iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

Running amok at the AHA conference, celebrating my birthday, and meeting both up-and-coming scholars and big names in my field! Tired, but I can sleep through tomorrow!

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

I'm really coming alive in this city, and my first day of research at the NYPL went fabulously! While I can appreciate the quiet charms of my little college town and my cozy campus, it often feels stifling and insufficient for my needs. This place feels more like home.

The stone lions flanking the front steps to the Stephen A. Schwarzman building of the New York Public Library.

The three masted tall ship Wavertree, near the Seaport Museum in New York City.

A view of the New York skyline from the street, showing a colorful, cloudy evening sky.

Another view of the New York City skyline from street level, with a colorfully cloudy evening sky hanging above.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

An image of me doing my thing at this past weekend's conference.

Christy, standing at the front of a classroom presenting her paper 'Vitriol, Villainy, and Violence: The Role of Media Misinformation in Promoting Transgender Killing' at the Loyola University Chicago History Graduate Student Association conference.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Today's outfit for the conference. Yesterday was the kind of amazing experience that undergrad events had not prepared me for. The q&a after my presentation was full of thoughtful questions that I was fully prepared to answer, and hanging out with other LGBTQ+ historians was so needed!

Christy has her long hair tied back. She is standing in front of a hotel bed, wearing a purple sweater dress with a wide black belt around her waist.

Christy is smiling as she sits on the hotel room bed. She's wearing a purple sweater dress with a wide black belt.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

A good friend asked what books to get to preserve trans history and art. Here are just a few.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Without downloading any new pics, where are you mentally?

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Given that I only just got one of my own, my reaction to seeing three would be to giggle excitedly!

Christy is smiling brightly while hugging a blahaj plush shark to her chest.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

I deleted Threads and logged out of FB, Insta, and Messenger. I still haven't established alternative connections with everyone I want to maintain contact with from the Meta platforms, and I hate ceding territory to bigots as it only encourages them, so I won't completely divest yet.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

I have finally achieved this rite of passage among my people, and now know the joy that a girl can only feel while cuddling an over 3 foot long Swedish plush shark! I love her so much!

Christy, smiling brightly while happily hugging a blahaj plush shark to her chest.

Christy, still wearing a massive smile while hugging her blahaj plush shark to her chest.

A 39 inch long blahaj plush shark laid upon the black velvet bedspread of Christy's bed. Lined up behind and along the length of the shark are a host of other plush friends: a little bull wearing a University of South Florida hoodie, a huskie wearing a Northern Illinois University hoodie, a white bunny with lavender polkadot ribbons tied to her ears, a plush Grogu, a teddy bear wearing a black graduation cap and robe with a T-shirt underneath for St. Petersburg College, a teddy in the green robes and cap of USF, and a sleeping purple unicorn.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Since I don't have an in person class today, I'll just share from yesterday. The semester is in full swing, hiccups are getting sorted, and out of the potential 4 grad conferences I've been accepted to present at 2 and rejected by 1. Let's get today rolling!

Christy wearing a huge smile as she stands outside in the snow. Dressed warmly in a black knit cloche hat, black scarf and black wool coat, she has a backpack slung over one shoulder and her purse on the other.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

We stopped by to visit on the way north moving me to grad school in Illinois.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Survived my first lecture yesterday. Not afraid to admit how nervous I was, even with half the class missing for the holiday and one of the most affable and understanding professors watching me. I wanted to engage with who was there, make the history relatable and give it the justice it deserves. 1/

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Zipping through some grading, mentally preparing to teach my first class (I'm presenting a lecture on LGBTQIA history in the 1950's and 60's as part of a U.S. History since 1865 survey). Here goes - well - a whole lot, actually!

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

The first snowfall that I've seen in eleven years. I was born in winter as a child of the north, and the chill kiss of northern winter is welcoming me home.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Less than a month left in the semester, the prof I TA for seems addicted to assigning papers that I have to grade, I have three of my own coming due, and breathing easily will have to wait until Christmas. Two more days until I see the therapist...

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

I can understand that some feel the need to keep their heads down for the days to come. For me, hiding myself is just opening up the possibility of being accused of deceit (a common negative trope applied to trans women), of being taken in the 'dark' of public awareness, and letting my people down.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 07/11/2024

I've had to give a lot of thought to next steps following the election results, and I have chosen my course of action. I will take every opportunity to present, to teach, and to publish. I will wear the visible symbols of my community, I will always lead with my being trans, and I will not stop.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 23/10/2024

I found out about a grad student conference that focuses on liberatory practices and social justice, so I'm racing to collect the proposal materials and apply before the October 30th deadline. If I manage it, I'll be presenting at Loyola in February and MIT in March.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 23/10/2024

Macbeth was wonderful; the leads were adept at plumbing the mental anguish of their characters but also occasionally finding some humor as they broke the fourth wall. Another fun night out that allowed me time away from the weight of my research.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 06/10/2024

Took a break from grading papers and doing research to enjoy a play put on by the School of Theatre & Dance on my campus. They did a magnificent job and I had a truly splendid time!

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 12/09/2024

but I don't feel like it's an impossible feat. I have a plan, it's feasible and realistic, and I have people in my corner ready to lend input, advice, and access to resources. I'm home, at least for the next two years.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 12/09/2024

Rounding out the 3rd week of grad school, and I'm honestly loving it! The History Dept here is very close knit and supportive in a way that made my old school feel staid and professionally detached by comparison. I'm still finding my feet, between courses and being TA and other things... 1/

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 18/08/2024

After 11 odd years in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, I'm finally on my way north to a new school and a new life! Don't worry, NIU, I'll be up there soon enough!

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 05/08/2024

Oh, all of the wonderful things that are happening! The Pride Faerie delivered unto your (presumably) favorite 'good girl' both a boyfriend AND a girlfriend! I don't know what I did to deserve THIS, but I'm going to do everything possible to keep it!

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 14/04/2024

Another day closer to leaving for grad school. I can't wait to finally be able to spend time in Chicago.

A brunette transgender woman wearing a purple T-shirt depicting characters from the webcomic Rain. The woman is smiling.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 14/03/2024

It's now official; I'm enrolled at Northern Illinois University! Not only will I be working toward my MA in U.S. History but they're also encouraging me to earn my certification in LGBTQ Studies! Plus, I'll be just outside of Chicago! Huskies, here I come!

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 18/02/2024

Forgot to attribute the MA program rankings to U.S. News & World Reports; bad me! This also provides me an out from the spiralling hellscape of Florida politics, a pit of perfidy, cruelty, and stupidity. I also get to escape the heat and oppressive sunlight! 5/*

Woman sitting on a bus in a buttoned up grey peacoat with her long dark hair pulled back into a tight ponytail.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 18/02/2024

NIU has been ranked 5 out of 5 stars for LGBTQ acceptance by Campus Pride and the most LGBTQ+ friendly school in Illinois by BestColleges. It's History MA program is tied for #106 (USF, where I received my BA, is tied for #127 in its MA program). 4/*

Woman waiting at a bus stop on a cloudy afternoon. Her lavender button down blouse is very open toward the collar, her long wavy brown hair is flowing down freely behind her, and her smirk is lighting up her blue eyes.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 18/02/2024

I have a Zoom meeting with the NIU History Dept Director of Grad Admissions to go over some important questions, but given that they're also working with the school's Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality to fund me I'm beginning to feel very welcome already! 3/*

Woman on a bus, her long brown hair worn down and cascading wavily over the front of one shoulder. She's wearing a white button down blouse that's open at the collar and a pair of sunglasses balanced atop her head.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 18/02/2024

Since then, I've heard back from all but two schools. Northern Illinois University (NIU) said YES! Everything else save for Rutgers and NYU have said no, and given where we are in the decision cycle I'm expecting the same from them as well. It's okay, though; I'm still moving forward! 2/*

Women standing outside in the Dali Museum sculpture garden, smiling into the camera while wearing dark sunglasses.

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 18/02/2024

Yes, yes, I'm terrible; it's been forever since I've posted here! In my defense, I've been mildly busy. My final grad school application list was BU, Brown, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NIU, NYU, Princeton, and Rutgers. All except NIU are PhD programs, while the latter is MA. 1/*

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 29/11/2023

I seriously need to get better at this, but admittedly trying to balance work, applying for grad schools, maintenance chores (laundry, food shopping, dishes, etc.), and sleep leaves few spoons left (they're all sitting in the sink waiting to get washed).

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Christy of History 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🤓 @studybunny.bsky.social · 17/11/2023

Well, a job FINALLY said yes! It's nothing fancy, but it'll be money to get things done while I finish up my grad school applications and submit those!

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