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Kate Davison

@queerstorian.bsky.social
7.1K followers 3.5K following 315 posts

Lecturer in the History of Sexuality @ University of Edinburgh | book (soon): ‘Aversion Therapy: A Transnational History of Sex, Psychiatry & the Cold War’ | PhD @ UniMelb, MA @ FU-Berlin | antifascist, anti-colonial, pro- 🇵🇸🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🐾 | 🗣️🇩🇪🇦🇺 | member @ucu.org.uk

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Kate Davison
Sébastien Tremblay @sebboo.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
This has been a journey! @christopherewing.bsky.social and I are proud to announce the forthcoming publication (with Palgrave) of "Reading Queer Media in the German Speaking World" bringing together the work of brilliant historians and German studies scholars working on queer 🇦🇹🇩🇪🇨🇭 printed media
Cover of the edited volume Reading Queer Media in the German Speaking World: New Approaches to print Sources published by Palgrave. The cover image is a 35mm black and white photo of a show in a queer club with two individuals in pup wear reading media during the performance.
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Very excited!
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
🎯🎯🎯 “only two paths remain: either a Jewish, messianic, genocidal state, or a truly democratic state for all its citizens. …Zionism, in all its forms, cannot be cleansed of the stain of this crime. It must be brought to an end.”
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Eye-watering figures here. The UK Higher Education sector is a wild west for business profits, job losses and skyrocketing fees.
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
If you or anyone you know works/studies at University of Edinburgh, please ensure they have signed this petition to Court (governing body) calling on UoE to divest from genocide. So far 670+ staff and 800+ student/alumni signatures - not bad, but we can do better! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
Emergency Court Session Now: Divest From Israel’s Genocide
Since the beginning of Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza in October 2023, students and staff at the University of Edinburgh have mobilised an unprecedented multiethnic and multireligious divestment mov...
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
🙌 22 months late but huge: @johnswinney.bsky.social calls for UK govt. to SANCTION and END ARMS SALES to Israel = the 2 key demands of the Palestine solidarity movt. in the UK (incl. the “terrorists”). Hoping it also pressures Scottish universities eg. @edinburghuni.bsky.social to finally divest.
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
Irvine Welsh - get in the bin.
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Kindertransport 2.0
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 26/07/2025
10/10, no notes @thebetootaadvocate.bsky.social
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
Why collective refusal is the only option. Reading this, I recalled the time a white, cis-het man (ostensibly my equal; I later learned he was being paid at 4 grade steps above me for no reason) said “y’know all these sexist micro-aggressions in the workplace you talk about? I just don’t see them!”)
wordsinspace.net
The Limits of Refusal
Words in Space is the work of Shannon Mattern.
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
This follows the BMA passing a motion supporting gender affirming care last month. So the BMA is now clear on both trans & Palestinian autonomy and self-determination. *The BMA*
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
MUST WATCH/LISTEN! Thank you @antoinettelattouf.bsky.social for battling this in court so that it’s all on the public record—you speak for those (likely hundreds, if not thousands) of us who have had similar/adjacent experiences but are gagged by NDAs & confidentiality clauses. 🙏
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Impressive analysis of what appears to be a rather damning dossier — compiled within 24 hours because EHRC only responded to the FOI request *after* it’s consultation deadline yesterday. Thank you @tacc.org.uk 🙏
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
1/ Peerless! @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social named exclusively in UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories @franceskalbs.bsky.social’s latest report due to its investments in genocide (esp. tech). It says:
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Brilliant result of militant, unrelenting strike action!
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Reposted by Kate Davison
Natacha @natacha.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Streeting banned puberty-blockers despite there being no evidence whatsoever that they are dangerous, and now plenty of evidence (including my own peer-reviewed research) that banning them is harmful. However… He enthusiastically promoted weight loss drugs however, and now people are being harmed
tandfonline.com
Harming children: the effects of the UK puberty blocker ban
This paper presents an analysis of data from trans children and young people and their parents following the imposition of a UK-wide ban on puberty blockers for this group. The consequences of this...
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Not sure what a 'sexed' toilet is anyway, tbh. Toilets are inanimate. goodlawproject.org/ehrc-formall...
goodlawproject.org
EHRC formally abandons single-sex toilet stipulation | Good Law Project
The EHRC’s rushed guidance caused harm from the moment it was released. But now they’re u-turning.
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Where my ALP/Labour hacks at?
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
*RIDDLE FOR MEETING PROCEDURE NERDS* Without giving you the context, give me a *democratic* solution to this👇 A motion + 4 amendments are tabled at a union meeting. Instead of voting in the meeting they will be sent out to 3k members for electronic ballot. A decision must be reached within 3 days.
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hannah @hannahkateboast.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
Remembering that Starmer doesn't have a favourite book or poem, and doesn't dream
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
‘Kitchen said he wanted other Australians to be aware that “cleaning” their phones wouldn’t necessarily mean they would be able to get their Esta approved upon arrival in the US. “They had already prepared a file on me and already knew everything about me”.’ www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
theguardian.com
Australian deported from US says he was ‘targeted’ due to writing on pro-Palestine student protests
Alistair Kitchen says he was detained and questioned about views on Israel and Palestine before being deported from LA to Melbourne
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Today’s news inspired me to enjoy a double bill of Black lesbian resistance films this evening, both advocating collective revolutionary truth against disinformation ❤️‍🔥✊🏾 #borninflames1983 #thewatermelonwoman1996
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Proud as punch to be quoted in this judgement describing AHF as ‘propaganda promoting hatred of trans women’ with ‘no academic merit’, full of statements that ‘are false, untrue, based on hearsay or anecdotal evidence, or use shoddy methodology that would fail a first year assignment’,
statistics.is
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UCU Edinburgh @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
Our branch stands firmly for trans inclusion and trans equality, and will not cease in protesting against discriminatory and inflammatory claims about trans people! www.ucu.org.uk/article/1404...
ucu.org.uk
Employment Tribunal rejects claims University and College Union discriminated against members on grounds of their gender critical beliefs
The University and College Union has successfully defended claims against it in an Employment Tribunal from two UCU members who claim they had been discriminated against and harassed by the union beca...
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
Heroic effort by @gbuttars.bsky.social (then-president of UCU Edinburgh) and Lena Wånggren (then-president of UCU Scotland), who represented the UCU at the Tribunal 🙏🦾
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UCU Scotland @ucuscotland.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
Employment Tribunal rejects claims UCU discriminated against members on grounds of their gender critical beliefs. Includes comment from UCU. www.ucu.org.uk/article/1404...
ucu.org.uk
Employment Tribunal rejects claims University and College Union discriminated against members on grounds of their gender critical beliefs
The University and College Union has successfully defended claims against it in an Employment Tribunal from two UCU members who claim they had been discriminated against and harassed by the union beca...
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Reposted by Kate Davison
Gina Gwenffrewi @ginagwenffrewi.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
This is a major victory for freedom of speech - against dehumanizing and degrading transphobic output. A key reason for the success appears to be the focus on protesting the materials rather than those that produced it. This verdict will require careful analysis over the coming weeks.
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
This is a massively symbolic victory, vindicating @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social’s 2022 & 2023 protests against the anti-trans propaganda film ‘Adult Human Female’ and exposing the film makers’ bad faith arguments that such protests amount to discrimination and harassment. #tradeunions4transrights 🏳️‍⚧️🚩
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Reposted by Kate Davison
Lee Hurley @hleehurley.com · 04/04/2025
If they aren't transphobic, her fans wouldn't use them. Had someone put them up where I live. I guess she was just a mega fan of JK and not trying to intimidate me at all. These are the people who produced 'Adult Human Female'
Stickers saying ‘I love JK Rowling’ not transphobic, tribunal told
The Daily Telegraph3 Apr 2025By Telegraph Reporter

The stickers were spotted on the University of Edinburgh’s campus
STICKERS saying “I love JK Rowling” were not a “dog whistle” for transphobia, a university professor has told an employment tribunal.

Deirdre O’neill and Michael Wayne are suing the University and College Union (UCU) after its Edinburgh branch said their film Adult Human Female was an attack on transgender identity.

The film challenges trans rights claims and provoked protests when they tried to show it at the University of Edinburgh, the tribunal heard.

The academics said this was unlawful discrimination by the UCU against their belief that there are only two sexes.

Yesterday, the tribunal heard that the film screening took place amid online reports about the discovery of “transphobic” stickers on the campus, including some saying, “I love JK Rowling”.

Rowling, 59, has outspoken views on gender issues that have seen her called transphobic by activists, which she has denied.

Although it was accepted that Mr Wayne, a professor at Brunel University, may not have been aware of the stickers, he was asked if he believed they could be a “dog whistle”. He replied: “So you’re saying that the author JK Rowling is what?”

Tom Brown, for the UCU, said: “Professor Wayne, are you saying that you don’t appreciate that JK Rowling is a very well-known proponent of gender critical views?”
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Bumping this again - please add your suggestions!
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
My boss: —has no idea what his £400k+ salary is —has confirmed that UoE is “not in deficit” —blames his plan to sack £90m of staff on staff… who “haven’t proposed any alternatives” #Strike @edinburghup.bsky.social @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social
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UCU Scotland @ucuscotland.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
We’re very proud to support the 21 June Glasgow demonstration - be there! #AyeWelcomeRefugees #StandUpToRacism #BlackLivesMatter
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Samantha K. Knapton @lgmsam.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
What's the collective noun for a bunch of academics? A fabulousness? @manwithoutatan.bsky.social @queerstorian.bsky.social
Picture of 6 lovely academics next to a river in Copenhagen.
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
I really would have preferred Pope Innocent.
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Read, enjoy, discuss, share, then share again, and again, and again. spectrejournal.com/against-bad-...
spectrejournal.com
Against Bad Arguments for Terrible Things – Spectre Journal
Holly Lewis takes a sledgehammer to John Rees's attempt to Marx-wash antitrans bigotry.
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Gaza & trans rights are the political litmus tests, but sometimes there’s just the one, singular test. “Israeli soldiers blow up building in Gaza for ‘gender reveal’ party” aje.io/bmtz32
aje.io
Israeli soldiers blow up building in Gaza for ‘gender reveal’ party
‘It’s a boy!’ Israeli soldiers have filmed themselves blowing up a building in Gaza for a ‘gender reveal’,
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Aliza Adi (she/her) @alizaadi.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
50k @BMA.org.uk doctors: Condemn the Supreme Court ruling defining the term 'woman' with respect to the EA2010 as being based on 'biological sex', which they refer to as a person who 'was at birth of the female sex' as reductive, trans and intersex-exclusionary and biologically nonsensical" 1/
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The BMA @bma.org.uk · 29/04/2025
The BMA respects trans patients' dignity, autonomy, and human rights and continues to believe that trans doctors, NHS workers and patients deserve dignity, safety, and equitable access to healthcare.
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The BMA @bma.org.uk · 29/04/2025
Any abuse directed towards BMA members or staff is unacceptable and has no place in the serious consideration of these complex issues.
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The BMA @bma.org.uk · 29/04/2025
Attendees at the #RDconf last Saturday voted on an emergency motion to show their opposition to the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman. Read the motion below 👇 BMA-wide policy is set at the Annual Representative Meeting (ARM) in June 2025.
Emergency motion on the Supreme Court ruling defining the term 'woman' from RDC conference 2025
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Katy Montgomerie 🦗 @katymontgomerie.com · 01/05/2025
One of the biggest unions in Scotland has committed to fighting for trans rights It looks like this is going to develop into a classic The People vs The Authoritarians civil rights struggle. I really think this is, sadly, only just the beginning www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture...
dazeddigital.com
Everything you need to know about Britain’s attack on trans rights
According to new EHRC guidance, trans people should be banned from using toilets and changing rooms corresponding to their gender. We speak to experts about what this means in practice
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Lee Hurley @hleehurley.com · 23/04/2025
Domestic violence activist found guilty of sex abuse against children over 20yrs
Scottish Daily Mail27 Mar 2025By Alexander Lawrie
A HIGH-PROFILE domestic abuse activist has been found guilty of carrying out a shocking campaign of physical and sexual abuse against four children over two decades.

Nicola Murray sexually assaulted two victims by forcing her tongue into their mouths and freely talked about her sex life to another child.

The 46-year-old forced one youngster to view an explicit sexual image she had taken of a man she was dating and indecently assaulted another after stripping them naked.

Murray’s campaign of terror also included telling one child that they had caused her to suffer a miscarriage and restricting the breathing of another by smothering their face with a pillow.

She attacked the children by punching, kicking and slapping them over several years, while she also repeatedly pushed one youngster down a flight of stairs.

Further disturbing incidents saw Murray drag a young child out of a top bunk bed onto the floor and brand another child ‘a tranny’

‘Engaged in sexual conversations’

after they had styled their hair to look like the pop star, Pink.

All the abuse took place at addresses in West Lothian and Perthshire over a 20-year period and Murray was arrested and charged after one brave victim reported her in 2022.

She is a prominent domestic abuse campaigner and set up the Brodie’s Trust support group that advocates for women who have lost babies through domestic violence or forced termination.

Murray set the group up after suffering a miscarriage and introduced a petition to create an offence that enables courts to hand down longer sentences for violent domestic abusers who cause victims to lose their babies.

There was a full chamber debate on Murray’s petition at the Scottish parliament last May.

Murray, from Stanley, Perthshire, denied all the allegations against her and stood trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
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Yossi Bartal @yossibartal.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Überraschung: Das israelische Militär hat zu 100 % gelogen. Laut internen Dokumenten, die Haaretz vorliegen, scheinen die Soldaten alle 15 Paramedics und UN-Mitarbeiter – teilweise "aus null Entfernung" – exekutiert zu haben, weil sie einen geheimen Überfall planten und keine Zeugen dulden wollten.
haaretz.co.il
החיילים ירו בלא הבחנה לעבר עובדי הסיוע במשך כשלוש דקות, גם מטווח אפס
הארץ
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Secret UCU @secretucu.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
@uniteucu.bsky.social members are still on ASOS, which, as I understand it, includes no out of hours work, so this is actually a ‘three cheers for crossing a picket line’. An NEC member quite literally supporting UCU’s union-busting. This is how far UCU has fallen.
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Secret UCU @secretucu.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
Oh, I’m a troll now. What fun. As is my being schooled on being a Bad Trade Unionist because I expect my union to follow basic union principles. Anyway, UCU’s been using scab labour for several weeks now so I’d like to know if that’s also justifiable - speak up for the employers listening in.
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
We've been losing colleagues on fixed-term contracts that weren't renewed for years. We're failing to build a next generation with the decline in opportunities to develop teaching expertise for post-graduate students. Those redundancies are indeed just the tip of the iceberg.
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
Thank goodness we’ve all just seen Conclave, so we know how this is going to end.
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
What’s “disgraceful” is that this is the BBC’s only coverage of 30,000+ people across the UK marching for trans rights.
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Kate Davison @queerstorian.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
Compiled list of protests against the Supreme Court’s ruling on “women” happening across the UK. whatthetrans.com/compilation-...
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Hannah McCann @binarythis.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Reminder: there is no ethical consumption of the Harry Potter franchise under late stage capitalist TERFdom
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