iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Disgusting reporting by BBC using a tiny number of cases to suggest widespread abuse of a system which routinely denies LGBTQIA+ individuals asylum and forces them back into environments of persecution. This article massively distorts the reality of the situation. 1/ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Legal advisers help migrants pose as gay to get asylum, undercover BBC investigation finds

The BBC exposes a shadow industry charging migrants thousands of pounds to help them cheat the asylum system.

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Trade @wearetradehealth.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Happy Trans Day of Visibility! Highlighting one of our volunteers, Irene, who says: "My time with Trade has been incredibly mesmerizing, it has allowed me to feel comfortable in a way I didn't expect I would, with my fellow Queer, never alone." #TransDayOfVisibility #TransLivesMatter #QueerJoy

a photo of two people. One is a trans man with a beard and wearing a black cap stood with a trans flag and another is a trans woman with pink hair holding a trans coloured shield that says trans knights on it.

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Jay Todd 🏳️‍⚧️ @jaytoddgla.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

📣 Today @felicitycallard.bsky.social and I have published the first peer-reviewed response to the 'Sullivan Review' of research and data on sex and gender. doi.org/10.1111/tran... The Review could threaten trans rights and inclusion, erode academic freedom, and undermine research quality.

Graphic reading 'the UK Government-commissioned 'Sullivan Review' of sex and gender in data and research collection threatens British research and trans inclusion. Here's why.'

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MN Mike @fiveman.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

10/10 ICE protest sign

Protest sign from MN that says, “DEARLY BELOVED.
WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY
TODISMANTLE THIS THING CALLED ICE.” with a picture of Prince in the left hand lower corner.

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Trade @wearetradehealth.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Join our team in Leicester as an HIV Peer Support Worker. We are looking to recruit someone who has been living well with HIV for at least three years, who can support people who are more recently diagnosed or struggling to stay on treatment. For more information and to apply, see: bit.ly/3Z120vZ

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Trade @wearetradehealth.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Help us record stories about the impact of the Supreme Court ruling and other recent government announcements on the health and wellbeing of trans* people in Leicestershire. Scan the QR code in the image to share your story. We are particularly keen to hear from Leicester South constituents.

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Trade @wearetradehealth.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

It's the monthly Trade Power Hour this Thursday at 6pm. A gentle fitness class for queer bodies of all shapes and sizes. Places are limited, so book now. Suggested donation is £5 (pay more if you can, but no-one is turned away for lack of funds)

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

Today, I was at was at an event with a Cabinet minister. I was there for work, so I bit my tongue and was on best behaviour. Luckily, the event was in a primary school, and well-primed Year 6 kids are *very* good at catching politicians out with a sweet smile and then calling them on their bullshit

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Trade @wearetradehealth.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

We have joined many other HIV charities and services in voicing unambiguous opposition to the EHRC draft Code of Practice. There should be no barriers to affirming and inclusive sexual health services and HIV care

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

The PrEP Clinic service is mainly for LGBTQ+ people living in Leicester. If you live in Leicestershire or Rutland, contact the Trade office to discuss your eligibility. If you are already on PrEP and need more medication, please book into our Friday afternoon CLINIC xtra service.

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

We have launched our PrEP CLINIC for new starters to PrEP. PrEP CLINIC runs every first and third Thursday of the month between 4pm-6pm at the Trade office This is also an opportunity to see if PrEP is right for you Book here - bit.ly/TSHbooking

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Rad Trans Leicester have something planned for next Wednesday lunchtime

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

One of my former academic colleagues is setting up a group for trans* academics living and working in the East Midlands. We're happy to offer the group space to meet at Trade in Leicester. Please help spread the word.

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Come and work with me and nurture trans* thriving in Leicestershire

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Let's fill the space with queer joy, grief, and righteous anger they can't ignore

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Having watched that, I am now more convinced than ever that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence need to pay a visit

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

It's also a but more complicated than this. The old garden was only accessible through the LASS building, but did contain a number of memorials to individual gay men. These have been removed and archived with the National AIDS Memorial project (I think). But the new memorial is open to the street

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

I would say, though, is it pinkwashing if you don't actually acknowledge that the majority of people who died of AIDS-related conditions in Leicester were gay and bi men?

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

The Memorial Garden ended up there because HTL shares a boundary with the building that used to house LASS. When LASS closed, they got full control of the previously shared patch of land on condition they created the Memorial Garden. But Peter is absolutely correct that this doesn't sit right

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Trade @wearetradehealth.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Trade is starting a book group! Join us for the first meeting on Tuesday 20th May. Out in Print is a casual, friendly space for members of the community to get together and talk about LGBTQ+ fiction. We’ve chosen books accessible via local libraries Sign up for email updates at bit.ly/OutInPrint

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Reposted by Gavin Brown

Trade @wearetradehealth.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

This month's NeuroQueer hangout takes place on Tuesday 13th May, 6-8pm, at the Trade office in central Leicester. This month's topic is 'Justice'. As neurodivergent people we often have a strong sense of right and wrong and get upset about perceived injustices. Let's talk about that.

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Felicity Callard @felicitycallard.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Geographers! Please join 300 of us — at every career stage — who are urging the Royal Geographical Society to reaffirm its commitment to trans inclusion in the face of Supreme Court ruling, and to oppose the EHRC’s interim update. Sign by WED 30 April 1700 GMT docs.google.com/document/u/0...

docs.google.com

Open letter to RGS on Supreme Court and EHRC events April 2025

If you are an academic geographer (broadly conceived) of any career stage, To sign the open letter please fill in this form: https://forms.gle/AmjaJh37xLt4CMwx5. Your signature will be added manually....

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👻madeline bOoOoOoOodent👻 @oldenoughtosay.com · 23/04/2025

Autism and adhd and the rest are not modern phenomena. The overstimulation and constant barrage of information which causes them to become a disability is, to an extent, a modern phenom. It’s a complex and multifaceted situation but what it is not, is new.

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Arthur Webber 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 @bernietranders.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Not a day goes past where Dawn Foster wasn’t 100% correct about Wes Streeting

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

39 years years ago, a protest started that profoundly shaped my life - the Non-Stop Picket of the South African embassy in London. I wasn't there on day 1, but when I did show up, I stayed because I found a community of fired up young queers nonstopagainstapartheid.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/l...

nonstopagainstapartheid.wordpress.com

Launching the Non-Stop Picket, 19 April 1986

The Non-Stop Picket of the South African Embassy started on 19 April 1986. The proposal for the Non-Stop Picket had been made at the City of London Anti-Apartheid Group’s Annual General Meeti…

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

It's good to see that a lot of the (UK) sexual health/HIV voluntary sector has spoken out against yesterday's Supreme Court ruling. But that makes the silence of others all the louder

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Trade @wearetradehealth.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Trade fiercely disagree with the decision of the UK Supreme Court. It betrays a wilful and profound ignorance of trans life, in keeping with their refusal to hear trans voices. This ruling will sow division and endanger countless vulnerable people. We condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

I feel like Selma James, Mariarosa Dallla Costa, and Silvia Federici had something to say about this nearly 60 years ago

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John Lyons @jlyons1991.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Universities call in more consultants to stave off collapse caused by previous influx of consultants

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Rob 🏳️‍🌈 @rotster.net · 13/04/2025

This. I say this so much. I’m quite tired of saying this. Human connection is what learning is about.

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Until I think of a more suitable prize, please accept the school badge (those maroon blazers did not flatter anyone)

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Dr Cath Feely @cathfeely.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

University of Derby faces mass job cuts as management plans to make half of senior academics redundant. Please spread the word. www.ucu.org.uk/article/1398...

ucu.org.uk

University of Derby staff face mass job cuts as management plans to axe half of senior academics

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Although, collectively, your gaydar was more accurate than your Marxometer

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

I am still mightily impressed that @deborahftoner.bsky.social was able to look at a photo of a group of 55 year old blokes and correctly identify which of them I had a crush on nearly 40 years ago

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Did someone rename the Clarendon Park Facebook group?

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Trade @wearetradehealth.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

We are expanding our support services for people living with HIV and expanding our work into Northamptonshire for the first time. We are recruiting a part-time HIV Peer Support Worker to lead this work. For further details and to apply, visit: www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/trade-s...

Join our team at TradeHIV Peer Support WorkerBand 4: £23,949 - 26,28219.5 hour per week (3 days)Fixed term to 31 March 2026Based in Northamptonshirebit.ly/HIVPTSH

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

No surprise here: gender affirming care reduces the risk of HIV transmission for trans people and helps trans people living with HIV maintain an undetectable viral load, so they can't pass on HIV

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

35 years ago this afternoon, I was in Trafalgar Square with the Poll Tax Riot happening around me. Here's something I wrote a few years back about the attack on the South African apartheid regime's embassy that afternoon: nonstopagainstapartheid.wordpress.com/2013/03/31/t...

nonstopagainstapartheid.wordpress.com

The Poll Tax Riot and the burning of the South African Embassy II

Last year, I wrote about how the South African Embassy was attacked, with its windows smashed and a tourist display set ablaze, during the Poll Tax Riot in Trafalgar Square on 31 March 1990. Recen…

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

The slightly embarrassing outcome of looking at this by-election result has been realising the ward I grew up in seems to be the only one that is still entirely represented on Redbridge Council by Tories

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Jo @whatsjo.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Remember the 90s when everybody only hurt sometimes.

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

I stopped counting at 31. But that's at least 31 of my published works - books, academic papers, and book reviews that Meta have used without permission for their own profit

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

I've just realised that the Association of American Geographers handle over here is just @geographers.bsky.social - I guess it was too much to expect them to be geographically specific?

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

I refer the good doctor to Grindr

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Gavin Brown @lestageog.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Thank you to @annabland.bsky.social for provoking deep thealogical reflections while wandering around Aldi this morning. Nice video!

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