Ruth Pearce
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notrightruth.bsky.social
Ruth Pearce
@notrightruth.bsky.social
5.6K followers 310 following 930 posts
Activist, punk musician, event promoter, feminist academic. Illegal lesbian.
http://ruthpearce.net
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notrightruth.bsky.social
That's my UCU strike ballot in the post. Happy Friday!
Photo of an envelope being posted by a white person's hand with blue nail polish.
November 14, 2025 at 5:32 PM
notrightruth.bsky.social
The latest Bulletin of Applied Transgender Studies is out, and it's a doozy: a special issue on "Dynamics of Transphobic Content and Disinformation".

With topics including Youtube, Mumsnet, LGB Alliance, Chinese TERFs, and transvestigators, this is an vital read! bulletin.appliedtransstudies.org
Cover for academic journal the Bulletin of Applied Transgender Studies.
November 13, 2025 at 11:42 AM
notrightruth.bsky.social
Hope Street
Photo of a white building next to a crossroads. In the centre of the photo is a black and white graffitied image of a child climbing a rickety stepladder. The only colour is a small Palestinian flag in the child's back pocket. The top few rungs of the ladder are broken. Above the ladder is a street sign, reading: Hope Street. There is a traffic light showing a green man in the foreground, and people are walking past the graffiti without looking.
October 28, 2025 at 2:26 PM
notrightruth.bsky.social
in academic terms, this is me getting absolutely bodied by Otso Harju researchportal.helsinki.fi/en/publicati...
In a sense, by publicly giving more of herself to her writing now, Pearce expects re- wards for the collective in the longer run. Wit- hout challenging the meaningfulness of this tac- tic in the right settings, I contrast this with the “fugitive” (Moten and Harney, 2004) idea of giv- ing – so to speak – less of oneself to one’s wri- ting. I argue that the latter might be not only personally but also collectively more pertinent in any number of situations in fragile academic settings both locally and globally. A discussion around giving ‘less’ will force (auto)ethnographers to confront practical epis- temic and moral questions that are seldom dealt with in chapters, books, or courses on methodolo- gy: How does one imagine ‘minority’ scholars’ re- sponbilities toward (upholding) institutions and concepts like academia or science? What does one owe to one’s imagined readers, publishers, or, for example, employers in terms of methodolo- gical transparency or political authenticity? How do we decide when issues such as personal safety, good scientific praxis, or gains for marginalized communities clash?
October 18, 2025 at 5:45 PM
notrightruth.bsky.social
The final addition to my Cass mega-post doesn't explicitly mention the Review, but is nevertheless highly relevant. Prof Gordon Guyatt, the pioneer of evidence-based medicine, criticises those who would misuse this approach to support healthcare bans. hei.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/systematic-r...
We therefore feel compelled to make explicit our view regarding how our findings should and should not be used. Following fundamental principles of humane medical practice, clinicians have an obligation to care for those in need, often in the context of shared decision making. It is unconscionable to forbid clinicians from delivering gender-affirming care.   Moreover, following the principles of evidence-based decision-making, clinicians should always have a high respect for the autonomy of patients and their advocates. The high respect for autonomy becomes particularly important when the certainty of the evidence is low or very low. In such circumstances, clinicians should work with patients to ensure that care reflects the experience, goals, and priorities of those needing care – that is, their values and preferences. It is profoundly misguided to cast health care based on low-certainty evidence as bad care or as care driven by ideology, and low-certainty evidence as bad science. Many of the interventions we offer are based on low certainty evidence, and enlightened individuals often legitimately and wisely choose such interventions. Thus, forbidding delivery of gender-affirming care and limiting medical management options on the basis of low certainty evidence is a clear violation of the principles of evidence-based shared decision-making and is unconscionable. The appropriate use of our work is in ensuring patients receive needed care and in helping TGD patients and their clinicians in decision making.   We write this in the hope that all those who use our work to inform the care of TGD patients receiving gender-affirming care, and those using our work in consideration of policy decisions, prioritize the delivery of compassionate and conscientious care that fully respects the autonomy of the TGD patient.
October 15, 2025 at 9:06 PM
notrightruth.bsky.social
*downs a glass of non-alcoholic fruit drink*

alright, let's fucking go
Bernie Sanders meme, with text as follows: I am once again updating my mega post about how awful the Cass Review is.
October 15, 2025 at 8:25 PM
notrightruth.bsky.social
You know things are pretty serious when there's a god-to-honest anti-police demo planned in *checks notes* Guildford.

(source: Trans Pride Surrey)
Screenshot of poster for protest, featuring a cartoon trans flag. Text reads: 20/09/25, 1pm. Guildford High Street. Stand against transphobic policing. Protest.
August 19, 2025 at 11:58 AM
notrightruth.bsky.social
In response to this protest, the city council has shut down the entire building to visitors for the day. An absolutely wild decision.
Photo of three people making signs outside a building. One holds a sign that reads: Susan, listen to us! We need librarians.
August 11, 2025 at 2:06 PM
notrightruth.bsky.social
Happening now! Trans Kids Deserve Better Scotland are holding a read-in outside Glasgow City Chambers.

They are protesting cuts to school libraries in Glasgow.
Photo of young people reading books outside the pillars of a large sandstone building. They have queer flags and a banner that reads trans kids deserve better.
August 11, 2025 at 11:09 AM
notrightruth.bsky.social
Endorsement: WRITING BADLY

Writing Badly is a new, print-only, journal of letters on the subject of feminism and transmisogyny. It is written and edited by and for trans women.

"By turns profound and infuriating, beautiful and devastating, this collection has it all."
Photo of Writing Badly Issue 1. The cover image is greyscale and features an abstract image of several fish. Photo of printed page. Text reads: Further praise for Writing Badly issue 1. Throw away your phone and read this instead. From cookery to consciousness-raising, from deep theory to casual misandry, from practical advice to impractical advice, the essays and letters of Writing Badly will help you build new worlds. Imagine deep conversation with the cleverest women you know. Imagine organising with the coolest women you know. Imagine arguing with the most annoying women you know. Imagine being in community with women who will always have your back. By turns profound and infuriating, beautiful and devastating, this collection has it all. Best, Ruth Pearce. Author, Understanding Trans Health (2018) and others.
August 2, 2025 at 7:25 AM
notrightruth.bsky.social
It's new Laura Jane Grace album day! Get hype!
Cover image of the album Adventure Club, by Laura Jane Grace in the Trauma Tropes. The cover features a detailed cartoon drawing of devils and monsters fighting cops across a city.
July 18, 2025 at 7:45 AM
notrightruth.bsky.social
Working with colleagues on a systematic review of articles on trans youth. Just encountered this gem of a retraction notice for an article on "rapid-onset gender dysphoria" by Suzanna Diaz of *checks notes* "Parents of ROGD Kids" and J Michael Bailey. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Retraction Note: Archives of Sexual Behavior (2023) 52:1031–1043. The Publisher and the Editor-in-Chief have retracted this article due to noncompliance with our editorial policies around consent. The participants of the survey have not provided written informed consent to participate in scholarly research or to have their responses published in a peer reviewed article. Additionally, they have not provided consent to publish to have their data included in this article. Table 1 and the Supplementary material have therefore been removed to protect the participants’ privacy. The authors disagree with this retraction.
July 17, 2025 at 12:46 PM
notrightruth.bsky.social
I've added FOUR new peer-reviewed academic articles to my round-up post, "What's wrong with the Cass Review?" Together, these highlight serious ethical issues with the Cass Review's design, recommendations, and implementations. It's important to keep this story live! ruthpearce.net/2024/04/16/w...
Meme image of Bernie Sanders, with text that reads, I am once again updating my mega post about how awful the Cass Review is.
June 28, 2025 at 8:41 AM
notrightruth.bsky.social
WE WANT REVENGE AND WE WANT IT NOW!

The Lesbian Avengers. Glasgow, June 2025.
Photo of poster with hand written black text. Text reads as follows. We want revenge and we want it now! Lesbians! Dykes! Queers! There are many more of us in this world than transphobes. But cold blooded liars like them think they've got all the power. Let's face it: government, media, entertainment, capitalism, politeness are irrelevant to our lives as dykes. We're wasting our lives being careful. Imagine what your life could be. Aren't you ready for that to happen? What have you got to lose? Join us! The Lesbian Avengers.
June 25, 2025 at 4:57 PM
notrightruth.bsky.social
Had a great conversation with Toby Odland yesterday as opponent in his thesis defence at the University of Linköping. He did a great job and has now been awarded his PhD by the examination committee!
Photo of two people talking, seated behind a desk at the front of a lecture theatre. One is gesturing.
June 6, 2025 at 3:43 PM
notrightruth.bsky.social
Arrestees were taken to police vans. Supporters blocked the road for several minutes to try and block the vans. They were eventually violently removed by police,who made more arrests.

I believe some protesters have now moved to Govan Police Station. I've had to leave (wasn't planning to be here!)
Protesters struggle with police in front of a van in the middle of the road.
May 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
notrightruth.bsky.social
After what seemed like a long struggle to get into the office, police removed them from the ledge. The protest seems to have lasted about 2-3 hours.
May 26, 2025 at 11:15 AM
notrightruth.bsky.social
Trans Kids Deserve Better protest at EHRC offices in Glasgow.
Photo of people on office ledge with banner reading, end segregation, trans liberation.
May 26, 2025 at 11:10 AM
notrightruth.bsky.social
he is helping me make my new zine
Photo of a ginger cat sat on the page of a zine, with glue and scissors on either side. To the left is a copy of Dyke News Scotland, and to the right is a pair of human legs.
May 23, 2025 at 9:42 AM
notrightruth.bsky.social
Really good to join so many other people outside the EHRC offices in Glasgow again today - right as they launched their faux consultation on trans segregation.

Many new battles start here, but important to remember that together we are powerful!
Photo of a protest on a sunny street. A large banner reads: anti-equality commission. Photo of a protest Photo of a protest
May 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM
notrightruth.bsky.social
We are back outside the EHRC offices in Glasgow!
Photo of a trans protest
May 20, 2025 at 11:36 AM
notrightruth.bsky.social
Second lunchtime protest outside the EHRC offices in Glasgow announced for tomorrow! Tell everyone!
Reject the trans bathroom ban! Protest the EHRC. Tuesday 20 May, 12pm. 140 West George Street, Glasgow. Make your voice heard! Bring placards and flags. Starting on Monday 19 May the EHRC will consult on statutory guidance for trans people's rights to use bathrooms and other single sex spaces. The EHRC interim guidance amounts to a bathroom bill. Excluding and outing trans people in all parts of public life. We need to demand that trans people's rights to use bathrooms, changing rooms, and access services are protected under this new guidance.
May 19, 2025 at 9:55 AM
notrightruth.bsky.social
Fun bonus fact! When I attended invited meetings with the EHRC in 2009, I was not representing a trans or even an LGBT group. Instead I was there in behalf of the National Union of Students' Women's Campaign - a woman-only organisation! - representing their perspective on trans inclusion.
List of attendees for meeting. All individual's names are blanked out with the exception of Ruth Pearce, trans rep for NUS Women's Committee. Other organisations listed are Gender Matters, GIRES, Press For Change, Gender Trust, Spectrum London, A: Gender, Trans Youth Network, LGBT Consortium, Scottish Transgender Alliance, Gendered Intelligence, Trans London, NUS LGBT, Gendershift, GALOP, Gay London Police, and Transsexual Childhoods and Teens.
May 19, 2025 at 9:09 AM
notrightruth.bsky.social
Consultations on the EHRC's statutory codes of practice for the Equality Act - which included protections for trans people in accessing single-sex services! - involved a two year process, from 2009 to 2011. The EHRC are now proposing to undo that work in less than two months.
Timeline for EHRC codes of practice, with drafting taking place between summer 2009 and spring 2011. Timeline for EHRC codes of practice, with drafting taking place between summer 2009 and spring 2011.
May 19, 2025 at 9:00 AM
notrightruth.bsky.social
Today, the EHRC are supposedly launching a consultation on their plans for trans segregation. To mark the occasion, I've been looking at my notes from 2009. As part of consultations for the Equality Bill, the EHRC held multiple meetings with all affected groups - including of course trans people.
Scan of agenda for a meeting with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, covered in notes. The agenda reads as follows. Equality Bill roundtable discussion - Trans. Time: 2:30 to 4:30pm. Date: 20 October 2009. Location: EHRC Board Room, 2nd floor, 3 More Street London, Riverside, Tooley Street, London. Agenda. 1. Welcome, introductions, and opening. 2. Potential amendments to the bill: definition of protected characteristics, harassment, single-sex services, insurance services, genuine occupational qualifications. 3. Equality Bill Guidance. 4. Strategy for influencing. 5. AOB / close.
May 19, 2025 at 8:46 AM