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samanthawrites.net
samantha riedel
@samanthawrites.net
1.3K followers 470 following 850 posts
very tired word girl @them.us | member, @transjournalists.org
pic by @phobia.bsky.social | banner by @jukeboxcomix.bsky.social

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samanthawrites.net
samantha riedel @samanthawrites.net · Apr 10
hi freaks! I'm Samantha Riedel. I write about transgender politics, art, & culture, mostly for @them.us. after a decade I think I almost have the hang of it...!

my website: samanthawrites.net
irregular newsletter: samanthaistyping.beehiiv.com/subscribe
latest Them work: www.them.us/contributor/...
samantha riedel is typing...
The online home of journalist and essayist Samantha Riedel. If you're reading this, it's already too late.
samanthawrites.net
Reposted by samantha riedel
phobia.bsky.social
This lil drawing I made for the first TDOR I was out for. So many complicated feelings with today. Hoping you are alive and well today.
A woman in a trans flag holds a small candle
November 20, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
gbbranstetter.bsky.social
On January 13, the Supreme Court is going to hear arguments over state laws targeting transgender girls in sports. This from @pablo.show and @motherjones.com is a great explainer on why the right-wing legal movement needs this issue to push trans people out of public life altogether
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
goodbyealma.bsky.social
For @thenation.com, I wrote about the Condé Nast Fired Four and what our fight means for the labor movement

www.thenation.com/article/acti...
If Condé Nast Can Illegally Fire Me, No Union Worker Is Safe
The Trump administration is making employers think they can ignore their legal obligations and trample on the rights of workers.
www.thenation.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:25 PM
samanthawrites.net
for anyone who hasn't read it, here's a #TDOR memorial for Rita Hester I wrote a few years ago: www.them.us/story/rita-h...
Remembering Rita Hester, Who Changed What It Means to Remember Trans Lives
Rita Hester’s 1998 murder inspired a movement, but it’s just as important to remember her life as her death.
www.them.us
November 20, 2025 at 4:28 PM
samanthawrites.net
yesterday was my 10 year anniversary of starting hrt! here's to another decade of biohacking my endocrine system 🎉
a photograph of a vial of estradiol valerate in a medicine cabinet, shot from below, light reflecting on the metal above it
November 19, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
lexmcmenamin.com
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue were really fortunate to complete our fundraising goal — the laid-off staffers at VIBE deserve the same support, as Black media outlets and journalists continue to be targeted and discriminated against in “austerity” measures
aiyanaish.bsky.social Aiyana Ishmael @aiyanaish.bsky.social · 12d
It was announced on October 16, 2025 that VIBE was "joining forces" with Rolling Stone. As a result, the majority of VIBE employees were laid off. If you have the means to give, this team could use the support! www.gofundme.com/f/support-vi...
Donate to Support VIBE Staff After Sudden Layoffs, organized by Mya Abraham
It was announced on October 16, 2025 that VIBE was "joining forces" with Rolling S… Mya Abraham needs your support for Support VIBE Staff After Sudden Layoffs
www.gofundme.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
samanthawrites.net
This is a *huge* win for the organizers within and without HRC who have been pushing the org to divest from weapons manufacturers for many many years. I was pessimistic tbh but I'm overjoyed to be wrong in this case!
November 11, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
lexmcmenamin.com
my first story @theintercept.com: organizers with @adalahjustice.bsky.social and @genderlib.com announced today that the Human Rights Campaign has ended its relationships with weapons manufacturers Northrop Grumman and Raytheon following years of protests and accusations of "pinkwashing"
Human Rights Campaign Rejects Weapons Company Sponsorships After Pressure Around Israel Genocide
LGBTQ+ group Human Rights Campaign ended sponsorships from arms firms Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, who profit off of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
theintercept.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
chantzy.bsky.social
It's not amnesia. It's reality avoidance and, in many cases, willful ignorance
nature.com Nature @nature.com · 17d
“I think there’s a collective amnesia right now about COVID-19”

SARS-CoV-2 infections have been rising in the past month, and limited surveillance is hampering health strategies

go.nature.com/3Lspwi0
COVID-19 is spreading again — how serious is it and what are the symptoms?
Nature - Limited COVID-19 surveillance data are hampering vaccination and health strategies, researchers say.
go.nature.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
cait.bsky.social
a few months ago I said "having generative AI handle absolutely anything with regards to healthcare is a nightmare and should be banned" and a bunch of people made fun of me and called me stupid. anyways,
r/ExpectationVsReality u/Additional-Simple858 • 3d Join Al 'doctor' said my back pain is depression, not a slipped disc. Now physical therapy won't get approved. Al Expectation We are reviewing claim #& submitted on 09/28/2025. Our records indicate the claim was filed under diagnosis code F32.9 (Depressive disorder, unspecified), while the corresponding prescription and referral history list treatment for lumbar disc herniation (back pain). Re: Incorrect Diagnosis in Record Hi Thank you for reaching out. We have reviewed your visit documentation and can confirm that the notes in question were generated using our Al scribe system. It appears the Al tool assigned diagnosis code F32.9 (Depressive disorder, unspecified), while your visit notes and treatment plan reference lumbar disc herniation (back pain). Per compliance policy, certain Al-generated fields cannot be manually updated by clinic staff and require vendor correction. We have escalated this to our vendor support team and opened ticket # . We'll notify you once we receive confirmation or correction from the vendor.
November 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
cartamonir.com
I want to be able to see you and hang out with you and kiss you and eat with you and go to the movies with you! And I'll be so much more likely to do those things if we all take care of ourselves. I'm not getting less disabled. Some of my friends have died. The only thing I can do is mask!
January 27, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
cartamonir.com
I see so many photos of my friends in crowded spaces without masks and I understand! I've done that too! I got really lucky and mostly avoided getting sick. But I also know that my odds of staying healthy are so much better if I'm careful and don't breathe unfiltered crowd air. It's better to mask!
January 27, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
cartamonir.com
Please wear a mask when you can. Even if you don't always, even if it's not the best mask, even if you didn't this morning and you'd feel silly if you did now... any amount of masking is better than none. Nobody is perfect, we're all doing our best, please mask and protect yourself and everyone ❤️
January 27, 2025 at 10:48 PM
samanthawrites.net
Text in the style of Zohran Mamdani's campaign signs reading "YOU KNOW I'M SUCH A FOOL for YOU"
November 9, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Reposted by samantha riedel
gbbranstetter.bsky.social
The story of this week is that millions of Americans were told in 2024 their lives would be improved if trans people's lives were made worse and I'm glad they're finally waking up to the fact that was never true to begin with--but trans people's lives are still getting worse
November 6, 2025 at 10:42 PM
samanthawrites.net
FYI this is just referring to the 2023 anti-homosexuality act, which is already (unfortunately) law. it's not a new bill. Reuters republished their original article about the act earlier today with a different URL slug and it got into the Google algorithm like it's fresh news.
lgbtqnation.com LGBTQ Nation @lgbtqnation.com · 19d
New bill would send people to prison for 10 years for identifying as LGBTQ+ in Uganda - buff.ly/An6QCx7
November 6, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
cartamonir.com
This fundraiser has stalled a bit, please donate! We're trying to raise a fucked up amount of money and it's so frustrating and scary. Please help my friend keep their kids!
morecarta.bsky.social More Carta @morecarta.bsky.social · Oct 12
I am fundraising for an anonymous friend, who is a trans sex worker and POC. They are at risk of losing custody of their children. Please, please donate. This is a situation that is painful and scary beyond description.

PLEASE SHARE GRAPHICS WIDELY

🫂 www.gofundme.com/f/help-keep-... 🫂
URGENT NEED! HELP KEEP FAMILY TOGETHER, DONATE NOW! We are raising funds for a pillar of our community: a trans sex worker of color who is at risk of losing custody of their children. While their lawyers are confident they can win this discriminatory case, funds are needed by February 2026. We believe they should no longer have to face this on their own, which is why we are asking for your support. Goal: $50,000 https://www.gofundme.com/help-keep-family-together-urgent Venmo: carta-monir Cashapp: $cartamonir Send donations with a red heart emoji to ensure funds are redirected to this SWER We are raising funds for a beloved community member; a trans sex worker of color who is at risk of losing custody of their children. For their safety and privacy they must remain anonymous, but this is a pillar of our community, loved and verified by those of us running this fundraiser. Our friend is facing a trial in February regarding the custody of their young children. The case against them is based on the fact that their primary form of income is sex work. Notably, the judge of the initial custody arrangement ruled that their job was not reason enough to restrict their parenting time years ago. Because of this precedent, their lawyer feels very confident they will win their upcoming case. To defend their rights to parent their own children, our friend needs to raise $75,000 by February 2026. This staggering amount of money is required by the court to cover the costs associated with a two day trial (lawyers fees, expert witnesses, the court reporter, depositions, creation of trial binders, the list goes on). If they cannot secure these funds by the February deadline, they will be forced to settle, resulting in severely reduced interaction with their children. We obviously do not want this to happen. Our friend has provided for themself and their children for years, fighting their custody battle in private while continuing to be an incredible parent, friend, and educator. They can no longer face this by themselves, which is why we are asking for your support. In our current political climate, we know that our friend's situation is especially precarious. This is a crucial moment to show solidarity with a community member who needs it more than ever.
November 6, 2025 at 7:06 PM
samanthawrites.net
sighhhhhh I should probably start writing my newsletter more often, huh.
November 6, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
goodbyealma.bsky.social
More important to me than my identity, I am also the Vice President of the NewsGuild of New York, and targeting me with a blatantly retaliatory termination like this feels like an egregious shot against our union and against media workers as a whole.
November 6, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
goodbyealma.bsky.social
I was acting as a union member and concerned employee when I questioned Stan Duncan, well within my legal rights.

I don't love pointing to my identity, but the company saying that I was behaving "aggressively" when I was calmly asking questions feels like a clear transphobic dog whistle.
November 6, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
goodbyealma.bsky.social
I'm one of the four fired employees. I was a writer & producer at Bon Appétit for nearly five years, during which I helped organize our union and sat on our bargaining committee.

I am, to my knowledge, the only trans woman in our union and the only trans woman on editorial who doesn't work at Them
maxtani.bsky.social max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 20d
New: Conde Nast fired four employees who were among a group that confronted the company's head of human resources on Wednesday over the decision to fold Teen Vogue into Vogue/recent cuts. Employees who were fired included journalists from the New Yorker, Wired, and Bon Appétit.
November 6, 2025 at 6:32 PM
samanthawrites.net
i'm not union eligible but i *am* in solidarity with Conde Union comrades against this repugnant union busting
condeunion.bsky.social Condé Union @condeunion.bsky.social · 20d
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
Statement from The NewsGuild of New York and Condé United on illegal firing of four union leaders who demanded answers about this week’s layoffs at Teen Vogue, other brands Late Wednesday night, Condé Nast’s VP of Labor Relations notified the Guild that the Company was immediately terminating four Condé United leaders for engaging in the protected concerted activity of gathering in their 1 World Trade Center office to demand answers on this week’s abrupt layoffs at multiple brands including WIRED and the consolidation at Teen Vogue. These egregious terminations are a flagrant breach of the Just Cause terms of our contract and an unprecedented violation of their federally protected rights as union members to participate in a collective action. Through these illegal terminations, Condé Nast management is attempting to intimidate and silence our members' advocacy for the courageous cultural and political journalism of Teen Vogue, as well as diverting attention away from the obvious lack of corporate leadership at the company. Condé United members illegally fired are: Alma Avalle: Writer, digital producer at Bon Appetit; NewsGuild of New York first vice president, trans activist, and union leader Jake Lahut: Wired senior reporter covering the Trump White House Jasper Lo: Senior fact checker at The New Yorker and US Army veteran: outgoing first vice chair of The New Yorker Union Ben Dewey: Videographer at Condé Nast Entertainment, former vice chair of the CNE unit “Management’s attempt at union-busting, using intimidation and grossly illegal tactics to try to suppress protected union activity, will not stand,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York. “The NewsGuild of New York has zero tolerance for bad bosses who harass, target and disrespect our fellow Guild members. We represent nearly 6,000 media workers across the tri-state area and we stand firmly in solidarity, ready to fight for the rights of our members illegally fired from their jobs at …
November 6, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
condeunion.bsky.social
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
Statement from The NewsGuild of New York and Condé United on illegal firing of four union leaders who demanded answers about this week’s layoffs at Teen Vogue, other brands Late Wednesday night, Condé Nast’s VP of Labor Relations notified the Guild that the Company was immediately terminating four Condé United leaders for engaging in the protected concerted activity of gathering in their 1 World Trade Center office to demand answers on this week’s abrupt layoffs at multiple brands including WIRED and the consolidation at Teen Vogue. These egregious terminations are a flagrant breach of the Just Cause terms of our contract and an unprecedented violation of their federally protected rights as union members to participate in a collective action. Through these illegal terminations, Condé Nast management is attempting to intimidate and silence our members' advocacy for the courageous cultural and political journalism of Teen Vogue, as well as diverting attention away from the obvious lack of corporate leadership at the company. Condé United members illegally fired are: Alma Avalle: Writer, digital producer at Bon Appetit; NewsGuild of New York first vice president, trans activist, and union leader Jake Lahut: Wired senior reporter covering the Trump White House Jasper Lo: Senior fact checker at The New Yorker and US Army veteran: outgoing first vice chair of The New Yorker Union Ben Dewey: Videographer at Condé Nast Entertainment, former vice chair of the CNE unit “Management’s attempt at union-busting, using intimidation and grossly illegal tactics to try to suppress protected union activity, will not stand,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York. “The NewsGuild of New York has zero tolerance for bad bosses who harass, target and disrespect our fellow Guild members. We represent nearly 6,000 media workers across the tri-state area and we stand firmly in solidarity, ready to fight for the rights of our members illegally fired from their jobs at …
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by samantha riedel
maegodhavemercy.com
FUUUUUUCK. Our power is out, and I thought I had until MONDAY to pay it, but apparently I’m just in the dark now. If you can help me out, it would mean more to me than you guys know.

PayPal.me/MaeGodHaveMercy
Cash.app/$MaeGodHaveMercy
Venmo.com/u/MaeGodHaveMercy
Pay Real Life Comics using PayPal.Me
Go to paypal.me/maegodhavemercy and type in the amount. Since it’s PayPal, it's easy and secure. Don’t have a PayPal account? No worries.
PayPal.me
November 6, 2025 at 4:49 PM
samanthawrites.net
sent this to an NYC friend last night and it turns out they picked up their first E script right before voting

TRANSGENDER FOR EVERYBODY
parkermolloy.com Parker Molloy @parkermolloy.com · 20d
Just going to save this to use as a reaction image whenever someone comes out as trans
November 6, 2025 at 4:45 PM