David Rypel
@davidrypel.bsky.social
Sociologist of (queer) everyday security, belonging, and marginalisation in Georgia and beyond. PhD from @uclssees.bsky.social. He/they.
https://davidrypel.com
https://davidrypel.com
I'm presenting my paper on how queers in Georgia (Sakartvelo) navigate and survive the enforcement of cisheteronormativity at the panel 3A-9 (9 am).
Stop by if you're around! #Aleksanteri2025
Stop by if you're around! #Aleksanteri2025
Highlights from the Aleksanteri Conference 22.-24.10.2025: roundtables and panels focusing on gender perspectives. Link to the full programme: www.helsinki.fi/en/conferenc...
October 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I'm presenting my paper on how queers in Georgia (Sakartvelo) navigate and survive the enforcement of cisheteronormativity at the panel 3A-9 (9 am).
Stop by if you're around! #Aleksanteri2025
Stop by if you're around! #Aleksanteri2025
Reposted by David Rypel
As thousands have gathered in central Tbilisi, the main pro-government TV channel, Imedi is downplaying the scale of the protests with drone footage showing empty streets.
⭕ Georgia Live Updates: oc-media.org/live-updates...
⭕ Georgia Live Updates: oc-media.org/live-updates...
October 4, 2025 at 2:36 PM
As thousands have gathered in central Tbilisi, the main pro-government TV channel, Imedi is downplaying the scale of the protests with drone footage showing empty streets.
⭕ Georgia Live Updates: oc-media.org/live-updates...
⭕ Georgia Live Updates: oc-media.org/live-updates...
This is crazy news, and I hope it's not the end. Back in 2016, GIP was the only CEE think tank that replied to my cold call for an internship—this pretty much set me on the path of engaging with Georgia.
Very sad day for the Georgian Institute of Politics, a think tank focused mostly on foreign policy dimensions, but also obviously om the internal political developments.
Due to the repressive legislation adopted, the organization has to close.
Due to the repressive legislation adopted, the organization has to close.
October 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM
This is crazy news, and I hope it's not the end. Back in 2016, GIP was the only CEE think tank that replied to my cold call for an internship—this pretty much set me on the path of engaging with Georgia.
Join us next Sunday (28/9) for an afternoon of political co-learning, community building, and creative resistance, with a focus on counter-narratives from diverse communities in the face of growing far-right ideologies.
Please RSVP to receive updates.
actionnetwork.org/events/festi...
Please RSVP to receive updates.
actionnetwork.org/events/festi...
Festival of Radical Politics
! Save the Date ! Festival of Radical Politics WHEN: 28 September 2025 | 15:00 – 20:00 WHERE: Pelican House, 144 Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London, E1 5QJ How do we build transnational sol...
actionnetwork.org
September 19, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Join us next Sunday (28/9) for an afternoon of political co-learning, community building, and creative resistance, with a focus on counter-narratives from diverse communities in the face of growing far-right ideologies.
Please RSVP to receive updates.
actionnetwork.org/events/festi...
Please RSVP to receive updates.
actionnetwork.org/events/festi...
Due to oppressive legislative changes, LGBTQI+ and other activist groups in Georgia (Sakartvelo) are no longer able to receive institutional financial support. Support them directly:
www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...
www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...
🇬🇪Dear friends, due to the recently adopted Russian-style oppressive laws in Georgia, NGOs and activist groups are no longer able to receive grants or any form of institutional financial support. | Ma...
🇬🇪Dear friends, due to the recently adopted Russian-style oppressive laws in Georgia, NGOs and activist groups are no longer able to receive grants or any form of institutional financial support. Desp...
www.linkedin.com
July 25, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Due to oppressive legislative changes, LGBTQI+ and other activist groups in Georgia (Sakartvelo) are no longer able to receive institutional financial support. Support them directly:
www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...
www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...
Reposted by David Rypel
17.
At least 10 people are arrested at the eviction of IDPs on Tvalchrelidze street. It's been going on all day and it's still heated.
July 24, 2025 at 7:24 PM
17.
There are two wolves inside the person who decided that these two round tables would take place at the same time. #iccees2025
July 23, 2025 at 9:04 AM
There are two wolves inside the person who decided that these two round tables would take place at the same time. #iccees2025
I'll be talking about the movement away from/towards regimes of belonging as an everyday security practice tomorrow at #iccees2025. Come say hi if you're around!
www.myeventflo.com/event-lectur...
www.myeventflo.com/event-lectur...
July 21, 2025 at 12:05 PM
I'll be talking about the movement away from/towards regimes of belonging as an everyday security practice tomorrow at #iccees2025. Come say hi if you're around!
www.myeventflo.com/event-lectur...
www.myeventflo.com/event-lectur...
I've spent the past ten minutes staring at the picture trying to decide whether it's meant to be a (bad) joke or I'm just reading too much into it. I still don't know.
June 25, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I've spent the past ten minutes staring at the picture trying to decide whether it's meant to be a (bad) joke or I'm just reading too much into it. I still don't know.
Bahruz Samadov, @unikarlova.cuni.cz PhD student, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his research. What action are the university, Czech MFA and @digitalnicesko.bsky.social taking?
The Baku Grave Crimes Court has sentenced Azerbaijani researcher, peace activist, and OC Media contributor Bahruz Samadov to 15 years in prison on charges of treason.
▶️ Read more: oc-media.org/azerbaijani-...
▶️ Read more: oc-media.org/azerbaijani-...
June 25, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Bahruz Samadov, @unikarlova.cuni.cz PhD student, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his research. What action are the university, Czech MFA and @digitalnicesko.bsky.social taking?
I'm happy to share that I relaunched my ✨ personal website ✨ www.davidrypel.com
(I may start blogging there too, if I ever find the confidence to share my hot takes outside my instagram)
(I may start blogging there too, if I ever find the confidence to share my hot takes outside my instagram)
June 20, 2025 at 10:05 AM
I'm happy to share that I relaunched my ✨ personal website ✨ www.davidrypel.com
(I may start blogging there too, if I ever find the confidence to share my hot takes outside my instagram)
(I may start blogging there too, if I ever find the confidence to share my hot takes outside my instagram)
Reposted by David Rypel
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
June 19, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
Reposted by David Rypel
Víc než 1 z 10 Čechů se často nebo skoro nikdy nedokáže dopravit za základními službami a činnostmi tak, jak potřebuje. Vyplývá to z výzkumu Institutu2050.
Mezi nejohroženější patří nízkopříjmoví z odlehlých obcí do 5000 obyvatel. Jde hlavně o lidi mladší nebo ve středním věku. irozhl.as/vSd
Mezi nejohroženější patří nízkopříjmoví z odlehlých obcí do 5000 obyvatel. Jde hlavně o lidi mladší nebo ve středním věku. irozhl.as/vSd
June 16, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Víc než 1 z 10 Čechů se často nebo skoro nikdy nedokáže dopravit za základními službami a činnostmi tak, jak potřebuje. Vyplývá to z výzkumu Institutu2050.
Mezi nejohroženější patří nízkopříjmoví z odlehlých obcí do 5000 obyvatel. Jde hlavně o lidi mladší nebo ve středním věku. irozhl.as/vSd
Mezi nejohroženější patří nízkopříjmoví z odlehlých obcí do 5000 obyvatel. Jde hlavně o lidi mladší nebo ve středním věku. irozhl.as/vSd
Reposted by David Rypel
Georgia’s Parliament has undertaken such a vast legislative agenda in recent years that it can be hard to keep track of what laws have been passed.
▶️ Here are 16 legislative changes that have shaped Georgia’s authoritarian slide: oc-media.org/explainer-th...
▶️ Here are 16 legislative changes that have shaped Georgia’s authoritarian slide: oc-media.org/explainer-th...
June 15, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Georgia’s Parliament has undertaken such a vast legislative agenda in recent years that it can be hard to keep track of what laws have been passed.
▶️ Here are 16 legislative changes that have shaped Georgia’s authoritarian slide: oc-media.org/explainer-th...
▶️ Here are 16 legislative changes that have shaped Georgia’s authoritarian slide: oc-media.org/explainer-th...
Reposted by David Rypel
"Most of the areas overtaken by Molinia [...] would favour temperate rainforest: a vanishingly rare, rich + complex habitat."
This single species of grass now artificially dominates probably many 1,000s of km2 in Ireland, creating vast deadzones.
Yet here too, it's scarcely mentioned.
This single species of grass now artificially dominates probably many 1,000s of km2 in Ireland, creating vast deadzones.
Yet here too, it's scarcely mentioned.
Deserts are spreading across Britain, yet scarcely anyone in public life even seems to have noticed. This week's column seeks to open our eyes to something that has been too big to see. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
There’s an invader turning huge swathes of Britain into deserts – and these dead zones are spreading | George Monbiot
Vast areas of land are now dominated by one species – purple moor-grass – and good luck with seeing a bird or insect there. How do we revive these habitats, asks Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
June 9, 2025 at 7:30 AM
"Most of the areas overtaken by Molinia [...] would favour temperate rainforest: a vanishingly rare, rich + complex habitat."
This single species of grass now artificially dominates probably many 1,000s of km2 in Ireland, creating vast deadzones.
Yet here too, it's scarcely mentioned.
This single species of grass now artificially dominates probably many 1,000s of km2 in Ireland, creating vast deadzones.
Yet here too, it's scarcely mentioned.
Reposted by David Rypel
Might you or someone you know be interested in joining our team of volunteers, helping us with organizing the 🔥 RUTA conference in the Carpathian Mountains (June 26-29), check out our call. Proficiency in Ukrainian is key. Travel and accommodation covered ruta-association.org/news/call-fo...
June 3, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Might you or someone you know be interested in joining our team of volunteers, helping us with organizing the 🔥 RUTA conference in the Carpathian Mountains (June 26-29), check out our call. Proficiency in Ukrainian is key. Travel and accommodation covered ruta-association.org/news/call-fo...
ECR question: How do you decide which academic association(s) to join, within your discipline/field and across, if you do interdisciplinary work? Does it depend on the conferences you attend or something else too? Do you prioritise national or international associations? Etc.
#academicsky
#academicsky
June 2, 2025 at 9:36 AM
ECR question: How do you decide which academic association(s) to join, within your discipline/field and across, if you do interdisciplinary work? Does it depend on the conferences you attend or something else too? Do you prioritise national or international associations? Etc.
#academicsky
#academicsky
I don't know who needs to know this, but I found an *extremely easy* way to sync annotated Zotero pdf files across devices + what seems a secure cloud provider today. Didn't expect my post-PhD to be this exciting.
koofr.eu/blog/posts/k...
koofr.eu/blog/posts/k...
Koofr with Zotero via WebDAV
Are you using Zotero with Box and don’t know what to do when Box support for WebDAV eventually runs out? Are you searching for Zotero with Box alternative? Don’t fret, Koofr is here for you. Read abou...
koofr.eu
May 20, 2025 at 11:54 AM
I don't know who needs to know this, but I found an *extremely easy* way to sync annotated Zotero pdf files across devices + what seems a secure cloud provider today. Didn't expect my post-PhD to be this exciting.
koofr.eu/blog/posts/k...
koofr.eu/blog/posts/k...
Nice piece from @tamtagelashvili.bsky.social on Georgian Dream's use of political queerphobia. I'd just add that the (hetero)sexualisation of nation is not limited to the far-right; this is the cornerstone of nationalism (personification of nations as women etc.)
feminism-boell.org/en/2025/04/1...
feminism-boell.org/en/2025/04/1...
Protecting “The People:” How Anti-LGBTQ+ Ideas Help the Georgian Dream Consolidate Power | Feminism and Gender Democracy
Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric has been a central element of the Georgian Dream’s anti-democratic turn towards the far right. How do anti-LGBTQ+ statements and policies help GD expand its grip on power, and why...
feminism-boell.org
April 23, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Nice piece from @tamtagelashvili.bsky.social on Georgian Dream's use of political queerphobia. I'd just add that the (hetero)sexualisation of nation is not limited to the far-right; this is the cornerstone of nationalism (personification of nations as women etc.)
feminism-boell.org/en/2025/04/1...
feminism-boell.org/en/2025/04/1...
Reposted by David Rypel
Spot on from Judith Butler.
The threat to young people's wellbeing doesn't come from trans people - it comes from parents and politicians who won't accept LGBTQ children for who they are.
The threat to young people's wellbeing doesn't come from trans people - it comes from parents and politicians who won't accept LGBTQ children for who they are.
April 10, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Spot on from Judith Butler.
The threat to young people's wellbeing doesn't come from trans people - it comes from parents and politicians who won't accept LGBTQ children for who they are.
The threat to young people's wellbeing doesn't come from trans people - it comes from parents and politicians who won't accept LGBTQ children for who they are.
Reposted by David Rypel
We are sorry to learn of the death of Elspeth Probyn, Professor of Gender & Cultural Studies at @sydney.edu.au and author of "Eating the Ocean" (2016). Our thoughts are with her family, friends, colleagues and students.
April 9, 2025 at 10:33 AM
We are sorry to learn of the death of Elspeth Probyn, Professor of Gender & Cultural Studies at @sydney.edu.au and author of "Eating the Ocean" (2016). Our thoughts are with her family, friends, colleagues and students.
Reposted by David Rypel
@timeshighered.bsky.social with a list of the most recent job cuts at UK universities.
#UKHE #AcademicSky
#UKHE #AcademicSky
April 4, 2025 at 5:34 PM
@timeshighered.bsky.social with a list of the most recent job cuts at UK universities.
#UKHE #AcademicSky
#UKHE #AcademicSky
I'm happy to share that I passed my PhD viva (with no corrections).
I am grateful to my examiners, Dr Cai Wilkinson and Dr Irina Petrova, for their insightful questions and comments *and* kind words. I wish more academic conversations were held in this spirit; academia needs more care.
I am grateful to my examiners, Dr Cai Wilkinson and Dr Irina Petrova, for their insightful questions and comments *and* kind words. I wish more academic conversations were held in this spirit; academia needs more care.
In December, I submitted my PhD thesis on the everyday security and belonging of queer people in Georgia (Sakartvelo). Here are some key points as I wait for my viva.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/everyd...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/everyd...
March 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I'm happy to share that I passed my PhD viva (with no corrections).
I am grateful to my examiners, Dr Cai Wilkinson and Dr Irina Petrova, for their insightful questions and comments *and* kind words. I wish more academic conversations were held in this spirit; academia needs more care.
I am grateful to my examiners, Dr Cai Wilkinson and Dr Irina Petrova, for their insightful questions and comments *and* kind words. I wish more academic conversations were held in this spirit; academia needs more care.
Reposted by David Rypel
1/ Today, Georgian Dream’s illegitimate parliament passed two bills: the so-called FARA, which is a direct translation of the U.S. law, and a media restriction bill in its first hearing.
What is the second bill about? A thread 🧵
What is the second bill about? A thread 🧵
March 4, 2025 at 4:22 PM
1/ Today, Georgian Dream’s illegitimate parliament passed two bills: the so-called FARA, which is a direct translation of the U.S. law, and a media restriction bill in its first hearing.
What is the second bill about? A thread 🧵
What is the second bill about? A thread 🧵