penwing's blog

Over on Jim C Hines' blog, he is asking for guest posts on the issue of how important representation and diversity is. He is a fantasy author who is definitely on the good side of introducing better diversity into genre. This is a fight we need to win.

In my letter to Stonewall's new (acting) CEO, I talked about the need for Stonewall to act more intersectionally and included an example of not awarding employer of the year to the Home Office which is acting in a very different way with Asylum Seekers and other immigrants.

So, Ben Summerskill has (finally) resigned as Stonewall CEO and Ruth Hunt has taken over in an acting capacity.

*must not gloat, must not gloat*

Could it be? Really? Time for another Squeeeeeeeee-post? Been about a month*, so I guess so…

Soho Skeptics is a group of people organising interesting talks and debates under a Skeptics banner in Soho. Their next event is entitled The Battle Over Gender and features Gia Milovich, Adrian Dalton, Bethany Black and… Julie Fucking Bindel.

I think I'm going to need a shower after this, but here goes:

"Fucking hell. Gay man suffering from depression is assessed by Atos, and told that religion could cure his sexuality"

"Depressed gay man was advised by Atos assessor to investigate "gay cures""

"An ATOS assessor tells a depressed man he is gay and thus "needed to return to God to be repaired""

"depressed gay man advised by Atos assessor to investigate "gay cures""

"How do ATOS still have a contract?"

I've been bitten by the preserving bug.

Recently, my colleague had a glut of redcurrants she didn't know what to do with from her allotment. I selflessly volunteered to take some off her hands if she was willing to pick them. She duly did and I took them and tested out making Redcurrant Jelly.

I wrote previously on Manning's plea to the Judge for a reasonable sentence and how disappointing but understandable it was given her position as 'hero'. Today, I get to write some more. In her letter seeking a pardon, Manning today has reinforced her original plea:

I was out with friends last night and one asked me about what books I was reading and would recommend. In typical fashion, my mind froze, so I'm writing this as a kind of zeitgeist of what's been flowing around my consciousness recently.

John Proctor: (with a cry of his whole soul) Because it is my name!Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang!How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!

...

Rev Hale: Man, you will hang! You cannot!

John Proctor: (his eyes full of tears) I can. And there's your first marvel, that I can...