Fergus Murray
@fergus.oolong.co.uk
Monotropic writer, science tutor, Autistic community organiser and independent researcher. Based in Edinburgh.
they/them.
https://linktr.ee/0olong
they/them.
https://linktr.ee/0olong
Pinned
Fergus Murray
@fergus.oolong.co.uk
· Jan 24
Hi everyone!
I'm Fergus Murray. I'm a science person, writer of nonfiction, and #Autistic community organiser (Chair of @amasedin.bsky.social). Also #ADHD, but I often just say I'm monotropic.
I'm here to post and learn more about #neurodiversity, politics, science, language and other things.
I'm Fergus Murray. I'm a science person, writer of nonfiction, and #Autistic community organiser (Chair of @amasedin.bsky.social). Also #ADHD, but I often just say I'm monotropic.
I'm here to post and learn more about #neurodiversity, politics, science, language and other things.
I thought I might make a pinned thread of my threads here (some of which are effectively photo albums) starting with this long Introductory thread:
bsky.app/profile/ferg...
bsky.app/profile/ferg...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
“Terminated USAID funding has also resulted in more than 164,000 additional child deaths from pneumonia, 125,000 additional child deaths from diarrhea, 70,000 additional adult and child deaths from malaria, and 48,000 additional adult and child deaths from tuberculosis.”
Quick takes: Death toll from USAID cuts, withdrawal of chikungunya vaccine, funding for updated Ebola vaccine
A model that tracks the impact of USAID funding cuts estimates that more than 760,000 people have died as a result of those cuts since January 2025.
www.cidrap.umn.edu
February 13, 2026 at 2:46 PM
“Terminated USAID funding has also resulted in more than 164,000 additional child deaths from pneumonia, 125,000 additional child deaths from diarrhea, 70,000 additional adult and child deaths from malaria, and 48,000 additional adult and child deaths from tuberculosis.”
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Anti-trans campaigners will try to spin the High Court’s decision into an absolute victory.
But that’s far from the truth – the findings in this case will require the EHRC’s code of practice to be rewritten.
Read our FAQs on where this judgment leaves us:
goodlaw.social/ioen
But that’s far from the truth – the findings in this case will require the EHRC’s code of practice to be rewritten.
Read our FAQs on where this judgment leaves us:
goodlaw.social/ioen
FAQ: Trans inclusion after the High Court decision on the EHRC’s interim guidance | Good Law Project
An explanation of where things stand for services and workplaces
goodlaw.social
February 13, 2026 at 11:36 AM
Anti-trans campaigners will try to spin the High Court’s decision into an absolute victory.
But that’s far from the truth – the findings in this case will require the EHRC’s code of practice to be rewritten.
Read our FAQs on where this judgment leaves us:
goodlaw.social/ioen
But that’s far from the truth – the findings in this case will require the EHRC’s code of practice to be rewritten.
Read our FAQs on where this judgment leaves us:
goodlaw.social/ioen
Reposted by Fergus Murray
The Bright Green Futures anthology is FREE for Awards Season!
Nebula nominations open until 2.28!
Hugo nominations now open!
BSFA: *Coriander* is already long-listed for the British Science Fiction Awards
(voting closes 2.19)
lnk.to/BGFAwards
#BSFA2026Awards #solarpunk
(fixed alt text!)
Nebula nominations open until 2.28!
Hugo nominations now open!
BSFA: *Coriander* is already long-listed for the British Science Fiction Awards
(voting closes 2.19)
lnk.to/BGFAwards
#BSFA2026Awards #solarpunk
(fixed alt text!)
February 13, 2026 at 2:49 PM
The Bright Green Futures anthology is FREE for Awards Season!
Nebula nominations open until 2.28!
Hugo nominations now open!
BSFA: *Coriander* is already long-listed for the British Science Fiction Awards
(voting closes 2.19)
lnk.to/BGFAwards
#BSFA2026Awards #solarpunk
(fixed alt text!)
Nebula nominations open until 2.28!
Hugo nominations now open!
BSFA: *Coriander* is already long-listed for the British Science Fiction Awards
(voting closes 2.19)
lnk.to/BGFAwards
#BSFA2026Awards #solarpunk
(fixed alt text!)
Reposted by Fergus Murray
bathroom access, for instance, just wasn't an issue that came up until then - when it did a us-style bathroom ban was dismissed as unthinkable by mps
the same mps that are going along with one now, incidentally
www.liberalcurrents.com/britains-bat...
the same mps that are going along with one now, incidentally
www.liberalcurrents.com/britains-bat...
Britain’s Bathroom Ban
The UK has gone from a bathroom ban being unthinkable to a Labour government implementing an extraordinarily authoritarian one—without a vote.
www.liberalcurrents.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:31 PM
bathroom access, for instance, just wasn't an issue that came up until then - when it did a us-style bathroom ban was dismissed as unthinkable by mps
the same mps that are going along with one now, incidentally
www.liberalcurrents.com/britains-bat...
the same mps that are going along with one now, incidentally
www.liberalcurrents.com/britains-bat...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
one of the things i got from diving into the weeds of this debate for my reporting on it was just how small the core 'gender critical' team is
almost all (anti-trans) reporting cites/ quotes the same half-dozen people
almost all (anti-trans) reporting cites/ quotes the same half-dozen people
February 12, 2026 at 1:24 PM
one of the things i got from diving into the weeds of this debate for my reporting on it was just how small the core 'gender critical' team is
almost all (anti-trans) reporting cites/ quotes the same half-dozen people
almost all (anti-trans) reporting cites/ quotes the same half-dozen people
Reposted by Fergus Murray
pure elite capture - the uk just folded to a hardline anti-trans campaign pushed by a tiny number of people
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
NHS closed Tavistock over care complaints – there were only eight
An eye-opening FOI report has revealed that just eight people complained about the Tavistock gender clinic's care provision in 10 years.
www.thepinknews.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:23 PM
pure elite capture - the uk just folded to a hardline anti-trans campaign pushed by a tiny number of people
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
May Labour's Yvette Cooper, the former Home Secretary, be remembered always as the politician who imposed the ban at the behest of Britain's powerful weapons industry, so it could continue to profit from the deliberate massacre of the people of Gaza
February 13, 2026 at 10:12 AM
May Labour's Yvette Cooper, the former Home Secretary, be remembered always as the politician who imposed the ban at the behest of Britain's powerful weapons industry, so it could continue to profit from the deliberate massacre of the people of Gaza
Reposted by Fergus Murray
The proscription order remains in place pending an appeal. Until further legal proceedings are complete, it remains a criminal offence to support or promote Palestine Action.
February 13, 2026 at 10:11 AM
The proscription order remains in place pending an appeal. Until further legal proceedings are complete, it remains a criminal offence to support or promote Palestine Action.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
We've been looking forward to sharing this news for a long time. We're making a graphic novel!
The Owl House: The Long-Lived King
Written by me and the amazing @mikkicrisostomo.bsky.social
Illustrated by the incomparable @dindu99.bsky.social
We're so excited to tell a brand new story.
The Owl House: The Long-Lived King
Written by me and the amazing @mikkicrisostomo.bsky.social
Illustrated by the incomparable @dindu99.bsky.social
We're so excited to tell a brand new story.
February 12, 2026 at 8:23 PM
We've been looking forward to sharing this news for a long time. We're making a graphic novel!
The Owl House: The Long-Lived King
Written by me and the amazing @mikkicrisostomo.bsky.social
Illustrated by the incomparable @dindu99.bsky.social
We're so excited to tell a brand new story.
The Owl House: The Long-Lived King
Written by me and the amazing @mikkicrisostomo.bsky.social
Illustrated by the incomparable @dindu99.bsky.social
We're so excited to tell a brand new story.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
The US Supreme Court rules on the Constitution and its meaning
The gov can only amend the con under extreme circumstances
The UK SC rules on interpretation of specific legislation
IT IS THE JOB OF A UK GOVERNMENT TO PASS / CHANGE LEGISLATION JESUS CHRIST LABOUR PRETENDING THEY'RE POWERLESS
The gov can only amend the con under extreme circumstances
The UK SC rules on interpretation of specific legislation
IT IS THE JOB OF A UK GOVERNMENT TO PASS / CHANGE LEGISLATION JESUS CHRIST LABOUR PRETENDING THEY'RE POWERLESS
Angeliki Stogia (Labour). Angeliki broadly performed well, but she felt very hemmed in by her government's record. When questioned about trans rights, for instance, she stated that the Labour Party would always stand against transphobia and that they couldn't just change the supreme court decision
February 13, 2026 at 10:26 AM
The US Supreme Court rules on the Constitution and its meaning
The gov can only amend the con under extreme circumstances
The UK SC rules on interpretation of specific legislation
IT IS THE JOB OF A UK GOVERNMENT TO PASS / CHANGE LEGISLATION JESUS CHRIST LABOUR PRETENDING THEY'RE POWERLESS
The gov can only amend the con under extreme circumstances
The UK SC rules on interpretation of specific legislation
IT IS THE JOB OF A UK GOVERNMENT TO PASS / CHANGE LEGISLATION JESUS CHRIST LABOUR PRETENDING THEY'RE POWERLESS
Reposted by Fergus Murray
The transphobic press have no incentive to give Labour credit for their transphobia and every incentive to push them to go further. Labour gain nothing by caving to them, and yet cave to them they will, out of a potent combination of hatred for trans people and political ineptitude.
You all saw the guidance that went out yesterday for trans kids in schools. Absolutely horrific stuff.
This is how the right wing papers are covering that news. Times, Mail and Telegraph all have it on their front page, the first two as their main story of the day.
Guardian's coverage included
This is how the right wing papers are covering that news. Times, Mail and Telegraph all have it on their front page, the first two as their main story of the day.
Guardian's coverage included
February 13, 2026 at 8:36 AM
The transphobic press have no incentive to give Labour credit for their transphobia and every incentive to push them to go further. Labour gain nothing by caving to them, and yet cave to them they will, out of a potent combination of hatred for trans people and political ineptitude.
The one consultation I've completed that seems to have had an impact was on the Scottish Government's proposed Learning Disabilities, Autism & Neurodiversity Bill.
They didn't get the answers they were looking for, so decided it would be too hard to bring legislation forward in this parliament. 🤦🏼♀️
They didn't get the answers they were looking for, so decided it would be too hard to bring legislation forward in this parliament. 🤦🏼♀️
I have now done maybe a hundred consultations. Every one ignored. Zero impact.
I wrote this blog 18 months ago:
growinguptransgender.com/2024/10/14/i...
This is exactly the same.
Pls don't focus on the plan that consultations are how we fight back. It does not work. It wastes our time.
I wrote this blog 18 months ago:
growinguptransgender.com/2024/10/14/i...
This is exactly the same.
Pls don't focus on the plan that consultations are how we fight back. It does not work. It wastes our time.
Is this an abusive relationship?
(or why I won’t be responding to another government consultation on trans healthcare). Just weeks after having submitted an invited response (invited as an academic expert) to a government consulta…
growinguptransgender.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:23 AM
The one consultation I've completed that seems to have had an impact was on the Scottish Government's proposed Learning Disabilities, Autism & Neurodiversity Bill.
They didn't get the answers they were looking for, so decided it would be too hard to bring legislation forward in this parliament. 🤦🏼♀️
They didn't get the answers they were looking for, so decided it would be too hard to bring legislation forward in this parliament. 🤦🏼♀️
An interesting bit of history in this article. Mandelson's job has, for decades, been undermining democracy to the benefit of big business.
1. In 2009 I wrote this. I argued that Peter Mandelson's department “functions as a fifth column within government, working for corporations to undermine democracy and the public interest.”
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
Mandelson’s Fifth Column
The British government’s business department exists to undermine democracy.
www.monbiot.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:14 AM
An interesting bit of history in this article. Mandelson's job has, for decades, been undermining democracy to the benefit of big business.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
The fact Wes Streeting was warned by his own officials that the toxicity of Palantir made the contract less likely to succeed raises, yet again, the question why Government granted it the contract in the first place?
NHS deal with AI firm Palantir called into question after officials’ concerns revealed
Exclusive: in 2025 briefing to Wes Streeting, officials warned reputation of tech firm behind US ICE operations would hinder rollout of data system in UK
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 6:29 AM
The fact Wes Streeting was warned by his own officials that the toxicity of Palantir made the contract less likely to succeed raises, yet again, the question why Government granted it the contract in the first place?
Lately I'm seeing a lot of people picking up the idea that anti-Zionism isn't antisemitism, and running quite a lot further with it than I'm comfortable with.
Just... Putting that out there. Cautiously.
Wondering if other people have been noticing this.
Just... Putting that out there. Cautiously.
Wondering if other people have been noticing this.
February 12, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Lately I'm seeing a lot of people picking up the idea that anti-Zionism isn't antisemitism, and running quite a lot further with it than I'm comfortable with.
Just... Putting that out there. Cautiously.
Wondering if other people have been noticing this.
Just... Putting that out there. Cautiously.
Wondering if other people have been noticing this.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Here are some nice mushrooms
February 12, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Here are some nice mushrooms
Reposted by Fergus Murray
In a functional country, this would be a scandal. A service suffering only from chronic underfunding was ripped apart because the media created a myth of 1000s of complaints of malpractice. The truth - as in my family’s experience - was very different.
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
NHS closed Tavistock over care complaints – there were only eight
An eye-opening FOI report has revealed that just eight people complained about the Tavistock gender clinic's care provision in 10 years.
www.thepinknews.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:19 PM
In a functional country, this would be a scandal. A service suffering only from chronic underfunding was ripped apart because the media created a myth of 1000s of complaints of malpractice. The truth - as in my family’s experience - was very different.
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
If folks are responding, please also emphasis that Scottish schools have a responsibility to trans children under the UNCRC. Myself and @notrightruth.bsky.social have written about this in a peer reviewed article, summarised here:
growinguptransgender.com/2026/01/30/u...
growinguptransgender.com/2026/01/30/u...
Upholding trans children’s rights
Trans children have rights under international and domestic law, and we can be more assertive both in calling attention to rights violations, and in demanding institutions uphold these rights in po…
growinguptransgender.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:22 PM
If folks are responding, please also emphasis that Scottish schools have a responsibility to trans children under the UNCRC. Myself and @notrightruth.bsky.social have written about this in a peer reviewed article, summarised here:
growinguptransgender.com/2026/01/30/u...
growinguptransgender.com/2026/01/30/u...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
When any pupil goes to school they should be able to do so safely, have appropriate toilet and changing facilities they can use, and be listened to and have their identity respected: www.scottishtrans.org/protect-trans-pupils
February 10, 2026 at 2:18 PM
When any pupil goes to school they should be able to do so safely, have appropriate toilet and changing facilities they can use, and be listened to and have their identity respected: www.scottishtrans.org/protect-trans-pupils
Reposted by Fergus Murray
... and that's very much euphemistic for conversion therapy.
Cass literally believes social transition *causes* people to *become permanently trans* (which is a baseless claim) and she also frames that outcome as being abnormal and undersireable outcome (which is grossly biogted).
Cass literally believes social transition *causes* people to *become permanently trans* (which is a baseless claim) and she also frames that outcome as being abnormal and undersireable outcome (which is grossly biogted).
February 12, 2026 at 4:28 PM
... and that's very much euphemistic for conversion therapy.
Cass literally believes social transition *causes* people to *become permanently trans* (which is a baseless claim) and she also frames that outcome as being abnormal and undersireable outcome (which is grossly biogted).
Cass literally believes social transition *causes* people to *become permanently trans* (which is a baseless claim) and she also frames that outcome as being abnormal and undersireable outcome (which is grossly biogted).
Reposted by Fergus Murray
This draft guidance reproduces Cass insisting that clinicians must be involved in decisions about *social transition* which actually should be none of their damn business
They take the line that this "non-directive" intervention should force things to be "keeping options open and flexible"...
They take the line that this "non-directive" intervention should force things to be "keeping options open and flexible"...
February 12, 2026 at 4:25 PM
This draft guidance reproduces Cass insisting that clinicians must be involved in decisions about *social transition* which actually should be none of their damn business
They take the line that this "non-directive" intervention should force things to be "keeping options open and flexible"...
They take the line that this "non-directive" intervention should force things to be "keeping options open and flexible"...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
So, it looks like the new DfE guidance on trans students in schools incorporates recommendations from the Cass report. Suffice to say that is an *incredibly awful* decision.
Here's a thread with my analysis of Cass on social transition from back in 2024.
Here's a thread with my analysis of Cass on social transition from back in 2024.
In Chapter 12, Cass considers social transition.
As per §12.2, this might include haircuts, clothing, name change, and pronoun usage.
As per §12.2, this might include haircuts, clothing, name change, and pronoun usage.
February 12, 2026 at 3:56 PM
So, it looks like the new DfE guidance on trans students in schools incorporates recommendations from the Cass report. Suffice to say that is an *incredibly awful* decision.
Here's a thread with my analysis of Cass on social transition from back in 2024.
Here's a thread with my analysis of Cass on social transition from back in 2024.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
This feels deeply dystopian and also so ridiculous you can’t even satirize it.
Waymo, Google’s autonomous vehicle company, and DoorDash have launched a pilot program that pays delivery workers, at least in one case, around $10 to travel to a parked Waymo and close its door that a previous passenger left open, according to a joint statement from the company given to 404 Media.
Waymo Is Getting DoorDashers to Close Doors on Self Driving Cars
The companies have launched a pilot program in Atlanta, where “during the rare event a vehicle door is left ajar, preventing the car from departing, nearby Dashers are notified, allowing Waymo to get ...
www.404media.co
February 12, 2026 at 8:18 PM
This feels deeply dystopian and also so ridiculous you can’t even satirize it.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
It's worth noting that this was also a pretext to open up new services designed and run by people who push an unproven pseudoscientific "Gender Exploratory Therapy" model that has been likened to conversion therapy by international experts.
In a functional country, this would be a scandal. A service suffering only from chronic underfunding was ripped apart because the media created a myth of 1000s of complaints of malpractice. The truth - as in my family’s experience - was very different.
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
NHS closed Tavistock over care complaints – there were only eight
An eye-opening FOI report has revealed that just eight people complained about the Tavistock gender clinic's care provision in 10 years.
www.thepinknews.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:17 PM
It's worth noting that this was also a pretext to open up new services designed and run by people who push an unproven pseudoscientific "Gender Exploratory Therapy" model that has been likened to conversion therapy by international experts.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
A difficult things in covering trans science week after week is that the situation most resembles climate change propaganda from oil companies or obfuscation by tobacco companies in whether smoking causes cancer, but major science desks are invested in pretending it's a real scientific debate.
Much of the playbook used by the Hart Group to subvert NHS COVID policy was basically deployed by SEGM in an identical way, with the difference being that because only a tiny sub set of the population was negatively affected, journalism outlets who uncovered Hart turned a blind eye when alerted.
February 12, 2026 at 1:35 PM
A difficult things in covering trans science week after week is that the situation most resembles climate change propaganda from oil companies or obfuscation by tobacco companies in whether smoking causes cancer, but major science desks are invested in pretending it's a real scientific debate.