Sam Rutherford (he/him)
@echomikeromeo.bsky.social
Lecturer in LGBTQ+ History/History of Sexuality, University of Glasgow.
I wrote this book: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/teaching-gender-9780198937494
I wrote this book: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/teaching-gender-9780198937494
Pinned
The summer has seen anti-trans campaigns across the UK and US, alongside a crisis in healthcare. But what use could trans history have in these time, beyond proving 'we have always been here'?
Sam Rutherford @echomikeromeo reflects on Imagining Trans Futures:
www.historyworkshop....
Sam Rutherford @echomikeromeo reflects on Imagining Trans Futures:
www.historyworkshop....
I wrote something quite personal about what use trans history In These Times:
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
Our CEO was in The Herald yesterday commenting on last week’s Herald Awards.
“Across public life, animosity towards trans people is becoming more overt and more prominent”
Read the article here:
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/hol...
“Across public life, animosity towards trans people is becoming more overt and more prominent”
Read the article here:
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/hol...
November 25, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Our CEO was in The Herald yesterday commenting on last week’s Herald Awards.
“Across public life, animosity towards trans people is becoming more overt and more prominent”
Read the article here:
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/hol...
“Across public life, animosity towards trans people is becoming more overt and more prominent”
Read the article here:
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/hol...
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
Trans Safety Network are extremely concerned that DHSC are continuing to solicit input on trans healthcare from Bayswater and other anti trans groups after a reply to our previous concerns stated they would not work with groups who promote harmful practices or discriminatory views
Wes Streeting continues to ignore safeguarding concerns about parents group linked to abusive practices
Trans Safety Network has seen evidence Wes Streeting and the DHSC solicited feedback on a “puberty blocker risk form” from Bayswater Support Group and other anti-trans groups in September 2025, 6 mont...
transsafety.network
November 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Trans Safety Network are extremely concerned that DHSC are continuing to solicit input on trans healthcare from Bayswater and other anti trans groups after a reply to our previous concerns stated they would not work with groups who promote harmful practices or discriminatory views
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
“In Spain, the effort to revive Franco’s reputation has been accompanied by ostentatious philosemitism…. This blend of philosemitism and antisemitism has also become a feature of the Trump administration.” —@dankaufman70.bsky.social
‘We’ve Got to Kill and Kill and Kill’ | Dan Kaufman
As Francisco Franco’s reputation grows on the far right, a new history of his regime reminds us of its unrelenting violence toward Jews.
www.nybooks.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:11 PM
“In Spain, the effort to revive Franco’s reputation has been accompanied by ostentatious philosemitism…. This blend of philosemitism and antisemitism has also become a feature of the Trump administration.” —@dankaufman70.bsky.social
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
the multi-year lack of a truly functional manuscripts catalog at the BL is finally over!!!!
Latest update from @britishlibrary.bsky.social says they are launching a new version of their main catalogue on Monday 8 December and around that time also launch an interim version of their Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue. Hooray!
www.bl.uk/stories/news...
www.bl.uk/stories/news...
Restoring our services – November 2025 update
In the coming weeks and months we will be restoring a number of key functions.
www.bl.uk
November 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
the multi-year lack of a truly functional manuscripts catalog at the BL is finally over!!!!
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
Opportunity to work with other me on a funded PhD at Queens - may suit anyone interested in gender, history of the child and family in 20thC Ireland. Happy to chat to anyone thinking of it!
Funded PhD opportunities at QUB:
'Childcare provision in late twentieth-century Northern Ireland (1960s-1990s)'
www.qub.ac.uk/courses/post...
'Childcare provision in late twentieth-century Northern Ireland (1960s-1990s)'
www.qub.ac.uk/courses/post...
REF: DfEHIS - HIS-PHD | Courses | Queen's University Belfast
www.qub.ac.uk
November 21, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Opportunity to work with other me on a funded PhD at Queens - may suit anyone interested in gender, history of the child and family in 20thC Ireland. Happy to chat to anyone thinking of it!
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
I'm glad to have signed this statement in support of queer and trans staff at the National Library of Scotland, who by the sounds of it are going through an awful time at the moment: docs.google.com/document/d/e...
November 19, 2025 at 10:15 AM
I'm glad to have signed this statement in support of queer and trans staff at the National Library of Scotland, who by the sounds of it are going through an awful time at the moment: docs.google.com/document/d/e...
University of Glasgow Library has a remarkably generous visiting research fellowship scheme - come hang out with me in Glasgow! Get funded! www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/li...
University of Glasgow - MyGlasgow - Library - Research Fellows
www.gla.ac.uk
November 20, 2025 at 11:22 AM
University of Glasgow Library has a remarkably generous visiting research fellowship scheme - come hang out with me in Glasgow! Get funded! www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/li...
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
"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 19, 2025 at 3:54 PM
"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...
I had been really delighted to speak about Scottish queer and trans history at a Library event last year. It will of course be impossible for me to work again in the future with an institution that appears to be encouraging discrimination against people like me.
I'm glad to have signed this statement in support of queer and trans staff at the National Library of Scotland, who by the sounds of it are going through an awful time at the moment: docs.google.com/document/d/e...
November 19, 2025 at 3:42 PM
I had been really delighted to speak about Scottish queer and trans history at a Library event last year. It will of course be impossible for me to work again in the future with an institution that appears to be encouraging discrimination against people like me.
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
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...
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
Happy to support this. The NLS is a place of research for many different groups. To make any one of these groups unwelcome sets a dangerous example, it also puts the frontline staff of the library at risk. 1/2
I'm glad to have signed this statement in support of queer and trans staff at the National Library of Scotland, who by the sounds of it are going through an awful time at the moment: docs.google.com/document/d/e...
November 19, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Happy to support this. The NLS is a place of research for many different groups. To make any one of these groups unwelcome sets a dangerous example, it also puts the frontline staff of the library at risk. 1/2
I think this statement is framed as coming from people based in Scotland - but perhaps could be read so as to include people who have a professional investment in Scotland's copyright deposit library?
November 19, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I think this statement is framed as coming from people based in Scotland - but perhaps could be read so as to include people who have a professional investment in Scotland's copyright deposit library?
As historians, we depend on libraries and library staff, and we owe it to our library colleagues to show up for them. It would be great to see more historians sign!
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
As historians, we depend on libraries and library staff, and we owe it to our library colleagues to show up for them. It would be great to see more historians sign!
I'm glad to have signed this statement in support of queer and trans staff at the National Library of Scotland, who by the sounds of it are going through an awful time at the moment: docs.google.com/document/d/e...
November 19, 2025 at 10:15 AM
I'm glad to have signed this statement in support of queer and trans staff at the National Library of Scotland, who by the sounds of it are going through an awful time at the moment: docs.google.com/document/d/e...
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
Argonaut Books needs your help 📣
Waterstones are set to open a store less than 100m from the indie bookshop's front door.
Full info on @argonautbooks.bsky.social's Insta: www.instagram.com/p/DRMULI1jCI...
Waterstones are set to open a store less than 100m from the indie bookshop's front door.
Full info on @argonautbooks.bsky.social's Insta: www.instagram.com/p/DRMULI1jCI...
November 18, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Argonaut Books needs your help 📣
Waterstones are set to open a store less than 100m from the indie bookshop's front door.
Full info on @argonautbooks.bsky.social's Insta: www.instagram.com/p/DRMULI1jCI...
Waterstones are set to open a store less than 100m from the indie bookshop's front door.
Full info on @argonautbooks.bsky.social's Insta: www.instagram.com/p/DRMULI1jCI...
Solidarity with Edinburgh colleagues!!
Don't cross the picket line!
We are on strike because of UoE's budget cuts that have and will affect students and staff.
We are striking for a better university, join us!
#StopTheCuts
We are on strike because of UoE's budget cuts that have and will affect students and staff.
We are striking for a better university, join us!
#StopTheCuts
November 18, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Solidarity with Edinburgh colleagues!!
Congratulations!!
November 18, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Congratulations!!
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
From a statement from faith leaders at Broadview this morning:
"God does not bless cages. God does not sanction abductions. God demands freedom."
"God does not bless cages. God does not sanction abductions. God demands freedom."
November 15, 2025 at 1:00 AM
From a statement from faith leaders at Broadview this morning:
"God does not bless cages. God does not sanction abductions. God demands freedom."
"God does not bless cages. God does not sanction abductions. God demands freedom."
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
“Is Tear Gas as British as Tea? An Examination of the UK’s Historical Role in the Marketing & Deployment of Tear Gas” - Seminar with Prof Anna Feigenbaum, Thursday 20 November, 5.15pm, Humanities Research Hub, 1 University Gardens @uofglasgow.bsky.social. Link to details & sign up in the next post.
November 14, 2025 at 9:19 AM
“Is Tear Gas as British as Tea? An Examination of the UK’s Historical Role in the Marketing & Deployment of Tear Gas” - Seminar with Prof Anna Feigenbaum, Thursday 20 November, 5.15pm, Humanities Research Hub, 1 University Gardens @uofglasgow.bsky.social. Link to details & sign up in the next post.
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
1/🧵 Today at 10:30am, High Court in London, Court 1, before Mr Justice Swift, R (Good Law Project, on the application of) v Equality and Human Rights Commission, a rolled-up hearing for judicial review of EHRC’s “interim update” (Day 1 of 2)
No live reporting, sorry.
No live reporting, sorry.
November 12, 2025 at 10:40 AM
1/🧵 Today at 10:30am, High Court in London, Court 1, before Mr Justice Swift, R (Good Law Project, on the application of) v Equality and Human Rights Commission, a rolled-up hearing for judicial review of EHRC’s “interim update” (Day 1 of 2)
No live reporting, sorry.
No live reporting, sorry.
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
Early last year I wrote about the real problems with GIDS that Newsnight failed (or didn't care) to address. transwrites.world/nhs-puberty-...
November 12, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Early last year I wrote about the real problems with GIDS that Newsnight failed (or didn't care) to address. transwrites.world/nhs-puberty-...
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
I wrote this about fighting Section 28 for National Galleries Scotland, part of the brilliant 'Resistance' exhibition - there are some really interesting blogs on there too:
www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-arti...
For info @womenslibrary.bsky.social
www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-arti...
For info @womenslibrary.bsky.social
Words of Resistance | Fighting Section 28 and Changing Hearts and Minds by Sue John | National Galleries of Scotland
Continuing our Words of Resistance series, feminist and lesbian activist Sue John, looks back on fighting Section 28, repealing the law and changing hearts and minds 25 years on.
www.nationalgalleries.org
October 14, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I wrote this about fighting Section 28 for National Galleries Scotland, part of the brilliant 'Resistance' exhibition - there are some really interesting blogs on there too:
www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-arti...
For info @womenslibrary.bsky.social
www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-arti...
For info @womenslibrary.bsky.social
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
Esther Ghey is kind of allergic to talking about the transphobic murder of her daughter as a transphobic murder, huh
Phones did not murder Brianna Ghey in cold blood.
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Esther Ghey is kind of allergic to talking about the transphobic murder of her daughter as a transphobic murder, huh
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
What an amazing essay from the former chair of Africana Studies at Bowdoin. I'll share a few sections in the reply but seriously, read the whole thing. It's all insightful and beautifully written.
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:11 PM
What an amazing essay from the former chair of Africana Studies at Bowdoin. I'll share a few sections in the reply but seriously, read the whole thing. It's all insightful and beautifully written.
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Reposted by Sam Rutherford (he/him)
Not enough attention is being paid to the effective closure of the bulk of one of the 2 or 3 most important public archives for modern British history. A terrible own goal for the BBC as a public-service agency.
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
WAC wrong-headedness - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Some of you will know that I have been very involved over the past months with attempts to reverse the wrong-headed changes to access at the BBC Written Archives Centre (above, with...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Not enough attention is being paid to the effective closure of the bulk of one of the 2 or 3 most important public archives for modern British history. A terrible own goal for the BBC as a public-service agency.