Freelance journalist and copyeditor. I cover tech, media, and power. Dirty optimist. Often making a chart. 🖊️ Reporting at The Backbone: https://the-backbone.beehiiv.com/ ✍️: Rewire, Assigned Media, The Objective, Mothership, etc. Signal: marsbars.81
Oh, shut up. Part of being a good ally is recognizing your privilege and using discretion. That means even if someone is shitty to you (not the case here), you should recognize that trans women online face elevated harassment risks, and opt not to put them in harm’s way by publicly ridiculing them.
Ken JenningsI saw yesterday that some right-wing outlets were running stories about me, which I’m used to. But this time I’m going to say something about it, because these were framed to imply that I was aligned with their own transphobia. ⬇️
Such a fun data story from @pudding.cool There’s something really cool about the interactive nature of this. I was one of 30,000 mowers!
Why some people mow a lawn better than othersWe analyzed 132,003 attempts to mow a virtual lawn efficiently.pudding.coolI’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Transphobia is rape culture.
Gillian BranstetterAn initiative on the ballot in Washington state in November would require all athletes seeking to play girl's sports from kindergarten to high school to undergo "genetic screening, a testosterone-levels test, or an examination of their reproductive anatomy" before they can play
This. I’m not here to force a label on anyone, but here’s the thing: To conservatives, you will always be queer. You can try to cleanse the stink of it off of you by throwing your community under the bus. You can assimilate as much as you like. You won’t succeed. [By @jjcroucher.bsky.social ]
If you are gay, you are queer – and yes, it mattersRecent online discourse has seen the return of respectability politics. JJ Croucher argues gay men who resist labelling themselves as “queer” are fighting a figment of straight society’s imagination.www.gaytimes.comHonored to have this story republished by the DJA as a special feature! Disability reporting, like trans reporting, is being pushed to the margins as billionaires seize control of more and more of our media diets. It’s vital we stand in solidarity and fight to protect both.
This AI Chatbot Pushes Conversion Therapy on Trans Users - Disabled Journalists AssociationDetrans.ai claims to help people explore gender dysphoria with “balance.” Instead, it cites reactionary talking points and debunked science to question trans identity.discojourno.comDisabled Journalists AssociationDisability rights and trans rights are inherently intertwined, both in terms of advocacy efforts and barriers faced in the journalism industry. For example, it was anti-trans voices that have led to attacks on disability-rights legislation. Continued in thread.
Moose has been adopted into a loving forever home!!! Thanks to everyone who shared this post — no idea if it ended up helping, but I like to believe it did. Remember good things happen when we make them, and that’s why we always look out for the little guy (who sometimes has a big Moose body.)
Madisyn Parisi (they/them)I never post stuff like this, but I love pitties and this post broke my heart a little. This is Moose. Moose has no behavioral issues, is housetrained + an absolute sweetie. He loves squeaky toys and butt scratches. Baltimore Animal Services will put him down if he doesn’t find a loving home ASAP.
The knee-jerk instinct of allies to publicly ridicule and deride the feelings of trans women who make them even momentarily uncomfortable deserves examination. The condescension dripping off of this is maddening.
Ken JenningsThis may be true of others but I actually got express permission from the trans community to keep NYT games and recipes. I also have a news subscription, which is arguably worse, so I had to specifically send in a written request. Took 30 days but I got approved.
A lot of people consider ICE to be separate from the police, some unique evil. The reality is that everything ICE does is facilitated and built on systemic police practices. ICE killings are police brutality. There is no abolishing ICE without abolishing policing as we know it.
Melissa Gira GrantI wrote about how immigration arrests are at all-time highs, even as ICE is trying to assume a lower public profile. How are they doing this? Look to your local police.
If you’re not a feminist journalist, you have no idea how hard it is to tell these stories right now. I just spent months working an investigation like this, only to have it killed over email. No warning. Most big outlets don’t value these stories. That’s why independent journalism is so crucial.
Marisa KabasExclusive from me — Daniel Moraff, one of the political operatives behind Graham Platner's rise and fall, has been accused of sexual assault. Full story here:
A difficult and important essay from Hope Hooton. Hope warned the courts that Alec and Lydia were in danger with their father, who’d abused her. They didn’t listen. Custody courts are meant to protect families, but they routinely retraumatize survivors and perpetuate abuse. Believe survivors.
HuffPost“Then came May 19, 2024, the day that divided my life into before and after.”
Hey @bsky.app, why is this man not banned after posting a direct rape threat, when trans survivors on here have gotten banned for *discussing their own assaults?* This is beyond the pale. I didn’t sign up to be on the rape threat app. @toni.bsky.team @jay.bsky.team @aaron.bsky.team
Samantha BurnsViewers, it was a rape threat.