Tony Bird
@tonybirdlondon.bsky.social
🏳️🌈 🇪🇺 ✅ Socialism and sequins. HIV+ he/him.
✊ 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🏳️⚧️
✊ 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🏳️⚧️
Pinned
Thirty years since my HIV diagnosis today.
Thirty years since I was rushed to hospital weighing seven and half stone (48 kilos) and told I had an AIDS defining illness and six months to live.
I was 28.
It's been a bloody long six months
Thirty years since I was rushed to hospital weighing seven and half stone (48 kilos) and told I had an AIDS defining illness and six months to live.
I was 28.
It's been a bloody long six months
Reposted by Tony Bird
November 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Reposted by Tony Bird
Proud to be taking part in this. There are so many wonderful things by so many wonderful artists that you can bid for! For my part, I’m giving away a first edition copy of THIS QUEER ARAB FAMILY, signed by me.
Place your bids now! app.galabid.com/creatives4su...
Place your bids now! app.galabid.com/creatives4su...
THE CREATIVES4SUDAN AUCTION IS NOW LIVE!!!!
THE CREATIVES4SUDAN AUCTION IS NOW LIVE!!!!
THE CREATIVES4SUDAN AUCTION IS NOW LIVE!!!!
app.galabid.com/creatives4su...
THE CREATIVES4SUDAN AUCTION IS NOW LIVE!!!!
THE CREATIVES4SUDAN AUCTION IS NOW LIVE!!!!
app.galabid.com/creatives4su...
November 27, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Proud to be taking part in this. There are so many wonderful things by so many wonderful artists that you can bid for! For my part, I’m giving away a first edition copy of THIS QUEER ARAB FAMILY, signed by me.
Place your bids now! app.galabid.com/creatives4su...
Place your bids now! app.galabid.com/creatives4su...
Reposted by Tony Bird
Here on Bluesky, the image from our appeal campaign page got flagged as "adult content" so every time we link it we have to use this thumbnail instead.
Support the Vagina Museum in a world where billionaires censor education and art based on ideology www.gofundme.com/f/btscc2
Support the Vagina Museum in a world where billionaires censor education and art based on ideology www.gofundme.com/f/btscc2
November 27, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Here on Bluesky, the image from our appeal campaign page got flagged as "adult content" so every time we link it we have to use this thumbnail instead.
Support the Vagina Museum in a world where billionaires censor education and art based on ideology www.gofundme.com/f/btscc2
Support the Vagina Museum in a world where billionaires censor education and art based on ideology www.gofundme.com/f/btscc2
Reposted by Tony Bird
On this day, Indigenous people and allies confront the settler-colonial narratives of “Thanksgiving,” observing it instead as a National Day of Mourning.
November 27, 2025 at 3:12 PM
On this day, Indigenous people and allies confront the settler-colonial narratives of “Thanksgiving,” observing it instead as a National Day of Mourning.
Reposted by Tony Bird
The tragic Hong Kong fire is still burning, yet 3 construction company executives have been arrested. Here in the UK, 8 years on from Grenfell - zero arrests.
November 27, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The tragic Hong Kong fire is still burning, yet 3 construction company executives have been arrested. Here in the UK, 8 years on from Grenfell - zero arrests.
Reposted by Tony Bird
This house tax pretending is making me more insane than usual because as a renter I’ve had to move every 1-3 years just as standard because rents always rise. And no one cares. House owners get a tiny fraction of that precarity and suddenly it’s the worst thing that’s ever happened
November 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM
This house tax pretending is making me more insane than usual because as a renter I’ve had to move every 1-3 years just as standard because rents always rise. And no one cares. House owners get a tiny fraction of that precarity and suddenly it’s the worst thing that’s ever happened
Paywall free version
archive.ph/wdhs5
archive.ph/wdhs5
Even Brexiters are beginning to acknowledge the damage Brexit has done to the economy, and Westminster needs to catch up. Facing reality is the first step towards repairing the harm and rebuilding a serious relationship with Europe.
We Brexiteers must acknowledge the costs of leaving Europe
Breaking free from the EU has undoubtedly deepened the UK’s malaise, and it’s no use denying it
www.thetimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Paywall free version
archive.ph/wdhs5
archive.ph/wdhs5
Reposted by Tony Bird
Oh well done. People have finally worked out what fiscal drag is, but let’s applaud lifting the 2-child cap and ignore every thing else that is making people poorer.
Income tax threshold freeze will hit poorer households harder, experts say
Income tax threshold freeze will hit poorer households harder, experts say
Move will have greater impact on living standards of taxpayers in bottom half of income scale, thinktanks say
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Oh well done. People have finally worked out what fiscal drag is, but let’s applaud lifting the 2-child cap and ignore every thing else that is making people poorer.
In the late 80s I was travelling around Peru by train.
Food vendors would board the train at each station to sell their wares.
One was selling a type of bread called called "manna".
Food vendor: Manna... Manna...
Everyone in the carriage: Do-doo do-do-doo
FV: Manna... Manna...
EitC: Doo do-do doo
Food vendors would board the train at each station to sell their wares.
One was selling a type of bread called called "manna".
Food vendor: Manna... Manna...
Everyone in the carriage: Do-doo do-do-doo
FV: Manna... Manna...
EitC: Doo do-do doo
Today is the 56th anniversary of the first performance of Mahna Mahna on Sesame Street. You’re familiar with it by now, of course, but... well, it never hurts to be reminded, does it?
Sesame Street - Mahna Mahna (1969)
YouTube video by Tiny Dancer
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 9:49 AM
In the late 80s I was travelling around Peru by train.
Food vendors would board the train at each station to sell their wares.
One was selling a type of bread called called "manna".
Food vendor: Manna... Manna...
Everyone in the carriage: Do-doo do-do-doo
FV: Manna... Manna...
EitC: Doo do-do doo
Food vendors would board the train at each station to sell their wares.
One was selling a type of bread called called "manna".
Food vendor: Manna... Manna...
Everyone in the carriage: Do-doo do-do-doo
FV: Manna... Manna...
EitC: Doo do-do doo
Reposted by Tony Bird
This country seems to have a bottomless well of sympathy towards asset rich pensioners and only contempt for anyone under 50 who is putting half their income into paying their landlords fourth mortgage and a big chunk of the rest into skyrocketing bills.
Look it’s never nice to find yourself in a position of having to move when you don’t want to but given that due to the volatility of the London housing market I have had to move FIVE TIMES since 2020 I’m struggling to feel very sympathetic towards people whose ’problem’ is a paid off 2mil property.
November 27, 2025 at 9:11 AM
This country seems to have a bottomless well of sympathy towards asset rich pensioners and only contempt for anyone under 50 who is putting half their income into paying their landlords fourth mortgage and a big chunk of the rest into skyrocketing bills.
Reposted by Tony Bird
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Reposted by Tony Bird
Calling all good people of BlueSky, @goodlawproject.org is raising money for their very serious legal challenge to Elon's Twitter/X.
If anyone has a spare couple of quid they could contribute?
Details of the court case and a donation link:
goodlawproject.org/crowdfunder/...
If anyone has a spare couple of quid they could contribute?
Details of the court case and a donation link:
goodlawproject.org/crowdfunder/...
X is not above the law
goodlawproject.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Calling all good people of BlueSky, @goodlawproject.org is raising money for their very serious legal challenge to Elon's Twitter/X.
If anyone has a spare couple of quid they could contribute?
Details of the court case and a donation link:
goodlawproject.org/crowdfunder/...
If anyone has a spare couple of quid they could contribute?
Details of the court case and a donation link:
goodlawproject.org/crowdfunder/...
Reposted by Tony Bird
metro.co.uk/2025/11/26/k...
Why are we hearing about this now if it happened a few years ago?
Since coming to office AFTER the attack on his niece, Starmer's culture war anti-LGBTQ+ words and policies have got him and Labour banned from every Pride. He has personally made ...
Why are we hearing about this now if it happened a few years ago?
Since coming to office AFTER the attack on his niece, Starmer's culture war anti-LGBTQ+ words and policies have got him and Labour banned from every Pride. He has personally made ...
Keir Starmer's fury after niece and wife 'beaten by blokes for holding hands'
'I thought the days of beating up people because they were gay were well behind us.'
metro.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 7:51 AM
metro.co.uk/2025/11/26/k...
Why are we hearing about this now if it happened a few years ago?
Since coming to office AFTER the attack on his niece, Starmer's culture war anti-LGBTQ+ words and policies have got him and Labour banned from every Pride. He has personally made ...
Why are we hearing about this now if it happened a few years ago?
Since coming to office AFTER the attack on his niece, Starmer's culture war anti-LGBTQ+ words and policies have got him and Labour banned from every Pride. He has personally made ...
Reposted by Tony Bird
"[...] the Labour leader said the homophobic attack left him worried for the future of the UK"
*clears throat*
I HAVE OPINIONS
metro.co.uk/2025/11/26/k...
*clears throat*
I HAVE OPINIONS
metro.co.uk/2025/11/26/k...
Keir Starmer's fury after neice and wife 'beaten by blokes for holding hands'
'I thought the days of beating up people because they were gay were well behind us.'
metro.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 10:32 PM
"[...] the Labour leader said the homophobic attack left him worried for the future of the UK"
*clears throat*
I HAVE OPINIONS
metro.co.uk/2025/11/26/k...
*clears throat*
I HAVE OPINIONS
metro.co.uk/2025/11/26/k...
Reposted by Tony Bird
🚨 BREAKING: Chancellor continues freeze on housing benefit – missing a crucial opportunity to prevent homelessness.
As rents continue to rise, this will directly lead to homelessness for many of us. #Budget2025
As rents continue to rise, this will directly lead to homelessness for many of us. #Budget2025
November 26, 2025 at 5:31 PM
🚨 BREAKING: Chancellor continues freeze on housing benefit – missing a crucial opportunity to prevent homelessness.
As rents continue to rise, this will directly lead to homelessness for many of us. #Budget2025
As rents continue to rise, this will directly lead to homelessness for many of us. #Budget2025
Reposted by Tony Bird
👇
OBR says lower net migration will hurt overall productivity
November 26, 2025 at 5:59 PM
👇
Reposted by Tony Bird
Ah the MP who did a gambling ad at a foodbank
November 20, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Ah the MP who did a gambling ad at a foodbank
Hey! Keir Starmer! Wes Streeting!
This is how it's done
This is how it's done
Interviewer: “What do you say to trans kids who are starting their transition?”
Zohran Mamdani: "We're gonna make this a city that doesn't just protect trans kids, but also celebrates and cherishes them."
Zohran Mamdani: "We're gonna make this a city that doesn't just protect trans kids, but also celebrates and cherishes them."
November 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Hey! Keir Starmer! Wes Streeting!
This is how it's done
This is how it's done
Reposted by Tony Bird
We're delighted to announce we'll be publishing @sachacoward.bsky.social's next book, Space Invaders: A Queer History of Video Games, in 2027! Sharing the intertwined histories of videogames and those who have lived & loved outside of the norm, told from the perspective of a lifelong gamer. #booksky
November 26, 2025 at 2:20 PM
We're delighted to announce we'll be publishing @sachacoward.bsky.social's next book, Space Invaders: A Queer History of Video Games, in 2027! Sharing the intertwined histories of videogames and those who have lived & loved outside of the norm, told from the perspective of a lifelong gamer. #booksky
Reposted by Tony Bird
HANDCUFFED PENSIONERS
Arrests ongoing outside the Royal Courts of Justice as they protests peacefully against the proscribing of direct action group Palestine Action.
This pensioner had his walking sticks removed and was handcuffed. Arrested under the Terrorism Act.
Arrests ongoing outside the Royal Courts of Justice as they protests peacefully against the proscribing of direct action group Palestine Action.
This pensioner had his walking sticks removed and was handcuffed. Arrested under the Terrorism Act.
November 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM
HANDCUFFED PENSIONERS
Arrests ongoing outside the Royal Courts of Justice as they protests peacefully against the proscribing of direct action group Palestine Action.
This pensioner had his walking sticks removed and was handcuffed. Arrested under the Terrorism Act.
Arrests ongoing outside the Royal Courts of Justice as they protests peacefully against the proscribing of direct action group Palestine Action.
This pensioner had his walking sticks removed and was handcuffed. Arrested under the Terrorism Act.
Reposted by Tony Bird
It's important not to sugarcoat the govt's decision to scrap ECO. It is the UK's most important scheme to address fuel poverty. It has helped 15 million people over three decades. By scrapping it, E3G calculates that the government is cutting 10,000 skilled jobs in the places that need them the most
November 26, 2025 at 2:54 PM
It's important not to sugarcoat the govt's decision to scrap ECO. It is the UK's most important scheme to address fuel poverty. It has helped 15 million people over three decades. By scrapping it, E3G calculates that the government is cutting 10,000 skilled jobs in the places that need them the most
Reposted by Tony Bird
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Reposted by Tony Bird
“The Motability scheme was set up to protect the most vulnerable. Not to subsidise the lease on a Mercedes Benz,” Reeves says.
Misleading and nasty in equal measure.
Misleading and nasty in equal measure.
November 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
“The Motability scheme was set up to protect the most vulnerable. Not to subsidise the lease on a Mercedes Benz,” Reeves says.
Misleading and nasty in equal measure.
Misleading and nasty in equal measure.
Reposted by Tony Bird
Since 2011 the fuel duty freeze has cost the Treasury £133 billion.
This huge amount could have paid for lower train and bus fares, better stations, safer walking, wheeling and cycling and much more!
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
This huge amount could have paid for lower train and bus fares, better stations, safer walking, wheeling and cycling and much more!
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Rachel Reeves will freeze fuel duty to dodge ‘political suicide’
The chancellor will also highlight a rise in the minimum wage and plans to cut energy bills as she tries to win over voters by focusing on cost of living
www.thetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Since 2011 the fuel duty freeze has cost the Treasury £133 billion.
This huge amount could have paid for lower train and bus fares, better stations, safer walking, wheeling and cycling and much more!
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
This huge amount could have paid for lower train and bus fares, better stations, safer walking, wheeling and cycling and much more!
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reposted by Tony Bird
When you see "14 years of x" line, it tells you you're dealing with someone who can't analyse politics without a party lens.
Britain's been governed by the same overarching philosophy since 1979, regardless of which party was in power. And without understanding that, you won't understand anything.
Britain's been governed by the same overarching philosophy since 1979, regardless of which party was in power. And without understanding that, you won't understand anything.
How should Labour tackle 14 years of mismanagement? I'd like to hear some realistic alternatives, considering the available resources in law professionals, university places and tutors and physical spaces. All I've read so far here is 'throw money at it' without considering the resource implications
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 AM
When you see "14 years of x" line, it tells you you're dealing with someone who can't analyse politics without a party lens.
Britain's been governed by the same overarching philosophy since 1979, regardless of which party was in power. And without understanding that, you won't understand anything.
Britain's been governed by the same overarching philosophy since 1979, regardless of which party was in power. And without understanding that, you won't understand anything.