Thomas M. Pflanz
@thomasmpflanz.bsky.social
Doing queer Egyptologies
Research Volunteer (Egyptian Collection) at the Field Museum of Natural History
27, queer, autistic
UChicago - MAPH 25'
Rutgers-NB '22
Tale Keeper for Tales from Grevelon
https://www.thomasmanfredpflanz.com/
Research Volunteer (Egyptian Collection) at the Field Museum of Natural History
27, queer, autistic
UChicago - MAPH 25'
Rutgers-NB '22
Tale Keeper for Tales from Grevelon
https://www.thomasmanfredpflanz.com/
Pinned
Well hi, Bluesky!
I'm an Egyptology student studying non-elite, queer, and disabled populations in ancient Egypt, both how these populations were considered in elite sources and how these populations recieved those sources.
I'm also an avid TTRPG player, theater artist, and baker!
I'm an Egyptology student studying non-elite, queer, and disabled populations in ancient Egypt, both how these populations were considered in elite sources and how these populations recieved those sources.
I'm also an avid TTRPG player, theater artist, and baker!
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
🚨 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 Thomas M. Pflanz
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
…and that’s problematic as a discourse because it negates any theory of change. If you can’t articulate that things are getting worse, you can’t strategize about how to make them better.
there’s a subset of people who, if you point out something bad happening now, will basically reply “it was always like this and anyone who disagrees is just privileged.” it parades as savvy but nine times out of ten it’s just an ahistorical oversimplification.
"they've always been like this" is always a tempting savvy take but it is just not true that Republican staffers were 100 percent open Nazis back in 2004, or hell even 2014. they just weren't
October 15, 2025 at 10:32 PM
…and that’s problematic as a discourse because it negates any theory of change. If you can’t articulate that things are getting worse, you can’t strategize about how to make them better.
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
irdk if highlighted quote posts work for promoting anything other than romance but!
October 15, 2025 at 11:12 PM
irdk if highlighted quote posts work for promoting anything other than romance but!
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
the whole thread, but especially this. especially this.
students need basic religious literacy to make sense of all *this* and how we got here.
students need basic religious literacy to make sense of all *this* and how we got here.
I personally don’t think disciplines need to be “relevant” to be important. That said, a day doesn’t pass—esp these days!—when there isn’t something in the news that Religious Studies training/coursework could help one understand
September 5, 2025 at 12:24 AM
the whole thread, but especially this. especially this.
students need basic religious literacy to make sense of all *this* and how we got here.
students need basic religious literacy to make sense of all *this* and how we got here.
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
Why are so many university cuts targeting Religious Studies…? New article in CHE quoting @vox-magica.bsky.social & others = www.chronicle.com/article/why-...
Why Religious Studies Is in Trouble
As colleges plan to make cuts, departments in this field are finding themselves on the chopping block.
www.chronicle.com
September 4, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Why are so many university cuts targeting Religious Studies…? New article in CHE quoting @vox-magica.bsky.social & others = www.chronicle.com/article/why-...
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
i love science fiction for two reasons: its exploration of the unknown, and its exploration of the known
August 13, 2025 at 3:04 PM
i love science fiction for two reasons: its exploration of the unknown, and its exploration of the known
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
If I have to explain to you why it's a bad idea to use a machine that makes shit up 15-80% of the time AND destroys the environment AND contributes to rising fascism and genocide AND puts brilliant skillful creatives out of work by stealing their work, then we're already speaking different languages
August 6, 2025 at 1:01 AM
If I have to explain to you why it's a bad idea to use a machine that makes shit up 15-80% of the time AND destroys the environment AND contributes to rising fascism and genocide AND puts brilliant skillful creatives out of work by stealing their work, then we're already speaking different languages
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
You cannot address the starvation in Gaza without addressing the fact that Israel also destroyed all agriculture and fishing as part of this engineered famine. It's not just cutting off food aid, it is destroying all internal capability to feed people.
July 28, 2025 at 8:54 PM
You cannot address the starvation in Gaza without addressing the fact that Israel also destroyed all agriculture and fishing as part of this engineered famine. It's not just cutting off food aid, it is destroying all internal capability to feed people.
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
the majority of the references to "embracing" and "kissing" in the akkadian language canon (edēru and našāqu) are either
- between sexual partners
- between family members (eg, a man and his wife, or his son)
and between gilgameš and enkidu
- between sexual partners
- between family members (eg, a man and his wife, or his son)
and between gilgameš and enkidu
broke: gilgameš and enkidu kissed each other just because in mesopotamia platonic bro friends kissed each other
woke: gilgameš and enkidu kissed because they were in romantic love
bespoke: gilgameš and enkidu kissed because they considered each other close beloved family, like a husband and wife
woke: gilgameš and enkidu kissed because they were in romantic love
bespoke: gilgameš and enkidu kissed because they considered each other close beloved family, like a husband and wife
June 10, 2024 at 6:57 PM
the majority of the references to "embracing" and "kissing" in the akkadian language canon (edēru and našāqu) are either
- between sexual partners
- between family members (eg, a man and his wife, or his son)
and between gilgameš and enkidu
- between sexual partners
- between family members (eg, a man and his wife, or his son)
and between gilgameš and enkidu
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
also the only attestation the Chicago Assyrian Dictionary gives for the Gt stem reciprocal meaning "they kissed each other" is from the gilgameš epic, which is interesting. i have trouble believing that's the only time it was ever used in the entire corpus, but the CAD doesn't provide any others
the majority of the references to "embracing" and "kissing" in the akkadian language canon (edēru and našāqu) are either
- between sexual partners
- between family members (eg, a man and his wife, or his son)
and between gilgameš and enkidu
- between sexual partners
- between family members (eg, a man and his wife, or his son)
and between gilgameš and enkidu
broke: gilgameš and enkidu kissed each other just because in mesopotamia platonic bro friends kissed each other
woke: gilgameš and enkidu kissed because they were in romantic love
bespoke: gilgameš and enkidu kissed because they considered each other close beloved family, like a husband and wife
woke: gilgameš and enkidu kissed because they were in romantic love
bespoke: gilgameš and enkidu kissed because they considered each other close beloved family, like a husband and wife
June 10, 2024 at 7:13 PM
also the only attestation the Chicago Assyrian Dictionary gives for the Gt stem reciprocal meaning "they kissed each other" is from the gilgameš epic, which is interesting. i have trouble believing that's the only time it was ever used in the entire corpus, but the CAD doesn't provide any others
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
Again, for my colleagues in the heritage sector (including archaeology and museums) - we are not disconnected from the genocide, we are integral to it.
If you’re not speaking out, you’re complicit in the further weaponisation of our areas of expertise to exterminate an entire people.
If you’re not speaking out, you’re complicit in the further weaponisation of our areas of expertise to exterminate an entire people.
Israel 'racing' to wipe out Gaza, heritage minister says - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israel-racing-wipe-out-gaza-heritage-minister-says
Israel 'racing' to wipe out Gaza, heritage minister says
<article data-history-node-id="426294" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israel-racing-wipe-out-gaza-heritage-minister-says" class="live-blog-update default clearfix">
<h2>
<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israel-racing-wipe-out-gaza-heritage-minister-says" rel="bookmark">
<span class="field field-title">Israel 'racing' to wipe out Gaza, heritage minister says</span>
</a>
</h2>
<div class="content">
<div class="field field-field-text"><p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israeli</a> Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu said on Thursday that the government is “racing ahead for Gaza to be wiped out”, as daily air strikes continue to kill dozens of Palestinians.</p>
<p>“Thank God, we are wiping out this evil,” he said during an interview with Haredi radio station Kol Barama.</p>
<p>“All Gaza will be Jewish,” he added. </p>
<p>Eliyahu, a member of the far-right Jewish Power party led by Itamar Ben Gvir, also said that “there is no hunger in Gaza".</p>
<p>“But we don’t need to be concerned with hunger in the strip,” he continued. “Let the world worry about it.”</p>
<p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/over-100-groups-sound-alarm-colleagues-starvation-gaza" target="_blank">Over 100 humanitarian agencies signed a letter </a>on Wednesday sounding the alarm over Israel-imposed starvation in <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/gaza-under-attack" target="_blank">Gaza</a>, where at least 45 Palestinians have died from malnutrition over the past week, according to the Palestinian health ministry. </p>
<p>Eliyahu’s comments drew immediate criticism from Israel’s ambassador to the <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/us" target="_blank">US</a>, Yechiel Leiter, who urged the minister to retract his statement during a tense private phone call, according to the Jerusalem Post. </p>
<h3>Read more: <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-minister-heritage-says-israel-racing-ahead-gaza-be-wiped-out">Israel 'racing' to wipe out Gaza, heritage minister says</a></h3>
<figure role="group" class="media-block">
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<div alt="Israeli Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu has previously said that using nuclear weapons in Gaza was an option (Screengrab/X)" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c0ea721c-da13-49a9-a686-351f134217d3" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/Screenshot%202023-11-05%20at%2009.57.53.jpeg" width="1400" height="769" alt="Israeli Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu has previously said that using nuclear weapons in Gaza was an option (Screengrab/X)" typeof="foaf:Image" fetchpriority="high">
</div>
<figcaption>Israeli Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu has previously said that using nuclear weapons in Gaza was an option (Screengrab/X)</figcaption>
</div>
</figure>
<p><span style="background: url("https://www.middleeasteye.net/modules/contrib/ckeditor/vendor/plugins/widget/images/handle.png") rgba(220, 220, 220, 0.5); top: -15px; left: 0px;"><img height="15" role="presentation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" loading="lazy"></span></p>
</div>
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</article>
www.middleeasteye.net
July 26, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Again, for my colleagues in the heritage sector (including archaeology and museums) - we are not disconnected from the genocide, we are integral to it.
If you’re not speaking out, you’re complicit in the further weaponisation of our areas of expertise to exterminate an entire people.
If you’re not speaking out, you’re complicit in the further weaponisation of our areas of expertise to exterminate an entire people.
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
Well hi, Bluesky!
I'm an Egyptology student studying non-elite, queer, and disabled populations in ancient Egypt, both how these populations were considered in elite sources and how these populations recieved those sources.
I'm also an avid TTRPG player, theater artist, and baker!
I'm an Egyptology student studying non-elite, queer, and disabled populations in ancient Egypt, both how these populations were considered in elite sources and how these populations recieved those sources.
I'm also an avid TTRPG player, theater artist, and baker!
December 12, 2024 at 5:17 AM
Well hi, Bluesky!
I'm an Egyptology student studying non-elite, queer, and disabled populations in ancient Egypt, both how these populations were considered in elite sources and how these populations recieved those sources.
I'm also an avid TTRPG player, theater artist, and baker!
I'm an Egyptology student studying non-elite, queer, and disabled populations in ancient Egypt, both how these populations were considered in elite sources and how these populations recieved those sources.
I'm also an avid TTRPG player, theater artist, and baker!
Big News - after two years of intense study at the University of Chicago, in the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities with my focus in Egyptology and subaltern histories, I have my MA! I am so deeply excited for what my future as an Egyptologist holds!
June 14, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Big News - after two years of intense study at the University of Chicago, in the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities with my focus in Egyptology and subaltern histories, I have my MA! I am so deeply excited for what my future as an Egyptologist holds!
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
I am thrilled to say that me and Thomas Dowson will be hosting a session at TAG 2025 titled '25 Years of 'Queer Archaeologies' - Where do we need to go?'.
We seek submissions that engage with queer archaeology in its broadest sense.
More details here: tag2025.hosted.york.ac.uk/en/call-for-...
We seek submissions that engage with queer archaeology in its broadest sense.
More details here: tag2025.hosted.york.ac.uk/en/call-for-...
June 2, 2025 at 10:07 AM
I am thrilled to say that me and Thomas Dowson will be hosting a session at TAG 2025 titled '25 Years of 'Queer Archaeologies' - Where do we need to go?'.
We seek submissions that engage with queer archaeology in its broadest sense.
More details here: tag2025.hosted.york.ac.uk/en/call-for-...
We seek submissions that engage with queer archaeology in its broadest sense.
More details here: tag2025.hosted.york.ac.uk/en/call-for-...
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
Always remember folks, the call to "ban pronouns" is just the world's thinest veiled dog whistle for banning trans people. It's not about speech or anything like that, it's about eradicating trans people.
May 25, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Always remember folks, the call to "ban pronouns" is just the world's thinest veiled dog whistle for banning trans people. It's not about speech or anything like that, it's about eradicating trans people.
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
I SAID I LOVED YOU AND I WANTED
GENOCIDE TO STOP
It is always a good morning for June Jordan.
GENOCIDE TO STOP
It is always a good morning for June Jordan.
May 19, 2025 at 11:24 AM
I SAID I LOVED YOU AND I WANTED
GENOCIDE TO STOP
It is always a good morning for June Jordan.
GENOCIDE TO STOP
It is always a good morning for June Jordan.
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
Newspapers, pundits and politicians are all doing U turns in how they talk about Israel's genocide. I don't buy any of it for a second. Anyone with a single brain cell in autumn 2023 knew what was going to happen. The footage has been available to anyone with a phone the entire time.
May 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Newspapers, pundits and politicians are all doing U turns in how they talk about Israel's genocide. I don't buy any of it for a second. Anyone with a single brain cell in autumn 2023 knew what was going to happen. The footage has been available to anyone with a phone the entire time.
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
Every Harry Potter book or shirt you buy directly funds the persecution of trans people.
There's absolutely no excuse to support anything Harry Potter anymore unless you hate trans people.
There's absolutely no excuse to support anything Harry Potter anymore unless you hate trans people.
May 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Every Harry Potter book or shirt you buy directly funds the persecution of trans people.
There's absolutely no excuse to support anything Harry Potter anymore unless you hate trans people.
There's absolutely no excuse to support anything Harry Potter anymore unless you hate trans people.
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
🧵 Things have been so busy that I missed out on the amazing new data that in February 2025
▪️9.3% of ppl identify as LGBTQ.
It is inevitable that that figure will rise, given that the numbers have risen even as anti-LGBTQ sentiment has risen dramatically. [1]
▪️9.3% of ppl identify as LGBTQ.
It is inevitable that that figure will rise, given that the numbers have risen even as anti-LGBTQ sentiment has risen dramatically. [1]
May 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
🧵 Things have been so busy that I missed out on the amazing new data that in February 2025
▪️9.3% of ppl identify as LGBTQ.
It is inevitable that that figure will rise, given that the numbers have risen even as anti-LGBTQ sentiment has risen dramatically. [1]
▪️9.3% of ppl identify as LGBTQ.
It is inevitable that that figure will rise, given that the numbers have risen even as anti-LGBTQ sentiment has risen dramatically. [1]
Reposted by Thomas M. Pflanz
Send this to your friends and enemies that use generative AI.
May 11, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Send this to your friends and enemies that use generative AI.