Cal Horton (they/them)
@fiercemum.bsky.social
Non-binary researcher supporting trans kids and challenging cis-supremacy
I'm writing from the UK btw
February 13, 2026 at 3:44 PM
I'm writing from the UK btw
Thanks for your immense efforts. This media article captures very briefly today's latest shit:
metro.co.uk/2026/02/13/t...
metro.co.uk/2026/02/13/t...
Trans children ‘will lose any hope of happiness’ under school gender guidance
'Trans children need to be supported and respected.'
metro.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Thanks for your immense efforts. This media article captures very briefly today's latest shit:
metro.co.uk/2026/02/13/t...
metro.co.uk/2026/02/13/t...
Can I ask @genderedintelligence.co.uk why they are describing this horror thus:
‘It’s positive to see guidance that begins from a place of support, not exclusion".
Please ask the journalist to update to your commentary to recognise how awful this guidance is for trans kids.
‘It’s positive to see guidance that begins from a place of support, not exclusion".
Please ask the journalist to update to your commentary to recognise how awful this guidance is for trans kids.
February 13, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Can I ask @genderedintelligence.co.uk why they are describing this horror thus:
‘It’s positive to see guidance that begins from a place of support, not exclusion".
Please ask the journalist to update to your commentary to recognise how awful this guidance is for trans kids.
‘It’s positive to see guidance that begins from a place of support, not exclusion".
Please ask the journalist to update to your commentary to recognise how awful this guidance is for trans kids.
"It will lead to children avoiding the bathroom, avoiding exercise, missing out on school trips, dropping out of school, losing any hope of education, equality, friendship, happiness. This new guidance is totalitarian, dangerous, and will completely devastate the lives of trans children". 3/
February 13, 2026 at 12:48 PM
"It will lead to children avoiding the bathroom, avoiding exercise, missing out on school trips, dropping out of school, losing any hope of education, equality, friendship, happiness. This new guidance is totalitarian, dangerous, and will completely devastate the lives of trans children". 3/
"Trans children need to be supported & respected in order to be safe at school, in order to access their right to education, in order to enjoy their childhood. Instead, we have a complete ban on access to appropriate toilets, PE, accommodation on school trips, a complete erosion of their rights" 2/
February 13, 2026 at 12:47 PM
"Trans children need to be supported & respected in order to be safe at school, in order to access their right to education, in order to enjoy their childhood. Instead, we have a complete ban on access to appropriate toilets, PE, accommodation on school trips, a complete erosion of their rights" 2/
This is in reference to school violence & segregation, not in reference to workplace bullshit that I haven't focused on yet.
February 13, 2026 at 12:38 PM
This is in reference to school violence & segregation, not in reference to workplace bullshit that I haven't focused on yet.
In parallel we need to document & advocate & shout about how harmful this whole approach is.
We shout and advocate through literally any other means than throwing our words at a consultation managed by a government that hates us.
We shout and advocate through literally any other means than throwing our words at a consultation managed by a government that hates us.
February 13, 2026 at 9:38 AM
In parallel we need to document & advocate & shout about how harmful this whole approach is.
We shout and advocate through literally any other means than throwing our words at a consultation managed by a government that hates us.
We shout and advocate through literally any other means than throwing our words at a consultation managed by a government that hates us.
We need to build a body of energy to support non-compliance with this hateful guidance.
We need to build pockets of protection & safety for trans pupils.
We are in 'try & help trans kids survive' mode.
We need to build pockets of protection & safety for trans pupils.
We are in 'try & help trans kids survive' mode.
February 13, 2026 at 9:37 AM
We need to build a body of energy to support non-compliance with this hateful guidance.
We need to build pockets of protection & safety for trans pupils.
We are in 'try & help trans kids survive' mode.
We need to build pockets of protection & safety for trans pupils.
We are in 'try & help trans kids survive' mode.
If folks have time & energy - write to your local school teachers, individually. Write to your local head teacher. Meet with your local teachers. Meet your MP.
Do anything that is NOT throwing your energy to a government consultation that has been designed to absorb & waste our protest energy.
Do anything that is NOT throwing your energy to a government consultation that has been designed to absorb & waste our protest energy.
February 13, 2026 at 9:34 AM
If folks have time & energy - write to your local school teachers, individually. Write to your local head teacher. Meet with your local teachers. Meet your MP.
Do anything that is NOT throwing your energy to a government consultation that has been designed to absorb & waste our protest energy.
Do anything that is NOT throwing your energy to a government consultation that has been designed to absorb & waste our protest energy.
Have seen the bathroom ban element in the Scottish guidance that is out for consultation right now?
February 13, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Have seen the bathroom ban element in the Scottish guidance that is out for consultation right now?
I want those who have any spare energy and capacity to put their time somewhere else.
We cannot as a community keep on throwing our very limited energy at systems that have been designed to waste our time, distract and disempower us.
A new path for this fight is needed.
We cannot as a community keep on throwing our very limited energy at systems that have been designed to waste our time, distract and disempower us.
A new path for this fight is needed.
February 13, 2026 at 9:30 AM
I want those who have any spare energy and capacity to put their time somewhere else.
We cannot as a community keep on throwing our very limited energy at systems that have been designed to waste our time, distract and disempower us.
A new path for this fight is needed.
We cannot as a community keep on throwing our very limited energy at systems that have been designed to waste our time, distract and disempower us.
A new path for this fight is needed.
Can you please do more accurate reporting on this and not focus on fake news from a hate site.
February 13, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Can you please do more accurate reporting on this and not focus on fake news from a hate site.
There is literally no way of winning this.
All the government needs to cover their back is a body of 'protect children from trans' & 'follow Cass' submissions, which they are guaranteed to get.
All the government needs to cover their back is a body of 'protect children from trans' & 'follow Cass' submissions, which they are guaranteed to get.
February 13, 2026 at 9:27 AM
There is literally no way of winning this.
All the government needs to cover their back is a body of 'protect children from trans' & 'follow Cass' submissions, which they are guaranteed to get.
All the government needs to cover their back is a body of 'protect children from trans' & 'follow Cass' submissions, which they are guaranteed to get.
I predict there will be a fairly small number of deeply evidenced & experience-centred submissions with useful info.
There will be a larger number of 'be nice' submissions from well intentioned & less detail oriented folks.
& a coordinated wave of 'protect children from trans' submissions.
There will be a larger number of 'be nice' submissions from well intentioned & less detail oriented folks.
& a coordinated wave of 'protect children from trans' submissions.
February 13, 2026 at 9:25 AM
I predict there will be a fairly small number of deeply evidenced & experience-centred submissions with useful info.
There will be a larger number of 'be nice' submissions from well intentioned & less detail oriented folks.
& a coordinated wave of 'protect children from trans' submissions.
There will be a larger number of 'be nice' submissions from well intentioned & less detail oriented folks.
& a coordinated wave of 'protect children from trans' submissions.
While the analysis is done by the government, there is no way of 'winning' a consultation like this. They get to choose how to present the results.
It is literally not winnable.
Even where we have more numbers (see puberty blocker closed consultation) they skew the way results are presented.
It is literally not winnable.
Even where we have more numbers (see puberty blocker closed consultation) they skew the way results are presented.
February 13, 2026 at 9:24 AM
While the analysis is done by the government, there is no way of 'winning' a consultation like this. They get to choose how to present the results.
It is literally not winnable.
Even where we have more numbers (see puberty blocker closed consultation) they skew the way results are presented.
It is literally not winnable.
Even where we have more numbers (see puberty blocker closed consultation) they skew the way results are presented.
I have now done maybe a hundred consultations. Every one ignored. Zero impact.
I wrote this blog 18 months ago:
growinguptransgender.com/2024/10/14/i...
This is exactly the same.
Pls don't focus on the plan that consultations are how we fight back. It does not work. It wastes our time.
I wrote this blog 18 months ago:
growinguptransgender.com/2024/10/14/i...
This is exactly the same.
Pls don't focus on the plan that consultations are how we fight back. It does not work. It wastes our time.
Is this an abusive relationship?
(or why I won’t be responding to another government consultation on trans healthcare). Just weeks after having submitted an invited response (invited as an academic expert) to a government consulta…
growinguptransgender.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:17 AM
I have now done maybe a hundred consultations. Every one ignored. Zero impact.
I wrote this blog 18 months ago:
growinguptransgender.com/2024/10/14/i...
This is exactly the same.
Pls don't focus on the plan that consultations are how we fight back. It does not work. It wastes our time.
I wrote this blog 18 months ago:
growinguptransgender.com/2024/10/14/i...
This is exactly the same.
Pls don't focus on the plan that consultations are how we fight back. It does not work. It wastes our time.
We have no power. They out-number us. There will be equal numbers asking for it to be even crueler.
How many of these cruel consultations will folks do before realising it is utterly pointless.
Go ahead & do it if individual's want, but don't pretend it is an effective way of reducing harm
How many of these cruel consultations will folks do before realising it is utterly pointless.
Go ahead & do it if individual's want, but don't pretend it is an effective way of reducing harm
February 13, 2026 at 9:12 AM
We have no power. They out-number us. There will be equal numbers asking for it to be even crueler.
How many of these cruel consultations will folks do before realising it is utterly pointless.
Go ahead & do it if individual's want, but don't pretend it is an effective way of reducing harm
How many of these cruel consultations will folks do before realising it is utterly pointless.
Go ahead & do it if individual's want, but don't pretend it is an effective way of reducing harm
I can't bring any extra attention onto my kid in this context.
Feels too unsafe.
You shouldn't feel pressure about this kind of 'offer' either, where'd you'd be pitched as an 'emotional mother' against the 'sense', 'science' & 'NHS' behind this policy. There's no winning that rigged debate.
Feels too unsafe.
You shouldn't feel pressure about this kind of 'offer' either, where'd you'd be pitched as an 'emotional mother' against the 'sense', 'science' & 'NHS' behind this policy. There's no winning that rigged debate.
February 12, 2026 at 6:39 PM
I can't bring any extra attention onto my kid in this context.
Feels too unsafe.
You shouldn't feel pressure about this kind of 'offer' either, where'd you'd be pitched as an 'emotional mother' against the 'sense', 'science' & 'NHS' behind this policy. There's no winning that rigged debate.
Feels too unsafe.
You shouldn't feel pressure about this kind of 'offer' either, where'd you'd be pitched as an 'emotional mother' against the 'sense', 'science' & 'NHS' behind this policy. There's no winning that rigged debate.
My kid is in the background, chatting to me about her day as I type this. I am distracted & feeling sick.
I'm trying not to cry.
I don't know what to say to her.
She's already been failed so many times.
Its so fucking unfair.
I'm trying not to cry.
I don't know what to say to her.
She's already been failed so many times.
Its so fucking unfair.
February 12, 2026 at 6:02 PM
My kid is in the background, chatting to me about her day as I type this. I am distracted & feeling sick.
I'm trying not to cry.
I don't know what to say to her.
She's already been failed so many times.
Its so fucking unfair.
I'm trying not to cry.
I don't know what to say to her.
She's already been failed so many times.
Its so fucking unfair.