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samanthawrites.net
samantha riedel
@samanthawrites.net
1.3K followers 480 following 860 posts
very tired word girl @them.us | member, @transjournalists.org
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samanthawrites.net
samantha riedel @samanthawrites.net · Apr 10
hi freaks! I'm Samantha Riedel. I write about transgender politics, art, & culture, mostly for @them.us. after a decade I think I almost have the hang of it...!

my website: samanthawrites.net
irregular newsletter: samanthaistyping.beehiiv.com/subscribe
latest Them work: www.them.us/contributor/...
samantha riedel is typing...
The online home of journalist and essayist Samantha Riedel. If you're reading this, it's already too late.
samanthawrites.net
Reposted by samantha riedel
cartamonir.com
Please donate if you're able to. This is an unthinkable amount of money for an unthinkably fucked up situation. Anything helps, trans sex workers deserve to have families
morecarta.bsky.social More Carta @morecarta.bsky.social · Oct 12
I am fundraising for an anonymous friend, who is a trans sex worker and POC. They are at risk of losing custody of their children. Please, please donate. This is a situation that is painful and scary beyond description.

PLEASE SHARE GRAPHICS WIDELY

🫂 www.gofundme.com/f/help-keep-... 🫂
URGENT NEED! HELP KEEP FAMILY TOGETHER, DONATE NOW! We are raising funds for a pillar of our community: a trans sex worker of color who is at risk of losing custody of their children. While their lawyers are confident they can win this discriminatory case, funds are needed by February 2026. We believe they should no longer have to face this on their own, which is why we are asking for your support. Goal: $50,000 https://www.gofundme.com/help-keep-family-together-urgent Venmo: carta-monir Cashapp: $cartamonir Send donations with a red heart emoji to ensure funds are redirected to this SWER We are raising funds for a beloved community member; a trans sex worker of color who is at risk of losing custody of their children. For their safety and privacy they must remain anonymous, but this is a pillar of our community, loved and verified by those of us running this fundraiser. Our friend is facing a trial in February regarding the custody of their young children. The case against them is based on the fact that their primary form of income is sex work. Notably, the judge of the initial custody arrangement ruled that their job was not reason enough to restrict their parenting time years ago. Because of this precedent, their lawyer feels very confident they will win their upcoming case. To defend their rights to parent their own children, our friend needs to raise $75,000 by February 2026. This staggering amount of money is required by the court to cover the costs associated with a two day trial (lawyers fees, expert witnesses, the court reporter, depositions, creation of trial binders, the list goes on). If they cannot secure these funds by the February deadline, they will be forced to settle, resulting in severely reduced interaction with their children. We obviously do not want this to happen. Our friend has provided for themself and their children for years, fighting their custody battle in private while continuing to be an incredible parent, friend, and educator. They can no longer face this by themselves, which is why we are asking for your support. In our current political climate, we know that our friend's situation is especially precarious. This is a crucial moment to show solidarity with a community member who needs it more than ever.
December 9, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
thefrankiedlc.news
Haven't done one of these in a while! I've got a post-holiday haterade rant about the NHL's support for Heated Rivalry, which I hate. www.thefrankiedlc.news/p/sorry-but-...
sorry but I don't give a fuck that the NHL has embraced 'heated rivalry'
a post-holiday haterade rant
www.thefrankiedlc.news
December 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
rtgame.bsky.social
IT IS TIME.

Today is the only day you can legally share this. Happy Almost Christmas
December 24, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Reposted by samantha riedel
barssuk.bsky.social
The battlefield 🗡
July 5, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
oklasotagal.bsky.social
...Ms. Curth continues to deny that she engaged in any arbitrary behavior regarding the student's work, and is considering all of her legal remedies, including appealing this decision by the University."
December 22, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
oklasotagal.bsky.social
Re: OU religious discrimination finding

Quote from Attorney Brittany M. Stewart, Esq.:

"My client, Mel Curth, received notification from the University of Oklahoma that an investigation determined that she engaged in arbitrary grading of a student's paper...
December 22, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
interruptcrim.bsky.social
If you're a provider of gender-affirming care, please check out The Good Health Project's Know Your Rights update/memo. Trans health care care is still lawful under federal law. static1.squarespace.com/static/686eb...
December 18, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
ket.bsky.social
to be clear: no it wouldn't. that is not how this mechanism or federalism works. even under this rule hospitals would remain free to serve trans youth. discrimination in exchange for money is still discrimination. states that prohibit discrimination could and should but won't prosecute collaborators
H. Federalism Executive Order 13132 establishes certain requirements that an agency must meet when it issues a proposed rule (and subsequent final rule) that imposes substantial direct requirement costs on State and local governments, pre-empts State law, or otherwise has federalism implications. This proposed rule would pre-empt State laws that prohibit SRPs for children that include exceptions for reasons beyond those exceptions provided in this proposed rule, including for children who are already undergoing these procedures. It would also pre-empt State laws requiring hospitals to provide SRPs.
December 18, 2025 at 11:24 PM
samanthawrites.net
wrote a brief overview of the 3 big anti-GAC proposals from HHS today:
1 bans hospitals from providing it to keep Medicaid/Medicare certification

2 bans state Medicaid and CHIP plans from funding it for under-19s

3 rolls back a Biden nondiscrimination rule *for all*

www.them.us/story/trump-...
Trump and RFK Jr. Move to Block All Hospitals From Offering Trans Youth Care
The administration is using Medicaid and Medicare funding as their way in.
www.them.us
December 18, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
petrinkae.bsky.social
This procedure is not performed on transgender children. It IS performed on intersex children, often without full knowledge or consent of parents. GOP laws protect this practice.

19thnews.org/2023/03/bill...

openyls.law.yale.edu/bitstreams/6...
December 18, 2025 at 9:53 PM
samanthawrites.net
as someone with pretty rudimentary drawing skills, it feels personally insulting every time i see someone say ~AI~ will help me ~express what's in my head~

yes, i am frustrated i don't have the proficiency to just draw what's in my head. that doesn't mean i'm going to outsource my creativity???
December 18, 2025 at 8:36 PM
samanthawrites.net
talking to rich people in current year
a scene from Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Liaisons." Worf has accused the diplomat Byleth of stealing his poker chips during a game. Byleth: You would dare accuse me of stealing? Worf: Yes! Byleth: You are lying because you are losing the game. Worf: I am losing because you have been cheating all along!
December 11, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
evangreer.bsky.social
🚨 EVERYONE PLEASE RESKEET THIS FOR VISIBILITY!!! 🚨

A big coalition of LGBTQ+, abortion access, and human rights groups led by @fightforthefuture.org are organizing a WEEK OF ACTION this week against online ID checks, aka "age verification" laws.

Join us: www.fightforthefuture.org/actions/stop...
December 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
sesmith.lol
Today on @theflytrapmedia.com the incredible @nicolefroio.bsky.social talking about why the current journalism model is so broken, and how much it harms all of us. I keep coming back to the ways we get trapped in cycles of writing superficial quick hits just to pay rent.
The Current Journalism Model Isn't Working.
One journalist reflects on how easy it is to burn out in her industry.
the-flytrap.ghost.io
December 2, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
parkermolloy.com
I've got a piece up today at @lukeoneil47.bsky.social's Welcome to Hell World. Check it out: www.welcometohellworld.com/a-coordinate...
A coordinated campaign to drive trans people out of public life
Parker Molloy on the latest Oklahoma anti-trans work
www.welcometohellworld.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
transjournalists.org
The Trans Journalists Association is building a future of journalism where stories about trans people are just, ethical, and informed by our leadership.

This #GivingTuesday, we’re asking you to support our movement: bit.ly/tja_pride. 🧵
Text on a white background with a yellow-orange border reads: "We are building a future of journalism where stories about trans people are just, ethical, and informed by our leadership. SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT." The Trans Journalists Association logo is centered above the text.
December 2, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
thefrankiedlc.news
If you’ve been waiting to upgrade to a paid subscription to Out of Your League, now’s your chance! It’s my annual birthday-season sale! Also makes a great gift for your queer, sports-loving pal. bit.ly/ooylsagseaso...
Sag Season Sale: 20% off all annual subscriptions through December 21
November 23, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
parkermolloy.com
The Twitter account for the Turning Point USA chapter at OU seems to have only started posting last week with an anti-trans pressure campaign. And then, oh gosh, what are the odds that they just happened to immediately find someone who claims to have been discriminated against by a trans person?
Have you ever wondered why somebody went into college with conservative beliefs, and came out identifying as LGBTQ and woke, here is why. A student in 'Elements of Physchology' expressed their concerns over the university making her learn these topics in order to pass the class, "For our upcoming exam I don't want to receive a bad grade if I answer honestly in my opinion" said the student. This is unacceptable, these beliefs go directly against science. No student should be forced to learn or rewire their brain to believe that someone can change their gender. @ou_president , please fix this. #universityofoklahoma @uofoklahoma @ou_president @TPUSA Tweet from TPUSA_OU: At the University of Oklahoma, the 'Office of Advocacy and Education' placed tampons and pads in men's restrooms across campus in an effort to appeal toward transgender individuals. Students are asking why the school isn't advocating for mental health resources for these individuals instead of affirming their mental illness. The school is telling students to "stop talking and listen" and to "believe them", in reference to transgenders. If a man identifies as a female, he can walk into the women's restroom, no questions asked. Here at Turning Point, we believe that there are only two sexes, male and female, and there's no changing what you were assigned at birth. We also believe it to be disgusting and inappropriate to put students or anybody for that matter in a situation where they are worried for their safety in these private areas. @UofOklahoma do better. #universityofoklahoma #woke #2genders #Igbt @ou_president @TPUSA
December 1, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
thatguywasfly.bsky.social
The fact that "hypnosis" has become one of the concepts regularly banned on adult websites makes me feel fully insane. We are truly living in the nightmare return of every Christian conservative moral panic we ever laughed at.
morecarta.bsky.social More Carta @morecarta.bsky.social · Nov 29
Also these TOS aren't any more creator friendly for any non-vanilla creators
- post, upload, or share Content that depicts, advertises, promotes, encourages, facilitates, or solicits (real, simulated, or implied) - (i) scenarios involving lack of consent, including rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, torture, hypnosis, intoxication, violence, sadomasochistic abuse, hardcore bondage, weapons, or asphyxiation (excluding roleplay scenarios); - (ii) sexual activity involving minors; - (iii) age-play or adult baby/diaper lover Content, - (iv) incest; - (v) bestiality; - (vi) necrophilia; - (vii) bodily fluids including scat, vomit, and blood, but excluding semen, female ejaculation, and saliva; - (viii) illegal prostitution or human trafficking; - (ix) “revenge porn” defined as any Content containing any individual who has not consented to being depicted in the Content, or to the Content being distributed on Hidden; - (x) unsolicited sexual Content sent directly to another user or Content otherwise depicting sexual objectification of another user in a nonconsensual manner; - (xi) illegal or illicit drugs; - (xii) suicide, self-harm, or extreme pain, whether inflicted by yourself or a third party, genital mutilation, or extreme fisting; - (xiii) any other illegal behavior or behavior that may be considered obscene under applicable law.
November 30, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
phobia.bsky.social
This lil drawing I made for the first TDOR I was out for. So many complicated feelings with today. Hoping you are alive and well today.
A woman in a trans flag holds a small candle
November 20, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
gbbranstetter.bsky.social
On January 13, the Supreme Court is going to hear arguments over state laws targeting transgender girls in sports. This from @pablo.show and @motherjones.com is a great explainer on why the right-wing legal movement needs this issue to push trans people out of public life altogether
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
goodbyealma.bsky.social
For @thenation.com, I wrote about the Condé Nast Fired Four and what our fight means for the labor movement

www.thenation.com/article/acti...
If Condé Nast Can Illegally Fire Me, No Union Worker Is Safe
The Trump administration is making employers think they can ignore their legal obligations and trample on the rights of workers.
www.thenation.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:25 PM
samanthawrites.net
for anyone who hasn't read it, here's a #TDOR memorial for Rita Hester I wrote a few years ago: www.them.us/story/rita-h...
Remembering Rita Hester, Who Changed What It Means to Remember Trans Lives
Rita Hester’s 1998 murder inspired a movement, but it’s just as important to remember her life as her death.
www.them.us
November 20, 2025 at 4:28 PM
samanthawrites.net
yesterday was my 10 year anniversary of starting hrt! here's to another decade of biohacking my endocrine system 🎉
a photograph of a vial of estradiol valerate in a medicine cabinet, shot from below, light reflecting on the metal above it
November 19, 2025 at 8:52 PM