Thanks Ben. Hope you are well 😊

And you. Long time no see! Hope ya doing well 😊

So honoured win a @prideinstem.bsky.social decadal award alongside some awesome activists.
Does it mean I'm old and it's time to retire?
Not a chance!

Things may be tricky now, but it's much better than when I joined the fight for LGBTQI rights more than ten years ago.
It will get even better!

As I have learnt more, I realise how much it has had an impact on me. How much it limited what I can do. How the things I find normal about myself are not the same difficulties others face.
It has taken a while. That is what it is.
Now the question is how I move forward.
And what can I achieve?

A few friends encouraged me to to diagnosed, but with 'other things' it had to take a back seat.
Finally last year I got a diagnosis (which I consider lucky given the waiting times), although I am still, 11 months on, waiting to see if meds help with the things I find difficult.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week Neurodiversity Celebration Week aims to bring about worldwide neurodiversity acceptance, equality and inclusion in schools and workplaces.

It's www.neurodiversityweek.com

I've talked publically about being neurodiverse, though maybe not posted about it. Truth is, my trans identity and my working class background had a huge impact that it took me a long time to figure out I had ADHD as well.

#NerodiversityCelebrationWeek

I had the pleasure of chatting with Kara Digby from @itvnews.bsky.social Meridian recently about the importance of #LGBTQI+ representation in #STEM.
Must say I wa happy with the video!

www.itv.com/watch/news/lgbtq-history-month-2026-celebrates-the-communitys-contributions-to-stem/nw28rz9

Hello everyone!
Sorry, been quiet for a while!
But, end of Feb I'm co-organising a conference for trans, NB, intersex, etc for researchers and students in STEM.
We have some great speakers lined up (more dets l8r)!
It'd be awesome to see folx there
lnkd.in/eAFtbxUV or transstemuk.substack.com

One of my dearest friends hosted a murder mystery party on Saturday. I had a most wonderful time with friends old and new.
And as the theme was ole time circus, well, I had to dress the part (well, circus/ #steampunk )

I had a fantastic day with the @royalsociety.org at #LondonPride this year. I loved seeing people respond to us specifically.
I have fantastic acceptance as a scientist, but I do and have faced discrimination. It's had an impact my career. But far less that others I know. Let's make #ScienceForAll

Looking for a beautiful book for young people on the earth? Then can I recommend this beautifully illustrated and written book by @drlperezdiaz.bsky.social
I can't recommend this highly enough.
And it's never too early to start a lovely for #science #stem
#STEMforAll #ScienceForAll

Absolutely amazing time at #LondonPride yesterday.
So happy to be there with the @royalsociety.org supporting #STEMforAll
Bonus my new Converse turned up the day before, which I hadn't expected.
In times of hate, so amazing to see the love
#prideMonth #stem
#TransScientist #transgender #lgbt

BREAKING: UKs oppressive 'Labour' government regime hit by official Red Flag genocide alert over oppression and erasure of trans and intersex people. | Dr Victoria Helen McCloud BREAKING: UKs oppressive 'Labour' government regime hit by official Red Flag genocide alert over oppression and erasure of trans and intersex people. Any Members of the UK Parliament now fail...

People may question the use of alarmist language but when such language starts to be used, you have to ask why.
And as a trans person living in the UK, I know full well why such language is being used.

www.linkedin.com/posts/dr-vic...

it is very transparent they have an outcome in mind and choose their evidence to suit their desired narrative.

and how about we start treating people with dignity and respect. even those who are not yet adults

Yesterday my peer-reviewed research paper called “Harming children: The Effects of the UK Puberty-blocker Ban” was published. | Dr Natacha Kennedy Yesterday my peer-reviewed research paper called “Harming children: The Effects of the UK Puberty-blocker Ban” was published. It was by far the hardest thing I have ever had to write. It reveals how ...

funny how the current gov approach of being 'evidence led' means ignoring scientific experts and cherry picking research and data.
we have to stop this unscientific approach adopted by our leaders.

www.linkedin.com/posts/dr-nat...

Entrance steps to the Vienna conference centre, with EGU stickers going up

A welcome sign at EGU, saying simply welcome

A large crowd with soft pink lighting, and on stage a covers band

Wonderful session at the @egu.eu conference in Vienna. Lots of great initiatives and a fantastic panel to be part of. Lovely evening to finish off.
Posts to come next week about a few of the wonderful people I spoke to.

Picture of a sunny garden, with various plants (including an alba, rhubarb plant, heather and cordaline) in the foreground and a little fairy house, and in the background is a slackline that has been set up

Is this the year I master the slackline?
Probably not. But I'll give it a good go.
For me, the fun is trying. I don't have to master everything just try the things I want to try.
And I don't mind a fall. Only way I'll get better!

We can choose the businesses and groups we support, the people we spend our precious time with.
I choose those who support people.

There will be waves of anti-trans rehetoric coming up. But know there are good organisations out there and choose them

We have the right to feel safe, valued, respected. The world isn't a bubble. But generally, people are good. I like the people and organisations I surround myself with. Not everyone believe they have to choose between supporting trans people and other people.

And some awesome organisations have put out supportive statements, that they value trans scientists. I saw a strong one from the @rsc.org

Next week there will be an exciting post about a new children's book I have been featured in.

Today I went to @ Gallery Bouldering in Oxford. Always been super friendly, they have a queer climbing night and also have unisex bathrooms and changing rooms. I feel a happy part of their community. (And after last year's broken hand, I finally feel I am getting back through the grades!)

Picture of two old battered pairs of climbing shoes, some board games and a ragged old pride flag doormat

Last night I went to a queer boardgame group, Oxford GAYmers. I used to be a regular and intend to regain that. Plenty of cis-gay men and women who have no issue with me using the bathroom and joining games.

Can you not work on cancer research if you or your family has, or has had cancer? Might get cancer?
What about research on women’s health, only to be done by men?
Research on climate change, only by people who do not live on this planet?
Double standards

£485,000 of grants awarded to five UK-US partnerships to boost LGBT+ inclusion in STEM The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Science and Innovation Network are proud to announce the recipients of funding for five projects that will see UK and US universities partner to improve policy ...

Another little note, at the @rsc.org EDI day on Tuesday I heard from another person doing research about trans people. They faced the pushback, how can you do work on trans people if you are trans/NB/have trans family. We faced the same criticism.

www.rsc.org/news-events/...

Amazing how many free speech activists tried to distort this project.
Free speech – Ha.
Correct speech only!

Anyways, this essay was a good opportunity to share that project.
It could easily have been stronger, but I think we got the tone right and I hope proves useful.

Healthtalk Thousands of people have shared their experiences on film to help you understand what it's like to have a health condition such as breast cancer or arthritis.

I’m proud of the research project this was written about. It faced challenges simply for focussing trans youth.
And I only advised, I was not a researcher on the project.
This research was properly researched, but faced so much criticism because of the content

healthtalk.org/introduction...

Yesterday I was at a launch event for a series of essays on the power of community engagement in research sponsored by @britsciassoc.bsky.social
l
There are some amazing articles to read. And yes, I was a co-author on one - obvious which, lol
www.britishscienceassociation.org/creating-kno...

Great to be at the Royal Society of Chemistry EDI day today. Especially to hear the results of the LGBTQ+STEM inclusion grants.
We need to fund scientists now for them to achieve max potential. (& not just LGBTQ+ scientists).
Leaders take time to become leaders www.rsc.org/prizes-fundi...

No idea why I showered before I went. I was straight into the middle as soon as I got in the venue...

Sorry! 🙂