Matthew Waites (he or they)

Gender critical Mary-Ann Stephenson named as new EHRC chair as Government overrules MPs Despite two different parliamentary committees expressing opposition to her appointment

Despite two different parliamentary committees expressing opposition to her appointment

https://www.wearequeeraf.com/gender-critical-mary-ann-stephenson-named-as-new-ehrc-chair-as-government-overrules-mps/

And that's a wrap. Thank you for joining us at #ISAVirtual2025! While you wait for next year's CfP, share more of your conference experience with us via our survey, and check out our Upcoming Conferences and Virtual Events listing for all-year engagement with ISA.

That is good to hear. We also need to get more senior scholars involved to up the quality, but there seems a generational divide about online conferencing

How did you find the conference overall ?

ISA Virtual 2025 Closing Session Image: pic of participants Access to the conference Zoom rooms, password, browseable program, and schedule tools is restricted to conference registrants

We can't believe it's already the last of #ISAVirtual2025! Join our Executive Director, President, Program Chairs, & Best Virtual Paper Award committee members at our Closing Ceremony today at 12:00 US EDT. Registration is still open for those interested in attending via buff.ly/mOlAtKr

Hope my comments on modernity, postmodernity, late modernity etc were not too wayward yesterday, just trying to talk about the specificity of different historical moments

Thanks, you were a great Chair today, with very astute extra comments :)

The Minister for Women and Equalities has confirmed the appointment of Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson as the next Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Dr Stephenson was announced as the UK government’s preferred candidate in June and completed a pre-appointment hearing in front of the Women and Equalities Committee and the Joint Committee on Human Rights on 1 July. Dr Stephenson will take up the post from 1 December 2025, when Baroness Falkner’s extended term comes to an end. Responding to the confirmation of her appointment, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, the next Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: “It is a great honour to be appointed as the new Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission at such a critical time. “I have spent over 30 years building my career across the equality and human rights sector and I am delighted to have the opportunity to bring my insight and experience to lead the EHRC with compassion, honesty and dedication. “I look forward to working with the Government and all stakeholders alongside my new colleagues at the EHRC to uphold equality and human rights and ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity.” John Kirkpatrick, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: “We welcome confirmation of the appointment of Dr Stephenson as our next Chair. “She brings a track record of working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, and her experience in addressing inequalities and human rights issues will be invaluable as we deliver our new Strategic Plan and continue our work to make Britain a fairer country. “Now our next Chair has been confirmed, we look forward to progress being made on the appointment of additional Commissioners, including a Wales Commissioner, and a new Deputy Chair and Scotland Commissioner to replace Dr Lesley Sawers, whose term will also end on 30 November 2025.”

Holy crap, Bridget Phillipson has appointed Dr Mary-Ann Stevenson as the new chair of the EHRC, despite the explicit objections of both @commonswec.parliament.uk and the Joint Committee on Human Rights here: committees.parliament.uk/publications...

www.equalityhumanrights.com/media-centre...
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Open letter from UK university staff: Request for biometric deferral and safe evacuation of incoming Palestinian students and scholars from Gaza to UK Universities More than 40 students currently trapped in Gaza with full scholarships to UK Universities are asking for a safe route to come and study. We, the academic community hoping to welcome these scholars, ca...

An open letter has been launched today (27/7/25) for members of the UK academic community (academics and other university staff) to sign, to press the UK Home Office to facilitate safe passage out of Gaza for 40+ students with offers for UK universities.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

I spoke with @pinknews.bsky.social about the @prideineducation.bsky.social open letter. Read the full piece here

Come and work with us! Job - Lecturer in Sociology here @UofGSociology.bsky.social at University of Glasgow. A one year post. Application deadline 20 August. Contact me/us with any questions. www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/lecturer...

2024 Best Virtual Conference Paper Award Ana I. Lopez Garcia | Maastricht University Sarah Berens | University of Bremen for their paper “Taxing the Wealthy in Haiti” Honorable Mentions Elai Rettig | Bar-Ilan University for “Solar Energy as National Security in the Israel-Palestinian Conflict” Sunil Vaswani | Mumbai, India for “The Logic of Nehruvian Internationalism”

🎉 Congratulations to the 2024 Best Virtual Conference Paper award recipients and honorable mentions for their exceptional scholarship! Applications for this year's cycle open on Aug. 1 via buff.ly/xKSPseI

Don't Miss Thursday 7/31 RC03: LGBTQI+ Politics and Rights in a Regressive Era RD01 Resource Governance in Theory and Practice: Comparative Perspectives RD02 Indigenous Politics and Thought: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives RD03: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Authoritarianism RE02 Research and Ethics in Contested Contexts RE05 Policies, Practices and Academic Freedom at the ISA

Attending #ISAVirtual2025? Here’s a look at today's programming! buff.ly/Nxrn646

Here's a look at Friday's scheduling... August 1, 2025 4am-5:30am - Panel Sessions (FA) 6am - 7:30am - Panel Sessions (FB) 8am - 9:30am - Panel Sessions (FC) 10am - 11:30am - Panel Sessions (FD) 12pm - 1:30pm - Closing Ceremony (FE)

Thank you for joining us on the third day of #ISAVirtual2025. Here's a list of what tomorrow looks like. Sessions start at 4:00AM US EDT, and our Help Desk opens at 3:30AM US EDT. Visit us at buff.ly/roLFB2T

Today it was really good to Chair our panel ‘LGBTQI+ Politics and Rights in a Regressive Era’ (RC03) with valuable papers on Angola, India, US, Canada and South Korea. I’ve been attending four panels a day in changing time zones, more tomorrow! #ISAVirtual2025 www.isanet.org/Conferences/...

Come and work with us! Job - Lecturer in Sociology here @UofGSociology.bsky.social at University of Glasgow. A one year post. Application deadline 20 August. Contact me/us with any questions. www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/lecturer...

Text: ISA Virtual 2025 Opening Session - Access to the conference Zoom rooms, passwords, browseable program and schedule tools is restricted to conference registrants. Image: photos of the ISA president, Exec. Director and Program Chairs. ISA logo

Join our Executive Director, President, Program Chairs, and Best Virtual Paper Award committee members at our #ISAVirtual2025 Opening Session TODAY at 4:00PM US EDT. Registration is still open at buff.ly/5WPhqPj to everyone interested in attending!

Thank you for joining us on the first day of #ISAVirtual2025. Here's a bit of what was highlighted at our opening session. We'll see you again tomorrow. Sessions start at 12:00PM US EDT, and our Help Desk will open at 11:30AM US EDT.

Can’t wait for the start of the International Studies Association Virtual Conference 2025 (from Tuesday), where I am a joint Program Chair, check out the Program to plan participation #ISAVirtual2025 @isanet.bsky.social www.isanet.org/Conferences/...

Detailed info graphic of each day of the Virtual conference

The #ISAVirtual2025 schedule tool stores registrants' saved and favorited conference sessions directly from the browse program. Use the Linktree in our bio to register today and add sessions to your schedule! buff.ly/jcrAMg6

Text: #ISAVirtual2025 - Tech requirements • An internet connection – broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE) • Speakers and a microphone – built-in, USB plug-in, or wireless Bluetooth • A webcam or HD webcam - built-in, USB plug-in,

Text: #ISAVirtual2025 - Etiquette & Best Practices • Be on Time • Check your audio settings • Use your video • Check your background & environment • Minimize distractions • ISA prohibits the use of AI notetaking tools Image: background image of world map with satellite data connections. ISA logo

#ISAVirtual2025 will be over Zoom, & session access is limited to conference registrants. Swipe ▶️ for conference tech tips! Speakers should tune in to their sessions via their Participation Hub & use a computer or tablet for a seamless conference experience, especially if screen sharing.

Text: ISA's 2025 Virtual Conference rates Option 1 - $15 Option 2 - $30 Option 3 - $45 Image: Technology, network, connection graphic, blue and purple

Text: An active ISA membership is not required for registration, but include several perks... • Access to Journals & Publications • Fellowships, grants & competitive funding • Networking & research collaboration opportunities • Access to ISA Job Boards

Text: ISA Futures Fund Registrants will also have the option to donate to the ISA Futures Fund. An initiative designed to expand member services and programming throughout the year. Option 1 - $25 Option 2 - $50 Option 3 - $100 Option 4 - $250 Option 5 - $500

It's not too late to register for #ISAVirtual2025. Visit the Linktree in our bio or buff.ly/5WPhqPj to complete your payment today!

A purple and pink graphic stating, LGBTI+ equality and human rights organisations wrote to the UN to highlight the risks to trans people's human rights following the UKSC judgment and EHRC's Code of Practice

An image of the first page of the letter

An image of the second page of the letter

An image of the signatories to the letter

Today we wrote to the UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity alongside 16 other LGBTI+ equality & human rights organisations to raise concerns about the human rights of trans people right now in the UK since the Supreme Court judgment & the EHRC’s proposed Code of Practice.

Watch Nancy's explainer on the EHRC draft code of practice ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Tell your MP that Parliament needs to have a say.

Find more information, including a template to send to your MP, here:

www.transsolidarityalliance.com/ehrc-code

Repeat of post text

Did you know trans+ people in the UK are facing a bathroom ban, without a vote in Parliament?

Learn how you can help stop it... 🧵

Can’t wait for the start of the International Studies Association Virtual Conference 2025 (from Tuesday), where I am a joint Program Chair, check out the Program to plan participation #ISAVirtual2025 @isanet.bsky.social www.isanet.org/Conferences/...

The trans rights stitch-up How government plans to silence debate on the new rules

Ian Dunt is turning into a real trans ally, this article describes the likely stitch-up of how Starmer and Philippson are likely to take away all trans people’s human rights without a debate or vote in parliament.

"There is no excuse for what’s happening in Gaza. This tragedy must end now, immediately and decisively. Every political hesitation, every attempt at justification of the horrors being committed under international watch, will forever be judged as a collective failure to preserve humanity in war.”

Gaza | The scale of human suffering and the stripping of human dignity have long exceeded every acceptable standard, both legal and moral.

This tragedy must end now.

Mirjana Spoljaric, ICRC President: ms.spr.ly/63327sGyPt