Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
@nicomaramckay.com
Historian in Tkaronto (Toronto). Likes bats, monsters, sincereposting, alt text, and DEIA. Genderqueer. Trans. Autistic. 40s. 👬 🧛 nicomaramckay.com
There will be typos.
Ephemeral Record of queer and trans histories: patreon.com/ephemeralrecord
There will be typos.
Ephemeral Record of queer and trans histories: patreon.com/ephemeralrecord
Pinned
tl;dr: Bluesky began with genuine promise: a new social media platform where users could feel safer, but inconsistent moderation quickly eroded trust.
When systemically marginalized users pushed back, Bluesky’s leadership minimized concerns and began to target them for bans.
When systemically marginalized users pushed back, Bluesky’s leadership minimized concerns and began to target them for bans.
Bluesky’s CEO meltdown: How leadership continues to fail its most marginalized users
tl;dr: Bluesky began with genuine promise: a new social media platform where systemically marginalized users could feel safer, but…
plutopsyche.medium.com
Unban Link.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
The High Court’s ruling confirms what we already knew: the EHRC’s code of practice is wrong.
Write to your MP and tell them it’s time to send it back 🏳️⚧️✉️
goodlaw.social/5e045f
Write to your MP and tell them it’s time to send it back 🏳️⚧️✉️
goodlaw.social/5e045f
Tell MPs: the EHRC’s guidance is wrong – it’s time to send it back
The High Court has confirmed what we already knew was true: it is entirely lawful for service providers to allow trans women to use the women’s toilets – without having to admit cis men. Put simply, t...
goodlaw.social
February 13, 2026 at 12:24 PM
The High Court’s ruling confirms what we already knew: the EHRC’s code of practice is wrong.
Write to your MP and tell them it’s time to send it back 🏳️⚧️✉️
goodlaw.social/5e045f
Write to your MP and tell them it’s time to send it back 🏳️⚧️✉️
goodlaw.social/5e045f
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
"Sure, ICE is bad, but we need to deport illegal immigrants"
No you don't.
If immigration enforcement leads to concentration camps and roving death squads, maybe it's time to just get rid of the concept of illegal immigration entirely. You've tried it, it's a bad idea in practice, so bin it.
No you don't.
If immigration enforcement leads to concentration camps and roving death squads, maybe it's time to just get rid of the concept of illegal immigration entirely. You've tried it, it's a bad idea in practice, so bin it.
February 6, 2026 at 12:10 PM
"Sure, ICE is bad, but we need to deport illegal immigrants"
No you don't.
If immigration enforcement leads to concentration camps and roving death squads, maybe it's time to just get rid of the concept of illegal immigration entirely. You've tried it, it's a bad idea in practice, so bin it.
No you don't.
If immigration enforcement leads to concentration camps and roving death squads, maybe it's time to just get rid of the concept of illegal immigration entirely. You've tried it, it's a bad idea in practice, so bin it.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Everyone who did business with Epstein after his conviction in 2008 knew who he was.
Everyone doing business with Musk right now knows who he is.
Monstrous filth, morally repugnant.
Everyone doing business with Musk right now knows who he is.
Monstrous filth, morally repugnant.
February 12, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Everyone who did business with Epstein after his conviction in 2008 knew who he was.
Everyone doing business with Musk right now knows who he is.
Monstrous filth, morally repugnant.
Everyone doing business with Musk right now knows who he is.
Monstrous filth, morally repugnant.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
it's literally impossible for an LLM to do a historian's job
it's not even LLMs sucking it's that they need data input to do anything and where's that data supposed to be coming from without historians
never met a computer that can dig through a thousand year old book in a library
it's not even LLMs sucking it's that they need data input to do anything and where's that data supposed to be coming from without historians
never met a computer that can dig through a thousand year old book in a library
February 11, 2026 at 8:35 PM
it's literally impossible for an LLM to do a historian's job
it's not even LLMs sucking it's that they need data input to do anything and where's that data supposed to be coming from without historians
never met a computer that can dig through a thousand year old book in a library
it's not even LLMs sucking it's that they need data input to do anything and where's that data supposed to be coming from without historians
never met a computer that can dig through a thousand year old book in a library
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
There's no outstanding scientific theory that would otherwise explain why puberty blockers are "harmful" for gender identity cases but not harmful for precocious puberty, beyond "we don't want the trans kids to be trans".
February 12, 2026 at 3:19 PM
There's no outstanding scientific theory that would otherwise explain why puberty blockers are "harmful" for gender identity cases but not harmful for precocious puberty, beyond "we don't want the trans kids to be trans".
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Neil Gaiman is especially shameless for crawling out of hiding at this particular moment.
did he overhear us talking about predators & think we were summoning him by name?
did he overhear us talking about predators & think we were summoning him by name?
heads up for anyone who has already blocked Neil Gaiman.
if you previously followed Neil before finding out he had assaulted multiple women, Bluesky might still have you set as following him.
you can either fix that manually since he has reactivated or with this tool:
cleanfollow-bsky.pages.dev
if you previously followed Neil before finding out he had assaulted multiple women, Bluesky might still have you set as following him.
you can either fix that manually since he has reactivated or with this tool:
cleanfollow-bsky.pages.dev
cleanfollow-bsky
Unfollow blocked, deleted, suspended, and deactivated Bluesky accounts
cleanfollow-bsky.pages.dev
February 3, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Neil Gaiman is especially shameless for crawling out of hiding at this particular moment.
did he overhear us talking about predators & think we were summoning him by name?
did he overhear us talking about predators & think we were summoning him by name?
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
It's Mandatory Monday and AI is clearly the future.
mandatoryrollercoaster.com/post/8081046...
mandatoryrollercoaster.com/post/8081046...
February 9, 2026 at 8:27 PM
It's Mandatory Monday and AI is clearly the future.
mandatoryrollercoaster.com/post/8081046...
mandatoryrollercoaster.com/post/8081046...
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
This is also why AI content filters routinely flagged Black and Disabled online communications as "rude" or "intolerant." This is also why BlueSky's default content filters are shit.
February 11, 2026 at 9:13 PM
This is also why AI content filters routinely flagged Black and Disabled online communications as "rude" or "intolerant." This is also why BlueSky's default content filters are shit.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
To this end, this use of AI actually highlights many of the problems with AI (and of teaching people fallacies outside their contexts): the AI application cannot understand the context in which the argument is being made nor the nature of the language being used in the argument.
February 11, 2026 at 9:13 PM
To this end, this use of AI actually highlights many of the problems with AI (and of teaching people fallacies outside their contexts): the AI application cannot understand the context in which the argument is being made nor the nature of the language being used in the argument.
I tripled the amount of garlic the recipe called for and that was the right decision.
February 11, 2026 at 6:28 AM
I tripled the amount of garlic the recipe called for and that was the right decision.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Age verification and social media bans are explicitly ways to isolate queer, neurodivergent, and abused kids.
"Don't worry about the Discord thing, it's only NSFW servers and channels that will require age verification! :)"
I could remove every speck of risque imagery/topics from my community and there's still a 50% chance we'd get flagged just because we're openly queer.
It's not actually about the kids.
I could remove every speck of risque imagery/topics from my community and there's still a 50% chance we'd get flagged just because we're openly queer.
It's not actually about the kids.
February 10, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Age verification and social media bans are explicitly ways to isolate queer, neurodivergent, and abused kids.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
"It's a systemic issue" does not mean "It's no one's fault and no one should ever face consequences."
It also does not magically absolve individuals of the obligation to do certain things and not do others, or exempt them from shame, pressure and consequences when they won't.
It also does not magically absolve individuals of the obligation to do certain things and not do others, or exempt them from shame, pressure and consequences when they won't.
February 10, 2026 at 5:48 PM
"It's a systemic issue" does not mean "It's no one's fault and no one should ever face consequences."
It also does not magically absolve individuals of the obligation to do certain things and not do others, or exempt them from shame, pressure and consequences when they won't.
It also does not magically absolve individuals of the obligation to do certain things and not do others, or exempt them from shame, pressure and consequences when they won't.
I just wrote a @theactionnetwork.bsky.social letter about defunding Toronto Police Services and investing those funds back into the community, where they are sorely needed.
Write one here: actionnetwork.org/letters/take...
Write one here: actionnetwork.org/letters/take...
Take Action - End Corruption Fund the City
In the wake of a corruption scandal, linking Toronto Police Services to data breaches, organized crime, drug trafficking and murder plots, TPS is set to receive a budget increase of $93.8 million doll...
actionnetwork.org
February 10, 2026 at 4:47 PM
I just wrote a @theactionnetwork.bsky.social letter about defunding Toronto Police Services and investing those funds back into the community, where they are sorely needed.
Write one here: actionnetwork.org/letters/take...
Write one here: actionnetwork.org/letters/take...
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Dismissed because of jurisdictional confusion, it should be stressed, rather than any new revelation that would discredit the survivors of sexual assault who have come forward.
Federal judges have dismissed three lawsuits accusing British author Neil Gaiman of sexually assaulting his children's nanny in New Zealand.
US judges dismiss lawsuits accusing fantasy author Neil Gaiman of sexual assault in New Zealand
Federal judges have dismissed three lawsuits accusing British author Neil Gaiman of sexually assaulting his children's nanny in New Zealand.
bit.ly
February 10, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Dismissed because of jurisdictional confusion, it should be stressed, rather than any new revelation that would discredit the survivors of sexual assault who have come forward.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
When AI was added to a tool for sinus surgery: “Cerebrospinal fluid leaked from one patient’s nose. In another… a surgeon mistakenly punctured the base of a patient’s skull. In two other cases, patients suffered strokes after a major artery was accidentally injured”
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
As AI enters the operating room, reports arise of botched surgeries and misidentified body parts
Medical device makers have been rushing to add AI to their products. While proponents say the new technology will revolutionize medicine, regulators are receiving a rising number of claims of patient ...
www.reuters.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:42 PM
When AI was added to a tool for sinus surgery: “Cerebrospinal fluid leaked from one patient’s nose. In another… a surgeon mistakenly punctured the base of a patient’s skull. In two other cases, patients suffered strokes after a major artery was accidentally injured”
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Melville: I hope you enjoyed that bloody action-packed chapter! But now, a moment to consider obscure technicalities about where everyone sits in the boat, how the boat is constructed, and my personal critique of current assigned seating practices.
February 10, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Melville: I hope you enjoyed that bloody action-packed chapter! But now, a moment to consider obscure technicalities about where everyone sits in the boat, how the boat is constructed, and my personal critique of current assigned seating practices.
Good afternoon, Bluesky.
This is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
This is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
February 9, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Good afternoon, Bluesky.
This is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
This is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
TMU Library is hosting the 6th annual Black Histories Wikipedia Edit-a-thon. Theme: Toronto music scene.
Date: Thurs., 26 Feb.
Time: 12-3 pm
Location: TMU Libraries Collaboratory (LIB 387)
Free + free lunch.
Register here: calendar.library.torontomu.ca/event/3977359
(no affiliation)
Date: Thurs., 26 Feb.
Time: 12-3 pm
Location: TMU Libraries Collaboratory (LIB 387)
Free + free lunch.
Register here: calendar.library.torontomu.ca/event/3977359
(no affiliation)
February 9, 2026 at 5:07 PM
TMU Library is hosting the 6th annual Black Histories Wikipedia Edit-a-thon. Theme: Toronto music scene.
Date: Thurs., 26 Feb.
Time: 12-3 pm
Location: TMU Libraries Collaboratory (LIB 387)
Free + free lunch.
Register here: calendar.library.torontomu.ca/event/3977359
(no affiliation)
Date: Thurs., 26 Feb.
Time: 12-3 pm
Location: TMU Libraries Collaboratory (LIB 387)
Free + free lunch.
Register here: calendar.library.torontomu.ca/event/3977359
(no affiliation)
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
"age verification for all" is a funny way of saying "biometrics for sale"
February 9, 2026 at 2:36 PM
"age verification for all" is a funny way of saying "biometrics for sale"
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Some colleagues in my old department in Trondheim are recruiting a PhD candidate in Gender Studies and/or STS on the "Imagining Positive Energy Futures" project. 3 years, fully funded. Norway's a good place to do a PhD and Trondheim's a nice place to live!
PhD candidate within Gender Studies and/or STS: Imagining Positive Energy Futures (294972) | NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Job title: PhD candidate within Gender Studies and/or STS: Imagining Positive Energy Futures (294972), Employer: NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Deadline: Sunday, March 15, 2026
www.jobbnorge.no
February 9, 2026 at 5:34 AM
Some colleagues in my old department in Trondheim are recruiting a PhD candidate in Gender Studies and/or STS on the "Imagining Positive Energy Futures" project. 3 years, fully funded. Norway's a good place to do a PhD and Trondheim's a nice place to live!
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
in an era when carnivore diet influencers are in charge of the american nuclear arsenal we have to admit the "annoying vegan" stereotype barely ever actually existed and the "all meat diet guy" is real, increasingly omnipresent, and way more annoying and inconvenient to actually be around
February 8, 2026 at 5:59 PM
in an era when carnivore diet influencers are in charge of the american nuclear arsenal we have to admit the "annoying vegan" stereotype barely ever actually existed and the "all meat diet guy" is real, increasingly omnipresent, and way more annoying and inconvenient to actually be around
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Kilts are skirts.
Cassocks are dresses.
Cis men have worn skirts and dresses forever and it's no big deal. Clothes have no gender.
This hill is too stupid to die on.
Cassocks are dresses.
Cis men have worn skirts and dresses forever and it's no big deal. Clothes have no gender.
This hill is too stupid to die on.
February 8, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Kilts are skirts.
Cassocks are dresses.
Cis men have worn skirts and dresses forever and it's no big deal. Clothes have no gender.
This hill is too stupid to die on.
Cassocks are dresses.
Cis men have worn skirts and dresses forever and it's no big deal. Clothes have no gender.
This hill is too stupid to die on.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
You won’t regret being kind.
Even if no one notices.
Even if it’s hard.
You’ll still know you did the right thing.
Even if no one notices.
Even if it’s hard.
You’ll still know you did the right thing.
February 7, 2026 at 1:28 PM
You won’t regret being kind.
Even if no one notices.
Even if it’s hard.
You’ll still know you did the right thing.
Even if no one notices.
Even if it’s hard.
You’ll still know you did the right thing.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Want to diversify your reads this year? Time to follow more Black bookish creators! You're really missing out on some of the best books I've ever read if you just stick to what mainstream booktok is feeding you
#booksky #blackbooksky
go.bsky.app/CBJQ2bo
#booksky #blackbooksky
go.bsky.app/CBJQ2bo
February 8, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Want to diversify your reads this year? Time to follow more Black bookish creators! You're really missing out on some of the best books I've ever read if you just stick to what mainstream booktok is feeding you
#booksky #blackbooksky
go.bsky.app/CBJQ2bo
#booksky #blackbooksky
go.bsky.app/CBJQ2bo
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Lots of people I know use substack and it’s depressing because the only thing we can do to fight the evil billionaires is to not use their products and yet we seem incapable of inconveniencing ourselves even slightly to fight evil.
When I say I won’t read your Substack this is what I mean:
Revealed: How Substack makes money from hosting Nazi newsletters
Exclusive: Site takes a cut of subscriptions to content that promotes far-right ideology, white supremacy and antisemitism
www.theguardian.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Lots of people I know use substack and it’s depressing because the only thing we can do to fight the evil billionaires is to not use their products and yet we seem incapable of inconveniencing ourselves even slightly to fight evil.