Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
@nicomaramckay.com
Historian in Tkaronto (Toronto). Likes bats, monsters, sincereposting, alt text, and DEIA. Genderqueer. Trans. Autistic. 40s. 👬 🧛 nicomaramckay.com
There will be typos.
Ephemeral Record of queer and trans histories: patreon.com/ephemeralrecord
There will be typos.
Ephemeral Record of queer and trans histories: patreon.com/ephemeralrecord
Pinned
tl;dr: Bluesky began with genuine promise: a new social media platform where users could feel safer, but inconsistent moderation quickly eroded trust.
When systemically marginalized users pushed back, Bluesky’s leadership minimized concerns and began to target them for bans.
When systemically marginalized users pushed back, Bluesky’s leadership minimized concerns and began to target them for bans.
Bluesky’s CEO meltdown: How leadership continues to fail its most marginalized users
tl;dr: Bluesky began with genuine promise: a new social media platform where systemically marginalized users could feel safer, but…
plutopsyche.medium.com
Unban Link.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
I know I post about this book like, 5x a year but it's almost 20 yrs old & still so relevant.
When women, people of colour, trans people, etc. talk about being harmed, the Right calls us whiners playing the victim.
Meanwhile, *they* are the "true" victims of wokeness/DEI/Cancel culture, etc.
When women, people of colour, trans people, etc. talk about being harmed, the Right calls us whiners playing the victim.
Meanwhile, *they* are the "true" victims of wokeness/DEI/Cancel culture, etc.
December 1, 2025 at 9:22 PM
I know I post about this book like, 5x a year but it's almost 20 yrs old & still so relevant.
When women, people of colour, trans people, etc. talk about being harmed, the Right calls us whiners playing the victim.
Meanwhile, *they* are the "true" victims of wokeness/DEI/Cancel culture, etc.
When women, people of colour, trans people, etc. talk about being harmed, the Right calls us whiners playing the victim.
Meanwhile, *they* are the "true" victims of wokeness/DEI/Cancel culture, etc.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
there’s a scene in the new documentary where Elizabeth Taylor is talking about the stigma of AIDS and how she got involved in the movement and it’s fucking everything
August 10, 2024 at 3:21 PM
there’s a scene in the new documentary where Elizabeth Taylor is talking about the stigma of AIDS and how she got involved in the movement and it’s fucking everything
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
a real tell in all of this is that the trans instructor wasn't alone in trashing this essay! a whole other person also said they agreed completely that it sucked. but as far as i can tell only the trans person is getting punished. www.oklahoman.com/story/news/e...
December 1, 2025 at 9:05 PM
a real tell in all of this is that the trans instructor wasn't alone in trashing this essay! a whole other person also said they agreed completely that it sucked. but as far as i can tell only the trans person is getting punished. www.oklahoman.com/story/news/e...
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Thanks to SciFi Pulse for the amazing 9.5/10 review of STAR TREK VOYAGER: HOMECOMING issue 3!
“The moral dilemma Janeway faces by the end of the issue is exactly the kind of impossible choice she so often confronted during the series, making it feel authentically ‘Voyager’ in every sense.”
“The moral dilemma Janeway faces by the end of the issue is exactly the kind of impossible choice she so often confronted during the series, making it feel authentically ‘Voyager’ in every sense.”
In Review: Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming #3 – A Singularity of Impossible Choices
Synopsis: To save the Federation—and the entire Alpha Quadrant—Captain Janeway made the ultimate sacrifice: deleting Species 8472’s data on opening a singularity into normal space. Now Voyager i...
www.scifipulse.net
November 30, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Thanks to SciFi Pulse for the amazing 9.5/10 review of STAR TREK VOYAGER: HOMECOMING issue 3!
“The moral dilemma Janeway faces by the end of the issue is exactly the kind of impossible choice she so often confronted during the series, making it feel authentically ‘Voyager’ in every sense.”
“The moral dilemma Janeway faces by the end of the issue is exactly the kind of impossible choice she so often confronted during the series, making it feel authentically ‘Voyager’ in every sense.”
Good afternoon, Bluesky.
Here is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
Here is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
December 1, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Good afternoon, Bluesky.
Here is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
Here is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
we are well past the point at which anyone who cannot identify bad faith like this is disqualified from commenting on it
the girl and her mother are basically screaming THIS IS A BAD FAITH ATTACK ON TRANS PEOPLE at the top of their lungs and if you can't see that you're stupid or lying
the girl and her mother are basically screaming THIS IS A BAD FAITH ATTACK ON TRANS PEOPLE at the top of their lungs and if you can't see that you're stupid or lying
a lot of people debating the merits of that dogshit essay meanwhile the girl’s mom is retweeting demands to ban all trans people from teaching at any level. it’s forest for the trees shit
December 1, 2025 at 7:40 PM
we are well past the point at which anyone who cannot identify bad faith like this is disqualified from commenting on it
the girl and her mother are basically screaming THIS IS A BAD FAITH ATTACK ON TRANS PEOPLE at the top of their lungs and if you can't see that you're stupid or lying
the girl and her mother are basically screaming THIS IS A BAD FAITH ATTACK ON TRANS PEOPLE at the top of their lungs and if you can't see that you're stupid or lying
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Today for World AIDS day, read our latest article about how one of the biggest opponents to AIDS healthcare, the Catholic Church, is back at it again by banning trans healthcare across their hospital systems.
U.S. Catholic bishops recently banned trans care throughout the church's sprawling healthcare systems.
@davidforbes.bsky.social delves into how this fits the institution's long history of hatred and abuse, a direction that has not changed despite its recent p.r. shifts.
It's time to fight back...
@davidforbes.bsky.social delves into how this fits the institution's long history of hatred and abuse, a direction that has not changed despite its recent p.r. shifts.
It's time to fight back...
U.S. Catholic Bishops Launch Attack on Trans Healthcare; It’s Time To Fight Back
While headlines were giving the Catholic church hierarchy plaudits for symbolic gestures in support of immigrants and a papal lunch with trans people, American bishops passed a major ban on trans heal...
transnews.network
December 1, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Today for World AIDS day, read our latest article about how one of the biggest opponents to AIDS healthcare, the Catholic Church, is back at it again by banning trans healthcare across their hospital systems.
*Especially* for marginalized grad students, instructors, and other contingent faculty.
If you are a chair of a department or supervise grad students, it might be important to collaborate with your colleagues on ways to strategize when a "problem essay" comes down the pike. It's one small way of protecting each other.
December 1, 2025 at 8:05 PM
*Especially* for marginalized grad students, instructors, and other contingent faculty.
Bring back saxophone solos, you absolute cowards.
a man is dancing in front of a sign that says union square
Alt: A person is playing a tenor sax anf dancing in front of a sign that says Union Square
media.tenor.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Bring back saxophone solos, you absolute cowards.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
SALE ENDING TODAY!!!
Get 20% off your first year of an annual subscription to my Patreon using code FRIDAY at checkout!
I'm only 133 away from hitting my end of year goal!
patreon.com/katelynburns
Get 20% off your first year of an annual subscription to my Patreon using code FRIDAY at checkout!
I'm only 133 away from hitting my end of year goal!
patreon.com/katelynburns
Katelyn Burns | Patreon
creating LGBTQ journalism
patreon.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:22 PM
SALE ENDING TODAY!!!
Get 20% off your first year of an annual subscription to my Patreon using code FRIDAY at checkout!
I'm only 133 away from hitting my end of year goal!
patreon.com/katelynburns
Get 20% off your first year of an annual subscription to my Patreon using code FRIDAY at checkout!
I'm only 133 away from hitting my end of year goal!
patreon.com/katelynburns
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Cross-stitch is a nice hobby to fill up some of the time one no longer uses to combat roaming trolls & intrusive sealions.
December 1, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Cross-stitch is a nice hobby to fill up some of the time one no longer uses to combat roaming trolls & intrusive sealions.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Are you comfortable or are you sitting in a cold house after years of emotional scarring from touching the thermostat without permission?
November 30, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Are you comfortable or are you sitting in a cold house after years of emotional scarring from touching the thermostat without permission?
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
every trans person i see post about the OU suspension knows that the suspended target is trans & a grad student, & has an innate awareness that this is about purging trans employees. every cis person i see thinks the target is a rando professor & that this is about giving conservatives good grades
December 1, 2025 at 12:04 AM
every trans person i see post about the OU suspension knows that the suspended target is trans & a grad student, & has an innate awareness that this is about purging trans employees. every cis person i see thinks the target is a rando professor & that this is about giving conservatives good grades
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
I was diagnosed with #HIV in 1998, when I was 30.
Many of my friends had died of AIDS. I did not expect to live to 50.
I’m 58 now.
HIV treatment works.
Treatment also makes it impossible for me to pass HIV on during sex.
Ensure HIV treatment for all.
End HIV stigma.
#WorldAIDSDay
Many of my friends had died of AIDS. I did not expect to live to 50.
I’m 58 now.
HIV treatment works.
Treatment also makes it impossible for me to pass HIV on during sex.
Ensure HIV treatment for all.
End HIV stigma.
#WorldAIDSDay
December 1, 2025 at 8:46 AM
I was diagnosed with #HIV in 1998, when I was 30.
Many of my friends had died of AIDS. I did not expect to live to 50.
I’m 58 now.
HIV treatment works.
Treatment also makes it impossible for me to pass HIV on during sex.
Ensure HIV treatment for all.
End HIV stigma.
#WorldAIDSDay
Many of my friends had died of AIDS. I did not expect to live to 50.
I’m 58 now.
HIV treatment works.
Treatment also makes it impossible for me to pass HIV on during sex.
Ensure HIV treatment for all.
End HIV stigma.
#WorldAIDSDay
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
a lot of people debating the merits of that dogshit essay meanwhile the girl’s mom is retweeting demands to ban all trans people from teaching at any level. it’s forest for the trees shit
December 1, 2025 at 4:42 AM
a lot of people debating the merits of that dogshit essay meanwhile the girl’s mom is retweeting demands to ban all trans people from teaching at any level. it’s forest for the trees shit
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Here's a whole list of Native folks you SHOULD be following. They are brilliant, funny, smart and full of heart. The epitome of what community should and could be.
go.bsky.app/MEaiVa9
go.bsky.app/MEaiVa9
November 30, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Here's a whole list of Native folks you SHOULD be following. They are brilliant, funny, smart and full of heart. The epitome of what community should and could be.
go.bsky.app/MEaiVa9
go.bsky.app/MEaiVa9
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
As someone who worked in higher education for a decade, this doesn't surprise me in 2025 but it wouldn't have surprised me in 2012 either.
As a TA, a student once called a professor a "feminazi bitch" in a paper and she asked me not to fail him because she wanted to avoid administrative fallout.
As a TA, a student once called a professor a "feminazi bitch" in a paper and she asked me not to fail him because she wanted to avoid administrative fallout.
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
November 30, 2025 at 9:13 PM
As someone who worked in higher education for a decade, this doesn't surprise me in 2025 but it wouldn't have surprised me in 2012 either.
As a TA, a student once called a professor a "feminazi bitch" in a paper and she asked me not to fail him because she wanted to avoid administrative fallout.
As a TA, a student once called a professor a "feminazi bitch" in a paper and she asked me not to fail him because she wanted to avoid administrative fallout.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
I have low vision and I rely on alt text and image descriptions to provide context about images on platforms like BlueSky. If you don’t know how to write #AltText yet, I have several guides on my website that can show you how— take the #AltTextChallenge! veroniiiica.com/how-to-write... (1/10)
How To Write Alt Text And Image Descriptions
The ultimate guide on how to write alt text and image descriptions for the visually impaired, written by someone with low vision who uses alt text
veroniiiica.com
November 19, 2024 at 7:41 PM
I have low vision and I rely on alt text and image descriptions to provide context about images on platforms like BlueSky. If you don’t know how to write #AltText yet, I have several guides on my website that can show you how— take the #AltTextChallenge! veroniiiica.com/how-to-write... (1/10)
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Another challenge I frequently encounter on social media is not being able to zoom in enough to read text, which can be challenging for reading things like comics. Alt text for comics makes it easier to read and follow along with panels. veroniiiica.com/how-to-write... (6/10)
How To Write Alt Text For Digital Comics | Veroniiiica
Hey, comic creators! Learn how to write alt text for digital comics and include audience members with blindness and low vision that use screen readers
veroniiiica.com
November 19, 2024 at 7:41 PM
Another challenge I frequently encounter on social media is not being able to zoom in enough to read text, which can be challenging for reading things like comics. Alt text for comics makes it easier to read and follow along with panels. veroniiiica.com/how-to-write... (6/10)
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
i can't find it but there's a tumblr post about a fandom where everyone is talking about how good the toast is at a new restaurant and then it turns out they were all bringing their own jam to the restaurant and putting it on the toast. that's how i feel about gay stuff in dnd
November 30, 2025 at 6:20 PM
i can't find it but there's a tumblr post about a fandom where everyone is talking about how good the toast is at a new restaurant and then it turns out they were all bringing their own jam to the restaurant and putting it on the toast. that's how i feel about gay stuff in dnd
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
flying to Scotland specifically to visit the Treenis Wood
November 30, 2025 at 5:45 PM
flying to Scotland specifically to visit the Treenis Wood
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
somebody once said to me "this culture does not create untraumatized autistic people" and I think about that every day
November 30, 2025 at 6:48 PM
somebody once said to me "this culture does not create untraumatized autistic people" and I think about that every day