Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
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hbowescatton.bsky.social
Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
@hbowescatton.bsky.social
750 followers 560 following 320 posts
Academic researching 1) inclusion in doctoral education and 2) LGBTQIA+ identities and politics.

Northern, working class, queer, cis feminist. Lifts heavy things for fun. Views mine.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
fiercemum.bsky.social
I gave a quote to a Metro news article:

"This new government guidance will cause extreme harm to trans children of all ages. Study after study have shown that trans children need policies that are the exact opposite of what this Government is enforcing... 1/
February 13, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
ameresolicitor.bsky.social
The best headline I have seen on this in a major paper:

metro.co.uk/2026/02/13/t...
Trans children ‘will lose any hope of happiness’ under school gender guidance
'Trans children need to be supported and respected.'
metro.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
goodlawproject.org
In a pretty grim decision - with one very considerable silver lining - the High Court has dismissed our challenge to the EHRC Interim guidance.

A number of resources follow in a 🧵.
February 13, 2026 at 11:01 AM
hbowescatton.bsky.social
Solidarity with trans, non binary and intersex people, today and always. 🏳️‍⚧️
February 13, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
whatthetrans.com
Donate to the @goodlawproject.bsky.social crowdfunder to appeal the decision from the courts today.

goodlawproject.org/crowdfunder/...
Help us appeal the High Court’s judgment on trans rights | Good Law Project
goodlawproject.org
February 13, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
mcraeandrew.bsky.social
In a functional country, this would be a scandal. A service suffering only from chronic underfunding was ripped apart because the media created a myth of 1000s of complaints of malpractice. The truth - as in my family’s experience - was very different.
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
NHS closed Tavistock over care complaints – there were only eight
An eye-opening FOI report has revealed that just eight people complained about the Tavistock gender clinic's care provision in 10 years.
www.thepinknews.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
ougradsch.bsky.social
So cute! Great to see these little guys on campus - it will make getting supplies easier for research students on site 👍
m1cr0-judetaylor.bsky.social Jude Taylor @m1cr0-judetaylor.bsky.social · 2d
Robots on campus @ougradsch.bsky.social at last! This wee Starships droidy is taking a nap at a charging port.
Sleep well little fella!
February 12, 2026 at 9:29 AM
hbowescatton.bsky.social
I had a great time talking to the Metro about bisexuality in Bridgerton last week 🙂

share.google/fw30WdyLBz3y...
'Benedict Bridgerton being a messy bisexual is an old trope – but it works'
'They're paying homage to that tradition of the queerness lurking in the in between'
share.google
February 11, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
drcharlottegalpin.bsky.social
Are you doing research on anti-trans politics? Consider submitting to the special issue of @cogitatiopag.bsky.social 'Global Politics and Anti-Trans Moral Panics: Transfeminist Perspectives', co-edited by me, @ashstokoe.bsky.social and @ginagwenffrewi.bsky.social to be published in 2027 (1/2)
Future Issues | Politics and Governance
Politics and Governance is an innovative new offering to the world of online peer-reviewed open access publishing in the Political Sciences.
www.cogitatiopress.com
September 15, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
jaytoddgla.bsky.social
The Sullivan Review & Ethics: A Thread

A key problematic of the Review is its significant consequences for ethical principles/governance. Its 2nd report recommends universities consider ‘paring back the scope and power of ethics committees’ in varied ways Read them below

doi.org/10.1111/tran.70057
Text from Sullivan Review Report 2 that reads - 13. The expansion and politicisation of ethics committees poses serious risks to research, including research on sex and gender, potentially affecting researchers working from any perspective on this issue. To address this: a. The terms of reference of ethics committees should state that it is not within their remit to prevent researchers from using the concept of sex, collecting data on sex, or using sex-based language. b. Ethics committees should not refer researchers to ask advice from EDI committees. c. Universities should consider paring back the scope and power of ethics committees, including removing the requirement for low-risk research which does not involve any medical or other experimental intervention or contact with children or vulnerable populations or genuine risk of harm to research participants or researchers or potentially unlawful acts to undergo formal ethical review by default. Text from the Sullivan Review report 2 that reads - . Ethics committees must ensure that ethical review does not lead to onerous delays, in particular in the case of time-sensitive research. By default, ethics committees should approve research proposals and should do so promptly. e. Ethical review is continually expanding, for example to cover undergraduate students, and to cover secondary data analysis. This expansion should be halted. f. Ethics committees must explicitly distinguish between ethical risk and reputational risk, and not conflate the two. Reputational risk should never be treated as an ethical consideration, let alone a reason to treat a proposal as ‘high risk’ by an ethics committee. g. The centralisation of ethics committees should be reconsidered. Paradoxically, review by a centralised committee can lead to projects deemed ‘high risk’ being judged by academics lacking in relevant expertise, whereas ‘low risk’ projects are more likely to be judged by disciplinary peers. h. ESRC should review its guidance for research organisations and research ethics committees with a view to reducing the burden on research organisations, reducing risks to academic freedom, and acknowledging the risk of politicisation of ethics processes. Guidance should highlight the value of academic freedom as a value which underpins the ability of researchers to deliver knowledge as a public good which benefits society as a whole. The risk that research ethics committees may prevent valuable research from being carried out in a timely way should be noted. ESRC should engage with academic experts on research ethics and ensure transparency in the process of reviewing its guidance.
February 4, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
transactualuk.bsky.social
Non-binary and survivor-led researchers from the University of Hertfordshire are looking for an expert by experience to join our participatory action research project looking at the strengths of LGBTQIA+ survivors of conversion practices.

#TransResearch #ResearchSurvey #LGBTQResearch
We are currently searching for one expert by experience: either with lived experience of, or of experience of working with conversion practice survivors. This opportunity can be paid or on a volunteer basis. Due to the potentially distressing nature of the topic, please consider this before applying and reach out with any questions. Role specification: - Co-facilitating two workshops for creative outlets with participants. - Attending at least 4 meetings across an 18 month period. - Within these meetings you will play a part in shaping the research, and materials with our largely LGBTQ+ research team. Location : - Predominantly online - 1/2 workshops will be in person, with travel reimbursed and a venue decided based on participant convenience. - 2nd workshop will be online. This research study aims to centre the voices of conversion practice and change effort survivors, this research is queer, trans-led, survivor-led and trauma-informed.
February 4, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
jaytoddgla.bsky.social
📣 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.'
February 3, 2026 at 9:13 AM
hbowescatton.bsky.social
Me: Big day at work today!
15yo: Ah yes, you're inducting people into your cult today!

😂

(It's PhD student induction day @ougradsch.bsky.social, woop!)
a priest with his arms outstretched and a cross on his neck
Alt: Nic Cage as a priest twirling with his arms outstretched for some reason.
media.tenor.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:23 AM
hbowescatton.bsky.social
Just what I needed to read this morning!
January 29, 2026 at 9:33 AM
hbowescatton.bsky.social
The light is definitely returning (I can see how dirty the windows are!) and the birds are starting to sing in the mornings...
January 28, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
natacha.bsky.social
Re-upping this article in the Guardian Oz, about my research into the extreme harm being caused by Wes Streeting's puberty-blocker ban.

UK mainstream media has collectively ignored my research (as I expected) but not the Guardian Australia.

Needless the UK and US Guardian's didn't share it.
Puberty blocker bans in Queensland and NZ risk extreme harm to trans youth, UK expert warns
Sociologist who surveyed effect of 2024 UK ban says denial of gender-affirming care has left trans and non-binary children in ‘abject misery and severe distress’
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:31 AM
hbowescatton.bsky.social
Really interesting evidence café discussions about priorities for research skills training over the next five years. #RCHlaunch
A list of potential priorities for research skills training capability building.
January 27, 2026 at 12:15 PM
hbowescatton.bsky.social
PVC Mark Brandon @iceymark.bsky.social introducing the day #RCHlaunch
Mark Brandon introducing the day in a crowded hall on OU campus.
January 27, 2026 at 10:14 AM
hbowescatton.bsky.social
100+ orgs represented today at #RCHlaunch! Looking forward to lots of interesting social science conversations!
January 27, 2026 at 10:11 AM
hbowescatton.bsky.social
Excited to be on campus @openuniversity.bsky.social for the launch of the national Research Capability Hub #RCHlaunch
January 27, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
mimmymum.bsky.social
“Operating independently”

You mean like when Liz Truss parachuted in a ‘gender critical’ transphobes to EHRC Chair & board roles?

Or when Bridget Phillipson did the same, against the Women & Equalities Committee & Human Rights Committee advice? 🤔
Kemi Badenoch @KemiBadenoch The third reason was having gender-critical men and women in the UK government, holding the positions that mattered most in Equalities and Health. You only need to look at what the SNP did in Scotland to see what would have happened had we not intervened. The Cass Review would **never** have been commissioned under a Labour govt. Labour did not want to know. We had incredible opposition from the system on everything. It was when the ministers changed that everything changed.
January 27, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
juliaserano.bsky.social
since Jonathan Haidt is spreading "social contagion" pseudoscience, time to re-up these two essays. "All the Evidence Against Transgender Social Contagion" links to research studies showing otherwise & how the theory was invented by anti-trans parents:
juliaserano.medium.com/all-the-evid...
All the Evidence Against Transgender Social Contagion
Plus Thoughts on Why People Continue to Embrace This Zombie Theory
juliaserano.medium.com
April 1, 2024 at 3:10 PM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
natacha.bsky.social
Please share this widely…

The EHRC is an anti-rights group.

An Independent EHRC is one way we can fight back.
i-ehrc.bsky.social iEHRC @i-ehrc.bsky.social · 28d
This is an account set up by @natacha.bsky.social to facilitate setting up a new group.

I regard the existing EHRC as not independent and consequently not legitimate. So I am looking to recruit members of an independent EHRC who can fulfill its functions with genuine integrity and…

1/4
January 17, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
tacc.org.uk
Statement: A response to the bad-faith interpretations of the tribunal:

tacc.org.uk/2026/01/17/s...
Understanding the Darlington Tribunal: Clarifying Trans Rights and Workplace Facilities
Clarify the Darlington Nurses Tribunal: it doesn’t mandate exclusion of trans people, but emphasises lawful facility assessments and respectful management.
tacc.org.uk
January 17, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
premthakker.bsky.social
How much more in your face can it be?

"Why are you asking me for my paperwork?"
"Because of your accent."
"You have an accent too."
"Where were you born sir?"
"Where were you born at?"
"Put your hands behind your back."
January 17, 2026 at 9:16 PM