Author | Lightnews

Jon Biggs @jonbiggs.bsky.social · 17h

It is a call for solidarity from organisations both large and small (including individuals), to stand together during a time where we are facing a global rollback of LGBTQ+ rights. Everyone, of all sexual orientations and gender identities, should consider sign it.

The Newcastle Gateshead Declaration

The Newcastle Gateshead Declaration is a world's first, which unites global voices in defending LGBTQI+ rights, dignity, and freedom, rejecting discrimination and affirming equality for all

www.reportout.org

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Jon Biggs @jonbiggs.bsky.social · 17h

The end of the conference saw the launch of the Newcastle Gateshead Declaration, the world’s first ever global LGBTQ+ solidarity declaration.

A man wearing a formal black tie outfit on a stage in front of a banner saying “Newcastle-Gateshead declaration”

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Jon Biggs @jonbiggs.bsky.social · 17h

There were some inspiring keynote speeches and breakout sessions, based on the theme of “Local to Global” discussing power, politics and populism, and the fight against authoritarianism.

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Jon Biggs @jonbiggs.bsky.social · 17h

Last week’s #SaferToBeMe conference in Newcastle was an amazing gathering of LGBTQ+ campaigners, researchers, advocates, allies, and accomplices, brought together by ReportOUT , Pride Action North , and Out North East .

Thanks to Drew Dalton and all of the volunteers who made it happen.

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Jon Biggs @jonbiggs.bsky.social · 4d

That takes preparing for summer to a whole new level!

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Jon Biggs @jonbiggs.bsky.social · 4d

The eternal struggle

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Jon Biggs @jonbiggs.bsky.social · 5d

That's awesome! Well done!

Jon Biggs @jonbiggs.bsky.social · 11d

My month of travelling continues…

Now heading up to Newcastle for ReportOUT’s Safer To Be Me conference (tickets are still available for in person or virtual attendance).

Am looking forward to meeting people in person for the first time, despite having worked with them for 2 1/2 years!

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Mark Pack @markpackuk.bsky.social · 13d

How it started vs How it's going.

More details: buff.ly/GbIKw4P

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Rhianna Pratchett @rhi.bsky.social · 24d

Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.

Paul Haine @paulhaine.bsky.social · 24d

Kemi Badenoch claiming Terry Pratchett as her favourite author is wild

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Jon Biggs @jonbiggs.bsky.social · 28d

I made it to Edinburgh yesterday for BearScots despite the M6 being closed around Carlisle (adding two hours to my journey) and the beginning of Storm Amy!

I’m looking forward to a weekend of catching up with friends and their news/gossip!

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Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · Sep 25

Westminster Voting Intention:

RFM: 33% (-1)
LAB: 17% (+1)
LDM: 16% (+3)
CON: 14% (-2)
GRN: 12% (=)

Via @findoutnow.bsky.social, 24 Sep.
Changes w/ 17 Sep.

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Jon Biggs @jonbiggs.bsky.social · Sep 6

Am in London at a queer book festival (as you do) but popped over to the street by the London Palladium to watch Rachel Zegler sing “Don’t cry for me Argentina” from a balcony to us gathered below. Camp free fun!

Selfie of a middle aged man with a crowd behind him

Rachel Ziegler as Evita on the balcony above the entrance to the London Palladium theatre

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🦇🤘 Rigg-or mortis 🔶️🏳️‍🌈 @rigg.lgbt · Sep 1

Starmer encouraging the racists.
Sex Matters TERF appointed at number 10.
Yvette Cooper turning the thumbscrews on immigration.

I knew they'd be horrific. I knew. But I didn't know they'd be this relentlessly horrific every fucking day.

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Sarah has a suggestion @goatsarah.org · Aug 29

I want to explain a few things and then it might be clearer why UK trans people are upset.
In 2001 I married my wife, Sylvia.
In 2005 I started medical transition. (1/13)

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Jon Biggs @jonbiggs.bsky.social · Aug 25

A bank holiday is a good time to build some birthday Lego- so the iconic Everyone is Awesome set joins the Lego corner of the living room!

Everyone is Awesome is a set of eleven single colour Lego figures standing on a rainbow road in the following order (black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, dark blue, purple, light blue, white, and pink). The set is place on a Perspex box containing another Lego set.

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Jay Hulme @jayhulmepoet.bsky.social · Aug 11

14 of 24 authors have now withdrawn.

First Book:
Curtis Garner, Jason Okundaye, Sacha Coward, Sanah Ahsan, Amy Twigg, Mae Diansangu, Eleanor Medhurst, Ciara Maguire, June Thomas

Main:
Olumide Popoola, Robert Hamberger, Andrew McMillan, Rhian Elizabeth, Jane Traies

Judges:
Nicola Dinan, Bob Hughes

The Polari first prize Longlist with books by Curtis Garner, Jason Okundaye, Sacha Coward, Sanah Ahsan, Amy Twigg, Mae Diansangu, Eleanor Medhurst, Ciara Maguire, June Thomas crossed out to show they've withdrawn

The Polari Prize Longlist with books by Olumide Popoola, Robert Hamberger, Andrew McMillan, Rhian Elizabeth, Jane Traies crossed out to show they've withdrawn

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Patrick Ness @patricknessbooks.bsky.social · Aug 6

The employee asked the girl and her mother if they needed help shopping. That’s it. That’s all. The misinformation, the insinuations (because the facts are inconveniently benign) are EXACTLY what was done to lesbians in the 80s. This is the product of hate and fear, not reality.

JK Rowling tweeting got a boycott of M&S, stretching facts to the breaking point, and making the world a worse place for absolutely everyone.

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Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · Aug 5

Brexit isn’t working, and the British people know it. They're fed up with the damage caused by the deal forced on us by Conservative party.

Keir Starmer must show some courage and set Britain on a clear path to a new customs union with the EU by 2030.

The Guardian opinion headline reads: “Brexit has been a resounding disaster. Starmer must find the courage to change course” by Ed Davey.

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jessdee.bsky.social @jessdee.bsky.social · Aug 5

We regret to inform you that milkshake duck is doing the Harry Potter audiobook series.

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Jon Biggs @jonbiggs.bsky.social · Aug 3

I saw the 1997 rerelease in a cinema and enjoyed it. I think it was more due to vibes of the audience (including my friends) rather than the random changes that were made. So I’d say go with friends and then you can bitch about it afterwards in any case

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Jon Biggs @jonbiggs.bsky.social · Aug 3

August hair cut completed!

Selfie of a middle aged white man, wearing a navy t-shirt and standing in front of a brick wall

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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · Aug 2

New post:

"The Radicalisation Spiral"

Why are so many people becoming radicalised? Is there any way to stop it?

With an antivaxxer running the US health dept + extreme discourse dominating politics it's an increasingly pressing question.

(£/free trial)

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...

The radicalisation spiral

Why does it happen and can it be stopped?

open.substack.com

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Darryl Mott 💀 @gamerstavernshow.com · Aug 1

If you want a weird but true fact to talk about:

Dexter Holland, lead singer of The Offspring, was instrumental in this. His doctorial thesis in molecular biology was sequencing mRNA in HIV. The paper was also heavily cited in creating the COVID-19 vaccine.

Faine Greenwood @faineg.bsky.social · Aug 1

It feels like we should be making a bigger deal of “we actually did in fact find a cure for AIDS”

WIRED @wired.com · Aug 1

Evidence is growing that some HIV-infected infants, if given antiretroviral drugs early in life, are able to suppress their viral loads to undetectable levels and then come off the medicine. www.wired.com/story/the-fi...

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Shell @risu.bsky.social · Jul 24

Everything is awful but guide dogs are being trained using toy squirrels stuck to remote control cars. And you need to see it

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