James Bennett

Dr James Bennett, PhD. Historian, researcher, consultant. Honorary, U of Auckland, NZ. Transnational + trans-Tasman history, LGBT+ studies.
Views are my own.

[Tony Windsor @TonyHWindsor]

If you want to improve “X”then block the idiot who owns it.
I blocked Musk about a month ago ….the world is a better place without his ramblings.
Something is wrong with him.

[James Bennett @DrJamesEBennett]

Wonderful to have worked closely with Marguerite and so many other brilliant contributors to bring this book - the first of its kind - to publication.

[Alan Lester @aljhlester]

@thinkingwest If readers of this post are interested in the nuanced realities of the British Empire as narrated by actual specialists, rather than obviously partisan propaganda, please see https://t.co/2Zgj2k2R3F

[Alan Lester @aljhlester]

Like all propaganda, this popular thread contains seeds of truth, distortions and crucial omissions. I’ll go through them post by post.

1. All empires could be described as being, in many ways a force for good. Or a force for the violent imposition of certain groups’ exclusive privilege.
2. Nearly everywhere the British Empire raised the standard of living for those to whom it directed resources, labour & political preference, while impoverishing others for their benefit. The former were mainly White Britons and their local allies, the latter exclusively Black & Brown subjects.
3. It developed infrastructure to serve primarily British investors’ and military imperatives and sustain its rule. Much of this was inherited and put to use on behalf of the masses only after independence.
4. It promoted education for a relatively small proportion of its subjects in order that its colonial states and economies might operate effectively. Education provided by churches and other institutions outside of government fostered an elite group of nationalists demanding independence. In settler colonies, government-provided education was intended to eradicate Indigenous culture. It resulted in the abuses of residential schools and stolen generations.

Britain did not almost single-handedly eradicate slavery …

[James Bennett @DrJamesEBennett]

3/3 Excited to share finalized front & back cover design of first book to analyze gay conversion practices across multiple cultural forms. Co-edited with @MMJ722. Honoured to have endorsement of 3 stellar people, including @jackdreschermd & @fbongiornoanu

[James Bennett @DrJamesEBennett]

2/3 For a "deep dive ... [into] the personal motivations and cultural forces that promote and enable conversion practices", pre-order this book, co-edited with @mmj772, featuring the work of conversion survivors and academic contributors. https://t.co/AHBgBa2nsi

[James Bennett @DrJamesEBennett]

1/3 There is still much to be done in some other jurisdictions, both here and overseas, to ban dangerous conversion practices. Globally, we also need to hear voices from outside the Anglosphere and beyond Christian-majority countries on impacts of these devastating practices.

[James Bennett @DrJamesEBennett]

@AlexGreenwich Warm congratulations to Alex Greenwich and conversion survivors who have worked tirelessly to ensure a ban on extremely dangerous conversion practices in NSW that have persisted for decades.

[Anthony Venn-Brown OAM 🏳️‍🌈 he/him @gayambassador]

Wonderful news. At last. Sanity has prevailed and conversion “therapy” is banned in New South Wales. This ends a 23-year journey for me attempting to raise awareness of the devastating impacts and lives lost as well as supporting thousands of survivors of the variety of practices

[Chris Minns @ChrisMinnsMP]

Our Bill to ban LGBTQ+ conversion practices has entered parliament.

I wanted you to hear from my mate @PennySharpemlc - staunch Minister in our Government and proud member of the LGBTIQ+ community.

Conversion practices have no place in New South Wales - so we'll end it.

[James Bennett @DrJamesEBennett]

@BettsDN Congratulations, David.

[Rodney Croome AM @RodneyCroome]

Equality Tasmania has launched a new campaign opposing the State Government's appalling draft conversion law. #politas
Sign the open Letter:
https://t.co/bsj9uP8wQS
Campaign page: https://t.co/4nrkqoTQgY
Media release:
https://t.co/Vv9QQfIZLd

[James Bennett @DrJamesEBennett]

@Dr_KMcLoughlin @MMJ722 @McKinnon_SJ @StuartEdser @drjessicaford @AnnikaHerb @gayambassador Thanks, Kcasey! 😀

[James Bennett @DrJamesEBennett]

Pleased to share cover design of forthcoming Bloomsbury anthology, co-edited with @MMJ722. First book to address conversion practices in multiple cultural forms.

[James Bennett @DrJamesEBennett]

@DykGarritt @StuartEdser @MMJ722 @McKinnon_SJ @drjessicaford @AnnikaHerb @gayambassador Thanks! And a special mention of our wonderful contributors: Stuart Edser, Jessica Ford & Annika Herb, Scott McKinnon, Tom Sharples, David Coon and Anthony Venn Brown. 😀

[Australian Journal of Social Issues @AusSocialIssues]

'We argue that Australia is currently seeing forms of resurgent prejudice in response to the passage of marriage equality legislation in 2017 by the federal Parliament' https://t.co/HoGs95zDFj

[James Bennett @DrJamesEBennett]

Delighted to continue working with @BettsDN on marriage equality and to now see the fruits of our labour!

[James Bennett @DrJamesEBennett]

@beavis_jordan @Uni_Newcastle @kate_ariotti Warm congratulations, Jordan. So well deserved!

[James Bennett @DrJamesEBennett]

Delighted to be associated as historical consultant for the NZ episode of new SBS series "Who the Bloody Hell Are We?" on multicultural Australia. Premieres 19 July.
https://t.co/yIU151SzKD

[Equality Australia 🌈 @EqualityAu]

Excellent to hear MPs from the Government and Opposition last night recommit to banning LGBTQA+ conversion practices in NSW.
It’s time to finally end these damaging practices that cause real and lasting harm - like many states and territories have already done.