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ex-trans movement

“Michelle Alleva” is the stage name of Michelle Zacchigna, a Canadian ex-transgender activist. Zacchigna gets money and attention by making it more difficult for others to get trans healthcare.

Zacchigna is a member of ex-trans group Beyond Trans.

Zacchigna has used a number of aliases and handles:

  • “Scarlett P”
  • “Michelle Alleva”
  • somenuanceplease
  • sumenuancepls

Zacchigna transitioned as an adult and made additional identity and expression changes ten years later.

Background

Zacchigna was born in 1988. Zacchigna reports being bullied in school, especially from ages 8 to 13. After a close adolescent friendship ended, Zacchigna experienced even more social isolation. Zacchigna alleges having the following problems as a teen:

  • developmental trauma
  • dissociation
  • low self-esteem
  • self-harm
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • 2008 suicide attempt
  • dated older people “who didn’t seem to have my best interests at heart”

At age 20, Zacchigna identified as asexual:

Although I had never had gender dysphoria before, the more I thought about gender and how I wanted to present myself, the more self-aware I became about my body, and the more I wanted to change it. I thought about my past and became convinced that I had been bullied because I was trans and just didn’t know it.

In spring 2010, at age 21, Zacchigna went to the Gender Journeys support group at Toronto’s Sherbourne Health. Two years later, in 2012, Zacchigna saved up and then paid out of pocket for elective top surgery in Florida.

Because transition doesn’t make you a new person or change who you are, Zacchigna felt better for a while, but then reported problems started again:

  • social anxiety
  • still difficult to make friends
  • depression
  • gender dysphoria
  • couldn’t cry anymore “because of the hormones”
  • uncontrolled acne
  • poor self-care
  • gained about 70-80 pounds
  • fired for “inconsistent” work output
  • irregular sleep schedule
  • stopped caring about appearance
  • became low income
  • moved back in with family
  • failed out of college
  • autism spectrum disorder
  • ADHD
  • post-traumatic stress symptoms
  • major depressive disorder
  • medical trauma
  • low voice
  • male-pattern balding
  • facial hair
  • an enlarged clitoris
  • a flat chest
  • the inability to ever become pregnant
  • “among other things”

Following a 2017 evaluation that added to Zacchigna’s long list of problems, in 2018 Zacchigna had a “medically unnecessary” partial hysterectomy because “it was covered by provincial insurance, and I liked the idea of not having any more periods or pap exams.”

Zacchigna is upset and angry “that I wasn’t screened for the diagnoses I later received before I was prescribed hormones.” Zacchigna was screened prior to the hysterectomy but still blames others for that decision made at age 30.

Anti-transgender activism

Now based in Orillia, Ontario, Zacchigna’s income is now supplemented by making it harder for other adults to get trans healthcare:

“I have spent the last 18 months involved in health care advocacy related to this topic. I’ve presented at webinars, spoken at universities, been featured in news articles, appeared on Podcasts, and written blogs semi-regularly sharing my experiences and my thoughts about how this could have happened.”

In 2022 Zacchigna announced a planned lawsuit:

“I’ve been holding this card close to my chest for a while, and I’m ready to show it. In November 2022, I commenced legal action against the Canadian healthcare providers that facilitated my medical transition in Ontario,”

Zacchigna is now a source for a number of anti-trans activists and outlets, including Michael Shellenberger, the National Post, and Western Standard. Zacchigna is also active in the anti-trans “parental rights” movement, appearing in Lighthouse and the 2023 film No Way Back.

References

Anti-trans coverage

Oldcorn, Christopher (February 23, 2023). Ontario woman sues healthcare professionals over irreversible gender transition. Western Standard https://www.westernstandard.news/news/ontario-woman-sues-healthcare-professionals-over-irreversible-gender-transition/article_28765010-b3a4-11ed-9dca-7f4bb5988028.html

Murphy, Madeline (November 2, 2022) Michelle Alleva Shares Her Story of Detransitioning. Irish Rover https://irishrover.net/2022/11/michelle-alleva-shares-her-story-of-detransitioning/

Humphrey, Adrian (February 22, 2023). Ontario detransitioner who had breasts and womb removed sues doctors. National Post https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/michelle-zacchigna-ontario-detransitioner-sues-doctors

Shellenberger, Michael (March 22, 2023). Why This Detransitioner Is Suing Her Health Care Providers. Public https://public.substack.com/p/why-this-detransitioner-is-suing

Selected writing by Zacchigna

“Alleva, Michelle” (May 2022). “Removing my completely healthy uterus is my greatest regret.” Michelle Alleva’s Story: Detransition. Lighthouse https://www.lighthouseforum.ca/stories/michellealleva

Staff report (June 30, 2021). Meet Scarlett P. Gender Dysphoria Alliance https://www.genderdysphoriaalliance.com/post/meet-scarlett-p [archive]

Media

Some Kind of Therapist with Stephanie Winn and “Michelle Alleva” (July 18, 2022). 14. Michelle Alleva: The Long Way Home – a detrans journey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Bnyysw-8Yo

BC SOGI Information (March 14, 2024). Michelle Alleva Lawsuit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzQS9H_Orsg

Thoughts on Things and Stuff with Jonathan Streeter (November 9, 2022). From Genspect Symposium 2022: Michelle Alleva – From Transition to Detransition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=errNVIoqMi0

Thoughts on Things and Stuff with Jonathan Streeter (November 9, 2022). Clipped: “Deception” in the Trans Activist Community? (Detrans Perspective). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnfsOx8vQJ8

Thoughts on Things and Stuff with Jonathan Streeter (November 8, 2022). Clipped: “Induced Phobias” in the Trans Activist Community? (Detrans Perspective). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bycRHzyPO9w

Thoughts on Things and Stuff with Jonathan Streeter (November 9, 2022). Clipped: “Milieu Control, Propaganda Saturation” in Trans Activist Community? (Detrans Perspective). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E9wI3wKxao

Genspect with Stella O’Malley and “Michelle Alleva” (February 24, 2024). We’ve Got to Stick with Evidence and Truth and Build from That – Michelle Alleva. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN2utU1Lguo

Transparency with Aaron Kimberly, Aaron Terrell, and “Michelle Alleva” (November 7, 2021). EP 16 – Right Mind, Wrong Spectrum: With Michelle Alleva. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jak-yNfS2y0

Resources

X/Twitter (x.com)

GiveSendGo (givesendgo.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Detrans.ai (detrans.ai)

  • Michelle Alleva
  • detrans.ai/th/vdoh/139-michelle-alleva-the-long-way-home-a-detrans-journey

Substack (substack.com)

IMDb (imdb.com)

Sierra Weir is an American ex-transgender activist who posts gender critical content online using the handle “Exulansic.” Weir gets money and attention by making it harder for others to access trans health services.

If you are transgender, gender diverse, or supportive of the LGBTQ community, do not support Weir’s business. There are many better voice practice and voice therapy options.

Background

Sierra Dullea Weir was born in April 1987.

In 2008, Weir studied Turkish for a year at Middle East Technical University in Turkey. Weir earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 2011. Weir then earned a master’s degree from San Jose State University in 2015. Weir identified as transgender for about four years, then as non-binary:

I lived as a trans man for several years, in community with other gender non-conforming people in the Bay Area, where the culture is open to non-traditional expressions of identity. I went to UC Berkeley, where Judith Butler, author of the seminal Gender Trouble, teaches, and where I majored in Gender and Women’s Studies. At one point, a significant other and I (both trans men at the time) attended a brunch with a group that included Julia Serano, a trans woman biologist whose book Whipping Girl argues that transphobia is a form of misogyny and that rights for trans people must be central to feminism. 

Weir practiced speech therapy at Jewett & Associates, at a middle school via Staffing Options and Solutions, and at Nova Health Therapies. Weir founded Say the Word Speech Therapy in 2018.

Anti-transgender activism

Weir is now part of the gender critical and ex-transgender movements.

Under the pseudonyms “Exulansic” aand “TT Exulansic,” Weir has appeared on Savage Minds, Lou Perez, TRIGGERnometry, Benjamin Boyce, and other anti-trans shows.

References

TT Exulansic (April 8, 2021). How Gender Atheism Saved My Body. The American Mind https://americanmind.org/salvo/how-gender-atheism-saved-my-body/

Resources

Exulansic (exulansic.com) [archive]

Say the Word Speech Therapy (saythewordspeech.com) [archive]

  • NPI: 1144598970 [last updated 2019]

Therapy by Sierra (therapybysierra.com) [archive]

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

The American Mind (americanmind.org)

Muck Rack (muckrack.com)

Substack (substack.com)

Odysee (odysee.com)

Rumble (rumble.com)

Locals (locals.com)

Shopify (myshopify.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Gettr (gettr.com)

Discord (discord.com)

Camille Kiefel is an American “ex-transgender” activist. Kiefel gets money and attention by making it harder for others to get trans healthcare.

Background

Kiefel identified as nonbinary and medically transitioned as an adult.

Kiefel is heavily invested in metaphors of disease and impairment as identity and reportedly has the following problems:

  • CPTSD
  • major depressive disorder
  • ADHD
  • generalized anxiety disorder
  • suicidal ideation

Anti-trans activism

In 2022 Kiefel announced a lawsuit against the healthcare providers who tried to help. Keifel filed another case in 2024.

Kiefel is listed as principal of Detrans Help, a nonprofit founded in 2023.

Kiefel has made the rounds on conservative and fascist media promoting the ex-trans movement.

In 2026, photographer Matthieu Zellweger published profiles of eight ex-trans activists, including Kiefel.

References

Goldstein, Julie Rei (March 12, 2025). “For #DetransAwarenessDay a major #DeTransLaw update! Camille Kiefel’s (@GetBetterTweets ) lawsuit against her surgical team has been Dismissed with Prejudice along with a Money Award Camille now owes the Defendants for bringing forth this action. These lawsuits keep failing.” https://x.com/JulieRei/status/1899849055397912972

Goldstein, Julie Rei (January 23, 2024). “Interesting #DeTransLaw News: Camille Kiefel’s case has been reinstated after last years dismissal. Notably, she is no longer represented by @CEJacksonLaw. Her current attorney is Benjamin Boyd of Hostetter Law Group, neither of which lists expertise in Medical Malpractice.” https://x.com/JulieRei/status/1749872414916530289

Reed, Erin (November 2, 2023). “Everyone Should Become Catholic”—PragerU $1 Million #DETRANS Ad Echoes Ex-Gays. Erin in the Morning https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/everyone-should-become-catholicprageru

Jackson, Daniel; Knoll, James L. (July 12, 2023). Trauma and Transition Trajectories: The Risk of Caenisian Reversion. Psychiatric Times https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/trauma-and-transition-trajectories-the-risk-of-caenisian-reversion

Michels, Holly (January 27, 2023). 5-hour hearing shows emotional debate over bill to block gender care for trans minors. Independent Record https://helenair.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/5-hour-hearing-shows-emotional-debate-over-bill-to-block-gender-care-for-trans-minors/article_8b65c48b-124e-5900-b4e5-982021691545.html

Anti-trans coverage

Johnston, Jeff (May 1, 2026). ‘Detransitioner’ Wins Settlement Against Therapists Who Referred Her for Double Mastectomy. Daily Citizen https://dailycitizen.focusonthefamily.com/detransitioner-wins-settlement-against-therapists-who-referred-her-for-double-mastectomy/

Ryan, Benjamin (April 29, 2026). Detransitioner Settles Malpractice Lawsuit Days Before Trial In Oregon. Hazard Ratio https://benryan.substack.com/p/detransitioner-lawsuit-settles-on

Carnahan, Ashley (December 21, 2022). Detransitioner shares emotional story on why she’s suing doctors who performed double mastectomy. Tucker Carlson Tonight https://www.foxnews.com/media/detransitioner-shares-emotional-story-shes-suing-doctors-performed-double-mastectomy

Schlott, Rikki (December 3, 2022). Detransitioner: ‘I’m suing the doctors who removed my healthy breasts.’ New York Post https://nypost.com/2022/12/03/detransitioner-im-suing-the-doctors-who-removed-my-healthy-breasts/

Goldsberry, Jenny (December 3, 2022). Detransitioner who had breasts removed says she is suing doctors who approved surgery. Washington Examiner https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairness-justice/former-nonbinary-patient-sues-social-worker-therapist

“Buttons, Christina” (November 18, 2022). Detransitioner Announces Lawsuit Against Oregon Gender Clinics For Expediting Surgery. The Daily Wire https://www.dailywire.com/news/detransitioner-announces-lawsuit-against-oregon-gender-clinics-for-expediting-surgery

Hathaway, Candace (November 18, 2022). Detransitioner sues Oregon gender clinics for ‘abhorrent misdiagnosis’ that ‘mutilated’ her body. The Blaze https://www.theblaze.com/news/detransitioner-sues-oregon-gender-clinics

Elmore, Erin (November 8, 2022). Oregon Woman Sues Gender Transition Care Providers over Rushed Treatment that caused ‘Irreversible’ Damage. Turning Point USA https://www.tpusa.com/live/oregon-woman-sues-gender-transition-care-providers-over-rushed-treatment-that-caused-irreversible-damage

Reinl, James (November 7, 2022). Oregon Woman Sues Carers for green-lighting double mastectomy. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11399015/Oregon-woman-sues-trans-care-team-abhorrent-misdiagnosis-left-MUTILATED.html

Selected writing by Kiefel

Kiefel, Camille (July 31, 2023). I Thought I Was Nonbinary. Now I Help Detransitioners. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/nonbinary-surgery-breast-removal-detransitioning-1816309 original headline: I Was Nonbinary. Now I Help Detransitioners

Media

Calmversations with Benjamin A. Boyce and Camille Kiefel (January 24, 2023). “Health Care” (Minus Health, Care) | a Detrans Story with Camille Kiefel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW9s-UvOgog

Dangerous Rhetoric with Brently Kopopolous, Daniel de la FĂ© and Camille Kiefer (January 20, 2023). Dangerous Rhetoric 99: Camille Kiefel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTjzPkUa-VI

Michael Ballantine (January 19, 2023). Detransitioner Camille Kiefel, Permanently Damaged By Lies. Woke Uphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtTC_A4oswA

The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network with Kallie Fell and Camille Kiefel (March 14, 2023). Venus Rising with Camille: I Regret My Top Surgery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j2171JpQQM

The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network with Kallie Fell and Camille Kiefel (May 23, 2023). Venus Rising with Camille Part 2. The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c75FqCjHBWA

Buck Angel with Camille Kiefel (June 15, 2022). Detransitioner: “I Regret Cutting Off My Breasts.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogs-0onakU

Erin Brewer with Camille Kiefel (October 9, 2022). Detransition: The Importance of Physical Health/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uyo-pR5iUc

Resources

Camille Kiefel (camillekiefel.com)

Sinéad Watson is a Scottish ex-transgender activist. Watson gets money and attention by making it harder for others to access trans healthcare. Watson is affiliated with anti-transgender hate group Genspect.

Background

Watson was born in ~1991 and reports being repeatedly sexually assaulted as a teen.

Watson made a gender transition as an adult. Watson socially transitioned at age 20 and began medical transition at age 24. Watson had top surgery at age 26. In October 2019, at age 28, Watson made additional changes in identity and expression.

Rather than taking personal responsibility for medical decisions made as an adult, Watson blames “the trans lobby.” According to a post by anti-trans activist Julie Bindel:

Watson self-referred to the Sandyford in 2014, having spent time in a psychiatric unit following a severe mental breakdown. “I burned my house down while trying to kill myself,” she says, “and made out to the doctor it was because I was really a trans man and needed to transition. That was bullshit.” Watson was suffering from depression, dependent on alcohol, and struggling to accept that she was a lesbian.

Ex-trans activism

According to a 2021 post by Lee Leveille of Health Liberation Now!:

SinĂ©ad Watson is a detransitioned woman from Scotland who has been featured on BBC Scotland’s The Nine. She was one of the co-organizers of the #DetransAwarenessDay campaign and serves as an advisor for the parent advocacy group Genspect. Genspect is led by Stella O’Malley, who has also founded the Gender Dysphoria Support Network (GDSN) and is a founding member of Thoughtful Therapists alongside James Esses and James Caspian. Like [Mary E.] McAlister [of the Child & Parental Rights Campaign], O’Malley has also claimed that talk therapy isn’t used as a form of conversion therapy, a fact contested by research from international experts on conversion practices. Watson, in her advocacy to oppose the proposed conversion therapy ban in Scotland, reiterated O’Malley’s claims and argued that “if exploratory talk therapy is deemed conversion therapy, it’s not a kindness and will result in countless others like myself who have been harmed[.]” She also serves as the advisor for the Gender Dysphoria Alliance, a peer-run group comprised primarily of trans men who advocate for higher restrictions on transition-related care. Gender Dysphoria Alliance was denounced by No Conversion Canada and University-Rosedale Greens for its claims that Green Party electoral candidate Tim Grant signed their “pledge” opposing conversion therapy bans that cover talk therapy. The claim was initially repeated by Genspect though it has since been corrected.

Prior to her detransition, Watson was a transmedicalist YouTuber who went by the pseudonym “Yorick.” In previous videos she asserted that by supporting their children in exploring their identities, parents (particularly mothers) of trans youth are perpetrating child abuse. She has also confessed to “enjoying a lot of [the] content” of the alt-right YouTubers Steven Crowder, Dave Cullen/Computing Forever, and Black Pigeon Speaks, though she took issue with their interviews with Walt Heyer. In her video “Let’s Talk About Sex Reassignment Regret,” she rejected Heyer’s use of his personal story to oppose trans health care. Calling attention to the fact that Heyer is not a licensed professional who’s “status as a rehabilitated trans person is paying well[,]” she expressed frustration at how “the anti-trans movement is treating him as a poster boy and probably raining praise on him.” This opens questions about her recruitment of legal counsel that frequently cites him, including within the very brief they filed, to help her oppose trans health coverage in Arizona.

References

Stone, Gemma (March 21, 2022). Former Anti-SJW YouTuber Gets Shoutout From JK Rowling. Medium https://medium.com/@notCursedE/former-anti-sjw-youtuber-gets-shoutout-from-jk-rowling-af98a0da49b0

Cook, James (February 10, 2020). The dividing lines over Scotland’s gender laws. BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-51445579

Anti-trans coverage

Bindel, Julie (May 3, 2024). GENDER OP HELL : I had surgery to become a man but regretted it so I changed back to a woman five years later – now my body Is ruined. The Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/27720466/gender-transition-surgery-regret-body-ruined/

Thomas, Kim (April 29, 2023). The troubling truth about ‘gender affirming’ mastectomies. The Spectator https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-troubling-truth-about-gender-affirming-mastectomies/

Bindel, Julie (September 15, 2022). Scotland’s Tavistock must fall. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2022/09/scotlands-tavistock-must-fall/

Bayswater Support (February 19, 2021). Detransition Story: Watson. https://www.bayswatersupport.org.uk/detransition-story-watson/

“Laval, M.” (September 9, 2021). Canada Votes 2021: Party positions on gender. Genspect https://genspect.org/canada-votes-2021-party-positions-on-gender/

Selected writing by Watson

Watson, SinĂ©ad (August 2, 2023). The trans lobby pushed me to have a double mastectomy and I bitterly regret it. That’s why Costa’s advert is so dangerous. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12366421/The-trans-lobby-pushed-double-masectomy-bitterly-regret-Thats-Costas-advert-dangerous-writes-SINEAD-WATSON-detransitioned-woman-double-mastectomy.html

Media

Andy Ngo Live with Andy Ngo and SinĂ©ad Watson (November 1, 2022). ‘I wish I could feel my chest’: Ex-trans shares her story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p90K88EdOXs

Transparency with Aaron Kimberly, Aaron Terrell, and SinĂ©ad Watson (September 4, 2022). EP47 – It’s Ms. Watson, thank-you – with Sinead Watson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBnPzgwD9B8

GBNews with Dan Wootton and SinĂ©ad Watson (August 11, 2022). ‘Why have we been experimenting on children?’ | Sinead Watson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPB3UJreqqc

Genspect / GBNews with Stella O’Malley and SinĂ©ad Watson (August 1, 2022). Genspect advisors Stella O’Malley and SinĂ©ad Watson discuss the closure of the Tavistock on GB News. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mseopbrwz0s

Genspect with Alex Phillips, Stella O’Malley, and SinĂ©ad Watson (Jul 30, 2022). Reflections on the closure of the Tavistock: SinĂ©ad Watson in conversation with Stella O’Malley. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr3z34RW_h0

Genspect with SinĂ©ad Watson (April 6, 2022). Detrans Awareness Day Webinar 2022 – SinĂ©ad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF8PCghKTl8

The Cauldron with Lisa, Denise, Claire and SinĂ©ad Watson (January 21, 2022). The Cauldron – Lisa, Denise and Claire interview Sinead Watson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8EXYgcoPPs

GBNews with Alex Phillips and SinĂ©ad Watson (December 7, 2021). ‘Exploratory therapy would have saved me a lot of pain,’ says Sinead Watson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp7d9guHmm4

LGB Alliance with Malcolm Clark, Helen Joyce, Tanya Carter, Kate Grimes, Az Hakeem, and Sinéad Watson (November 13, 2021). Session 1: Lies, Gender Identity & Stereotypes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01YzVihxjI0

The Mess We’re In with Graham Linehan, Helen Staniland, “Arty Morty,” and SinĂ©ad Watson (November 10, 2021). The Mess We’re In Ep. #94: Sinead Watson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho-982j4CLU

Merched Cymru with Az Hakeem and Sinéad Watson (October 5, 2021). Webinar: Transition and Detranstion with Dr Az Hakeem and Sinead Watson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrjogH-WAxg

Make More Noise with Keira Bell, SinĂ©ad Watson, “Bec Wonders,” “Lu Lu” and “DJ Lippy” (July 20, 2021). Free speech and the nature of gender transition. A conversation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltPrAbHuuVw

Sinéad Watson (July 1, 2021). Ramblings of a detransitioned woman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj9dImEgNqI

Labour Women’s Declaration and SinĂ©ad Watson (May 22, 2021). Sinead Watson, detransitioned woman, on devastating impact of gender clinic’s “affirmative model.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyMbTd1crgs

Sinéad Watson (March 12, 2021). Detrans Awareness Day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS1sgrVrET0

Staff report (February 10, 2020). Sinead is worried about a possible change in the law. BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotland-51453612

Videos by or about “Yorick”

Azazel (February 13, 2018). Freedom of Speech on University Campuses (Yorick Re-Upload). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRmzHVdIGmQ

Azazel (January 12, 2018). The Genderfluid Generation (Yorick Re-Upload). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqgN3CGhUfM

Azazel (January 10, 2018). ‘Transtrenders’ – Milo Stewart (Yorick Re-Upload). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxaMhoaEYiQ

Azazel (November 28, 2017). My Beef with Ben Shapiro (Yorick Re-Upload). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjdD3PezPAw

Azazel (November 7, 2017). The Rise of the Transgender Child (Yorick Re-Upload). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmJlbal3_QQ

Azazel (November 7, 2017). Let’s Talk About Sex Reassignment Regret (Yorick Re-Upload). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5Rs3_MRFZM

Azazel (November 7, 2017). Casual Transphobia: Can Words Kill? (Yorick Re-Upload). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMvcORJZars

Magdalen Berns (October 10, 2016). Debunking Myths about “Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminism” (“TERF”). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UafsVsUYTjI

Resources

Genspect (genspect.org)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Gender Dysphoria Alliance (genderdysphoriaalliance.com) [archive]

  • Who We Are

Substack (substack.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

UK LGBT Archive (lgbthistoryuk.org)

Genspect is an anti-transgender extremist group primarily opposed to medical consensus on healthcare for gender diverse youth. Founder Stella O’Malley is a global ringleader in anti-transgender extremism. Genspect is designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Genspect positions include

Background

In November 2018, psychologist Stella O’Malley presented the anti-trans Channel 4 documentary Trans Kids: It’s Time to Talk. Throughout the show, O’Malley questions the affirmative model of care for young people. O’Malley claims that in the current climate it’s “absolutely certain” that O’Malley would have transitioned as a minor. O’Malley was upset by the negative reaction to the show and soon started working closely with other anti-trans extremists.

Genspect emerged from the anti-trans Pediatric and Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group (PAGDWG), a group of 18 therapists and one physician heavily involved in anti-trans activism. PAGDWG was founded in 2018 to oppose the trans-supportive Gender Dysphoria Affirmative Working Group founded a month earlier. PAGDWG members also went on to found anti-trans hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), with seven overlapping advisors between Genspect and SEGM.

In 2020, O’Malley co-founded the Gender Dysphoria Support Network. That group ramped up during the COVID lockdowns, forming a coalition with the “parental rights” and “trans widow” movements of unaccepting parents and spouses. Soon, they began promoting the ex-transgender movement by supporting “detransitioners.”

Genspect was founded in June 2021. Genspect’s goal is to maintain and potentially increase the influence of psychologists in controlling access to trans healthcare, a model of care called “psychological gatekeeping.” Genspect members were upset that major medical organizations were moving away from models that frame gender diversity as a psychosexual pathology (a sexuality disease) or a psychopathology (mental illness).

Genspect promotes a “non-medicalized” approach that prioritizes psychologists who work to prevent people from making a medical transition. Audio leaked from a 2021 online event confirmed that Genspect’s approach is conversion therapy:

  • O’Malley: “I suppose where I’m coming from this more than anything is to make sure that children are, if at all possible, are stopped from medical transition. I think that’s the most important thing for me.”
  • O’Malley: “And so, why am I interested in autogynephilia? It’s primarily because I’m meeting teenage autogynephiles and I need to be able to understand what’s happening with them. […] This is a very fast, very quickly increasing number of boys. Now, are they ROGD, are they AGP, or frankly are they what I think: a mix between AGP and ROGD, and I think the AGP is porn induced.”
  • O’Malley: “Something happened between the 1990s and 2010s with with the gender movement that the keys were given away to the activists.”

Although critics have joked that Genspect stands for “genital inspectors,” O’Malley says the name derives from “inspecting gender.” Originally billed as “a voice for parents” who do not accept their child’s gender identity, Genspect soon expanded to broader criticism of trans healthcare. Genspect is particularly opposed to the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) and their widely-used Standards of Care (SOC), a consensus document on healthcare protocols for trans and gender diverse people. SOC version 8 was in development at the time and was published in 2022.

Connected entities

Genspect is part of an anti-trans web farm that includes:

  • Genspect
  • Beyond Trans (anti-trans therapy)
  • Themis Resource Fund (anti-trans litigation)
  • The Killarney Group (anti-trans think tank)
  • Stats for Gender (anti-trans statistics)
  • Genspect Unheard (anti-trans parents)
  • Inspecting Gender (anti-trans group blog)
  • College Ratings (ranking colleges by anti-trans campus climate)

Team

Advisors

The following people have been listed as advisors. Some are no longer listed.

Contributors

In addition to pieces written by leaders and advisors, several people are listed as contributors of posts for Genspect, including

Pseudonyms

  • “Anonymous”
  • “Anonymous Genspect Doctor NZ”
  • “Anonymous Victorian Parent”
  • “Axelle”
  • “Ginny Welsh”
  • “Mary Laval”
  • “Michael T”

Organizations

  • GenerazioneD
  • Safer Schools Wales
  • Transteens Sorge berechtigt

Named individuals

International chapters

Genspect Australia

Genspect Canada

Genspect Ireland

Genspect New Zealand

Genspect NZ Limited was incorporated on April 8, 2024.

Genspect UK

Genspect USA

2022 Wall Street Journal response

The president of the 67,000-member American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) countered a Wall Street Journal opinion piece by anti-trans activists Julia Mason and Leor Sapir:

AAP advises pediatricians to offer developmentally appropriate care that is oriented toward understanding and appreciating the youth’s gender experience. This care is nonjudgmental, includes families and allows questions and concerns to be raised in a supportive environment. This is what it means to “affirm” a child or teen; it means destigmatizing gender variance and promoting a child’s self-worth. 

O’Malley responded to their response:

I am encouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ statement in its letter that gender-affirming care “doesn’t push medical treatments or surgery; for the vast majority of children, it recommends the opposite.” Unfortunately, this is not the experience of families of gender-distressed children.

Genspect represents thousands of parents of gender-questioning children and young people around the world. We are not aware of any cases in the U.S. or Canada in which children seeking “gender-affirming care” were not given the option of puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones.

The AAP should recognizes this fundamental point: There is no consensus and no evidence base on which to confidently declare what is “medically appropriate” for gender transitioning of children.

Media Matters for America has noted how writer Katie J. M. Baker of the New York Times has laundered Genspect’s anti-trans views into their publication:

The latest piece â€” another entry in the genre of New York Times articles that start from the premise that trans people are perhaps too accepted in society — covers “a network of internet support groups for ‘skeptical’ parents of transgender children, some with thousands of registered members” without noting that the groups are run by Genspect, an organization that opposes bans on conversion therapy and has numerous members who support banning gender-affirming care for trans people under 25. 

April 2023 Ireland conference

O’Malley organized a conference in Ireland on April 27-29, 2023 that featured prominent anti-transgender activists, including:

Attendees included Malcolm Clark, Laura Becker, Colin Wright, Wesley Yang, Jo Bartosch, Camille Kiefel, Robin Ion, Sarah Vaci, Corinna Cohn, and RĂłisĂ­n Michaux.

November 2023 Denver conference

Scheduled participants included:

Attendees also included “in_detransit,” “Phil Illy,” “Shape Shifter,” Luka Hein, David Boettger, Julia Malott, Laura Becker, Christina Buttons, Jennifer Block, Pamela Garfield-Jaeger, Jennifer Lahl, Lisa Marchiano, Soren Aldaco, Jessie Mannisto, Leslie Elliott Boyce, and Elliot Kaminetzky.

2023 Australia/New Zealand online event

In November 2023, Genspect held a webinar featuring anti-trans activists in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand called “Best Practices in Gender Care.” In it, Joe Burgo and Alasdair Gunn presented the draft of Genspect’s alternative to the WPATH Standards of Care, titled The Gender Framework. Schedule participants were:

September 2024 Lisbon event

Scheduled speakers included:

September 2025 Albuquerque event

Genspect’s 2025 conference was announced in July 2025. Scheduled speakers include:

The Gender Framework

In 2023, Genspect’s Killarney Group released the first draft of The Gender Framework, a guide for anti-trans therapists seeking a “non-medicalized” approach to gender. It was created as an alternative to the WPATH Standards of Care. Credited contributors were:

In 2025, Genspect published a revision of The Gender Framework, launched at their 2025 conference.

Editors

Contributors

References

Urquhart, Evan (October 9, 2025). Hate Group Calls for Re-Labeling Transness as Mental Illness. Assigned https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/hate-group-pushes-label-transgender-mental-illness

Staff report (September 29, 2025). Genspect Joins In On Calls to Label Trans People as Extremists. Assigned https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/genspect-joins-calls-transgender-extremists

Hansford, Amelia (August 12, 2025). Wes Streeting met with ‘gender-critical’ groups to discuss ‘gender policy.’ PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/08/12/wes-streeting-gender-policy-meeting/

Wilchins, Riki (Aug 5, 2025). Uncovering the Christian Right’s Anti-Trans Disinformation Network with the Southern Poverty Law Center. Assigned https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/uncovering-christian-right-anti-trans-disinformation-network

Hansford, Amelia (June 10 2024). Two anti-trans organisations listed as ‘hate groups’ by civil rights charity. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/06/10/anti-trans-organisations-hate-groups-southern-poverty-law-center/

Lazine, Mira (June 6, 2024). Anti-trans organizations Genspect & SEGM are now listed as hate groups by the SPLC. LGBTQ Nation https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/06/anti-trans-organizations-genspect-segm-are-now-listed-as-hate-groups-by-the-splc/

Reed, Erin (June 5, 2024). SPLC Designates Genspect, SEGM As Anti-LGBTQ Hate Groups. Erin In The Morning https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/splc-designates-genspect-segm-as

Piper, Ernie (July 25, 2023). ‘Focus relentlessly on under 25’: Leaked chats reveal influential gender-critical group’s plan to use children to push for bans on transitioning. Daily Dot https://www.dailydot.com/debug/genspect/

Santoro, Helen (May 2, 2023). How Therapists Are Trying to Convince Children That They’re Not Actually Trans. Slate https://slate.com/technology/2023/05/gender-exploratory-therapy-trans-kids-what-is-it.html

Turner, Jackie (March 10, 2023). Anti-trans disinformation is rife in Australia — and it’s being spread by a small group of organisations. Crikey https://www.crikey.com.au/2023/03/10/anti-trans-disinformation-australia-transphobia/

Drennen, Ari (February 8, 2023). The New York Times helped fuel an anti-trans panic in 2022. Will 2023 be any better? Media Matters for America https://www.mediamatters.org/new-york-times/new-york-times-helped-fuel-anti-trans-panic-2022-will-2023-be-any-better

Ferreira, Lou (March 25, 2022). NHS pulls trans health conference after speakers’ anti-trans links exposed. openDemocracy https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/nhs-pulls-trans-conference-after-speakers-links-exposed/

Coverage in anti-trans press

Shriver, Lionel (October 2025). Transgenderism proves people will believe anything. The Spectator https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/transgenderism-proves-people-will-believe-anything/

Baker, Katie J. M. (January 23, 2023). When Students Change Gender Identity, and Parents Don’t Know. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/22/us/gender-identity-students-parents.html

Szilagyi, Moira (August 21, 2022). Academy of Pediatrics Responds on Trans Treatment for Kids. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/trans-gender-pediatric-aap-kids-children-care-surgery-affirm-treatment-11660942086

Bazelon, Emily (June 15, 2022). The Battle Over Gender Therapy. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/15/magazine/gender-therapy.html

Dixon, Hayley (June 26, 2021). CBBC’s trans messaging is damaging children, says mother. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/06/26/cbbcs-trans-messaging-damaging-children-says-mother/

Selected anti-trans writing by Genspect

Genspect USA (January 21, 2025). Introducing Genspect USA’s New Director. Genspect https://genspect.org/introducing-genspect-usas-new-director/

Genspect (2023). The Bigger Picture 2023 Conference Schedule. https://genspect.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Conference-Schedule-Denver.pdf https://genspect.org/the-bigger-picture-continues-denver-colorado/

Book

O’Malley, Stella; Bartle, Carol; Clark, Carrie; Miller, Amanda (2026). The Gender Framework: A Comprehensive Evidence-Based Guide for Professionals and Families. Pitchstone Publishing, ISBN 978-1634312844

Resources

Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)

  • Genspect
  • transdatalibrary.org/organization/genspect

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Genspect (genspect.org)

Stats for Gender (statsforgender.org)

Beyond Trans (beyondtrans.org)

Substack (substack.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

TikTok (tiktok.com)

Regret is rare among people who make a gender transition. In 27 studies totaling 7,928 surgery patients, the regret rate was about 1%: “Pooling data from numerous studies demonstrates a regret rate ranging from .3 percent to 3.8 percent. Regrets are most likely to result from a lack of social support after transition or poor surgical outcomes using older techniques.”

A 2024 study from Perth Children’s Hospital in Perth, Australia found low regret rates among minors:

In this cohort study of 548 individuals with closed referrals to a pediatric gender clinic, 29 (5.3%) reportedly reidentified with their birth-registered sex before or during assessment. Two of these individuals reidentified during medical treatment, which corresponds to 1.0% of all patients who initiated medical treatment.

Cavve et al. (2024)

Sometimes a person who makes a change in gender identity or gender expression will make more changes later. That is a key goal of our political movement. You should be able to change your gender identity and expression as often as you want.

There is no shame in questioning your gender and not being sure what to do. As with most big life choices, making a gender transition is a leap of faith, and it is good to look before you leap! No one wants to live a life of regret, whether it is regret about not transitioning sooner, or regret after making a gender transition. The best way to lower the chances of regret is to think carefully about what will give your life fulfillment.

Many people see gender changes on a spectrum. Some people only see them as a binary. You can always transition in any direction, and it is not all or nothing. Every person should feel free to be themselves in their own way. That can change over time. There is no shame in changing your identity or expression more than once. It is not a “failure” to change direction. It is not bad to change your mind. Many of us support you no matter what you choose. We want you to live a life full of purpose and joy. We will fight for your right to be your true self.

Most people who make more gender changes have no regrets about their earlier transition. The choices you make and the actions you take always carry some risk. Some people will feel they made a mistake. It is important not to focus on your mistakes. We all make them, even on big things. When you feel you made a mistake, you have to let it go, forgive yourself and others, and move forward. When you dwell on your mistakes and regret, you are looking backwards to the past.

Being transgender is hard. It is difficult for many people to reach their expectations for transition. They may be dissatisfied with the results or unwanted side effects from medical transition. They may have a hard time moving through the world because of how they look or act. They may have a hard time with acceptance at work, school, or home. It is important to consider the experiences of people who regret transition when deciding what is right for you. Most people who discuss their regrets do so because they want to help others avoid the same regret.

Making more changes

Gender transition is mostly social. All social changes can be changed more than once. All legal changes like name or gender marker can be changed more than once. Many medical changes can be changed more than once. If you undertsand the possible benefits and side effects, it is OK to try hormones or hormone blockers for a little while and stop. Because surgery is a significant step, you need to be very sure before you have surgery. Experts who reviewed 27 studies with a total of 7,928 patients who had surgery found a pooled prevalence of regret of just 1%.

Researchers at Cornell University looked at peer-reviewed studies published between 1991 and 2017:

We identified 55 studies that consist of primary research on this topic, of which 51 (93%) found that gender transition improves the overall well-being of transgender people, while 4 (7%) report mixed or null findings. We found no studies concluding that gender transition causes overall harm. 

What We Know Project (2018)

The ex-transgender movement

Of the estimated 240 million trans and gender diverse people worldwide, there are only a few dozen public ex-trans activists worldwide. Each person in the core group of ex-trans activists in the media is literally one in a million.

Most people who decide to make more gender changes still support transgender people. Some just want to share their stories. They want others to learn from their experiences. Even most people who regret making a gender change feel it should be an option for others.

In rare cases, a person who has regret about a gender transition also decides to get money or attention by joining the “ex-trans” movement, also called “political detransition.” Some work to limit or even end access to trans health services for others. Some even work to take away trans people’s other rights. They usually blame others for their transition instead of taking personal responsibility for their own decisions.

The people they blame can include:

  • Supportive family
  • Supportive friends
  • Supportive educators
  • Supportive transitioners
  • Supportive organizations
  • Supportive strangers
  • Supportive media (especially social media)
  • Supportive therapists
  • Supportive healthcare providers

In other words, they often blame the people who tried to help them.

Political strategy

The ex-trans movement focuses on these controversial concepts:

“Desistance“

  • Typically used for children, this usually means someone who stopped identifying as transgender before taking medical or legal steps.

“Detransition“

  • Typically used for adults, this usually means someone who took social, medical, and/or legal transition steps, then took more steps in another direction later.

Litigation

  • Ex-trans activists often sue healthcare providers to make money and to have a chilling effect on options for our healthcare.

Historic ex-trans activists

Despite their small numbers, ex-trans activists have been a cisgender media fixation for nearly a century. Notable older “ex-trans” people include:

Ex-trans people often join the movement following a political or religious conversion. For others, they get involved as a form of attention-seeking behavior, or as a way to make money. Beginning in 2021, the fringe ex-trans movement began to get more politically organized through connections with other conservative and fascist movements.

Confirmed ex-trans activists

The following people have engaged in ex-trans activism and have independently confirmed identities. They are ordered by their real surnames, with fake names and handles also listed.

  • KathyGrace Duncan
  • Kasey Emerick / “KC Miller” / “dyke_in_denial”
  • Charlie Evans / charlie_sci / DetransAdv
  • Laura Reynolds
  • Heath Atom Russell
  • Emelie Schmidt / Emmie Schmidt / SullivanStar221 / EmmieS3311 / emelieannes / FaithMckoy69 / faith.mckoy.121 / justl00king0k
  • Laura Perry Smalts
  • Oliver Squire / “Oli London” / “OliLondonTV”
  • Aria Stevens / “Ciel” / “CielNestPasVert” / AriaNefariah
  • Amanda Stewart
  • Daisy Strongin / “Daisy Chadra”
  • Phillip Martine Suarez-Hamilton / “OfTheFutureArt” / “Estella”
  • Miles Yardley

Unconfirmed ex-trans activists

Many alleged ex-trans activists use fake names and usernames, making it impossible to confirm their claims independently. The following people claim online to be ex-trans activists.

General Twitter/X accounts

Media bias

People who express regret are vastly overrepresented in the media. They are often presented the way “ex-gays” used to be presented and are primarily uplifted by conservative and gender critical media figures.

References

Thornton SM, Edalatpour A, Gast KM (2024). A systematic review of patient regret after surgery- A common phenomenon in many specialties but rare within gender-affirmation surgery. The American Journal of Surgery https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2024.04.021

Reed, Erin (April 26, 2024). Landmark Systematic Review Of Trans Surgery: Regret Rate “Remarkably Low.” Erin in the Morning https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/landmark-systematic-review-of-trans

Astor, Maggie (May 16, 2023). How a Few Stories of Regret Fuel the Push to Restrict Gender Transition Care. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/us/politics/transgender-care-detransitioners.html

Cavve BS, Bickendorf X, Ball J, Saunders LA, Thomas CS, Strauss P, Chaplyn G, Marion L, Siafarikas A, Ganti U, Wiggins A, Lin A, Moore JK (2024). Reidentification With Birth-Registered Sex in a Western Australian Pediatric Gender Clinic Cohort. JAMA Pediatrics https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.0077

Statista (2023). Share of people identifying as transgender, gender fluid, non-binary, or other ways worldwide as of 2023, by country. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269778/gender-identity-worldwide-country/ ” three percent of respondents from 30 countries identified themselves as transgender, non-binary/non-conforming/gender-fluid, or in another way. “

What We Know Project, Cornell University (2018). What does the scholarly research say about the effect of gender transition on transgender well-being? (online literature review), 2018. https://whatweknow.inequality.cornell.edu/topics/lgbt-equality/what-does-the-scholarly-research-say-about-the-well-being-of-transgender-people/

We identified 55 studies that consist of primary research on this topic, of which 51 (93%) found that gender transition improves the overall well-being of transgender people, while 4 (7%) report mixed or null findings. We found no studies concluding that gender transition causes overall harm.

Narayan SK, Hontscharuk R, Danker S, Guerriero J, Carter A, Blasdel G, Bluebond-Langner R, Ettner R, Radix A, Schechter L, Berli JU (2021). Guiding the conversation—types of regret after gender-affirming surgery and their associated etiologies. Ann Transl Med 2021;9(7):605. https://doi.org/10.21037/atm-20-6204

-https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HpGRzJ5nc7gecyXUKVRdCeXS1TYXe0w12A7Y9I2JIsE/edit#gid=0

Media

Keffals (April 27, 2022). CRINGING at Incredible DETRANSITIONER grift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QqS8eaE57U 

Vaush (October 13, 2022) The Detransitioner Grift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om_a-iSRMjY

Archival resources

sexchangeregret.com [archive]

helpmereversemysexchange.org [archive]

trans-detransition.com [archive]

tradingmysorrows.com [archive]

sexchangeinfo.com [archive]

Helena Kerschner is a conservative American “ex-transgender” activist. Kerschner is part of Pique Resilience Project, an anti-transgender group that includes Chiara Caignon-Lewis, Dagny Walton, and Kerschner’s ex-lover Jesse Hinty.

Kerschner works for anti-trans hate group Genspect andis a member of Beyond Trans.

Background

Helena Elise Kerschner was born July 24, 1998 in northern Kentucky and grew up in the Cincinnati area. Kerschner’s parent Magdalena E Kerschner (born 1960) is a physician who ran a pain clinic. Kerschner’s parent William P. “Will” Kerschner (born 1959) was an executive at a large consumer goods company. Both are retired.

Kerschner had a childhood of immense privilege and was involved in figure skating and other expensive hobbies like horse riding. As a teen, Kerschner was a compulsive Tumblr user:

[…] By the time I was thirteen, I was isolating myself, self-harming, and had developed an eating disorder. In eighth grade, I lost touch with most of my school friends, and was too self-conscious and preoccupied with my eating disorder to put myself out there again. I started skipping school, spending lunch in the bathroom, and in general just keeping my head down, trying to get through the day unnoticed.

[…] When I was fifteen, I was introduced to gender ideology on Tumblr and began to call myself nonbinary. Over the next few years, I would continue to go deeper and deeper down the trans identity rabbit hole, and by the time I was eighteen, I saw myself as a “trans man”, otherwise known as “FtM”. Shortly after my eighteenth birthday, I made an appointment at a Planned Parenthood to begin a testosterone regimen. At my first appointment, I was prescribed testosterone, and I would remain on this regimen for a year and a half. It had an extremely negative effect on my mental health, and I finally admitted what a disaster it had been when I was 19, sometime around February or March 2018. 

[…] Between sharing photos, drawings, and fanfiction, these girls were posting about their lives and going into deep detail about their struggles. Many were social outcasts like me, also struggling with things like self-harm and eating disorders. Finding a community of such like minded people felt amazing, and I quickly began spending nearly every waking moment on Tumblr or messaging some friend I had met on there. If I had any remaining motivation to integrate myself into real life, I lost that here. 

Kerschner (2022)

Kershner became sexually attracted to and obsessed with boyish pop culture figures like Elvis and Justin Bieber. Kershner eventually wanted to embody them. This erotic interest in masculinization was not well documented prior to LiveJournal, Tumblr, the “shipping” phenomenon, and anime fandoms frequented by fujoshi {“rotten girl”) obsessives.

Kerschner met Hinty via tumblr, and they eventually lived together. Kerschner started hormones as an adult on August 15, 2016. According to an interview with Daily Wire, Kerschner’s new name was Vincent Lucas “Vin” Jaszczak. Jaszczak was a family name.

While most people who make additional changes in gender identity or expression remain supportive of the process, some choose to get money and attention by joining the ex-trans movement. According to friends, Kerschner was drawn into alt-right ideologies via toxic online communities including now-banned subreddits like r/The_Donald and r/GenderCritical.

I finally bit the bullet and looked into radical feminism. This happened because during a suicidal mental break down, I went to the only community online that I had found supported detransitioned people (the trans community often demonizes and erases us), which was r/GenderCritical on Reddit. I was met with an overflow of love and support, and they showed me that radfems are not the monsters the trans tumblr community makes us out to be. Though their politics were extremely shocking to me, someone who spent the last 5 years intensely believing in genderist ideology, after a while things started making sense and I realized just how horrible trans ideology is, and how it nearly destroyed my life.

With the help of radical feminism, which has taught me an immense level of self respect, I am slowly crawling out of rock bottom.

Kerschner soon became fixated on alt-right figures like Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson in ways that mirror previous fascinations with Elvis and Justin Bieber.

Kerschner has spoken at a number of anti-transgender events and has appeared on fascist and conservative media outlets, including interviews with Tucker Carlson, Benjamin Boyce, Alex Kaschuta, Keri Smith, Gender Dysphoria Alliance, Tim Pool, The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network, Jennifer Lahl, Michael Laidlaw, Colin Wright, Preston Sprinkle, Carole Hooven, Rod Dreher, Michael Knowles, and Ben Shapiro.

Kerschner testified in support of Ohio legislation HB 454, the “Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE)” Act. Kerschner also works extensively behind the scenes with Denise Caignon, owner of anti-trans site 4thWaveNow.

Kerschner announced a step back from ex-trans activism in February 2023.

Coverage in anti-trans media

Doak, Emile (Sep 9, 2024). Resist the Cult. [review of Detrans: True Stories of Escaping the Gender Ideology Cult, by Mary Margaret Olohan, Regnery]. The American Conservative https://www.theamericanconservative.com/resist-the-cult/

Cuomo, Andrew (December 15, 2022). 3 teens who thought they were trans explain why they detransitioned. NewsNation https://www.newsnationnow.com/lgbtq/3-teens-who-thought-they-were-trans-explain-why-they-detransitioned/

Kamman, Samantha (September 12, 2022). Detransitioners share regrets, speak out against body mutilation in ‘Transgressive’ documentary. The Christian Post https://www.christianpost.com/news/detransitioners-share-regrets-speak-out-in-documentary.html

Olohan, Mary Margaret (July 25, 2022). Catholic Chicago Hospital Chose Ideology Over Biology In Treating Biological Girl Who Believed She Was Male, De-Transitioner Says. Daily Wire https://www.dailywire.com/news/catholic-chicago-hospital-chose-ideology-over-biology-in-treating-biological-girl-who-believed-she-was-male-de-transitioner-says

Showalter, Brandon (July 13, 2022). ‘There’s a lot of money to be made’: Detransitioners blast doctors they blame for maimed bodies. The Christian Post https://www.christianpost.com/news/detransitioners-blast-doctors-they-blame-for-maimed-bodies.html

Schlott, Rikki (June 18, 2022). ‘I literally lost organs:’ Why detransitioned teens regret changing genders. New York Post https://nypost.com/2022/06/18/detransitioned-teens-explain-why-they-regret-changing-genders/

Staff report (May 11, 2022). Detransitioner: ‘The internet influences young people to believe they are trans.’ The Christian Institute https://www.christian.org.uk/news/detransitioner-the-internet-influences-young-people-to-believe-they-are-trans/

Kamman, Samantha (May 6, 2022). Detransitioner says Planned Parenthood gave her max dose of male hormones, led to hospitalization. The Christian Post https://www.christianpost.com/news/planned-parenthood-gave-gender-confused-teen-max-dose-of-cross-sex-hormones.html

Jackson, Mary (April 21, 2022). Web of deception: The “fake reality” and peer contagion of the internet are leading many teen girls into transgenderism. World https://wng.org/articles/web-of-deception-1650419703

Gentles, Ginny (April 20, 2022). Helena Kerschner Wants to Protect Children from Medical Malpractice. Independent Women’s Forum https://www.iwf.org/2022/04/20/helena-kerschner-wants-to-protect-children-from-medical-malpractice/

Weiss, Suzy (April 19, 2022). The Testosterone Hangover. The Free Press https://www.thefp.com/p/the-testosterone-hangover

Ault, Alicia (March 14, 2022). Doctors Have Failed Them, Say Those With Transgender Regret. Medscape News https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/970223

Selected writing by Kerschner

Kerschner, Helena (February 23, 2023). Another Update. Substack https://lacroicsz.substack.com/p/another-update

Kerschner, Helena (2023). Testimony of Helena Kerschner to Kentucky Legislature. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/CommitteeDocuments/362/22848/03%2014%202023%20General%20Testimony.pdf

Kerschner, Helena (February 19, 2022). By Any Other Name: The story of my transition and detransition. Substack https://lacroicsz.substack.com/p/by-any-other-name

Kerschner, Helena (May 19, 2022). Proponent: HB 454 Banning affirming care for minors (The SAFE Act). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P58fW6Lb7Wo

“Fortunately, I was not on [testosterone] long enough to suffer long-term physical effects…”

Equality Ohio (May 2022). HB454 https://equalityohio.org/legislation/the-safe-act/

Kerschner, Helena (August 5, 2020). At What Cost? Trans Healthcare, Manipulated Data, and Self-Appointed Saviors. Medium https://medium.com/@helenakerschner/at-what-cost-trans-healthcare-manipulated-data-and-self-appointed-saviors-dc81c4be7ae2

  • republished at New Discourses August 6: https://newdiscourses.com/2020/08/trans-healthcare-manipulated-data-self-appointed-saviors/

Kerschner, Helena (July 23, 2020). Advice Column Introduction. Medium https://medium.com/@helenakerschner/advice-column-introduction-a8ea2027ce13

Kerschner, Helena (March 20, 2019). Tumblr — A Call-Out Post. 4thWaveNow https://4thwavenow.com/2019/03/20/tumblr-a-call-out-post/

Media

Timcast with Tim Pool and Helena Kerschner (May 3, 2022). Timcast IRL – Left Promotes HORSE MEDICINE To Give Abortions, Call For REVOLUTION w/Helena Kerschner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZBbwjOsBbc

Fox News with Tucker Carlson and Helena Kerschner (April 18, 2022). 23-year-old woman to Tucker: I regret transitioning as a teen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibq3ld087Y4

Ben Shapiro with Helena Kerschner (April 28, 2022). Former Transgender Teenager Shares POWERFUL Story About Going In and Out of Transgenderism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwVyozpWWAU

Michael Knowles with Helena Kerschner (March 25, 2022). A Story Of Detransitioning | Michael Knowles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HbPzJy9gkY

THINQ Media (April 25, 2021). My Story of Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria | Helena Kerschner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjOmko-9hSg

Calmversations with Benjamin Boyce, Sasha Ayad, and Helena Kerschner (Aug 15, 2020). Sasha & Helena Stream. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwoKpmGZd8s

Calmversations with Benjamin Boyce and Helena Kerschner (August 2, 2020). helena, the problematic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2HYucdoUuk

Calmversations with Benjamin Boyce and Helena Kerschner (March 2019). Detrans Retrospective: Helena Kerschner, 2019. [reposted April 4, 2024] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK11Suo-alI

Resources

Substack (substack.com)

Reddit (reddit.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Medium (medium.com)

Spotify (spotify.com)

Duolingo (duolingo.com)

Tumblr (tumblr.com)

Twitter

Discord

  • posts under many names including “slavic steppe wife”

Instagram (instagram.com)

Snapchat (snapchat.com)

  • parscilla [deleted]

Curious Cat (curiouscat.me)

Note: In 2025, this site phased out AI illustrations after artist feedback. The previous illustration is here.

“Shape Shifter” is the stage name of July R. Carlan, an American accountant and ex-transgender activist who gets money and attention by making it harder for others to get trans healthcare.

Background

July Roxella Carlan was born on July 11, 1990. Carlan had a “consensual” sexual experience at age 11 and came out as gay to unaccepting parents at 16.

At age 22 in graduate school, Carlan learned about nonbinary identities and booked an appointment at Fenway Health in Boston on November 15, 2012. At the initial consultation, Carlan described a pattern of high-risk sexual behavior as well as incidents of anti-LGBT discrimination and assault. Carlan also expressed a desire to become pregnant.

Affter signing an informed consent form on December 27, 2012, Carlan began hormones via Fenway Health. In a follow-up appointment in March 2013, a therapist noted Carlan’s “internalized transphobia,” because Carlan wanted to “be seen as more than a trans woman.”

By mid-December 2013, Carlan reported inconsistent use of hormones in order to regain sexual function and engage in high-risk sexual behavior. In December 2014, Carlan reported:

  • depression and anxiety
  • seeking validation through sex
  • struggles with sexual compulsivity and hopes that GRS will reduce sexual urges
  • did not want to take hormones in order to enjoy sex
  • could not find a job in finance and had “begun a career in strip dancing”

In the first half of 2015, Carlan had multiple therapy sessions and received clearance for bottom surgery.

After getting elective bottom surgery as an adult, Carlan “realized I was just a castrated man.” Carlan has sometimes identified as a “homosexual transsexual,” a term promoted by anti-transgender activists.

On or about May 10, 2022, at age 31, Carlan publicly announced plans to make additional gender changes. Carlan no longer identifies as a trans woman, “but as a gender-non-conforming man.” Carlan reportedly just liked feminine clothing and makeup.

Carlan is a Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts. Carlan is in a relationship with a “sugar daddy” who is nearly 50 years older. Howard Carlan (born December 6, 1941) goes by “Cat Man” in their videos.

Anti-transgender activism

Carlan has regret about taking some medical gender transition steps and has found an anti-trans audience who wants to amplify these rare cases of regret.

In 2022, Carlan testified against healthcare for trans youth before the Florida Board of Medicine.

In addition to numerous media appearances about regret, Carlan has also been critical of trans athletes and supports misinformation and conspiracy theories about trans healthcare.

In 2022, Carlan launched a YouTube channel featuring videos about transition regret. In 2024, all original content was deleted, and it was converted into an AI slop channel featuring similar content about regret.

Lawsuit

On October 12, 2023, Carlan filed a lawsuit against Fenway Community Health Center. Carlan was repreented by Mitra N Forouhar. On March 28, 2025 Judge Myong J. Joun entered a decision that “Fenway is dismissed from this action.”

On April 2, 2025, Carlan filed an appeal.

References

Staff report (November 13, 2023). MA Lawsuit Claims Trans Medical Care is Gay Conversion Therapy. Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/ma-lawsuit-trans-care-gay-conversion

Sum News (November 2016). New Members. mscpa.org https://digitaleditions.sheridan.com/publication/?i=355533&p=20&view=issueViewer

Coverage in anti-trans press

LGB Courage Coalition (January 6, 2025). One Way Only: Questioning the Trans Narrative and Breaking Free from a Singular Path to Authenticity. https://lgbcouragecoalition.substack.com/p/one-way-only-questioning-the-trans

Lucia, Gary (November 12, 2023). The ‘gender affirming care’ lawsuits keep coming… Flashing Green https://flashinggreen.substack.com/p/the-gender-affirming-care-lawsuits

Dansky, Kara (November 27, 2023). Some thoughts on a few interesting recent “detransition” lawsuits. https://karadansky.substack.com/p/some-thoughts-on-a-few-interesting

Sapir, Leor; Figliolia, Joseph (November 8, 2023). Medicine with a “Transgender Bias.” City Journal https://www.city-journal.org/article/medicine-with-a-transgender-bias

Genspect (October 18, 2023). Shape Shifter v. Fenway Health: Latest US Detransitioner Court Case Exposes Faults with “Gender-Affirming Care.” https://genspect.org/emerging-court-cases-highlight-critical-issues-in-gender-affirming-healthcare-shape-shifter-v-fenway-health/

Deshpande, Neera (September 13, 2022). Slow-Motion Trans Wreck: The ghastly fad of genital mutilation will end when the lawsuits begin. The American Mind https://americanmind.org/salvo/slow-motion-trans-wreck/

Gordon, James (August 27, 2022). ‘I was brainwashed by the trans community’: Detransitioner reveals he regrets having his penis removed and says woke doctors didn’t warn him of negative consequences because it would be ‘bad for business.’ Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11151433/Detransitioner-says-brainwashed-having-gender-reassignment-surgery-woke-doctors.html

Selected writing by Carlan

“Shape Shifter” [foreword] (2024). Trans to Detrans: a Soul Solution. Saguaro Soul, ISBN 979-8989663125

“Shape Shifter” (June 22, 2022). The Boy Who Shifted Shapes: A Detransitioner’s Story. Reduxx https://reduxx.info/opinion-the-boy-who-shifted-shapes/

Legal case

Justia (April 2, 2025). Carlan v. Fenway Community Health Center, Inc., et al. Case No. 25-1315. https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca1/25-1315

Goldstein, Julie Rei (March 31, 2025). “Long Awaited #DeTransLaw Update in the case of July Carlan (aka ShapeShifter): The United States’ Motion to Intervene has been GRANTED which means Fenway Health has been Dismissed from this case. Plaintiff has been granted leave to refile the complaint against the US per FTCA.” https://x.com/JulieRei/status/1906764321771962765

Goldstein, Julie Rei (May 14, 2024). “#DeTransLaw NEWS: US Attorney’s Office has officially substituted Fenway Community Health in July Carlan’s (ShapeShifter) case as they were deemed an officer/employee of the Public Health Service. This is the 3rd case (Ulery and Towe) against GAC Providers where this has occurred.” https://x.com/JulieRei/status/1790441950148968708

Goldstein, Julie Rei (March 11, 2024). “Some #DeTransLaw news: In July Carlan’s case (a.k.a. Shape Shifter), the US Attorney’s offce has asked for a 60 day stay for the Sec of Health & Human Services to determine if Fenway is a “deemed” Public Health Service Employee. The Judge has stayed the case until May 11, 2024.” https://x.com/JulieRei/status/1767296891044438351

Goldstein, Julie Rei (March 5, 2024). “Something I forgot to mention. There’s a stay on the Carlan v. Fenway case until March 12, 2024 when the US Attorney’s Office is directed to file a status report or a response to Defendant Fenways Motion to Dismiss (on or before said date). #DeTransLaw” https://x.com/JulieRei/status/1765160198099112288

Goldstein, Julie Rei (March 3, 2024). “Second piece of #DeTransLaw I missed: July Carlan (aka Shape Shifter) has substituted her counsel of Samuel Blatchely for Ryan McClane who famously went on the right wing media circuit when he unsuccessfuly represented Hunter Harris against UMASS for their COVID vaccine mandate.” https://x.com/JulieRei/status/1764468309838205431

Mitra N. Forouhar (November 2023). Shape Shifter v. Fenway Health. https://mnf-law.com/lawsuits/ pdf: https://mnf-law.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ShapeShifter-v-Fenway.pdf

Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly (November 2023). Carlan v. Fenway Community Health Center, Inc. US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Case 1:2023cv12361 https://rilawyersweekly.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2023/11/Carlan-v.-Fenway-Community-Health-Center.pdf

Court Listener (October 12, 2023). Carlan v. Fenway Community Health Center, Inc. 1:23-cv-12361, (D. Mass.) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67878127/carlan-v-fenway-community-health-center-inc/

Media

Daniel Moon (April 6, 2024). Shape Shifter: The DE-TRANS Truth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnOL1Lx_jW4

Cat Cattinson with July Carlan (January 5, 2024). Cat Cattinson feat. Shape Shifter – “Grift $hop” – OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuyHgzPTmb0

Jubilee (April 2, 2023). Should Minors Transition? Detransition vs Trans | Middle Ground. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl0LZZFos-g

Soft White Underbelly (March 23, 2023). Ex (Detransitioning) Trans Woman interview-Shape Shifter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsbtaXqfg1o

Marcus Dib with Arielle Scarcella and July Carlan (Jan 1, 2023). “I Had Bottom Surgery & My Dysphoria Is Still Here” : Male To Female To Male. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGnngC6lWuU

Marcus Dib with Arielle Scarcella and July Carlan (January 1, 2023). Detransitioner: I Regret Losing My P*nis feat. Shape Shifter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2ooaw6OH0c

TT Exulansic with July Carlan (December 20, 2022). Interview: Shapeshifter and Exulansic Finally Meet! https://exulansic.substack.com/p/interview-shapeshifter-and-exulansic

Cat Cattinson with July Carlan (December 6, 2022). “Being trans wasn’t my authentic self.” – Interview with Shape Shifter, detrans man. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB_m8f60tr4

Outkick / Fearless with Tomi Lahren and July Carlan (November 21, 2022). Trans ‘Shape Shifter’ doxxed by LGBTQ community, Michael Farren performs & Trump’s return to Twitter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LGXnptuKYE

Misha Petrov with July Carlan (November 19, 2022). Detransitioner On How Gender Stereotypes Pushed Him Into Medically Transitioning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3YomHp-liU

The Get Better Researcher (October 31, 2022). Detransitioner Shape Shifter Florida Board of Medicine Testimony. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko_MJln6c_4

Transparency with Aaron Kimberly, Aaron Terrell and July Carlan (August 29, 2022). EP46 – Owning Male Femininity – with Shape Shifter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoUE23la-uo

Blaire White (July 3, 2022). Detransitioner: “My Penis Is Gone Forever & I Regret it” | Emotional Interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRh80xSI8QQ

Arielle Scarcella with July Carlan and Brian (June 5, 2022). “I Miss My Penis” : Brave Detrans Men Speak Out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrRLpJ1uIzw

Calmversations with Benjamin Boyce and July Carlan (June 4, 2022). When Transition Goes Wrong | with Shape Shifter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MorvzXI2uw

Transition Radio Show with Mark Angelo, Maritza Cummings, and July Carlan (May 29, 2022). TRS Presents An Interview With Shape Shifter: Transition A Costly Lie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YauXu8tpKgA

Resources

CPA Directory (cpadirectory.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

  • ShifterofShapes [deleted]

YouTube (youtube.com)

GoFundMe (gofundme.com)

  • Fundraiser for legal expenses. [deleted]
  • gofundme.com/f/6dawp-fundraiser-for-legal-expenses [deleted – not archived]

reddit (reddit.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

TikTok (tiktok.com)

  • shifterofshape [deleted]

Beyond Trans is an anti-transgender group fronted by ex-trans activists and anti-transgender extremists. Do not get therapy from anyone listed on their site or below.

If you are a minor forced to see someone on this list, try to end the sessions and find supportive alternatives.

note: for the supportive show hosted by trans media personality Mardi Pieronek, see Beyond Trans

Background

Beyond Trans was created in 2023 as part of a web farm controlled by anti-trans extremist Stella O’Malley of Genspect. It is designed to recruit people who have regret, self-doubt, or distress about making changes in their gender identity or expression. Those people are then used to help with anti-trans efforts worldwide.

People

Therapists listed

  • Sue Beaney
  • Claire Blaze – Minnesota (blazepsychotherapy.com)
  • Carolyn Brown
  • Tyson Brown (good-insight-counseling.com)
  • Petra Bueskens (petrabueskens.com)
  • Fiona Davies – UK (fd-counselling-therapy.co.uk)
  • Vincent Deboni
  • Roelien den Ouden
  • Sarah Edmonds (flagstaffpsychologist.org)
  • Leslie Elliott (theradicalcenterconsulting.com)
  • Florence Ellis – Canada (ripplereflection.ca)
  • Kimberly Emery (faultlinecounseling.com)
  • Lynne Evans – UK (lynneevans.uk)
  • Susan Evans
  • Kristen Farrell-Turner
  • Bradley K. Fox (duggantherapyllc.com)
  • Chantal Gagne
  • Christine Gillespie – New Zealand
  • Liz Goodman – Virginia (dbhrichmond.com)
  • Peter Greasley (petergtwt.wixsite.com)
  • David M. Haralson (oasis-ft.com)
  • Judi Heppner – Canada
  • Kelly Hess – Texas
  • Kathryn Hilton (kathilton.com)
  • Catherine Jensen Colorado (catherinejensencounseling.com)
  • Sheri Johnson – Minnesota
  • Stephen B. Levine
  • Amber Liponoga – Missouri (eightdomainstherapy.com)
  • Lir Psychological Services – Ireland (lirtherapy.ie)
  • Michelle Mackness (macknesscounselling.com)
  • David Habib Martin – Oregon (davidmartintherapy.com)
  • David Minor (solidaritycoach.com)
  • Libby Nugent – UK (libbynugent.co.uk)
  • Dwight Panozzo – New Jersey
  • Artemis Papert (jungiantherapy.online)
  • Harriette Parnes – UK (drharrietteparnes.com)
  • Elektra Pavlou
  • Philip J Pellegrino – Pennsylvania (drphilippellegrino.com)
  • Jane Power – UK
  • Amber Redish
  • Fritha Robinson – Texas (robinson.clientsecure.me)
  • Lindsey Robinson – UK (lindseyrobinsontherapy.co.uk)
  • Julia Scott UK
  • Terry Patterson
  • Tisa Pinkerton – Virginia (lifehopeva.com)
  • Mark Pulley
  • Stefanie Schumacher (genderconfidentteen.com)
  • Tom Sherry – North Carolina (ashevillefamilysystems.com)
  • David Teachout (lifeweavings.com)
  • Daniel Enoch Tobin (tobintherapy.com)
  • Lantie Tom (lantiecreativetherapy.com)
  • Gender Crossroads – Canada (gendercrossroads.org)

Resources

Beyond Trans (beyondtrans.org)

Ritchie Herron is a British ex-transgender activist. Herron gets money and attention by making it more difficult for others to get trans healthcare. Herron uses the handle “TullipR” online and frequently appears in conservative or fascist media. Herron is associated with anti-trans hate group Genspect and has spoken at Genspect events.

Background

Richard “Ritchie” Herron was born on May 25, 1987. Herron is a child of divorce who claims to have been bullied at school.

After spending time on UK-based The Angels forum, Herron purchased hormones as an adult from a private pharmacy. At age 25, Herron began transition and began using the name Abby. In 2018, at age 30, Herron got vaginoplasty. Five years later, at age 35, Herron made additional gender changes, largely due to dissatisfaction with vaginoplasty results.

Herron is a Newcastle-based civil servant.

In June 2022 Herron claimed lawyers in Liverpool were preparing a legal case against Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust.

Ex-transgender activism

Similar to the ex-gay activists of the 20th century, people like Herron get money and attention by claiming to be no longer trans.

Herron is heavily invested in metaphors of disease and impairment, identifying as disabled and mentally ill. This is a kind of attention-seeking behavior. Rather than take personal responsibility for life decisions made as a 30-year-old adult, Herron chooses to blame those who tried to help.

Herron’s alleged disorders, diseases, “comorbidities,” and maladies include:

  • “depression, OCD and latent homosexuality”
  • autism
  • “hated myself because I am gay”
  • “an ear infection that led to deafness”
  • a series of breakdowns
  • substance misuse issues
  • “no skill or co-ordination”

Here is how Herron describes the surgical results and complications:

  • “nearly bled to death”
  • “It literally looked like an animal had got on my crotch and it just went to town on it”
  • “like my arsecrack has been extended all the way to the front”
  • “under constant supervision for ongoing complications related to the deeply invasive surgery”
  • feel mostly nothing in “my flesh cavity” aside from “occasional stabs of pain”
  • crotch is numb, ‘shell-shocked’
  • scars “still sometimes weep” and “occasionally become inflamed and cause crippling pain”
  • “my body aches”
  • “lifelong pain”

Herron claims these long-term problems:

  • “killed my confidence”
  • cannot walk long distances
  • cannot ride a bike
  • infertile
  • incontinent
  • can’t use the toilet properly
  • “takes ten minutes to empty my bladder”
  • sex drive “is long gone”
  • “reliant on synthetic hormones”
  • “lifelong medical patient”

Herron has discussed ex-trans activism in conservative or fascist outlets that include National Review, Rebel News, Daily Mail, Daily Record, Spiked, The Lion, World News Group, The Times, The Critic, The Washington Examiner. The Telegraph, The Christian Institute, Christian Post, and Christian Broadcasting Network.

Herron also frequently appears on channels featuring anti-trans content:

Herron also does collaborations with other ex-trans activists and conservative trans people:

References

Anti-trans coverage

Dixon, Hayley (May 25, 2025). Two biological men a day given trans surgery on NHS: Teenagers among those opting for ‘feminising genital surgery’ at a cost to the taxpayer. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/25/two-biological-men-a-day-given-trans-surgery-on-nhs/

Bindel, Julie (August 16, 2024). MY TRANS MISTAKE : I changed sex after becoming suicidal & medics diagnosed me as trans – I regretted it and now live as neutered man. The Sun https://www.the-sun.com/lifestyle/12218510/change-sex-suicidal-regret-neutered/

Ely, John (August 14, 2024). ‘Doctors refused to admit de-transitioners like me exist… will that finally change now?’: As NHS launches clinic for patients who regret their sex-change ops, one person who hopes to become a patient speaks out. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13741923/Doctors-refused-admit-transitioners-like-exist-finally-change-NHS-launches-clinic-patients-regret-sex-change-ops-one-person-hopes-patient-speaks-out.html

Manning, Sanchez (August 13, 2024). ‘Doctors refused to let me admit my transition was a mistake. Now I want to reverse it.’ The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/13/regret-transgender-surgery-nhs-detransition-service/

Downey, Caroline (April 24, 2023). ‘I Immediately Experienced Regret’: British Man Recounts Horror of Gender-Transition Surgery. National Review https://www.nationalreview.com/news/i-immediately-experienced-regret-british-man-recounts-horror-of-gender-transition-surgery/

West, Steve; Vaughan, Ashley (April 6, 2023). Trans on trial: Will lawsuits finally stem the tide of gender experimentation on children? World News Group https://wng.org/articles/trans-on-trial-1680401006

Schneider, Jillian (February 1, 2023). ‘It’s disgusting, I’m disgusting’: Male detransitioner explains why no one – not even adults – should have cross-sex surgery. The Lion https://readlion.com/its-disgusting-im-disgusting-male-detransitioner-explains-why-no-one-not-even-adults-should-have-cross-sex-surgery/

Pooran, Neil (November 21, 2022). ‘Detransitioners’ to address MSPs at Holyrood over gender recognition Bill. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/msps-scottish-government-holyrood-snp-newcastle-b2229843.html

Maynes, Maria (September 18, 2022). ‘What have I done?’: The people who realised changing sex was a mistake now speak out. Gript https://gript.ie/what-have-i-done-the-people-who-realised-changing-sex-was-a-mistake-now-speak-out/

Bartosch, Jo (June 7, 2023). Trans ideology is selling a lie: We can’t mend mental distress by removing healthy body parts. Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/06/07/trans-ideology-is-selling-a-lie/

Griffiths, Sian (June 4, 2023). ‘NHS trans surgery damaged my body for ever — it’s not safe.’ The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nhs-trans-surgery-damaged-my-body-for-ever-its-not-safe-jt2hhbrgk

Dixon, Hayley (October 22, 2022). I’ve been betrayed by medics who left me in pain because I didn’t want to be gay, says detransitioner. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/10/22/betrayed-medics-who-left-pain-didnt-want-gay-says-detransitioner/

Staff report (October 22, 2022). Man who had sex change operation paid for by NHS says medics ‘betrayed’ him and left him in lifelong pain because he did not want to be gay. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11343887/Man-sex-change-operation-paid-NHS-says-medics-betrayed-him.html

Beal, James (June 29, 2022,). Trans surgery ‘a conveyor system with no questions.’ The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/nhs-transgender-surgery-a-conveyor-system-with-no-questions-says-patient-37gq0wjmz

Kearns, Madeleine (June 28, 2022). Gender-Confused Adults Also Deserve Better Care. National Review https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/gender-confused-adults-also-deserve-better-care/

Goins-Phillips, TrĂ© (June 28, 2022). ‘God, What Have I Done?’: Man Suing Health Care Provider Over Trans Surgery, Says ‘Avalanche’ of De-Transitioners Coming. Christian Broadcast Network https://cbn.com/news/world/god-what-have-i-done-man-suing-health-care-provider-over-trans-surgery-says-avalanche-de

Manning, Sanchez (June 25, 2022). ‘My first thought as I came round was Oh God! What have I done?’: Man suing the NHS over trans surgery he bitterly regrets has bravely waived anonymity to share his ordeal. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10953157/Man-suing-NHS-trans-surgery-regrets-bravely-waived-anonymity-share-ordeal.html

Selected writing by Herron

Herron, Ritchie (June 8, 2025). ‘I still regret surgery’: My opening speech at the Battle of Ideas, October 2024. Ritchie Herron https://tullipr.substack.com/p/i-still-regret-surgery

Herron, Ritchie (August 14, 2024). Scabs: A reflective essay on being public. Ritchie Herron https://tullipr.substack.com/p/scabs

Herron, Ritchie (September 13, 2022). A Detransitioner’s Perspective: Awakening from the Dream of Gender Utopia. Human Events https://humanevents.com/2022/09/13/a-detransitioners-perspective-awakening-from-the-dream-of-gender-utopia

Herron, Ritchie (September 8, 2023). Ruined: Navigating through the rubble of recovery. Ritchie Herron https://tullipr.substack.com/p/ruined

Herron, Ritchie (May 27, 2022). How I Got Here: Trans OCD & Internet Addiction. Ritchie Herron https://tullipr.substack.com/p/how-i-got-here-trans-ocd-and-internet

Herron, Ritchie (April 23, 2022). The Gender Dysphoria Trap. Opinion: My take on the term ‘Gender Dysphoria’ and why we should stop using it. Ritchie Herron https://tullipr.substack.com/p/the-gender-dysphoria-trap

Herron, Ritchie (March 21, 2022). Trans to Detrans: From a detransitioning males perspective. Ritchie Herron https://tullipr.substack.com/p/trans-to-detrans

Media

Battle of Ideas with Ritchie Herron (June 1, 2025). Detrans: how the medical profession failed me | Ritchie Herron | Battle of Ideas 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3Jde5AzfGI

The Navel Gays with Aaron Kimberly, Tali Botz, and Ritchie Herron (October 28, 2024). Episode 15 – Roads to Reality with Ritchie Herron. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu3pnfM0gUw

heretics. with Andrew Gold and Ritchie Herron (July 24, 2024). Doctors Pushed Me Into Surgery – Ritchie Herron (4K) | heretics. 76. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk7NX7iPr9k

GBNews / Free Speech Nation with Andrew Doyle, Ritchie Herron, and Neal Hanvey (March 11, 2024). ‘They didn’t even count me as a de-transitioner’ – Ritchie Herron & Neal Hanvey | The WPATH Files. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIJ0ef0WzCE

Alexander L with Ritchie Herron, Jennifer Lahl, and Gary Powell (January 18, 2024). Discussing The Lost Boys: Searching for Manhood (with Ritchie Herron, Jennifer Lahl and Gary Powell). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWANpw7xUw4

Sasha White with Ritchie Herron (November 27, 2023). What the Experts Don’t Want You to Know About Trans Vaginoplasty | Ritchie Herron. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N2praAS2BQ

Alexander L (September 3, 2023). Autism and gender identity: Talking detransition, AGP, transmaxxing and HRT (with Ritchie Herron). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw7a8eioa1w

Times Radio with Ritchie Herron (June 4, 2023). ‘I regret trusting’ the doctors who pushed me to transition gender | Ritchie Herron. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aGZat6fF1I

Calmversations with Benjamin Boyce, “Angus Fox,” Corinna Cohn, and Ritchie Herron (May 18, 2023). Let’s Hear It From The Boys | A Genspect Debrief with Alasdair, Ritchie, & Corinna. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxny6uae9Qs

Benjamin Boyce with Genspect, “Angus Fox,” Ritchie Herron, Iseult White, Jet London, and Malcolm Clark (May 9, 2023). “What if they’re Gay not Trans?” | a Genspect Panel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI6FYBlVZi8

Genspect with Stella O’Malley and Ritchie Herron (April 5, 2023). Detrans Awareness Day 2023: Ritchie Herron – Life After Detransition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqoAJIv97Uw

Viva Frei with David Freiheit and Ritchie Herron (February 1, 2023). The Real Story Behind the “Trans” Movement Will Shock You – Viva Frei Interviews TullipR/Ritchie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_cNVkvz7ZM

The Lotuseaters with Connor Tomlinson and Ritchie Herron (January 20, 2023). The Tragedy of Trans Regret | Interview with Ritchie Herron. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR-xRZBN1AM

GBNews / Free Speech Nation with Andrew Doyle, Ritchie Herron, and Keira Bell (January 1, 2023). Gender detransitioning: Ritchie Herron and Keira Bell share their stories | Free Speech Nation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_EEWmUY-k0

Calmversations with Benjamin Boyce, Donovan Cleckley, and Ritchie Herron (November 13, 2022). How Do Effeminate Men Fit In? | with Donovan Cleckley & Ritchie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuEaNdPurv8

LGB Alliance with James Esses and Ritchie Herron (Nov 7, 2022). The Detrans Perspective – A Conversation With A Survivor (James Esses & Ritchie Herron). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE1-enC8Wz4

Andy Ngo Live with Andy Ngo and Ritchie Herron (October 31, 2022). Male detransitioner: The biggest mistake of my life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4i7Cg5stCA

Gript with Maria Maynes and Ritchie Herron (October 14, 2022). My story of gender detransition: Ritchie Herron. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3eA0vSHeak

Gender: A Wider Lens with Stella O’Malley, Sasha Ayad, and Ritchie Herron (September 29, 2022). EPISODE 89 – Ritchie’s Detransition: The Myth of Adult Invulnerability. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v96k-D0_oMI

The Blaire White Project with Blaire White and Ritchie Herron (September 26, 2022). Detransitioner Interview: Regretting Bottom Surgery, Exposing Big Pharma, & Trans Activist Hate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj3qA2A_z3w

Trish Wood is Critical with Trish Wood, Ritchie Herron, and Helen Joyce (September 17, 2022). Ritchie Herron and Helen Joyce. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIW5p84Ox3M

Graham Linehan and Ritchie Herron (August 10, 2022). A chat with Ritchie Herron. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ93IPyPLqE

GBNews with Dan Wootton, Ritchie Herron, and Maya Forstater (July 28, 2022). Tavistock: Ritchie Herron joins Dan Wootton to discuss the closure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW7WNX91ITE

Truth Is The New Hate Speech with Erin Brewer and Ritchie Herron (July 16, 2022). Ritchie’s Story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxrrhtgIEfk

Times Radio with Ritchie Herron (June 28, 2022). Transitioning was ‘the biggest mistake of my life’ | Ritchie Herron interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSYL7eiPM-E

The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network with Kallie Fell and Ritchie Herron (June 14, 2022). Special Edition of Venus Rising with TullipR: What the Gender Industry Won’t Tell You. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asWehfzx1QU

Calmversations with Benjamin Boyce, Ritchie Herron and Sinead Watson (May 13, 2022). What is “Detrans”? | with Tullip and Sinead. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zfxha7fTpY

Resources

X/Twitter (x.com)

Substack (substack.com)

reddit (reddit.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Note: an earlier version had a typo in Herron’s birth year.