she lost her job as brand ambassador for Florida orange juice. More LGBT+ history here: workingclasshistory.com/tag/lgbtq/

5 230 590

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

What a week, huh? all Wednesdays @whataweekhuh.bsky.social · 11h

Captain Haddock looking very frazzled, saying, “What a week, huh?”
Tintin leans into the frame and says, “Captain, it’s Wednesday.”
Snowy is very excited about the drink he has found.

1 190 370

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Scary Corpse @damselindystopia.bsky.social · 10h

The NHS values upholding cissexism over trans lives. This isn't news but it infuriates me every time.

Jenn @jennralize.bsky.social · 11h

Just got a call from a lovely but very nervous Dr, who advised I wouldn't be routinely screened for breast cancer because I'm not indicated as being "biologically female" on the central NHS database and my biology wouldn't indicate I'm at risk.

My records have been altered, which is upsetting.

1 11 37

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 10h

Personalized media kills the one thing that's actually powerful about experiencing art: sharing that experience with other people.

This is Thatcher's "there is no such thing as society" dressed up in dragons and pinups.

Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · 2d

Despite early, and familiar, copyright growing pains, Sora may be the prelude to AI-generated on-demand TV and movies

Want to See Marilyn Monroe in Game of Thrones? AI Could Make It Soon

Despite early, and familiar, copyright growing pains, Sora may be the prelude to AI-generated on-demand TV and movies

www.scientificamerican.com

4 30 97

Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴 @drekisdottir.bsky.social · 9h

I still remember when the last Labour gov fired their drugs adviser for just saying some drugs are less dangerous than alcohol & tobacco

www.theguardian.com/politics/200...

Government drug adviser David Nutt sacked

Professor David Nutt was asked to resign after his claims ecstasy and LSD were less dangerous than alcohol

www.theguardian.com

2 2 9

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 13h

Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards – in pictures

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is an annual competition hosted by the Natural History Museum in London, which awards top honours in various categories for outstanding photography

www.theguardian.com

24 52

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Lucas Nunes @lucasjn.bsky.social · 20h

Here's a T. Rex bored to death trying to bite their own tail. My partner asked me to animate it in stop motion, after she watched a video about the very important topic of "could T. Rex chew its own tail like a dog". The puppet is still a work in progress 🦖

65 1.2K 4K

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

COPS campaign @copscampaign.bsky.social · 14h

The new #spycops inquiry hearings will hear from Doreen Lawrence who says that not only did officers spy on her grieving family but that it was sanctioned by the Home Office.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Doreen Lawrence alleges Home Office was involved in Met spying on family

‘Egregious’ police surveillance was sanctioned by government department, mother of Stephen Lawrence tells inquiry

www.theguardian.com

1 7 8

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Small Robots @smolrobots.bsky.social · 1d

894) Krakenbot. An enormous Octobot variant that loves to give passing ships a friendly cuddle. #SmallRobotsRemonstered #Halloween

A massive, domed robot, partially submerged. Eight long, banded arms snake in and out of the water in various directions, and a number have ensnared a large cargo ship. The robot is smiling cheerfully.

3 23 100

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Open Rights Group @openrightsgroup.org · 1d

Don't let activism blink out of sight!

Ofcom wants all social posts to be scanned for 'illegal' content before they appear in our feeds.

And the AI doing it will go OTT. Posts about protest could get removed or suppressed.

Say no to more censorship ⬇️

action.openrightsgroup.org/online-safet...

Online Safety Act consultation : Threat to protest and political content

The Online Safety Act The Online Safety Act (OSA) has given Ofcom powers over what we say, see and do online. Services have to comply with a large set of complicated rules and regulations. They risk…

action.openrightsgroup.org

1 16 10

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

gugalanna daddy issues @ninazu.bsky.social · 1d

Just want to say that I happened to be at a hospital today and had to wait around to see someone. In that time a head nurse from a specialist unit mentioned having EIGHT nurses off sick right now. In case people are wondering who’s hurt by costly and inaccessible vaccines.

elia ayoub @ayoub.bsky.social · 1d

I’ll find something and I can afford the £80, but many cannot afford to go wherever it is let alone afford the £80.

Again: they changed criteria just a few weeks ago. All to avoid spending money on essential care. People are going to die as a direct result of this.

It’s immoral. 4/4

2 6 19

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

gugalanna daddy issues @ninazu.bsky.social · 1d

Oh and there are ZERO for children. Can’t even buy them.

elia ayoub @ayoub.bsky.social · 1d

"based on the willingness-to-pay approach"

"dependent on the procurement process"

These are not questions related to public health.

Adult eligibility Adult eligibility should be based on the willingness-to-pay approach that is subject to procurement and delivery at a cost- effective price. The advice for universal vaccination from age 75 years is an example. JCVI has no role in the procurement or delivery of COVID-19 vaccines or any other vaccine. The exact price paid for vaccines used in future programmes will be dependent on the procurement process run by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and these commercially confidential prices will not be made available to JCVI. The deployment costs of the programme per person are also variable, with the minimum cost being the relevant item of service fee (for example £10.04). Given these variables, the actual size of a cost-effective programme may be slightly smaller or larger than this advice specifies. DHSC should aim to deliver a programme which is cost-effective, as determined by the latest modelling results from the University of Warwick and based on the price of the vaccine and the cost of delivery.

2 2

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Dr Tom Horne @hornesupremacy.bsky.social · 2d

49 beads from a #Viking-Age necklace found as a stray find in Petes, Linde parish, #Gotland.

Most of are multicoloured or monochrome glass, but three are gold foiled, and there are also three exquisite gold filigree beads.

My 📷 | Ref. Historiska museet

1 10 40

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Marie Gardiner @mariegardiner.bsky.social · 1d

I miss going out with my camera with the sole purpose of photographing whatever I happen to find. Here's one from just over 2 years ago in Whitby, on a really misty, lovely autumn day. Spotted a young guy skimming stones.

#ThePhotoHour #Photography

an almost silhouette of a young guy in a strange pose, almost like he's dancing, but he's about to lob a stone into the sea in front of him. Cliffs are in the background and you can see a lot of thin low mist around. The whole tone of the image is a warm, silvery colour

12 86

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Scary Corpse @damselindystopia.bsky.social · 1d

Getting ready for a three hour train journey for a follow-up appointment. As you do. This rules and is in no way an indictment of British trans healthcare.

3 9 100

Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴 @drekisdottir.bsky.social · 1d

I use iBroadcast, it acts like a streaming service, but only for your own music you upload

So if you already have a big collection, I'd highly recommend it (it works on web, and has android/ios apps)

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

elia ayoub @ayoub.bsky.social · 1d

To be clear: the decision to deny most people in the UK the covid vaccine is related to money, *not* based on a public health concern. In other words, Labour did not allocate enough money for covid vaccines so their "cost-effectiveness" end up the determining factor. www.gov.uk/government/p...

For the development of advice relating to COVID-19 vaccination from autumn 2025, JCVI has resumed the use of a standard cost-effectiveness assessment, in line with other routine vaccinations in the national immunisation programme and the JCVI code of practice. The advice is based on modelling of the impact and cost-effectiveness of vaccination where clinical outcomes are stratified by age, high-risk clinical disease groups and patients with immunosuppression. The use of cost-effectiveness is a key pillar in the consideration of immunisation programmes, ensuring that the substantial investments in the programmes are a good use of public money, and that those funds would not be better spent on other healthcare interventions. This has led to a more refined approach to the targeting of the COVID-19 immunisation programme, with a focus on individuals where there is good evidence of a high risk of hospitalisation and/or mortality.

1 34 86

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

alyson “october” greaves @badambulist.bsky.social · 1d

you could at least display some shame for your significant part in this

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 1d

Trans people at risk of exclusion from many UK public spaces, rights expert says

European Council commissioner voices concerns following April’s supreme court ruling on legal definition of a woman Transgender people risk being excluded from many public spaces as a result of the recent UK supreme court judgment and must be protected from discrimination, a human rights expert has said. Michael O’Flaherty, the European Council commissioner for human rights, said he had concerns about the climate for transgender people in the UK following April’s supreme court ruling that the legal definition of a woman in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

3 41 240

Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴 @drekisdottir.bsky.social · 1d

I watch a lot of pro-shots of concerts, and the small camera drones they use these days give some incredible shots

In one I watched they flew through the artists' legs!

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Trans+ Solidarity Alliance @transsolidarity.bsky.social · 1d

The EHRC code must be scrapped.

Our Head of Policy, Jess O'Thomson, says that in light of this significant intervention, the Code of Practice cannot be laid as drafted. The Minister must reject it.

Exclusion of trans people from services for their lived gender must be the exception, not the rule.

"This significant intervention from the Commissioner makes clear that the EHRC's new Code of Practice cannot be laid as drafted. The minister must reject it and insist the EHRC try again - making clear how to include trans people, not just exclude.

Exclusion of trans people from services for their lived gender, the letter makes clear, must be the exception - not the rule."

Jess O'Thomson

Head of Policy

Trans+ Solidarity Alliance

1 23 88

Reposted by Ginger 🏳️‍⚧️🦇🏴

Trans+ Solidarity Alliance @transsolidarity.bsky.social · 1d

The Commissioner for Human Rights has written to the UK – warning that trans people's human rights are at risk.

www.coe.int/en/web/commi...

BREAKING

Intervention from Europe's human rights watchdog.

The Commissioner for Human Rights has written to UK parliamentarians, making it clear that trans+ inclusion is a vital human rights principle.

1 61 140