Cal Horton (they/them)
@fiercemum.bsky.social
Non-binary researcher supporting trans kids and challenging cis-supremacy
Pinned
Thank goodness I can say cis on Bluesky!
My new article is just out: "Towards a Theory of Cis-Supremacy: Conceptualising Ongoing Barriers to Trans Equality".
It examines forces of cis power over trans communities, building on scholarship on white supremacy
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
My new article is just out: "Towards a Theory of Cis-Supremacy: Conceptualising Ongoing Barriers to Trans Equality".
It examines forces of cis power over trans communities, building on scholarship on white supremacy
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Towards a Theory of Cis-Supremacy: Conceptualising Ongoing Barriers to Trans Equality - Cal Horton, 2024
Trans scholarship and trans perspectives have historically been marginalised from mainstream academia. There is value in ongoing theoretical exchange between so...
journals.sagepub.com
Who would like to read a ten tweet (skeet?) summary of my latest article "Towards a Theory of Cis-Supremacy".
For those too tired to read a whole academic article, here's a very short summary thread on cis-supremacy. 1/12
For those too tired to read a whole academic article, here's a very short summary thread on cis-supremacy. 1/12
Real questions in the puberty blocker study:
How happy are you with your nose? Would like like to change it by surgery?
How happy are you with your shoulders? Would like to change them by surgery?
How happy are you with your hips? Would like to change them by surgery?
Continued...
How happy are you with your nose? Would like like to change it by surgery?
How happy are you with your shoulders? Would like to change them by surgery?
How happy are you with your hips? Would like to change them by surgery?
Continued...
November 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Real questions in the puberty blocker study:
How happy are you with your nose? Would like like to change it by surgery?
How happy are you with your shoulders? Would like to change them by surgery?
How happy are you with your hips? Would like to change them by surgery?
Continued...
How happy are you with your nose? Would like like to change it by surgery?
How happy are you with your shoulders? Would like to change them by surgery?
How happy are you with your hips? Would like to change them by surgery?
Continued...
Reposted by Cal Horton (they/them)
Yeah thats just a conversion therapy trauma machine ngl ramping up everything traumatic i went through and still suffer from awesome bsky.app/profile/nata...
The “Pathways” trial is, IMO on more than one level, a thoroughly unethical piece of “research” to be carrying out on children, especially children who are part of a marginalised minority.
November 22, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Yeah thats just a conversion therapy trauma machine ngl ramping up everything traumatic i went through and still suffer from awesome bsky.app/profile/nata...
Reposted by Cal Horton (they/them)
Not gonna engage with the puberty blocker trial story cause as someone who had the experience of going through the medical gatekeeping before getting them was pretty traumatic and my experience is luxurious compared to whats happening in the uk now and its just too upsetting honestly
November 22, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Not gonna engage with the puberty blocker trial story cause as someone who had the experience of going through the medical gatekeeping before getting them was pretty traumatic and my experience is luxurious compared to whats happening in the uk now and its just too upsetting honestly
Reposted by Cal Horton (they/them)
Exactly. I've been blocked from direct replies, but its either naivebor delusional to think that on the current hostile climate that politics and science can be seperated
November 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Exactly. I've been blocked from direct replies, but its either naivebor delusional to think that on the current hostile climate that politics and science can be seperated
Also at the end of the 24 month study, after 12 or 24 months on blockers, the young people have to go back to MDT review panel at the end of the study and every year for renewed approval of continuation of blockers. There's a serious threat of withdrawal of blockers hanging over them for years.
puberty blockers for trans kids with no prospect of moving to HRT after is like dangling somebody over an active volcano and going "what don't you feel better already? you're not even falling yet!"
November 22, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Also at the end of the 24 month study, after 12 or 24 months on blockers, the young people have to go back to MDT review panel at the end of the study and every year for renewed approval of continuation of blockers. There's a serious threat of withdrawal of blockers hanging over them for years.
Reposted by Cal Horton (they/them)
Under new NHS puberty blocker trial protocols, trans youth are being subjected to more than 50 assessments, intrusive exams, and over 13 hours of intrusive testing - just to access lifesaving healthcare
It demands young people re-live distress & undergo intimate examinations
#ConversionPractices
It demands young people re-live distress & undergo intimate examinations
#ConversionPractices
Trans Young People Face 50+ Tests and Hours of Intrusive Assessments in the PATHWAYS Puberty…
The publication of the PATHWAYS puberty blocker trial protocols reveals how trans young people are required to complete more than fifty…
medium.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Under new NHS puberty blocker trial protocols, trans youth are being subjected to more than 50 assessments, intrusive exams, and over 13 hours of intrusive testing - just to access lifesaving healthcare
It demands young people re-live distress & undergo intimate examinations
#ConversionPractices
It demands young people re-live distress & undergo intimate examinations
#ConversionPractices
Reposted by Cal Horton (they/them)
The “Pathways” trial is, IMO on more than one level, a thoroughly unethical piece of “research” to be carrying out on children, especially children who are part of a marginalised minority.
November 22, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The “Pathways” trial is, IMO on more than one level, a thoroughly unethical piece of “research” to be carrying out on children, especially children who are part of a marginalised minority.
Also seeing well-meaning posters writing about an 'immediate start' versus 'delayed start' wing of the trial. No-one is getting 'immediate start'.
The level of questioning, assessments, examinations and review panels before eligibility is HUGE. No-one has immediate start - don't use this phrasing
The level of questioning, assessments, examinations and review panels before eligibility is HUGE. No-one has immediate start - don't use this phrasing
Already seeing some terrible takes on here about supporting science re the puberty blocker trial.
Science that is unethical & designed terribly, influenced by those who don't want us to exist, is never ever going to lead to useful outcomes.
& this trial will cause immense harm to participants.
Science that is unethical & designed terribly, influenced by those who don't want us to exist, is never ever going to lead to useful outcomes.
& this trial will cause immense harm to participants.
November 22, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Also seeing well-meaning posters writing about an 'immediate start' versus 'delayed start' wing of the trial. No-one is getting 'immediate start'.
The level of questioning, assessments, examinations and review panels before eligibility is HUGE. No-one has immediate start - don't use this phrasing
The level of questioning, assessments, examinations and review panels before eligibility is HUGE. No-one has immediate start - don't use this phrasing
I wrote this thread last night based on the leaked protocol. The protocol is now public and matches the leaked one. All of my very serious concerns about this abusive study stand. Please read the below thread for more
Some leaked (not verified) info on the puberty blocker trial linked here. In my own thread I will briefly highlight the two key measures they are prioritising. A short thread 1
A Substacker named Ben Ryan tweeted that "the long-awaited UK puberty blocker clinical trial protocol is out."
Shortly thereafter he deleted the post. I can't find a public version of the protocol but here's what I was able to salvage from the screenshot + post.
[A THREAD]
Shortly thereafter he deleted the post. I can't find a public version of the protocol but here's what I was able to salvage from the screenshot + post.
[A THREAD]
November 22, 2025 at 1:29 PM
I wrote this thread last night based on the leaked protocol. The protocol is now public and matches the leaked one. All of my very serious concerns about this abusive study stand. Please read the below thread for more
It's in the protocol, so we like, literally, have to ask all of you 12-15 years-olds questions about your sexual attractions and experiences.
November 22, 2025 at 1:24 PM
It's in the protocol, so we like, literally, have to ask all of you 12-15 years-olds questions about your sexual attractions and experiences.
Already seeing some terrible takes on here about supporting science re the puberty blocker trial.
Science that is unethical & designed terribly, influenced by those who don't want us to exist, is never ever going to lead to useful outcomes.
& this trial will cause immense harm to participants.
Science that is unethical & designed terribly, influenced by those who don't want us to exist, is never ever going to lead to useful outcomes.
& this trial will cause immense harm to participants.
November 22, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Already seeing some terrible takes on here about supporting science re the puberty blocker trial.
Science that is unethical & designed terribly, influenced by those who don't want us to exist, is never ever going to lead to useful outcomes.
& this trial will cause immense harm to participants.
Science that is unethical & designed terribly, influenced by those who don't want us to exist, is never ever going to lead to useful outcomes.
& this trial will cause immense harm to participants.
Take any one of the medications that you currently take. Let's say hayfever pills. Or an inhaler. Or birth control.
How would the effectiveness of those medications be evaluated by the below well-being outcomes:
How would the effectiveness of those medications be evaluated by the below well-being outcomes:
5. Have you had enough time for yourself?
6. Have you been able to do the things that you want to do in your free time?
7. Have your parent(s) treated you fairly?
8. Have you had fun with your friends?
9. Have you got on well at school?
10. Have you been able to pay attention?
6. Have you been able to do the things that you want to do in your free time?
7. Have your parent(s) treated you fairly?
8. Have you had fun with your friends?
9. Have you got on well at school?
10. Have you been able to pay attention?
November 21, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Take any one of the medications that you currently take. Let's say hayfever pills. Or an inhaler. Or birth control.
How would the effectiveness of those medications be evaluated by the below well-being outcomes:
How would the effectiveness of those medications be evaluated by the below well-being outcomes:
Interestingly, in the US trans children's right to privacy trumps the interests of politicised data demands from transphobic officials,
Not so in the UK where trans children's right to medical privacy has been smashed to pieces
Not so in the UK where trans children's right to medical privacy has been smashed to pieces
BREAKING: Federal judge rejects DOJ's effort to subpoena the names and medical records of children who have received gender-affirming medical care from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 21, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Interestingly, in the US trans children's right to privacy trumps the interests of politicised data demands from transphobic officials,
Not so in the UK where trans children's right to medical privacy has been smashed to pieces
Not so in the UK where trans children's right to medical privacy has been smashed to pieces
Some leaked (not verified) info on the puberty blocker trial linked here. In my own thread I will briefly highlight the two key measures they are prioritising. A short thread 1
A Substacker named Ben Ryan tweeted that "the long-awaited UK puberty blocker clinical trial protocol is out."
Shortly thereafter he deleted the post. I can't find a public version of the protocol but here's what I was able to salvage from the screenshot + post.
[A THREAD]
Shortly thereafter he deleted the post. I can't find a public version of the protocol but here's what I was able to salvage from the screenshot + post.
[A THREAD]
November 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Some leaked (not verified) info on the puberty blocker trial linked here. In my own thread I will briefly highlight the two key measures they are prioritising. A short thread 1
Reposted by Cal Horton (they/them)
A clear weakness of the framing rhetoric of 'evidence based policymaking' in politics. It allows for bad actors to set ridiculously high or low evidence thresholds and then invoke the authority of science or rationality for their evil ends. Not new, but ever clearer.
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
November 20, 2025 at 1:13 PM
A clear weakness of the framing rhetoric of 'evidence based policymaking' in politics. It allows for bad actors to set ridiculously high or low evidence thresholds and then invoke the authority of science or rationality for their evil ends. Not new, but ever clearer.
Reposted by Cal Horton (they/them)
This series of articles has been the toughest I've ever had to write. The extent of harm being inflicted on these children and parents is monumental.
"Some parents shared deeply distressing accounts of what they have heard about the services, including stories of patients as young as 11 being continually asked about their genitals and sex life."
Parents say: “They are killing our children” share.google/zAlvx2QNLX1a...
Parents say: “They are killing our children” share.google/zAlvx2QNLX1a...
Parents say: “They are killing our children”
Parents cry out in despair for their children at the NHS Sussex investigation into WellBN's prescription of gender dysphoria medication
share.google
November 20, 2025 at 12:16 PM
This series of articles has been the toughest I've ever had to write. The extent of harm being inflicted on these children and parents is monumental.
Harming trans kids - using art to capture the impacts of the Sussex ICB investigation on trans adolescents and families.
Please read and share.
The art is not mine - the artist wishes to remain anonymous.
growinguptransgender.com/2025/11/19/h...
Please read and share.
The art is not mine - the artist wishes to remain anonymous.
growinguptransgender.com/2025/11/19/h...
Harming trans kids – Using art to capture the impacts of the Sussex ICB investigation
When puberty blockers were banned in June 2024, the legislation included a clause stating that those currently on blockers would not be medically detransitioned, and could continue care if adopted …
growinguptransgender.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Harming trans kids - using art to capture the impacts of the Sussex ICB investigation on trans adolescents and families.
Please read and share.
The art is not mine - the artist wishes to remain anonymous.
growinguptransgender.com/2025/11/19/h...
Please read and share.
The art is not mine - the artist wishes to remain anonymous.
growinguptransgender.com/2025/11/19/h...
New Zealand has banned puberty blockers (of course only for trans kids), until the UK completes their PB trial in 2031. A trial that has still not started. A trial that may never start. A trial that is unethical and will not meaningfully add to the evidence base.
UK exporting transphobia again
UK exporting transphobia again
The Government is banning new patients from being prescribed the most common form of puberty blocker and is explicitly aligning NZ's future policy on this matter to the UK's. PR below.
November 19, 2025 at 10:39 AM
New Zealand has banned puberty blockers (of course only for trans kids), until the UK completes their PB trial in 2031. A trial that has still not started. A trial that may never start. A trial that is unethical and will not meaningfully add to the evidence base.
UK exporting transphobia again
UK exporting transphobia again
Reposted by Cal Horton (they/them)
Dr Sam is an incredible Doctor. My son is lucky to have help from Anne Health and Dr Sam. For 6 months, we felt he was safe. Now, it's hard to remember what safe felt like. It's just constant attacks, and every day, we live in fear
"not yet up and running; although they now are, many of our patients are refugees from these new clinics which offer only psychological support with a desired outcome being ’not trans’. "
northwestbylines.co.uk/news/health/...
northwestbylines.co.uk/news/health/...
Interview with Dr Sam Hall
Dr Sam Hall tells us how WellBn helped trans people over the past five years, and that it is okay to be trans
northwestbylines.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Dr Sam is an incredible Doctor. My son is lucky to have help from Anne Health and Dr Sam. For 6 months, we felt he was safe. Now, it's hard to remember what safe felt like. It's just constant attacks, and every day, we live in fear
wow this is some truth-to-power punch in the gut artwork. Can anyone post slightly easier to view shots of these?
November 18, 2025 at 11:20 PM
wow this is some truth-to-power punch in the gut artwork. Can anyone post slightly easier to view shots of these?
Reposted by Cal Horton (they/them)
🚨 Publication Alert 🚨
I'm pleased to say my article 'Cis-Supremacist Pasts: Constructing a History Against Contemporary Trans Equality' has been published today with International Public History and it is fully open access!
Check it out here:
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
I'm pleased to say my article 'Cis-Supremacist Pasts: Constructing a History Against Contemporary Trans Equality' has been published today with International Public History and it is fully open access!
Check it out here:
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
Cis-Supremacist Pasts: Constructing a History Against Contemporary Trans Equality
This paper uses Cal Horton’s theory of Cis-Supremacy to demonstrate the interplay of trans exclusionist histories and contemporary cis power structures. The paper, through this preliminary discussion,...
www.degruyterbrill.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
🚨 Publication Alert 🚨
I'm pleased to say my article 'Cis-Supremacist Pasts: Constructing a History Against Contemporary Trans Equality' has been published today with International Public History and it is fully open access!
Check it out here:
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
I'm pleased to say my article 'Cis-Supremacist Pasts: Constructing a History Against Contemporary Trans Equality' has been published today with International Public History and it is fully open access!
Check it out here:
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
Reposted by Cal Horton (they/them)
Owen’s latest piece articulates why I believe that amplifying our gender diverse history through cultural production will give us a greater foundation, rooted in our common humanity, on which to advocate for our rights.
🚨 Publication Alert 🚨
I'm pleased to say my article 'Cis-Supremacist Pasts: Constructing a History Against Contemporary Trans Equality' has been published today with International Public History and it is fully open access!
Check it out here:
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
I'm pleased to say my article 'Cis-Supremacist Pasts: Constructing a History Against Contemporary Trans Equality' has been published today with International Public History and it is fully open access!
Check it out here:
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
Cis-Supremacist Pasts: Constructing a History Against Contemporary Trans Equality
This paper uses Cal Horton’s theory of Cis-Supremacy to demonstrate the interplay of trans exclusionist histories and contemporary cis power structures. The paper, through this preliminary discussion,...
www.degruyterbrill.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Owen’s latest piece articulates why I believe that amplifying our gender diverse history through cultural production will give us a greater foundation, rooted in our common humanity, on which to advocate for our rights.
Reposted by Cal Horton (they/them)
Reading about the Cagots, who were savagely persecuted for centuries despite lacking "any distinct physical or cultural traits differentiating them from the general population". Not race, not religion. They were ostracised just because they were people that you ostracised
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cagot
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cagot
Cagot - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 18, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Reading about the Cagots, who were savagely persecuted for centuries despite lacking "any distinct physical or cultural traits differentiating them from the general population". Not race, not religion. They were ostracised just because they were people that you ostracised
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cagot
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cagot
Do I know anyone on here who has managed to get a book agent to pick up a non-fiction book that isn't a memoir to take to commercial (non-academic) publishing? Can anyone share with me examples or tips on their quick pitch? My book is good - my pitch is not good enough to get interest.
November 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Do I know anyone on here who has managed to get a book agent to pick up a non-fiction book that isn't a memoir to take to commercial (non-academic) publishing? Can anyone share with me examples or tips on their quick pitch? My book is good - my pitch is not good enough to get interest.
Reposted by Cal Horton (they/them)
I found the psych (2 appointments) and endo (1 appointment) evaluations stressful and humiliating, and that sense has only increased with the passing of time. I find the memory of those appointments quite traumatising.
The gatekeeping SUCKS.
The gatekeeping SUCKS.
My bestie and I were talking about this last year. She: perimenopausal. Me: trying to access gender-affirming HRT.
She: make GP appointment, get prescription within 3 days. Me: stump up 100s of £££ for private psych and endo, wait 6 months for appointments, stump up more £££ for prescription.
🤷🏼♀️
She: make GP appointment, get prescription within 3 days. Me: stump up 100s of £££ for private psych and endo, wait 6 months for appointments, stump up more £££ for prescription.
🤷🏼♀️
November 18, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I found the psych (2 appointments) and endo (1 appointment) evaluations stressful and humiliating, and that sense has only increased with the passing of time. I find the memory of those appointments quite traumatising.
The gatekeeping SUCKS.
The gatekeeping SUCKS.