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Reposted by Lee

Good Law Project

@goodlawproject.bsky.social

Our challenge to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s interim guidance has begun in the High Court.

This is only one step in a long battle. But we’re ready to fight it.

Our team is in court and we’ll let you know as soon as the court reaches a decision.

Good Law Project's legal team standing outside of the Royal Courts of Justice

November 12, 2025 at 10:52 AM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

So I ran out of time to post here earlier, but today I successfully managed to bag myself a ticket to the Leeds vs Chelsea game 🏟💙🤍💛

#lufc #leedsunited #football #ellandroad

November 11, 2025 at 9:34 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

So last night I did my first champions league car parking shift! It was very quiet as it was off-site, but we got to watch all the fireworks displays all night - and now I can say I've worked a champions league match!

#nufc #NewcastleUnited #football #stjamespark #matchday #championsleague

A white transmasc with a shaved head, grey hoodie, and yellow high vis jacket

St James's park from the outside. It's night, and the lights in the stadium is on as a game is happening. It is the corner of the stadium with the sir Bobby and Shearer statues

November 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

As a Peterborian I know that the city is only in the news when some horrific crime happens, but this one still feels heavy. It's one of the trains I get when visiting my parents. I always get LNER when travelling back home. I can picture the train, and the train station the attacker went thru

November 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

Fulham at home for the quarter final. Will very happily take that 🤗

#nufc #NewcastleUnited #Carabaocup

October 29, 2025 at 10:49 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

Today, we went to the Golden Flake - the new Gregg's pub in Fenwicks! It was so good - if you can get yourself booked in I definitely recommend it 😅

#greggs #Newcastle #newcastleupontyne #northeast #northeastengland #northern #north

Rows of bar stools and tables, with windows with tied up curtains around the room

A sofa with a table and chairs, a cupboard by the wall filled with assorted nic nacs and framed Guinness posters on the wall

Rows of bar stools and tables, with a tv playing nufc tv on the wall

October 27, 2025 at 7:52 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

Seeing the Mediterranean Sea was honestly amazing, I didn't think I'd ever see a sea that didn't immediately pale in comparison with the North Sea, but I'm glad to say I did! Sitges is also amazing, and incredibly lgbt friendly 😍 🌊⛵️

Rocks going into the blue Mediterranean Sea

A white spanish building with blue trims

White spanish buildings with a small bridge/arch that links them. The trims are brown

October 20, 2025 at 9:00 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

Back home in Newcastle after my trip to Spain! Spent most of my time in Barcelona, but spent a day at Sitges as well. I really really loved it, and honestly coming back to the UK was hard

#spain #catalonia #Barcelona #sitges

The sagrada familia, on the left corner is the old side

The inside of a church, with a stand of golden various coloured candles, in front of a shrine with lights on it

Palm trees, on some grass with the sea in the background

October 20, 2025 at 8:55 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

So safely arrived in Barcelona last night! It's been absolutely lovely so far, even if slightly wet

#barcelona #Spain #catalonia

The house designed by Gaudi in Barcelona

Barcelona cathedral (not sagrada familia)

Looking up through some walls at a turret

A big fountain next to some big stone buildings. The sun is setting

October 18, 2025 at 6:59 AM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

It's also worth noting that the (European) Commissioner for Human Rights has also written a letter regarding the right to protest in the UK, and the restrictions around that

#uk #politics #ukpolitics #humanrights

Ref: CommHR/MOF/st 117-2025

The Rt Hon Shabana MAHMOOD MP

Secretary of State for the Home Department of the United Kingdom

Strasbourg, 23 September 2025

Dear Secretary of State,

Allow me to begin by offering my best wishes in your new role.

The regulation and policing of protests was one of my topics of interest during my recent visit to the United Kingdom (30 June-4 July). I would like to expand on my initial observations in my end-of-visit statement of 8 July.

The policing of protests relating to the conflict in Gaza has become ever more prominent since my visit, especially following the proscription of the organisation Palestine Action, which has been criticised by UN experts and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. I observe that large numbers of arrests. have reportedly been made for displaying placards or banners expressing solidarity with the organisation or disagreement with the government's decision to proscribe it. I am aware that 'support' for a proscribed group is an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000. In this regard I recall that domestic legislation designed to counter 'terrorism' or 'violent extremism' must not impose any limitations on fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, that are not strictly necessary for the protection of national security and the rights and freedoms of others (see, for example, the ODIHR/Venice Commission Guidelines on Peaceful Assembly). I ask the government to take all necessary steps to ensure that the policing of protests conforms to this and related principles of law.

I also recall my concern about the legal framework on protests that remains in place more generally, since it raises questions under the European Convention on Human Rights. Changes following the adoption of the Police Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023 continue to allow authorities to impose excessive limits on freedom of assembly and expression, and risk over-pol…

October 14, 2025 at 1:23 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

The (European) Commissioner for Human Rights has written a letter to UK parliamentarians regarding trans rights in the UK - which say trans inclusion is a human rights issue, and that they need to rewrite the EHRC guidance

Let's see if this actually does anything 🤞

#trans #transrights ##ukpolitics

Ref: CommHR/MOF/st 134-2025

COUNCIL OF EUROPE

COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

COMMISSAIRE AUX DROITS DE L'HOMME

CONSEIL DE L'EUROPE

The Lord ALTON of Liverpool

Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights of the Parliament of the United Kingdom

Ms Sarah OWEN MP

Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom

Strasbourg, 3 October 2025

Dear Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights.

Dear Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee,

My mandate is to foster the effective observance of human rights in all member states of the Council of Europe. An important part of my work is to engage in dialogue with governments and parliaments of member states, and to assist them in addressing possible shortcomings in their laws and practices.

I am writing to you in relation to the human rights situation of trans people, which was one of the topics of my recent visit to the United Kingdom (30 June to 4 July). During the visit, I also had an exchange with Lord Alton. In my end-of-visit statement of 8 July 2025, I expressed my concern about the current climate for trans people in the UK. I would like to provide you with some further observations, in view of your respective Committees interest in and engagement with this topic. These reflect similar observations shared with the Secretary of State for Education (Minister for Equalities), as well as the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

My observations relate to the need to respect the human rights of trans people, in line with the UK's international human rights obligations, including as regards further steps following the Supreme Court's judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd. v. The Scottish Ministers. This is particularly important as the Supreme Court did not engage with these human rights issues. I understand that an updated code of practice for services, public functions and associations has recently been submitted for consideration by the UK government, as the l…

according to their gender identity. This does not in any way diminish their right to be treated with dignity. to be protected from discrimination, and to be able to participate in all areas of everyday life.

As I note in my end-of-visit statement, I observe a tendency to see the human rights of different groups as a zero-sum game. This has contributed to narratives which build on prejudice against trans people and portray upholding their human rights as a de facto threat to the rights of others. Such a zero-sum approach risks certain inferences being drawn from the UK Supreme Court judgment that could lead to widespread exclusion of trans people from many public spaces. This, in turn, may severely infringe on their ability to participate fully and equally in society. This is particularly the case, as discussions about how access to services and facilities will have to be regulated following the judgment have tended towards the exclusion of trans people. It would therefore be crucial for all stakeholders to receive clear guidance on how inclusion of trans people can be achieved across all areas, and how exclusion can be minimised to situations in which this would be strictly necessary and proportionate, in line with well-established human rights principles. In reality, tensions between the human rights of different groups in this context are likely to be exceptional in nature, and resolvable through nuanced, reasonable and balanced accommodations. This would also be in line with the approaches taken by various bodies of the Council of Europe (such as the Committee on the Prevention of Torture (CPT) or the Group of Experts on Violence Against Women (GREVIO)), which recognise the particular vulnerability of trans people, and which begin from the position of their inclusion within spaces according to their gender identity with exceptions made on a case-by-case basis as necessary.

Another area of concern is that blanket practices or policies on access to gender-segreg…

October 14, 2025 at 12:29 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

Here's a link to TransActuals letter campaign about the trans bathroom ban - all you have to do is put in your details and it does the rest for you!

#trans #uk #ukpolitics

actionnetwork.org/letters/scra...

Scrap the Bathroom Ban

🚨This is urgent🚨 Bridget Phillipson, the Minister for Women and Equalities, has a decision to make. The EHRC, a regulator mired in controversy over anti-trans views, has sent a new draft Code of Prac...

actionnetwork.org

October 13, 2025 at 1:49 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

Back to my regular public stadium tours now I'm finished with the rooftop tours until next year. I hadn't realised how much I'd adjusted to being up on the roof 😳 😅

A small rainbow appearing over the pitch at St James's park. The sky is blue and the pitch is being watered with the big spray hoses. In the background you can see the corner between the leazes end and the east stand

A white transmasc wearing a red t shirt and a green/beige jacket. He has a shaved head and is wearing headphones

October 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

Did my final rooftop tour of 2025! I'm scheduled to do regular stadium tomorrow, private tours during the week, and then I'm off to Spain next weekend, which is the last weekend of the rooftop tours.

Until 2026, rooftops ❤️

#nufc #NewcastleUnited #football #TourGuide #StJamesPark #NewcastleUponTyne

A white transmasc wearing a hard hat that reads 'rooftop tours'. He is also wearing an orange high vis and a green rain jacket

Plastic panes in a Cantilever roof, with white metal beams

St James's park, taken from the roof of the Milburn stand/leazes stand corner. The stadium is empty. There a heat/light lamps on the pitch

October 11, 2025 at 5:34 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

As of today, I've officially been a private carer for men with mental health issues for 6 whole years. SIX YEARS. I never thought I'd be in this job for as long as I have.

One day, I'll be free on this industry and everything that comes with it - and that day cannot come soon enough #carer #carers

A white transmasc wearing a burgundy hoodie

October 8, 2025 at 5:08 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

7.5 years on T today 🎊 feeling incredibly grateful and lucky to have gotten this far

#ftm #ftmtrans #transftm #trans #testosterone

A white transmasc wearing a grey hoodie with the hood up

October 7, 2025 at 11:21 AM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

Had a pretty last minute car park shift, followed by a trip to Tynemouth 🥰

#tynemouth #coast #northeast #northeastengland

The white water and foam coming off the North sea. You can see Heather and longsands grass and trees overlooking the water

Some of the ruins of tynemouth priory in the distance, taken thru a stone archway. To the right is a wall from a wwII bunker.

A white transmasc wearing a black beanie, black hoodie, green shirt, and luminous high vis jacket

October 5, 2025 at 9:07 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

Geordies are hardy folk! Yellow wind warning today, yet still managed to push ahead with 1 of our 3 rooftop tours today. The rest had to be cancelled bc it was simply too much/unsafe, but the fact one happened is incredible - and an hour I'll not be forgetting any time soon

#nufc #NewcastleUnited

A white transmasc wearing a white hard hat that says 'rooftop tours', a green jacket, and an orange high vis. He is stood on the roof of st james park

October 4, 2025 at 5:04 PM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

Disappointing and frustrating from Newcastle City Council 😑

#DigitalID #NewcastleUponTyne #NewcastleCityCouncil

search.app/AG751

Council blocks calls to oppose Government’s Digital ID scheme

The controversial scheme was announced by Keir Starmer as part of measures to tackle immigration

search.app

October 3, 2025 at 8:28 AM

Lee

@leemartxn.bsky.social

Here's a link to the good law project to help you send an email to Starmer about the digital ID. I recommend signing up to notifications/emails from GLP as they're really helpful and easy - you just fill in your details and an email is sent on your behalf

action.goodlawproject.org/tell-keir-st...