Jess O'Thomson

Help please!

It is soon time for my annual lecture on legal blogging and social media.

Can you please offer any links or examples of legal commentary on a blog or social media account which you have found especially useful.

In particular, anything which has changed your mind on something?

🎬 Did the UK just create a third sex in law?

📖 Oscar Davies and @jessothomson.co.uk wrote about it with for the DLA: A Third Sex: Returning to an Intermediate Zone. Link in bio.

#transrights #forwomenscotland #legalrecognition #echr #equalityact #humanrights #intermediatezone #humanrights

I am away for the week and will be uncontactable. Bye!

Do infrastructure projects take as long in other countries or is Britain uniquely bad at them

The EHRC has rushed its consultation to meet an arbitrary internal deadline. This whole process has been designed to avoid proper scrutiny of the EHRC's trans bathroom ban. MPs don't realise this – tell yours what's going on.

Most interesting thing to me is that the judge calls it the Gender Reassignment Act 2004 and refers to Gender Reassignment Certificates. Difficult to see how he is not conflating two concepts in his mind.

I’ve written, alongside colleagues, to the Minister for Women & Equalities about the appointment of the new EHRC Chair.

We share the concerns that both the JCHR and WEC had during the pre-appointment hearing.

The EHRC urgently needs to rebuild trust with all communities.

EHRC consultation: Responses ignored because of artificial deadline Leaked documents reveal why the commission is sweeping aside half of the 50,000 responses to its consultation – a self-imposed deadline of 18 August.

🏳️‍⚧️ NEW 🏳️‍⚧️

Leaked documents reveal why the EHRC is sweeping aside half of the 50,000 responses to its consultation – a self-imposed deadline of 18 August.

goodlawproject.org/ehrc-consult...

Case?

Almost like some of us predicted this.

We got the Tories out only to put new Tories in.

'Rushed out' EHRC trans toilet guidance could be sent to govt as soon as August An EHRC representative has claimed its trans toilet guidance could be finished and sent to govt by August, court documents have shown.

Alex Parmar-Yee said the EHRC’s claim that it would seriously consider the submissions in just a month is “simply not credible.”

“This is an emergency, and we urge people to tell their MP now – this isn’t how we should make decisions about fundamental rights.”

www.thepinknews.com/2025/07/31/e...

So here I am, everyone. Here and yours, forever.

Not actually allowed to take a break from this website because then something huge happens and I have a responsibility to communicate it. Fun.

I was the only trans journalist in the courtroom, I would prefer if people didn't put the details in my replies.

The EHRC intends to ignore half of the over 50,000 consultation responses to its proposed trans bathroom ban

BREAKING NEWS 🚨

Trans people poured their hearts into this consultation. The EHRC won't even bother to read them.

The EHRC is ignoring trans voices Leaked documents confirm that the EHRC is planning to ignore 50% of the consultation submission.

🚨 NEW 🚨

Leaked documents confirm that the EHRC is planning to ignore 50% of the consultation submissions
goodlawproject.org/the-ehrc-is-...

The fight for trans safety is a fight for everyone’s safety – MPs must have the chance to debate it | Freddy McConnell The supreme court has made a mockery of gender recognition. Our politicians must not allow the EHRC to further shatter trans lives, says journalist Freddy McConnell

The fight for trans safety is a fight for everyone’s safety – MPs must have the chance to debate it | Freddy McConnell

I am part of this community. But I feel it sees me more as a potentially useful public asset than a person sometimes.

I don't expect agreement or deference, but I would like to think I have earned more than being treated like an enemy.

I was in court yesterday for our rights. Trans rights is all I do 24/7. I think assuming the absolute worst of me is actually really grim.

If you accuse me of bad faith bullshit I will just block you. I don't think it's reasonable to accuse me of hating trans people or whatever actually. I think I have earned some good faith.

I don't disagree, I just think we should be accurate about what we're criticising.

🫡

Sadly I am referring to about 5 separate incidents just yesterday.

It takes 100 times as much energy to debunk misinformation that has already spread than to make sure we get it right and check our sources in the first place.

I wish people would spend less time making shit up. I spent so much of my energy yesterday trying to debunk various bits of disinformation. As a community, we cannot afford this right now. The stakes are too high. We have to be better.

An interesting take on my work.

Can't believe none of you have congratulated me on Bluesky deciding I am a notable transgender. What's even the point.