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Sylvia de Mars

@sylviademars.me

1.5K followers 320 following 4.1K posts

She/her, trans rights are human rights. Legal academic, D&D fanatic. Things I coherently honk about: Brexit & NI, Title IX, sovereignty. President of the Judge Ana Reyes Fanclub. See http://sylviademars.me

sylviademars.me

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Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · May 3

🧵 I recently used a Bluesky list to block transphobes and was surprised to see a few people who I'd never seen take any position on trans rights disappear from my feed.

I've gone back and unblocked but muted because a) I don't want to see transphobes, but b) I do want people to be able to learn. 1/

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Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 2d

Only if you're already well-paid. 😉 (They're honoring the bands covered by the national pay structures. Not those above.)

Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 7d

😂

Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 7d

(it's notional because I left Labour years ago, to be clear)

Reposted by Sylvia de Mars

Elizabeth Taylor @elizabethtaylor47.bsky.social · 7d

Right Labour members, I know some of you weirdos follow me.

Your task is simple: please vote for Lucy Powell

Lee Hurley @hleehurley.com · 7d

"The new trans rules are “not right” and should be reviewed by MPS, one of Labour’s deputy leadership candidates has said.

"Lucy Powell appeared to criticise the (EHRC) guidance on transgender issues, which has advised that workplaces provide protected single-sex spaces." [Telegraph]

Trans guidance ‘not right’ and in need of shake-up, says Powell
Party’s deputy leadership contender suggests EHRC advice should be subject to ‘robust conversation’ ‘When we’re looking at applying the law as parliamentarians, we should have a say on that’

Ms Powell suggested that MPS should review the full guidance before it is published later this year, opening the door to a veto in Parliament for the protection of women-only spaces.

She said: “I think we have got some of the language not right on this, and particularly around some of the guidance that’s coming forward.

“I really strongly feel like we need a robust and transparent parliamentary conversation about that, because when we’re looking at applying the law as parliamentarians, we should have a say on that and that’s something I’ll be pushing for as well.”

Sources close to Ms Powell said she believed MPS should have the power to influence the rules because they will become law. But her suggestion raises the prospect of a protracted debate in Parliament over the trans ruling, which has already divided parties and MPS.

The Conservatives accused Labour of “siding with radical trans activists” and warned against interference in the guidance from Parliament. Claire Coutinho, the shadow equalities minister, said: “The Supreme Court was crystal clear – biological sex matters, and women have a right to single-sex spaces.

“Time and again, Labour has sided with radical trans activists instead of the women fighting to protect their changing rooms and toilets from biological men. Labour cannot be trusted to protect the privacy, dignity, and safety of women and girls.” The row comes in the run-up to a deputy leadership hustings between Ms Powell and Ms

Phillipson at the Labour Party conference today.

In a combative interview yesterday, Ms Powell also argued that Labour was “pleasing no one” by tacking to the Right.

The former leader of the Commons, who was sacked in the latest reshuffle, also took a swipe at Ms Phillipson over an “ill-advised” tweet that suggested Ms Powell would bring infighting to the party if she got the job.

Speaking to the Politico website in front of an audience at the conference in Liverpool, Ms Powell said party members should vote for h

Sir Keir Starmer’s attempts to see off the threat of Reform UK by moving to the Right on immigration and digital ID meant “we are losing more voters the other way”, she said, while failing to win back Labour voters who have abandoned the party for Nigel Farage.

“If you think everything is going great and swimmingly, don’t vote for me,” she said. “If you think we need a course correction, then vote for me.”

Earlier in the day Ms Phillipson posted on X that: “The choice is clear. Labour’s heart and soul in government with me as deputy leader. Or more distractions, infighting and noise.”

Although she did not name Ms Powell, it has been interpreted as a clear message that her rival, who is backed by Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, would be a disruptive influence. Ms Powell said: “It was an ill-advised post, to be honest. Debate is not dissent.”

She was again clear that she would challenge Sir Keir behind closed doors if he is not representing the views of members.

“I think we can be better than what we have been and more successful,” she said.

“Part of doing that will be that we have broader voices at the table and if we hear from those broader voices we will make better decisions.”

Article Name:Trans guidance ‘not right’ and in need of shake-up, says Powell
Publication:The Daily Telegraph
Author:By Tony Diver and Gordon Rayner
Start Page:6
End Page:6

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Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 7d

Well, she already had my notional vote, but now I actually feel like I'm not just rooting for anyone but Bridget. Interesting.

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Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 7d

Glutexo sounds like an industrial strength adhesive tbh

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Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 7d

Joke's on you - they have completely different names!!!!

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Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 7d

You're German, you'll find it's actually more like Zolvia, richtig?

Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 7d

Now imagine your name is Sylvia!

Reposted by Sylvia de Mars

The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 8d

Read our response to the Government’s announcement that university maintenance grants will be reintroduced for certain courses, funded through a levy on international student fees
https://bit.ly/4gPz7uO

British Academy responds to government announcement on university maintenance grants

The British Academy has issued a response to the government's announcement on using a proposed levy on international students to fund maintenance grants.

www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk

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Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 8d

James. No.

(Flashback to discovering Snivy is Sny-vee, which is also unholy and wrong.)

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Daniel Kibblesmith @kibblesmith.com · 8d

Dude if the Democratic Party has a place for anti-trans and anti-abortion candidates then I’m not a democrat and I won’t vote for one

I don’t know what to tell you man, there’s already a political party who believes these things

It’s not a “big tent” to have zero fixed values in pursuit of power

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Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 8d

Reposted by Sylvia de Mars

BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 8d

oh it's time to post the Tetris story again. (short version: reporter goes to cover early e-sports, discovers that his wife is, unknowingly, the greatest Tetris player in the world)

archive.boston.com/news/globe/m...

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Reposted by Sylvia de Mars

Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 8d

I don’t talk about this publicly, but hegseth drives me out of my silence.

I attended West Point from 1998-2000. I left, along with about 5 other young women, as a direct result of the military’s then-shameful (non) policies addressing sex harassment and assault.

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Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 8d

I've been very confused for a while now as to how the Dems could play any part in a government shutdown when they hold a majority in neither house of Congress and .... Oh, right, yeah. Sorry. Apparently been reading American news. My bad.

Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 8d

More than his plan has endangered migrants? Methinks there is, as in the US, a lot of aggressive pretending going on about which political groupings tend to violence. May we have learned a lesson and shoot this down right quick: calling a duck a duck is never incitement.

The Times & Sunday Times @thetimes.com · 8d

Nigel Farage: Labour rhetoric incites violence against Reform

Reform UK leader will claim in a speech today that Keir Starmer’s labelling of his migrant plan as ‘racist’ has endangered the safety of his candidates and activists ⬇️

Nigel Farage: Labour rhetoric incites violence against Reform

www.thetimes.com

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Reposted by Sylvia de Mars

Leanest Optician @vertigoem.bsky.social · 8d

It is pretty incredible that 24 hours after Starmer's new Home Secretary put forward the Powellite argument that too much immigration turns people racist, and unveiled a raft of performatively cruel new policies, the hacks are swooning over a speech about grievance and division

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Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 8d

a man wearing a black t-shirt that says oh my is smiling .

ALT: a man wearing a black t-shirt that says oh my is smiling .

media.tenor.com

Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 8d

Ok, but are they paying for it with the blood of immigrants and trans people, or what? I just am so over these people struggling to find a set of principles that's not quite far right but close enough to attract fans of the far right.

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 8d

the president of the united states wants to use the american military to kill american citizens on american soil. that's the whole story!

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Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 8d

It's amazing how low the bar is for Starmer and co. Like. My miniature dachshund could have gone flying over it. We're treating a competent and sane man like he needs POTUS level headpats for just not falling over himself on stage. Insane stuff.

Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 8d

I'm talking about Democrats who will be the ones suffering under this regime, dude. Come on.

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Sylvia de Mars @sylviademars.me · 8d

Better take the night off to process this, I think. 🤔