Leigh Downes (they/them)
@leighdownes.bsky.social
Northern, non-binary, cat companion, queer feminist, jigsaw enthusiast, peaks walker, bookworm & Juno Books volunteer.
Senior lecturer in Criminology at The Open University. Researching gender, sexuality, violence & social justice. Views my own.
Senior lecturer in Criminology at The Open University. Researching gender, sexuality, violence & social justice. Views my own.
This was a tricky yet good one to keep the mind goblins at bay in the current political hellscape. Santorini from Cloudberries
September 23, 2025 at 9:37 AM
This was a tricky yet good one to keep the mind goblins at bay in the current political hellscape. Santorini from Cloudberries
A beautifully written exploration of complicated relationships and feelings around mothering, femininity and care. The tacit knowledge of how to perform as the kid that your parent needs. Mother-daughter relationships shaped by trauma, loss and regret. I'll be thinking on this one for a while 🌈📚
June 25, 2025 at 8:53 PM
A beautifully written exploration of complicated relationships and feelings around mothering, femininity and care. The tacit knowledge of how to perform as the kid that your parent needs. Mother-daughter relationships shaped by trauma, loss and regret. I'll be thinking on this one for a while 🌈📚
Finally, Born This Way, which follows the story of Carl Bean from a childhood of adversity into gospel, singing a disco gay anthem, founding the minority aids project and an inclusive church. Lots to take away about finding and following your purpose, bracing difference and being loudly gay.
June 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Finally, Born This Way, which follows the story of Carl Bean from a childhood of adversity into gospel, singing a disco gay anthem, founding the minority aids project and an inclusive church. Lots to take away about finding and following your purpose, bracing difference and being loudly gay.
Loved The Secret of Me. It follows Jim who discovers family and medical deception of his intersex past that sparks his activist life in San Francisco. A must to learn about the centrality of self-determination, choice and informed consent over what others do to our bodies.
June 22, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Loved The Secret of Me. It follows Jim who discovers family and medical deception of his intersex past that sparks his activist life in San Francisco. A must to learn about the centrality of self-determination, choice and informed consent over what others do to our bodies.
Watched live taping of Bad Gays about E.M. Forster and my question about butt touches and favourite gay historical moments of touch was attempted!
June 22, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Watched live taping of Bad Gays about E.M. Forster and my question about butt touches and favourite gay historical moments of touch was attempted!
Second up, The Librarians. Set across a few conservative US states librarians resist demands to ban LGBTQ+, anti-racist and sex education books. I really felt the importance of never losing your voice, defending access to diverse stories, confronting and speaking up despite loss and attacks.
June 22, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Second up, The Librarians. Set across a few conservative US states librarians resist demands to ban LGBTQ+, anti-racist and sex education books. I really felt the importance of never losing your voice, defending access to diverse stories, confronting and speaking up despite loss and attacks.
My Sheffield doc fest round up. First up The Dating Game. Charming, funny and disturbing. It follows a dating coach and three working class men looking for love in China where, as a consequence of the one child rule, there are way too many men. Highlights the absurdities of romantic expectations...
June 22, 2025 at 6:26 PM
My Sheffield doc fest round up. First up The Dating Game. Charming, funny and disturbing. It follows a dating coach and three working class men looking for love in China where, as a consequence of the one child rule, there are way too many men. Highlights the absurdities of romantic expectations...
So much love for this one. Chasing storms and running away from relationship dynamics that no longer serve you. A very beautiful reflection on transition and becoming a queer trans elder. 🌈📚
April 29, 2025 at 8:46 PM
So much love for this one. Chasing storms and running away from relationship dynamics that no longer serve you. A very beautiful reflection on transition and becoming a queer trans elder. 🌈📚
An emotional wander round the museum of transology exhibition today. Feelings of joy, defiance, sadness, grief and hope
April 23, 2025 at 11:31 PM
An emotional wander round the museum of transology exhibition today. Feelings of joy, defiance, sadness, grief and hope
If you DWP pee on my poo poo then I will poo poo on your DWP pee #cripsagainstcuts
March 22, 2025 at 1:17 PM
If you DWP pee on my poo poo then I will poo poo on your DWP pee #cripsagainstcuts
Finished this long read from cypher press. Set in a Victorian fantasy town of Dallyangle this one took me a bit out of my comfort zone. Persisted and was rewarded with a lot of queer yearning, gender self-determination and mystery solving gangs. Pretty escapist and that 🌈📚
March 9, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Finished this long read from cypher press. Set in a Victorian fantasy town of Dallyangle this one took me a bit out of my comfort zone. Persisted and was rewarded with a lot of queer yearning, gender self-determination and mystery solving gangs. Pretty escapist and that 🌈📚
This was a nice time. Looking forward to reading this new one from Sophie Lewis 🌈📚
March 5, 2025 at 9:58 PM
This was a nice time. Looking forward to reading this new one from Sophie Lewis 🌈📚
Really valuable lessons from research with racially minoritised survivors of violence and abuse. Really enjoyed hearing about how survivor-activists were supported with time and resources to be involved in change. Great @vamhn.bsky.social webinar 💜
February 19, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Really valuable lessons from research with racially minoritised survivors of violence and abuse. Really enjoyed hearing about how survivor-activists were supported with time and resources to be involved in change. Great @vamhn.bsky.social webinar 💜
Start a local queer writing gang with your pals and maybe I will finally write the thing 🌈📚
February 5, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Start a local queer writing gang with your pals and maybe I will finally write the thing 🌈📚
Small batch joy with this one from cloudberries 😎
February 1, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Small batch joy with this one from cloudberries 😎
This was a nice trip out of the city and a welcome chance to listen, chat, have snacks and wine. Congratulations on your book Olga Suhomlinova and Saoirse O'Shea. Feels good to be able to show up in the world again.
January 8, 2025 at 7:06 PM
This was a nice trip out of the city and a welcome chance to listen, chat, have snacks and wine. Congratulations on your book Olga Suhomlinova and Saoirse O'Shea. Feels good to be able to show up in the world again.
First puzzle of 2025. Helped me to survive the return to work horror.
January 3, 2025 at 6:12 PM
First puzzle of 2025. Helped me to survive the return to work horror.
Had a really great evening watching England play Switzerland with the @rainbowblades.com
December 3, 2024 at 11:33 PM
Had a really great evening watching England play Switzerland with the @rainbowblades.com
Hell yeah. Another home renovation project is underway. Fingers crossed that no ceilings cave in this time 🤠
December 2, 2024 at 7:43 PM
Hell yeah. Another home renovation project is underway. Fingers crossed that no ceilings cave in this time 🤠
Made a wreath. Not bad.
November 29, 2024 at 9:05 PM
Made a wreath. Not bad.
Feeling very lucky to have picked up a beautiful signed indie version of the new Eliza Clark short stories collection from Juno books today. I also really appreciated the care and thoughtfulness of including a detailed content guide @faberbooks.bsky.social 🌈📚
November 28, 2024 at 5:54 PM
Feeling very lucky to have picked up a beautiful signed indie version of the new Eliza Clark short stories collection from Juno books today. I also really appreciated the care and thoughtfulness of including a detailed content guide @faberbooks.bsky.social 🌈📚
A day of walking with survivors. Started off grey and ended with sunshine.
November 27, 2024 at 3:59 PM
A day of walking with survivors. Started off grey and ended with sunshine.
Finished this proof last night whilst the storm churned outside. Great storytelling that explores the stories and strategies survivors use to make sense of trauma, exclusion and abuse in families. A Black queer trans haunted house dead parents tale cn for sexual abuse and racial trauma 🌈📚
November 24, 2024 at 10:08 AM
Finished this proof last night whilst the storm churned outside. Great storytelling that explores the stories and strategies survivors use to make sense of trauma, exclusion and abuse in families. A Black queer trans haunted house dead parents tale cn for sexual abuse and racial trauma 🌈📚