Ell Welsford
@ellwelsford.bsky.social
MA Medieval Studies at UCL; medieval environmental and trans histories (they/she)
Reposted by Ell Welsford
We’ve today formally written to multiple public bodies about BBC reporting on transgender people.
Here’s who we’ve contacted and why. 1/6
Here’s who we’ve contacted and why. 1/6
December 23, 2025 at 4:46 PM
We’ve today formally written to multiple public bodies about BBC reporting on transgender people.
Here’s who we’ve contacted and why. 1/6
Here’s who we’ve contacted and why. 1/6
Reposted by Ell Welsford
Did medieval people buy each other Christmas gifts? New Year's Day was the main gifting day, but little is known about everyday people's present giving. Our project on London's customs records has uncovered a wealth of affordable items imported around this time: gloves and hats to toys and rattles🧵
Medieval Londoners’ cheaply imported mass-produced Christmas gifts look surprisingly familiar
We often imagine medieval life as dull, dirty and short, with little in the way of material comfort or decoration. However, medieval Londoners were importing toys, treats and trinkets by the boatload ...
theconversation.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Did medieval people buy each other Christmas gifts? New Year's Day was the main gifting day, but little is known about everyday people's present giving. Our project on London's customs records has uncovered a wealth of affordable items imported around this time: gloves and hats to toys and rattles🧵
Reposted by Ell Welsford
A big part of being a historian is being a detective! Who did this? Why? Where? Why does it matter in the grand scheme of things? You have to learn how to probe, how to uncover, how to read against the grain, how to find unusual sources, how to interpret those sources. How to piece together a puzzle
It also robs students of learning *how* to research.
December 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
A big part of being a historian is being a detective! Who did this? Why? Where? Why does it matter in the grand scheme of things? You have to learn how to probe, how to uncover, how to read against the grain, how to find unusual sources, how to interpret those sources. How to piece together a puzzle
Reposted by Ell Welsford
In light of the Levy Review potentially giving transphobes oversight of medical research on trans healthcare, Trans Safety Network recommend English trans people OPT OUT of their healthcare data being used in research.
Information on how to do this can be found in the quoted post and thread.
Information on how to do this can be found in the quoted post and thread.
This can be done via the following links, the first to stop GP records being shared and the second to stop secondary care records being shared: www.nhs.uk/using-the-nh...
digital.nhs.uk/services/nat...
digital.nhs.uk/services/nat...
Opt out of sharing your health records
Find out how to opt out of sharing your health records for research and planning.
www.nhs.uk
December 19, 2025 at 3:25 PM
In light of the Levy Review potentially giving transphobes oversight of medical research on trans healthcare, Trans Safety Network recommend English trans people OPT OUT of their healthcare data being used in research.
Information on how to do this can be found in the quoted post and thread.
Information on how to do this can be found in the quoted post and thread.
Reposted by Ell Welsford
It is 2025. The EHRC in the UK keeps trying to materialize a trans bathroom ban out of a muddled UKSC opinion third-sexing all trans people. A bill to criminalise those who provide trans minors with transition care passed in the US House of Representatives.
And cis "allies" still think this helps.
And cis "allies" still think this helps.
December 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
It is 2025. The EHRC in the UK keeps trying to materialize a trans bathroom ban out of a muddled UKSC opinion third-sexing all trans people. A bill to criminalise those who provide trans minors with transition care passed in the US House of Representatives.
And cis "allies" still think this helps.
And cis "allies" still think this helps.
Reposted by Ell Welsford
It's my pleasure to announce the Longlist for Best Transfeminine Fiction in the 2025 TFR Reader's Choice Awards!
This year, TFR recognizes 14 titles from every genre and section of the industry 🩷
Thank you to everyone who voted early to craft this list! Voting ends December 26th at 11:59 PM EST.
This year, TFR recognizes 14 titles from every genre and section of the industry 🩷
Thank you to everyone who voted early to craft this list! Voting ends December 26th at 11:59 PM EST.
The 2025 Longlist for Best Transfeminine Fiction (TFR Awards)
Thirteen early contenders for the best transfeminine novel of 2025. Voting is open until December 26th at 11:59 PM EST.
thetransfemininereview.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:34 PM
It's my pleasure to announce the Longlist for Best Transfeminine Fiction in the 2025 TFR Reader's Choice Awards!
This year, TFR recognizes 14 titles from every genre and section of the industry 🩷
Thank you to everyone who voted early to craft this list! Voting ends December 26th at 11:59 PM EST.
This year, TFR recognizes 14 titles from every genre and section of the industry 🩷
Thank you to everyone who voted early to craft this list! Voting ends December 26th at 11:59 PM EST.
Reposted by Ell Welsford
Attention creative medievalists! Eleanor Barraclough & I are co-editing a special issue of Public Humanities entitled CREATING THE MEDIEVAL NOW! See the cfp for details: essays of 2,000-3,000 words due 1 May 2026. (Amazing artwork by @hellomizk.bsky.social). 1/ www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
December 5, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Attention creative medievalists! Eleanor Barraclough & I are co-editing a special issue of Public Humanities entitled CREATING THE MEDIEVAL NOW! See the cfp for details: essays of 2,000-3,000 words due 1 May 2026. (Amazing artwork by @hellomizk.bsky.social). 1/ www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Ell Welsford
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
Reposted by Ell Welsford
I keep forgetting that this is the season for buying all the shit. So if you want to shop queer, shop small, and shop medieval weird then Sticker Church is for you
Postcards! Stickers! Gift wrap, oh my!
👇👇👇
www.sticker.church
Postcards! Stickers! Gift wrap, oh my!
👇👇👇
www.sticker.church
November 25, 2025 at 11:52 AM
I keep forgetting that this is the season for buying all the shit. So if you want to shop queer, shop small, and shop medieval weird then Sticker Church is for you
Postcards! Stickers! Gift wrap, oh my!
👇👇👇
www.sticker.church
Postcards! Stickers! Gift wrap, oh my!
👇👇👇
www.sticker.church
Reposted by Ell Welsford
This month I feature @placesjournal.bsky.social, @urbanhistorya.bsky.social, @charlotte-leib.bsky.social, @ginastar.bsky.social, @miskoaki.bsky.social, and more!
#envhist
#envhist
Our editor-in-chief, @jessicamdewitt.bsky.social, is back with her picks for environmental history worth reading (and watching) from October!
niche-canada.org/2025/11/14/e...
#envhist
niche-canada.org/2025/11/14/e...
#envhist
#EnvHist Worth Reading: October 2025
Find a landslide, urban light pollution, and unfulfilled treaty promises in the latest list of environmental history worth reading from Jessica DeWitt.
niche-canada.org
November 14, 2025 at 6:44 PM
This month I feature @placesjournal.bsky.social, @urbanhistorya.bsky.social, @charlotte-leib.bsky.social, @ginastar.bsky.social, @miskoaki.bsky.social, and more!
#envhist
#envhist
Reposted by Ell Welsford
I spend A LOT of volunteer time supporting the work of people who make 10s of $1000s (sometimes 100,000+) more than me, so yes, I think you can spare $25 annually to support me, precarious contributors, & @nichecanada.bsky.social broadly.
fundrazr.com/niche2025?re...
#envhist #envhum #cdnhist
fundrazr.com/niche2025?re...
#envhist #envhum #cdnhist
Help NiCHE Write the Next Chapter of Environmental History: 2025 Campaign
The Network in Canadian History and Environment is a not-for-profit public history organization dedicated to the dissemination of environmental history research in Canada and building a network of res...
fundrazr.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I spend A LOT of volunteer time supporting the work of people who make 10s of $1000s (sometimes 100,000+) more than me, so yes, I think you can spare $25 annually to support me, precarious contributors, & @nichecanada.bsky.social broadly.
fundrazr.com/niche2025?re...
#envhist #envhum #cdnhist
fundrazr.com/niche2025?re...
#envhist #envhum #cdnhist
Reposted by Ell Welsford
How is it that healthcare decisions for trans people are influenced so heavily by cis people *with absolutely no relevant expertise, training or experience*?
In no other area of healthcare would this be tolerated. FOR GOOD REASON.
In no other area of healthcare would this be tolerated. FOR GOOD REASON.
Emily Maitlis admitting she worked at the bbc to try and get healthcare for trans people shut down
November 10, 2025 at 10:41 PM
How is it that healthcare decisions for trans people are influenced so heavily by cis people *with absolutely no relevant expertise, training or experience*?
In no other area of healthcare would this be tolerated. FOR GOOD REASON.
In no other area of healthcare would this be tolerated. FOR GOOD REASON.
Reposted by Ell Welsford
The paperback of Medieval Twitter has landed omfg
Not quite a stocking stuffer price, but much much more affordable than before, thankfully
www.arc-humanities.org/978180270265...
#MedievalSky 🗃️ @archumanities.bsky.social
Not quite a stocking stuffer price, but much much more affordable than before, thankfully
www.arc-humanities.org/978180270265...
#MedievalSky 🗃️ @archumanities.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 AM
The paperback of Medieval Twitter has landed omfg
Not quite a stocking stuffer price, but much much more affordable than before, thankfully
www.arc-humanities.org/978180270265...
#MedievalSky 🗃️ @archumanities.bsky.social
Not quite a stocking stuffer price, but much much more affordable than before, thankfully
www.arc-humanities.org/978180270265...
#MedievalSky 🗃️ @archumanities.bsky.social
Reposted by Ell Welsford
After hundreds of hours of reading and research, my 2025 Starter Guide to transfeminine literature is finally live!
No matter your experience level, there's a book for you! 🏳️⚧️📚 #transbooks
The list covers a vast range of genres. There are 78 handcrafted recs on this list, and I've read all but two.
No matter your experience level, there's a book for you! 🏳️⚧️📚 #transbooks
The list covers a vast range of genres. There are 78 handcrafted recs on this list, and I've read all but two.
Start Here (2025 Edition)
Are you questioning your gender and searching for fiction that’ll help you figure out what a transition might look like? Are you a trans woman or a femmeby who’s never seen herself on the tradition…
thetransfemininereview.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:11 AM
After hundreds of hours of reading and research, my 2025 Starter Guide to transfeminine literature is finally live!
No matter your experience level, there's a book for you! 🏳️⚧️📚 #transbooks
The list covers a vast range of genres. There are 78 handcrafted recs on this list, and I've read all but two.
No matter your experience level, there's a book for you! 🏳️⚧️📚 #transbooks
The list covers a vast range of genres. There are 78 handcrafted recs on this list, and I've read all but two.
Reposted by Ell Welsford
Reposted by Ell Welsford
Oh wow, major work of interest to #MedievalSky #GlobalMiddleAges #EnvironmentalHistory. A new special issue devoted to "Environmental Challenges in Premodern Eurasian and Mediterranean Narratives": journals.uio.no/JAIS/article.... Kudos to the editors for bringing this work so quickly into print!
November 3, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Oh wow, major work of interest to #MedievalSky #GlobalMiddleAges #EnvironmentalHistory. A new special issue devoted to "Environmental Challenges in Premodern Eurasian and Mediterranean Narratives": journals.uio.no/JAIS/article.... Kudos to the editors for bringing this work so quickly into print!
Reposted by Ell Welsford
As the dread day approaches and the spirits begin to stir, now is the perfect time to hunker down with a horror novel! 😈🗡️
This Halloween, TFR shares twelve chilling tales from transfemme authors to match the mood 🖤
A handcrafted rec list with a scariness rating for each book.
#halloween #horror
This Halloween, TFR shares twelve chilling tales from transfemme authors to match the mood 🖤
A handcrafted rec list with a scariness rating for each book.
#halloween #horror
12 Chilling Books by Transfemmes to Read This Halloween (CW #16)
Tales of Nazi censorship, haunted houses, and mushroom cults to keep you up at night.
thetransfemininereview.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:07 PM
As the dread day approaches and the spirits begin to stir, now is the perfect time to hunker down with a horror novel! 😈🗡️
This Halloween, TFR shares twelve chilling tales from transfemme authors to match the mood 🖤
A handcrafted rec list with a scariness rating for each book.
#halloween #horror
This Halloween, TFR shares twelve chilling tales from transfemme authors to match the mood 🖤
A handcrafted rec list with a scariness rating for each book.
#halloween #horror
Reposted by Ell Welsford
AI misrepresents news 45% of the time. Hasn't stopped every major search provider enthusiastically adopting it www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time – regardless of language or territory
An intensive international study was coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and led by the BBC
www.bbc.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM
AI misrepresents news 45% of the time. Hasn't stopped every major search provider enthusiastically adopting it www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
Reposted by Ell Welsford
Very excited to see our new book: A Queer Scrapbook: Britain and Ireland Since 1945 (with FAB co-editors Matt Cook, Rebecca Jennings, and E-J Scott) now available for pre-order.
www.waterstones.com/book/a-queer...
www.waterstones.com/book/a-queer...
A Queer Scrapbook by Justin Bengry, Matt Cook | Waterstones
Buy A Queer Scrapbook by Justin Bengry, Matt Cook from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.
www.waterstones.com
October 16, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Very excited to see our new book: A Queer Scrapbook: Britain and Ireland Since 1945 (with FAB co-editors Matt Cook, Rebecca Jennings, and E-J Scott) now available for pre-order.
www.waterstones.com/book/a-queer...
www.waterstones.com/book/a-queer...
Reposted by Ell Welsford
This week we're back at the IHR on Weds 15 October, where we welcome Maroula Perisanidi (Leeds), speaking on "Beyond Punishment: Speech Difference, Sin and Disability in Byzantine Thought, c. 1000-1200". All welcome, please sign up here! www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Beyond Punishment: Speech Difference, Sin and Disability in Byzantine Thought, c. 1000-1200
Earlier Middle Ages Seminar- Session 2
www.history.ac.uk
October 13, 2025 at 8:52 AM
This week we're back at the IHR on Weds 15 October, where we welcome Maroula Perisanidi (Leeds), speaking on "Beyond Punishment: Speech Difference, Sin and Disability in Byzantine Thought, c. 1000-1200". All welcome, please sign up here! www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Ell Welsford
Looking to get caught up on your #ClimateHistory? This review of the concept of the (early modern) Little Ice Age is very useful: wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1.... #skystorians #MedievalSky #EarlyModern 🧪🗃️ #OpenAccess
The Little Ice Age: The History and Future of a Traveling Concept
Since its inception, the “Little Ice Age” has grown into one of the most discussed “traveling concepts” in climate science, history, and communication. This article investigates the contested history...
wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Looking to get caught up on your #ClimateHistory? This review of the concept of the (early modern) Little Ice Age is very useful: wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1.... #skystorians #MedievalSky #EarlyModern 🧪🗃️ #OpenAccess
Reposted by Ell Welsford
Glasgow Gender Clinic now has a waiting time of 224 years. The average across the UK is now 25 years.
This segregated system isn’t working and is wasting millions. The NHS has been told time and again - informed consent now.
This segregated system isn’t working and is wasting millions. The NHS has been told time and again - informed consent now.
This amazing article from @vic-parsons.bsky.social via @wearequeeraf.com shows the absolute criminal state of trans healthcare in the UK.
Scotland has a 224 year wait for a first appointment. Yes, you read that right.
www.wearequeeraf.com/gender-clini...
Scotland has a 224 year wait for a first appointment. Yes, you read that right.
www.wearequeeraf.com/gender-clini...
Latest waiting times for gender identity clinics in the UK
Revealed waiting times of all GICs in UK: Most Trans+ people in the UK will wait more than a third of their adult life to get an appointment, and some will never receive care
www.wearequeeraf.com
October 4, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Glasgow Gender Clinic now has a waiting time of 224 years. The average across the UK is now 25 years.
This segregated system isn’t working and is wasting millions. The NHS has been told time and again - informed consent now.
This segregated system isn’t working and is wasting millions. The NHS has been told time and again - informed consent now.
Reposted by Ell Welsford
Announcing the new Animal History Group seminar series for the 2025-26 academic year! - All seminars held online at 8pm UK time. 🎉 The details are here: animalhistorygroup.org/seminar-seri...
And here is a list for your calendar! 🧵💚
And here is a list for your calendar! 🧵💚
Seminar Series
Term One Our Seminar Series is back for 2025/2026. Seminars will be held at 8pm (GMT). Please sign up using the links below. Joining information will be sent shortly before the event. 15 October 20…
animalhistorygroup.org
September 25, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Announcing the new Animal History Group seminar series for the 2025-26 academic year! - All seminars held online at 8pm UK time. 🎉 The details are here: animalhistorygroup.org/seminar-seri...
And here is a list for your calendar! 🧵💚
And here is a list for your calendar! 🧵💚
Reposted by Ell Welsford
Composition 8 by Vasily Kandinsky, 1923
https://botfrens.com/collections/212/contents/137438
https://botfrens.com/collections/212/contents/137438
October 1, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Composition 8 by Vasily Kandinsky, 1923
https://botfrens.com/collections/212/contents/137438
https://botfrens.com/collections/212/contents/137438