Maëlys McArdle

Author: Maëlys McArdle

  • Canada fails to outlaw physical abuse of minors, again

    Bill C-273, the latest effort to outlaw physical abuse of children, has died following prorogation. It had been progressing for two years, waiting for third reading. The full text of the bill:

    BILL C-273

    An Act to amend the Criminal Code (Corinne’s Quest and the protection of children)

    His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

    R.‍S.‍, c. C-46

    Criminal Code

    1. Section 43 of the Criminal Code is repealed.

    Coming into Force

    2. This Act comes into force on the 30th day after the day on which it receives royal assent.

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  • On a precipice

    On a precipice

    In the 2024 American election, Republicans spent nearly $215 million dollars on ads fear mongering about the presence of trans people in society. It was their wedge issue of choice, along with manufacturing a panic around immigrants (Trump: “they’re eating the dogs… they’re eating the cats… they are eating the pets of [Springfield, Ohio].”)

    Republicans won.

    In Trump’s first two weeks, the White House pardoned the Trump-backed attackers of the capitol in a violent failed coup, abolished the Department of Education, imposed sanctions on the staff of the International Criminal Court, pushed to annex Canada and Greenland, among a flurry of other authoritarian moves. In the midst of it all were six executive orders to purge trans people from American society.

    With the party having eliminated dissenting members, including through death threats, Republicans in the legislative and judicial branches made Trump a sovereign; no longer a check and balance, they are reduced to conduits for his whims.

    Trump, the serial rapist and convicted felon supported by “pro-family” and “tough on crime” Republicans, finally became a strongman like those he has openly coveted: Hitler, Kim Jong-Un, and Putin.

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  • Closing remarks on Océanne and Tristan

    Closing remarks on Océanne and Tristan

    Last month, I released Océanne and Tristan Cross the Atlantic. The culmination of eighteen months worth of work, it was an hour-long satirical radio play about two French-Canadian trans people becoming the center of a new moral panic.

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  • 2024 and Europe Trip

    2024 and Europe Trip

    This year was pretty great.

    • I travelled to Toronto, and saw Joe Hisaishi perform. This was a life goal of mine.
    • I saw a total eclipse.
    • I saw the northern lights, twice!
    • I went to Rouyn-Noranda, and attended its movie festival.
    • I finished Tristan and Océanne Cross the Atlantic.
    • I had a fun mini-vacation with Joy where we went off-roading, playing SNES, and bouldering.
    • I finished classic games from my childhood, including GoldenEye, Donkey Kong Country, and Command & Conquer.
    • I rounded out my typewriter, oil lantern, and watch collection with a few happy additions.
    • I quit my job and found a new one.
      • My peers in my position were making 50% more than me, and I was burning out from doing the work of three people. Even though I was a staff software engineer, I was making less than a new graduate with zero experience.
      • Meanwhile, I got in hot water for leaving a heartfelt message to my departing PM (who loved the message) in her goodbye card, for discussing my pay, and for suggesting ways to improve work-life balance. Despite my colleagues loving me and having helped built a whole new revenue stream for them, I knew I was next to be laid off. (Update Jan 7: the company just laid off 35% of staff. I dodged a bullet.)
      • After quitting, my mental state immediately improved. I took the entire month of December off to recover.
    • I capped off the year traveling to Germany, Czechia, and Austria.
      • I visited my friend who is working in Germany.
      • I visited the site of the book burnings for the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft.
      • I spent NYE in Prague; there were so many fireworks it was as if it was raining all evening.
      • I got to use my German!
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  • Video for “Océanne and Tristan Cross the Atlantic” is out!

    Video for “Océanne and Tristan Cross the Atlantic” is out!

    It’s finally done!

    If you’re new here: I made a bilingual radio play that’s a satire about anti-trans moral panics. I’ve worked on it for the past 18 months; it’s been my way to deal with the moment.

    Here’s the final product – it’s available in its entirety on YouTube:

    One of the challenges I had making this satire is that reality kept eclipsing the preposterous situations I was writing. I updated the events in the play accordingly but also had to pin this in time to 2023, so that didn’t misrepresent subsequent erosion in rights.

    I hope you enjoy.