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The Wall Street Journal is an American media organization that publishes consistently anti-trans content, especially on the Opinion page.

Their journalism is considered center to center-right, and the editorial page is considered right-wing/conservative. The opinion section frequently promotes and platforms major anti-trans voices, including Ben Appel, Farr Curlin, Erin Friday, Roy Eappen, Gerald Posner, J. Michael Bailey, Abigail Shrier, Leor Sapir, and Colin Wright.

Contributors

In 2023, the WSJ significantly increased its anti-transgender coverage.

Leor Sapir and Colin Wright wrote a piece attacking academic publisher Springer after it retracted an unethical paper by J. Michael Bailey in 2023. The previous year, Wright had invoked the “tomboy erasure” conspiracy theory that claims gender diverse cisgender children are being forced to transition as a form of anti-LGB conversion therapy.

Abigail Shrier was allowed to complain about “The Transgender War on Women.”

Joe Barrett covered state recognition of trans identity documents. Jathon Sapsford and Stephanie Armour quoted anti-trans activist Leor Sapir, and Republican politicians Dan Crenshaw and Chris Christie, with rebuttal by Democrat Frank Pallone Jr. Stephanie Armour also covered Medicaid coverage of trans health services.

Laura Kusisto and Louise Radnofsky covered sex-segregated competitive sports. Ben Chapman and Laine Higgins also covered this.

Mariah Timms covered anti-trans developments in Missouri under AG Andrew Bailey.

Lindsay Wise, Simon J. Levien, and Isaac Yu covered Republican attempts to control the reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy of others.

Elizabeth Findell, Adolfo Flores and Peter Champelli covered the Texas ban on trans healthcare.

Mariah Timms and Laura Kusisto covered Tennessee’s ban on trans healthcare for minors.

Talal Ansari covered Zooey Zephyr’s removal from the Montana House floor.

The editorial board opined about “Transgender Patients vs. Religious Doctors: The Franciscan Alliance might be the new Little Sisters of the Poor.”

2023 Endocrine Society attacks

After Roy Eappen and Ian Kingsbury of anti-trans group Do No Harm attacked the Endocrine Society, President Stephen R. Hammes responded with an outline of the medical consensus behind the Endocrine Society’s guidelines.

Hammes was then attacked by a group of anti-trans clinicians in a subsequent letter. The signatories are:

FINLAND

UNITED KINGDOM

SWEDEN

  • Angela Sämfjord, M.D. Senior consultant, Sahlgrenska University Hospital
  • Sven Román, M.D. Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

NORWAY

  • Anne Wæhre, M.D., Ph.D. Senior consultant, Oslo University Hospital

BELGIUM

  • Em. Prof. Patrik Vankrunkelsven, M.D. Ph.D. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Honorary senator
  • Sophie Dechêne, M.R.C.Psych. Child and adolescent psychiatrist
  • Beryl Koener, M.D., Ph.D. Child and adolescent psychiatrist

FRANCE

  • Prof. Celine Masson, Ph.D. Picardy Jules Verne University Psychologist, Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants, Co-director, Observatory La Petite Sirène
  • Caroline Eliacheff, M.D. Child and adolescent psychiatrist, Co-director, Observatory La Petite Sirène
  • Em. Prof. Maurice Berger, M.D. Ph.D. Child psychiatrist

SWITZERLAND

  • Daniel Halpérin, M.D. Pediatrician

SOUTH AFRICA

  • Prof. Reitze Rodseth, Ph.D. University of Kwazulu-Natal
  • Janet Giddy, M.B.Ch.B., M.P.H. Family physician and public-health expert
  • Allan Donkin, M.B.Ch.B. Family physician

UNITED STATES

  • Clin. Prof. Stephen B. Levine, M.D. Case Western Reserve University
  • Clin. Prof. William Malone, M.D. Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine Director, Society for Evidence Based Gender Medicine
  • Prof. Patrick K. Hunter, M.D. Florida State University Pediatrician and bioethicist

Hammes was also criticized by a group of parents that included Kathleen Dooley.

Anti-trans misinformation following Charlie Kirk shooting

In September 2025, during the search for the person who shot anti-trans activist Charlie Kirk, the Wall Street Journal published a live update under the headline “Ammunition in Kirk Shooting Engraved with Transgender, Antifascist Ideology, Sources Say.” The source was a leaked internal ATF bulletin first posted by anti-trans activist Steven Crowder. Crowder pinned the post on X, and it garnered over 29 million views.

After massive pushback about their irresponsible headline and reporting, WSJ edited the headline to read “Early Bulletin Said Ammunition in Kirk Shooting Engraved With Transgender, Antifascist Ideology; Some Sources Urge Caution.”

The term “transgender ideology” is an anti-trans conspiracy theory frequently invoked by right-wing activists. After it was confirmed that the engravings were references to memes used in toxic online communities like the Groyper Army fan base of anti-trans extremist Nick Fuentes, the WSJ added an editor’s note that did not retract the headline or their reporting about “transgender ideology,” writing:

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article detailed how an internal law enforcement bulletin said that ammunition recovered following the Charlie Kirk shooting was engraved with expressions of “transgender and anti-fascist ideology.” Justice Department officials later urged caution about the bulletin by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, saying it may not accurately reflect the messages on the ammunition, and the article was updated Thursday to reflect that. This editor’s note was appended on Friday, Sept. 12, after Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said the engravings included one that said “Hey fascist!” along with other messages and symbols. He gave no indication that the ammunition included any transgender references.

Other media outlets, including the Daily Beast, the New York Post, The Telegraph, and the Jerusalem Post uncritically repeated WSJ’s claims. None of those articles were immediately updated or retracted in light of accurate information.

References

Reberkenny, Joe (September 13, 2025). Wall Street Journal slammed for false link between trans community and Kirk shooter. The Blade https://www.washingtonblade.com/2025/09/13/wall-street-journal-charlie-kirk-claim-false-link-trans-community/

Prager, Stephen (September 12, 2025). WSJ, Media Outlets Slammed for Spreading Feds’ False Claim That Kirk Shooter Expressed ‘Transgender Ideology.’ Common Dreams https://www.commondreams.org/news/charlie-kirk-2673989947

Reed, Erin (September 12, 2025). Press Conference: No “Transgender” Or “LGBTQ” Symbols Found At Kirk’s Shooting. Erin In The Morning https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/press-conference-no-transgender-or

Bryant, Jacob (September 12, 2025). WSJ Torched for False Report of ‘Trans Ideology’ on Charlie Kirk Shooter’s Bullets, Muted Retraction: ‘So Little Accountability.’ The Wrap https://www.thewrap.com/wsj-trans-ideology-charlie-kirk-bullets-false-report/

Migdon, Brooke (September 12, 2025). HRC demands WSJ retract report linking Kirk shooting to transgender community. The Hill https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/5501615-human-rights-campaign-wsj-retraction-kirk/

Wiggins, Christopher (September 12 2025). Wall Street Journal quietly walks back false claim Charlie Kirk shooter had pro-trans messages on his bullets. The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/news/wall-street-journal-charlie-kirk

Lopatto, Elizabeth (September 12, 2025). The WSJ carelessly spread anti-trans misinformation. The Verge https://www.theverge.com/politics/777630/wsj-trans-misinformation-charlie-kirk

Serano, Julia (May 7, 2024). “Gender Ideology” Is a Conspiracy Theory. Switch Hitter https://juliaserano.substack.com/p/gender-ideology-is-a-conspiracy-theory

Selected anti-trans articles

Appel, Ben (June 30, 2025). Opinion: ‘Transgender’ Kids Usually Grow Up Gay. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/transgender-kids-usually-grow-up-gay-c71b3cd8

Freeman, James (June 26, 2025). Opinion: Liberal Professors Who Oppose Sex Changes on Kids. Wall Street Journal

Curlin, Farr (June 23, 2025). Opinion: Transgender Treatments Distort the Purpose of Medicine. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/transgender-treatments-distort-the-purpose-of-medicine-ccd6e513

Editorial Board (June 18, 2025). Good Supreme Court Sense on Trans Hormones. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/supreme-court-skrmetti-tennessee-transgender-hormone-treatments-e84d97f0

Steinmann, Jessica Hart; O’Neill, Leigh Ann (June 5, 2025). Opinon: Transgenderism Won’t Let Girls Say No. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/transgenderism-wont-let-girls-say-no-oregon-track-competition-bc03e205

Eappen, Roy (May 12, 2025). Letters: Trump Tells the Truth About ‘Trans’ Children. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-tells-the-truth-about-trans-children-hhs-report-c0841b6c

O’Toole, Tim (April 29, 2025). Letters: A Way Out of Colorado’s Transgender Tyranny. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/a-way-out-of-colorados-transgender-tyranny-elections-center-a4906af5

Friday, Erin; Lee, Erin (April 17, 2025). Opinion: Colorado’s Totalitarian Transgenderism Bill. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/colorados-totalitarian-transgenderism-bill-parental-rights-freedom-e841acd2

Editorial Board (February 28, 2025). Maine’s Transgender Madness. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/maines-transgender-madness-8dabbfbe

Wright, Colin; Shapiro, Ilya (February 3, 2025). Opinion: Trump Can Ban Transgender Birth Certificates. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-can-ban-transgender-birth-certificates-policy-protect-womens-spaces-d726a9fe

Editorial Board (December 13, 2024). The Trans Double-Mastectomy Lawsuit. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/clementine-breen-lawsuit-transgender-medicine-center-for-transyouth-health-us-v-skrmetti-e22382f3

Editorial Board (December 3, 2024). Transgender Minors at the Supreme Court. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/u-s-v-skrmetti-tennessee-law-transgender-minors-hormones-treatment-9be82071

Steve Marshall (December 2, 2024). Opinion: WPATH, ‘Transgender Healthcare’ and the Supreme Court. Wall Street Journal

Readers (July 26, 2023). Letters: Parents Need Answers on Pediatric Gender Medicine. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/parents-trans-gender-diverse-kids-medical-care-endocrine-1287c55

Swaim, Barton (November 14, 2024). Opinion: Markets Foiled Transgender Ideology. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/markets-foiled-trans-ideology-dei-rollback-target-budlight-social-conservatism-b8d470e4

Editorial Board (October 13, 2024). Transgender Sports Is a 2024 Sleeper Issue. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/transgender-sports-is-a-2024-sleeper-issue-ads-ohio-wisconsin-montana-2a8d044b

Wright, Colin (August 7, 2024). Opinion: Does Imane Khelif Belong in the Women’s Ring? Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/does-imane-khelif-belong-in-the-womens-ring-olympics-boxing-transgender-ideology-b227f2cd

Morrell, Travis J. (July 26, 2024). Opinion: Ideology in Medical Schools Threatens Everyone’s Health. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/ideology-in-medical-schools-threatens-everyones-health-f6887ae3

Conservative signatories (July 14, 2023). Youth Gender Transition Is Pushed Without Evidence. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/trans-gender-affirming-care-transition-hormone-surgery-evidence-c1961e27

Hammes, Stephen R. (July 4, 2023). Endocrine Society Responds on Gender-Affirming Care It improves the well-being of transgender and gender-diverse people. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/trans-gender-affirming-care-endocrine-society-evidence-fdb8562c

Sapsford, Jathon; Armour, Stephanie (June 19, 2023). U.S. Becomes Transgender-Care Outlier as More in Europe Urge Caution. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/u-s-becomes-transgender-care-outlier-as-more-in-europe-urge-caution-6c70b5e0

Sapir, Leor; Wright, Colin (June 9, 2023). Opinion: Medical Journal’s False Consensus on ‘Gender-Affirming Care.’ Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/medical-journals-false-consensus-on-gender-affirming-care-sex-change-procedure-transgender-f10cd52b

Eappen, Roy; Kingsbury, Ian (June 28, 2023). The Endocrine Society’s Dangerous Transgender Politicization. Members we spoke with take exception to the group’s guidelines on ‘gender-affirming care.’ Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/the-endocrine-societys-dangerous-politicization-endocrinologists-gender-affirming-care-arkansas-dac768bd

Resources

The Wall Street Journal (wsj.com)

  • Transgender
  • wsj.com/search?query=transgender&mod=searchresults_viewallresults

X/Twitter (x.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

The New York Times is an American media organization. With some notable exceptions, their coverage of transgender issues has been neutral to negative. The Science, Opinion, and Books sections have been particularly biased on trans issues.

No transgender journalist has appeared on the New York Times masthead since its founding in 1851. Due to the hostile work environment, no transgender reporters worked there according to a 2023 San Francisco Chronicle report.

Assessments

It is considered a paper of record for the United States, along with The Washington Post.

Ad Fontes Media (adfontesmedia.com)

  • New York Times
  • Reliability: 47.50 out of 64 (32+ is “generally good”)
  • Bias: -4.01 (9.5% left-leaning bias)

NewsGuard (as of January 2020)

  • Approximate score: 100
  • Standards failed: None

Anti-transgender coverage crisis

Decades of anti-transgender coverage culminated in a newsroom revolt in 2023:

According to Times sources, there used to be open Slack channels where staff could discuss any issues they had with coverage, and they freely voiced objections at all-hands meetings with the masthead editors. But now, with the advent of virtual meetings, management doesn’t pick the uncomfortable questions during Q&A.

And, that employee said, there are still no out trans reporters on staff at the paper. 

Ho (2023)

Key people

Current

Former

Contributors

Cisgender

Trans+

References

Wilkins, Riki (2024). Bad Ink: How The New York Times Sold Out Transgender Teens. Riverdale Avenue Books, ISBN 9781626016828

Urquhart, Evan (January 8, 2025). Bias at NYT: Trans Former Employee Speaks Out. Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/former-editor-nyt-biased-on-trans-hiring

Bolies, Corbin (March 7, 2023). The New York Times’ Trans Coverage Debacle Was Years in the Making. The Daily Beast. https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-the-new-york-times-trans-coverage-debacle-was-years-in-the-making

Ho, Soliel (August 31, 2023). Inside the New York Times’ trans coverage: ‘I wonder if people at the top fully believe in trans people’s humanity.’ San Francisco Chronicle https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/new-york-times-trans-18214925.php

Resources

New York Times (nytimes.com)

Britannica (britannica.com)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

WorldCat (worldcat.org)

David Rubin is an American marketing executive. Rubin was responsible for communications at the New York Times during its sharp increase in anti-transgender coverage in the 2020s.

No transgender journalist has appeared on the New York Times masthead since its founding in 1851.

Note: for the “intellectual dark web” media figure, see Dave Rubin.

Background

Rubin earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale in 1993 and an MBA from Wharton in 1999.

Rubin joined Unilever in 1999, rising to vice president for its US hair brands. Rubin joined Pinterest in 2014 but left 18 months later.

Rubin joined the Times in 2016 and is responsible for communications, enterprise-wide brand strategy, creative, and media, as well as audience definition, strategy and targets.

References

Reilly, Patrick (February 15, 2023). New York Times accused of ‘editorial bias’ in coverage of transgender issues. New York Post https://nypost.com/2023/02/15/new-york-times-blasted-for-editorial-bias-in-transgender-coverage/

Bolies, Corbin (March 7, 2023). The New York Times’ Trans Coverage Debacle Was Years in the Making. The Daily Beast https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-the-new-york-times-trans-coverage-debacle-was-years-in-the-making

Bolies, Corbin; Cartwright, Lachlan (February 16, 2023). New York Times blasts staffers who condemned paper’s trans coverage. The Daily Beast https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-york-times-blast-staffers-who-condemned-papers-trans-coverage

Eckert, AJ. What the New York Times gets wrong about puberty blockers for transgender youth. Science-Based Medicine https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/what-the-new-york-times-gets-wrong-about-puberty-blockers-for-transgender-youth/

USPATH and WPATH respond to NY Times article “They Paused Puberty, But Is There a Cost? published on November 14, 2022 (PDF). https://www.wpath.org/media/cms/Documents/Public%20Policies/2022/USPATHWPATH%20Statement%20re%20Nov%2014%202022%20NYT%20Article%20Nov%2022%202022.pdf

Urquhart, Evan (November 17, 2022). The NYT’s big piece on puberty blockers mucked up the most important point about them. Slate https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/puberty-blockers-side-effects-controversy.html

Oladipo, Gloria (February 18, 2023). Nearly 1,000 contributors protest New York Times’ coverage of trans people. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/17/new-york-times-contributors-open-letter-protest-anti-trans-coverage

Migdon, Brooke (February 15, 2023). NYT contributors blast paper’s coverage of transgender people. The Hill. https://thehill.com/homenews/media/3859501-nyt-contributors-blast-papers-coverage-of-transgender-people/

Yurcaba, Jo (February 16, 2023). N.Y. Times contributors and LGBTQ advocates send open letters criticizing paper’s trans coverage. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/ny-contributors-lgbtq-advocates-send-open-letters-criticizing-papers-t-rcna70800

Paul, Larisha (February 15, 2023). Gabrielle Union, Tommy Dorfman, more accuse NYT of ‘Harmful’ coverage of trans people. Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/new-york-times-coverage-of-trans-people-open-letter-1234680299/

Kalish, Lil. These New York Times contributors say the paper’s coverage of gender issues is hurting trans people. BuzzFeed News. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/lilkalish/trans-writers-open-letter-nyt-biased-coverage

Hays, Gabriel (February 15, 2023). Celebs rip into New York Times for ‘irresponsible’ transgender coverage: Demand end to ‘both sides’ focus. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/media/celebs-rip-new-york-times-irresponsible-transgender-coverage-demand-end-both-sides-focus

Dunlap, David W. (June 19, 2017). How The Times gave ‘gay’ its own voice (again). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.

Klein, Charlotte (February 15, 2023). Nearly 200 New York Times contributors are denouncing the paper’s anti-trans coverage. Vanity Fair. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/02/new-york-times-trans-coverage

Davies, Rachel (February 16, 2023). The NYT knew what it was doing with its ‘Defense of J.K. Rowling’. The Mary Sue. https://www.themarysue.com/the-nyt-knew-what-it-was-doing-with-its-defense-of-j-k-rowling/

Warrington, James (February 16, 2023). How the New York Times was engulfed by a trans culture war. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/02/15/new-york-times-accused-writers-anti-trans-bigotry/

Mastrangelo, Dominick (February 16, 2023). NYT editors: Paper ‘will not tolerate’ its journalists protesting coverage of transgender people. The Hill. https://thehill.com/homenews/3862101-nyt-editors-paper-will-not-tolerate-its-journalists-protesting-coverage-of-transgender-people/amp/

O’Reilly, Laura (December 16, 2015) Pinterest’s head of brand is leaving after 18 months in the role. Insider https://www.businessinsider.com/pinterest-head-of-brand-david-rubin-is-leaving-2015-12

Resources

The New York Times Company (nytco.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Pinterest (pinterest.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

Graham Linehan is an Irish comedy writer and anti-transgender extremist. Linehan is associated with anti-trans hate group Genspect and has become one of the most prominent and strident anti-trans activists in history.

Background

Linehan was born on May 22, 1968 in Dublin. Linehan’s initial career was as a comedy writer. Linehan helped create and write on shows including Father Ted, Black Books, The IT Crowd, Count Arthur Strong, Brass Eye, and The Fast Show.

Linehan was married to writer Helen Serafinowicz from 2004 to 2020. They have two children.

Anti-transgender activism

Linehan became an anti-transgender activist after the 2008 The IT Crowd episode “The Speech” was criticized as transphobic. Channel 4 pulled the episode from their streaming service in 2020, infuriating Linehan.

Linehan’s subsequent fixation on trans people led to the end of both Linehan’s comedy career and marriage. A review of Linehan’s 2023 book Tough Crowd summarizes “the extremity of Linehan’s rhetoric”:

In my view, and that of his critics, some of his online remarks have been plainly and unapologetically transphobic: Linehan has characterised the trans rights movement as “paedophilic” and called trans activists and allies “groomers”. It’s true enough that his former life is in tatters: the controversies led to the end of his marriage, the abandonment of a planned, lucrative Father Ted musical, and his agent dropping him.

[…] Often, Linehan paints trans women as predators, men looking to insinuate themselves into women’s spaces in order to assault them with greater ease. When convenient, they are made out to be victims, brainwashed and exploited young queer people who are convinced to “mutilate” their bodies in the name of ideology. 

[…] To an extent, the book’s very existence disputes the pretence of Linehan to have been deplatformed. If Linehan had siloed his anti-trans views somewhat, rather than warp them into a life-consuming vocation, his once-glittering TV career might well have remained intact to this day.

In 2018, Linehan received a verbal warning from police following a dispute with Stephanie Hayden, a trans woman who sued Linehan for defamation.

In April 2025 Linehan was charged with harassment and criminal damage following a 2024 confrontation with Sophia Brooks, a 17-year-old transgender activist whose phone was reportedly damaged by Linehan, Linehan pleaded not guilty and was released on bail on the condition Linehan not contact Brooks. Linehan was cleared of the harassment charge and was ordered to pay a fine over the broken phone.

In September 2025, Linehan was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence after encouraging followers on X to assault trans women they find in sex-segregated spaces.

The Mess We’re In podcast

Linehan started an interview show in 2020 that frequently has conservative, ex-trans, and anti-transgender guests.

For the full episode list with guests, see The Mess We’re In.

References

Staff report (October 25, 2025). Linehan cleared of harassing trans activist but guilty of damaging phone. BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjrj4520rrwo

Melley, Brian (October 20, 2025). TV writer Graham Linehan won’t face charges for transgender post that sparked UK debate. AP News https://apnews.com/article/graham-linehan-father-ted-transgender-posts-arrest-bbf936f63a152c3abe162198084f546b

Riedel, Samantha (September 4, 2025). Father Ted‘s Graham Linehan in Court For “Harassing” Trans Teen Days After Arrest Over Transphobia. them https://www.them.us/story/graham-linehan-transphobia-anti-trans-arrest-court

Stff report (September 2, 2025). TV writer Graham Linehan’s arrest over transgender posts sparks free speech outcry in the UK. AP News https://apnews.com/article/graham-linehan-father-ted-x-posts-arrest-b5728b93a1e5b3b0d833c3321c8ea51d

Chilton, Louis (October 13. 2023). The problems with Graham Linehan’s memoir Tough Crowd. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/graham-linehan-tough-crowd-book-trans-b2428578.html

Williamson, Harriet (April 16, 2023). Anti-trans mouthpiece Graham Linehan suspended from Twitter…again. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/04/16/anti-trans-graham-linehan-suspended-twitter-again/

Burrows, Marc (December 30, 2022). Opinion: Why do people like Graham Linehan keep choosing this hill to die on? The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/graham-linehan-twitter-trans-rights-b2253532.html

Wakefield, Lily (1 October 2022). Anti-trans activist Graham Linehan says he’s no longer sure about COVID vaccines or climate change. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/01/graham-linehan-covid-transphobia-climate-change/

Crellin, Zac (April 19, 2022). Father Ted creator rallies global support for Katherine Deves and her anti-trans comments. The New Daily https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/federal-election-2022/2022/04/19/katherine-deves-graham-linehan-trans/

Dodds, Io; Woodward, Alex (April 14, 2022). The GOP ‘grooming’ smear is sparking a new wave of anti-LGBT+ violence. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/republicans-disney-groomer-harassment-lgbt-people-b2058272.html

Rose, Anna (March 25, 2022). ‘Father Ted’ musical axed following Graham Linehan’s controversial views. NME https://www.nme.com/news/tv/father-ted-musical-axed-following-graham-linehans-controversial-views-3190721

Dalwood, Charlotte (January 6, 2022). The alt-internet of anti-trans activists. rabble.ca. [archive]

Moore, Sam (October 25, 2021). Matt Berry comments on ‘transphobic’ IT Crowd episode. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/matt-berry-transphobic-it-crowd-episode-b1944874.html

Berlatsky, Noah (April 20, 2021). Harassers Use Substack Sign-Ups to Spam Trans People and Allies. The Observer https://observer.com/2021/04/substack-transphobia-email-sign-ups-harassment/

Clute, Emily (April 18, 2021). The IT Crowd: The Controversial Episode that Killed the Hit Comedy Series. Screenrant https://screenrant.com/it-crowd-controversy-graham-linehan-april-transphobic-bad/

Kelleher, Patrick (21 February 2021). Graham Linehan joined a queer women’s dating app to share trans people’s profiles. It backfired, badly. PinkNews [archive]

Wakefield, Lily (December 3, 2020). Disgraced comedy writer Graham Linehan boasts he’s back on Twitter with a ‘new sim card’ after being kicked off for a second time. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/12/03/graham-linehan-twitter-new-account-transphobia-sim-card-ban-hateful-conduct/

Wakefield, Lily (December 1, 2020). Disgraced comedy writer Graham Linehan, booted from Twitter for hateful conduct, returns with fake ‘trans guy’ account. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/12/01/graham-linehan-twitter-scarlysimon-trans-rights-sock-account-colm-ogorman/

Krol, Charlotte (October 9, 2020). Channel 4 pulls IT Crowd episode over transphobic content. NME https://www.nme.com/news/tv/channel-4-pulls-it-crowd-episode-over-transphobic-content-2778346

Horbury, Ezra; Yao, Christine (1 August 2020). Empire and Eugenics: Trans Studies in the UK. Transgender Studies Quarterly. 3 (7): 445–454. https://doi.org/10.1215/23289252-8553104

Andrews, Penny (2020). Choose your fighter: Loyalty and fandom in the free speech culture wars. Manchester University Press, ISBN 978-1-5261-5255-8

Burns, Katelyn (December 19, 2019). J. K. Rowling’s transphobia is a product of British culture. Vox https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/12/19/21029874/jk-rowling-transgender-tweet-terf

Wakefield, Lily (June 12, 2019). NSPCC employee who hired Munroe Bergdorf gets homophobic abuse. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/06/12/nspcc-employee-hired-munroe-bergdorf-homophobic-abuse/

Staff report (January 22, 2019). Gamer Hbomberguy hands funding row charity Donkey Kong boost. BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-46961883

Asarch, Steven (January 20, 2019). Twitch stream pulls in $250,000 for Mermaids charity featuring Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Owen Jones and more. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/twitch-stream-pulls-250000-mermaids-charity-featuring-alexandria-ocasio-1298710

Duffy, Nick (October 11, 2018). Father Ted writer Graham Linehan compares trans activism to Nazism. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2018/12/11/father-ted-graham-linehan-trans-nazis/

Staff report (October 7, 2018). Father Ted writer given harassment warning. BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45777689

Gentleman, Amelia (October 19, 2015). How heartbreak led Helen and Graham Linehan to campaign for abortion in Ireland. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/19/graham-helen-linehan-ireland-abortion-amnesty-international

Gabbatiss, Josh (July 7, 2018). London Pride: Anti-trans activists disrupt parade by lying down in the street to protest ‘lesbian erasure.’ The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/anti-trans-protest-london-pride-parade-lgbt-gay-2018-march-lesbian-gay-rights-a8436506.html

Jones, Alice (May 30, 2015). Inside the comic world of Peter Serafinowicz: The spoof video master is heading to Hollywood. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/inside-the-comic-world-of-peter-serafinowicz-the-spoof-video-master-is-heading-to-hollywood-10279558.html

Edemariam, Aida (June 11, 2011). The Saturday Interview: Graham Linehan. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2011/jun/11/the-saturday-interview-graham-linehan

Anti-trans coverage

Boffey, Daniel (September 3, 2025). How Graham Linehan’s gender activism led to career armageddon. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/sep/03/how-graham-linehan-gender-activism-led-to-comedian-career-and-personal-armageddon

Brown, Lee (March 17, 2023). ‘Father Ted’ creator Graham Linehan blames trans war for ending his marriage. New York Post https://nypost.com/2023/03/17/father-ted-creator-trans-war-left-me-broke-and-single/

McGowan, Michael (April 14, 2022). NSW Liberal candidate likens anti-trans activism to opposing the Holocaust. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/14/nsw-liberal-candidate-likens-anti-trans-activism-to-opposing-the-holocaust

O’Connor, Wayne (March 14, 2021). TV writer Graham Linehan: How my transgender views cost me my marriage. Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/tv-writer-graham-linehan-how-my-transgender-views-cost-me-my-marriage-40194554.html

Blackall, Molly (June 27, 2020). Twitter closes Graham Linehan account after trans comment. The Guardian

Gataveckaite, Gabija (June 10, 2020). Hozier and Father Ted creator Graham Linehan join Twitter row over JK Rowling comments. Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/hozier-and-father-ted-creator-graham-linehan-join-twitter-row-over-jk-rowling-comments-39276937.html

Falvey, Deirdre (January 21, 2019). Graham Linehan: Trans activists ‘don’t realise the damage’ they do. The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/graham-linehan-trans-activists-don-t-realise-the-damage-they-do-1.3765979

Haugh, Ben (December 18, 2019). Father Ted creator Linehan creates own social network to defy Twitter after transgender row. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/father-ted-creator-linehan-creates-own-social-network-to-defy-twitter-after-transgender-row-cfzw7xls0

Murphy, Sandra (January 22, 2019). How Graham Linehan went from national treasure to divisive figure for trans community. extra.ie https://extra.ie/2019/01/22/news/irish-news/video-graham-linehan-trans-views-cost-him-national-treasure-title

Lyons, Izzy (October 7, 2018). Transgender lawyer launches UK’s first ‘deadnaming’ case against Father Ted writer Graham Linehan. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/07/transgender-lawyer-launches-uks-first-deadnaming-case-against/

Coyle, Colin (October 7, 2018). Father Ted writer Graham Linehan warned by police after ‘trolling’ transgender activist. The Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/father-ted-writer-graham-linehan-warned-by-police-after-trolling-transgender-activist-wqfwqgsxn

Halliday, Josh (October 7, 2018). Graham Linehan given police warning after complaint by transgender activist. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/oct/07/graham-linehan-police-warning-complaint-by-stephanie-hayden-transgender-activist-twitter

Kelly, Guy (January 16, 2015). Graham Linehan interview: ‘On the streets, Twitter trolls would be considered sociopaths.’ The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11342851/Graham-Linehan-interview-On-the-streets-Twitter-trolls-would-be-considered-sociopaths.html

Selected writing by Linehan

See Linehan’s Substack The Glinner Update for a running anti-trans commentary.

Linehan, Graham (September 2, 2025). I Posted on X. The British Police Arrested Me. The Free Press https://www.thefp.com/p/i-posted-on-x-the-british-police-arrested-me-free-speech

Book

Linehan, Graham (2023). Tough Crowd: How I Made and Lost a Career in Comedy. Eye Books Ltd, ISBN 978-1785633065

Media analysis

Brigitte Empire (February 3, 2024). Dissecting Graham Linehan’s Transphobic Book (ft. The Leftist Cooks). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbHbYnlJtPs

Paul The Robin (March 5, 2021). Graham Linehan: A Study – A Decline into Transphobia, Bigotry & Brainrot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_35QK–u7Q

Media

Spiked with Georgina Mumford and Graham Linehan (December 3, 2025). ‘They’re little Hitlers’ | Graham Linehan on his decade-long persecution by trans activists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsdj6cCLeKs

TRIGGERnometry with Konstantin Kisin, Francis Foster and Graham Linehan (November 30, 2025). Graham Linehan: Arrested for Trans Tweets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BMdCpttzd0

Timcast with Tim Pool and Graham Linehan (October 17, 2025). Leftist NO KINGS Protest Begins, Antifa EMBEDS, Riots & Violence FEARED Nationwide | Timcast IRL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-IpmerAIBU

Megyn Kelly with Graham Linehan (September 8, 2025). Comedy Writer Graham Linehan on the Social Media Posts Defending Women Leading to His ARREST in UK. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aXFEYlieAc

Jordan B. Peterson with Andrew Doyle and Graham Linehan (September 2, 2025). Europe Imploding | Andrew Doyle & Graham Linehan | EP 506. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykfUbIjtjEY

Spiked with Brendan O’Neill and Graham Linehan (August 14, 2025). Graham Linehan: Is Britain a lost cause? | The Brendan O’Neill Show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2aOqM7l050

The Joe Rogan Experience with Joe Rogan and Graham Linehan (August 6, 2025). Joe Rogan Experience #2361 – Graham Linehan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03V2ZnXyEDA

Spiked with Graham Linehan, Tom Slater, and Fraser Myers (April 25, 2025). The trans meltdown, with Graham Linehan | spiked podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH9gfix3ro8

Genspect with Graham Linehan (March 15, 2025). How Institutions Were Captured Without a Fight – Graham Linehan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSE4bpVmYUE

heretics with Andrew Gold and Graham Linehan (September 23, 2024). Gender Insanity Went VIRAL Because of THESE Celebrities – Graham Linehan (4K) | heretics. 94. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtliX5oSvGk

Quillette with Zoe Booth and Graham Linehan (Aprill. 11, 2024). Graham Linehan Was Right About Gender Ideology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-yZ3vGJ_7o

The New Culture Forum with Amy Gallagher and Graham Linehan (March 3, 2024). “I Popularised the Term ‘Grooming’ ‘”. “Trans is Middle-Class Nihilism” (Graham Linehan). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lmLQD5o5aE

Spiked with Graham Linehan (December 27, 2023). Graham Linehan’s last laugh | A spiked documentary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxgRbPnucg8

TRIGGERnometry with Konstantin Kisin, Francis Foster and Graham Linehan (December 20, 2023). Backstabbed By Comedy Industry – Graham Linehan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va6hXYTMBDI

Gender: A Wider Lens with Stella O’Malley, Sasha Ayad, and Graham Linehan (November 30, 2023). EP 144: Glinner is a TERF with Graham Linehan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJHyJ15mJ-A

heretics with Andrew Gold and Graham Linehan (November 18, 2023). The World’s Most Canceled Man – IT Crowd Creator Graham Linehan | heretics. 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhMkwSPGUt0

UnHerd with Graham Linehan (October 17, 2023). Graham Linehan: I lost my comedy career to a mass delusion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQyXIp-Rs2E

Karl Martin (September 22, 2023). Graham Linehan, woman (arrested for objecting to man in female toilets) speak #LetWomenSpeakDublin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FnVCrs2Scw

Graham Linehan (March 24, 2022). My interview with Stephen Nolan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3St5XimKi6U&t=345s

UK Parliament (March 9, 2021). Subject: Freedom of expression online. Communications and Digital Committee. parliamentlive.tv https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/5236fc59-47ae-41c9-93f7-4ea16b5782c3

BBC / Newsnight with Sarah Smith and Graham Linehan (February 11, 2020). Father Ted creator Graham Linehan on trans rights.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e79k6LILL1I alt url https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08305wc

GBNews (August 16, 2022). Graham Linehan: ‘Trans activists tried to destroy my life’ after BBC interview on Tavistock Centre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IhgIXf2_WE

Triggernometry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOriXC2O4x0

Derrick Jensen and Graham Linehan (9 December 2018). Resistance Radio – Guest: Graham Linehan (Podcast). Podbean. The opposition is so extreme and so frightening that eventually everyone is asking you to stop. My feeling is that I can’t, because it’s too important. It’s too important to the women in my life and it’s too important to me. I’m now in a position where I can answer the question honestly of, if you were around at the time of something terrible happening like Nazism, or whatever it happened to be, would you be one of the people who said “no, this is wrong”, despite being opposed? I feel happy in myself that I’ve been one of the people standing up and saying “no, this is wrong”, despite everyone telling me not to do it.

The Same Drugs with Meghan Murphy and Graham Linehan (January 23, 2019). Graham Linehan on Twitter, trans activism, and why he won’t just shut up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mP6RZud4ls

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

RationalkWiki (rationalwiki.org)

IMDb (imdb.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Substack (substack.com)

WordPress (wordpress.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

The Free Press (thefp.com)

Hadley Freeman is an American-British journalist best known for manipulating notable authors into making statements about trans issues that they later must disavow. Freeman’s interviews with Margaret Atwood and Judy Blume both required the authors to issue statements.

Freeman has written for several anti-trans publications, including UnHerd, New Statesman, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times.

Background

Hadley Clare Freeman was born May 15, 1978 in New York City. As an adolescent, Freeman was hospitalized several times for self-imposed food restrictions. Freeman read English literature at St Anne’s College, Oxford.

Freeman and sports writer Andy Bull have three children.

Anti-trans activism

Freeman wrote for The Guardian starting in 2000. Freeman and Suzanne Moore both left The Guardian around the same time in 2022 amid public pushback over their anti-trans views.

References

Reed, Erin (April 20, 2025). Anti-Trans Activist Hadley Freeman Thinks UK Court Win Means People Have To Be Her Friend. Erin In The Morning https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/anti-trans-activist-hadley-freeman

Mack, Daniel (April 17, 2023). Judy Blume Blasted An Article Linking Her To J.K. Rowling’s Anti-Trans Views As “Bullshit.” BuzzFeed News https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/davidmack/judy-blume-transgender-jk-rowling-hadley-freeman

Tani, Max (April 3, 2023). Inside the Guardian’s civil war over trans coverage. Semafor https://www.semafor.com/article/04/02/2023/inside-the-guardians-civil-war-over-trans-coverage

Milton, Josh (February 19, 2022). ‘Gender critical’ journalist tries to grill Margaret Atwood on trans rights. It backfires, badly. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/02/19/margaret-atwood-hadley-freeman-trans-gender-critical/

Hansford, Amelia (20 January 2023). Journalist Hadley Freeman condemned for ‘dangerous’ comments about suicidal trans kids. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/01/10/hadley-freeman-suicidal-trans-youth/

Ewens, Hannah (16 June 2020). Inside the Great British TERF War. Vice https://www.vice.com/en/article/889qe5/trans-rights-uk-debate-terfs

Valens, Ana (2 April 2018). There’s nothing feminist about attacking trans women. The Daily Dot https://www.dailydot.com/irl/attacking-trans-women-feminist/

Persio, Sofia Lotto (3 November 2018). Guardian US journalists denounce newspaper’s “transphobic” editorial. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/11/03/guardian-transphobic-editorial-concern/

Levin, Sam; Chalabi, Mona; Siddiqui, Sabrina (2 November 2018). Why we take issue with the Guardian‘s stance on trans rights in the UK. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/02/guardian-editorial-response-transgender-rights-uk

Anti-trans coverage

Moore, Suzanne (December 6, 2022). The Guardian is hiding the truth about trans. Both Hadley Freeman and I left the paper after not being allowed to write as we wished – including on subjects such as gender. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2022/12/06/guardian-hiding-truth-trans/

Singh, Anita (5 December 2022). Hadley Freeman: ‘Atmosphere of fear’ governs Guardian trans coverage. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/12/05/hadley-freeman-atmosphere-fear-governs-guardian-trans-coverage/

Kanter, Jake (February 21, 2022). Guardian columnist Hadley Freeman says left-wing media bows down to trans bullies. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/society/article/guardian-columnist-hadley-freeman-says-paper-bows-down-to-trans-bullies-79kk9d0d7

Selected writing by Freeman

Freeman, Hadley (November 23, 2025,). At Cambridge, three brave students are taking on the trans bullies. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/cambridge-students-trans-bullies-gc03ff6q3

Freeman, Hadley; Urwin, Rosamund; Yorke, Harry; Turvill, William; Hauschild, Dominic (April 20, 2025). Supreme Court victors getting death threats in gender ruling backlash. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/women-threatened-statues-defaced-supreme-court-trans-mwv6dvpz2

Freeman, Hadley (April 19, 2025). I lost friends and a job in the trans witch-hunt. Hordes of cowards caved in to the fantasy. A few brave women did not. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/trans-witch-hunt-supreme-court-women-xj7zlq0fv

Freeman, Hadley (August 6, 2023). My Sting interview farce shows how entrenched trans ideology has become. The Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/my-sting-interview-farce-shows-how-entrenched-trans-ideology-has-become-djwsftgph

Freeman, Hadley (December 20, 2022). Why I stopped being a good girl Women can no longer afford to sit out the gender wars. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2022/12/why-i-stopped-being-a-good-girl-2/

Freeman, Hadley (November 29, 2022). Mermaids’ useful idiots. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2022/11/mermaids-useful-idiots/

Freeman, Hadley (August 9, 2022). Why the Tavistock won’t talk to me. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2022/08/why-the-tavistock-wont-talk-to-me/

Freeman, Hadley (July 14, 2022). Why I’m suing Survivors’ Network: Rape victims need female-only spaces. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2022/07/why-im-suing-survivors-network/

Freeman, Hadley (June 13, 2022). The kids aren’t alright. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2022/06/are-the-kids-alright/

Freeman, Hadley (May 4, 2022). American feminism has turned its back on women. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2022/05/american-feminism-has-turned-its-back-on-abortion/

Freeman, Hadley (April 7, 2022). The week the trans spell was broken. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2022/04/the-week-the-trans-spell-was-broken/

Freeman, Hadley (February 19, 2022). Margaret Atwood on feminism, culture wars and speaking her mind: ‘I’m very willing to listen, but not to be scammed.’ The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/books/ng-interactive/2022/feb/19/margaret-atwood-on-feminism-culture-wars

Freeman, Hadley (June 26, 2021). People have told me I’m on the wrong side of history, but I still want to be their friend. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jun/26/people-have-told-me-i-am-on-the-wrong-side-of-history-but-i-still-want-to-be-their-friend

Freeman, Hadley (March 6, 2019). Sport can help to clarify the trans debate. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/06/sport-trans-martina-navratilova

Freeman, Hadley (July 5, 2018). An aversion to dolls and dresses is no proof you’re a man. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/05/dolls-dresses-no-proof-not-girl-pink-v-blue

Freeman, Hadley (March 31, 2018). Don’t you just love it when a man explains to you what it means to be a woman? The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/mar/31/man-explains-what-means-be-woman

Freeman, Hadley (March 18, 2017). Identity is the issue of our age: so why can’t we talk more honestly about trans women? The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/18/identity-issue-our-age-talk-more-honestly-trans-women

Freeman, Hadley (March 19, 2016). Hadley Freeman: the trouble with Caitlyn Jenner. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/mar/19/caitlyn-jenner-donald-trump-car-crash-hadley-freeman

Resources

Books

  • The Meaning of Sunglasses: And a Guide to Almost All Things Fashionable (2008)
  • Be Awesome: Modern Life for Modern Ladies (2013)
  • Life Moves Pretty Fast: The Lessons We Learned from Eighties Movies (and Why We Don’t Learn Them from Movies Anymore) (2016)
  • House of Glass: The Story and Secrets of a Twentieth-Century Jewish Family (2020)
  • Good Girls: A Story and Study of Anorexia (2023)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

The Guardian (theguardian.com)

New Statesman (newstatesman.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Journalisted (journalisted.com)

UnHerd (unherd.com)

Lionel Shriver is an American author and anti-transgender activist. Shriver has spoken at a conference by anti-trans hate group Genspect and has made many anti-trans comments in the media. Shriver has written for anti-trans publications, including UnHerd, The Critic, The Times, Spiked, and The Spectator.

Background

Shriver was born on May 18, 1957 in Gastonia, North Carolina. Shriver is a self-described tomboy who grew up with an older and a younger sibling. Shriver took social transition steps as a minor, including a name change at 15. Shriver earned a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College and a master’s degree from Columbia University. Shriver has written many novels and has been a columnist.

Anti-trans activism

Shriver frequently logrolls for other anti-trans activists and appears on conservative media outlets:

“Western media has moved on to an enthrallment with transgenderism bizarrely out of proportion to the statistical rarity of true gender dysphoria—though children and people generally being so suggestible, the condition will doubtless grow more common.”

Shriver was signatory on a 2020 Sunday Times open letter defending anti-trans extremist J.K. Rowling.

Shriver praised trans eliminationist Helen Joyce’s book Trans: “Reasonable, methodical, sane, and utterly unintimidated by extremist orthodoxy, Trans is a riveting read.” 

In a Washington Post article about Shriver’s 2022 nonfiction book Abominations:

Writing about transgender people either sends her down slippery-slope thinking — “We seem to be entering an era in which everything about ourselves that we don’t like is subject to revision” — or infantile cracks about pronouns and LGBTQ+ culture. (“A three-year-old bashing the keyboard would produce a more functional shorthand.”)

From a profile in The Times:

Shriver is “mystified” by the way in which the transgender debate has become so fraught, with death threats to writers and MPs. “The transgender thing just seems to make people completely crazy,” she says. “I just don’t think that what sex you are is that important. My sense of myself is not crucially female.”

As a teenager Shriver changed her name from Margaret Ann to Lionel because she was determined not to be eclipsed by her elder brother. “Women are supposed to be soft and nurturing and pliable and driven to please and looking out for others. Men are strong and determined, and goal driven and powerful. If you look at the stereotypes, anyone with any self-respect would want to be a man. I reject the stereotypes . . . I’m all for chucking them and one of my biggest problems with the transgender movement is it’s all about nailing them down.”

References

Levy, Ariel (May 25, 2020). Lionel Shriver Is Looking for Trouble. The New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/06/01/lionel-shriver-is-looking-for-trouble

Maxwell, Abigail (April 26, 2016). Lionel Shriver is wrong—gender matters. Prospect https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/society/48774/lionel-shriver-is-wronggender-matters

Anti-trans coverage

US staff report (September 5, 2024). Lionel Shriver: I’m scared to visit Britain after Graham Linehan arrest. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/09/05/lionel-shriver-scared-visit-britain-graham-linehan-arrest/

Harvey, Chris (April 3, 2024). Lionel Shriver: ‘Transgenderism is a social mania.’ The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/lionel-shriver-mania-interview-transgenderism/

Athitakis, Mark (September 20, 2022). Lionel Shriver taunts the ‘culture police’ and more in her new book. Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2022/09/20/lionel-shriver-taunts-culture-police-more-her-new-book/

Sylvester, Rachel (September 10 2022) Lionel Shriver: ‘Which sex you are isn’t that important.’ The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lionel-shriver-which-sex-you-are-isnt-that-important-8vq8m0cwd

Selected writing by Shriver

Shriver, Lionel (September 4, 2025). Will I be arrested next, after Graham Linehan? Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2025/09/04/will-i-be-arrested-next-after-graham-linehan/

Shriver, Lionel (June 28, 2025). ‘Trans rights’ has never been a civil rights issue. The Spectator Australia https://www.spectator.com.au/2025/06/trans-rights-has-never-been-a-civil-rights-issue/

Shriver, Lionel (April 27, 2023). Is trans the new anorexia? UnHerd https://unherd.com/2023/04/is-trans-the-new-anorexia/

Shriver, Lionel (August 6, 2021). Trans purity test has lost touch with reality. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/trans-purity-test-has-lost-touch-with-reality-qw5vkzmtp

Shriver, Lionel (September 15, 2018). One discouraging word and you’re a transphobe. The Spectator https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/one-discouraging-word-and-you-re-a-transphobe/

Shriver, Lionel (April 21, 2016). Gender – good for nothing. Prospect https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/features/gender-good-for-nothing https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/essays/48719/gendergood-for-nothing

Media

Genspect with Stella O’Malley and Lionel Shriver (December 24, 2025). Beyond Pronouns: Lionel Shriver Talks Civilization, Sanity, and the Trans Debate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWAbfcxV1po

Peter Boghossian with Lionel Shriver (October 21, 2025). Immigration Is THE Problem of Our Time w/ Lionel Shriver. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmhEb0eVhcE

Piers Morgan Uncensored with Riley Gaines, Blaire White, Helen Webberley, Laurie Penny, and Lionel Shriver (September 5, 2025). “Flaming HYPOCRITE!” Linehan Arrest For Anti-Trans Posts & Free Speech Feat. Riley Gaines. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIxkcyzi0OY

TRIGGERnometry with Konstantin Kisin, Francis Foster, and Lionel Shriver (May 11, 2025). Mania: How Societies Go Crazy – Lionel Shriver. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N17dF847rpM

heretics with Andrew Gold and Lionel Shriver (April 14, 2025). The Left’s Most Hated Author Finally Speaks Out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXJDLB3_P24

The Spectator with Kate Andrews and Lionel Shriver (November 6, 2024). Lionel Shriver on the election that smashed identity politics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhZK1lM0pyk

Spiked with Fraser Myers and Lionel Shriver (October 23, 2024). Why I loathe Kamala Harris | Lionel Shriver. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiqExmiNJck

GBNews / Uncancelled with Dan Wootton and Lionel Shriver (May 3, 2022). Has it become trendy to be trans? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB_jMq8hoUk

Centre for Independent Studies with Brendan O’Neill and Lionel Shriver (July 6, 2020). We must defend freedom of speech | Lionel Shriver | Brendan O’Neill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P60G1gJ3Q8Y

Intelligence Squared with Lionel Shriver, Trevor Phillips, David Lammy, Dawn Foster, and Kamal Ahmed (February 17, 2020). Debate: Identity Politics is Tearing Society Apart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVMYfuzhbxk

The Spectator with Douglas Murray and Lionel Shriver (October 30, 2019). Identity Politics: Lionel Shriver & Douglas Murray | The Spectator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddBKQIomyYI

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Facebook (facebook.com)

IMDb (imdb.com)

The Spectator (spectator.com)

UnHerd (unherd.com)

The Telegraph (telegraph.co.uk)

Spiked (spiked-online.com)

The Critic (thecritic.co.uk)

Muck Rack (muckrack.com)

Transgender Trend is a British anti-transgender pressure group founded by Stephanie Davies-Arai. It is an important hub for the “parental rights” faction of anti-transgender activists.

Background

Davies-Arai founded the group in 2015 after reading an article that recommended affirming children in their gender identities and expression.

Davies-Arai believes that children are being “groomed” and “brainwashed” into thinking they are transgender by “gender ideology.”

According to progressive publication Truthout:

“Groups like Transgender Trend, an organization that campaigns against LGBT-inclusive relationship and sex education to schools (and was allowed to contribute to the Keira Bell case as an expert witness), are now refocusing on targeting trans health care for anyone under 25.”

Anti-trans activist Heather Brunskell-Evans wrote a piece for Transgender Trend titled “Judith Butler at the Court of Appeal.”

People

Core team

References

Kesslen, Ben (18 August 2022). How the idea of a “transgender contagion” went viral—and caused untold harm. MIT Technology Review https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/08/18/1057135/transgender-contagion-gender-dysphoria/

Dodds, Io (3 July 2022). How two trans women ran a legendary underground surgical clinic in a rural barn. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trans-history-underground-sugical-clinic-b2114777.html

Ring, Ellie (16 June 2022). Edinburgh LGBTQ+ officer claims university hosted ‘highly transphobic’ seminar. The Edinburgh Tab https://thetab.com/uk/edinburgh/2022/06/16/edinburgh-lgbtq-officer-claims-university-hosted-highly-transphobic-seminar-77705

Staff report (3 June 2022). Anti-Trans Group Founder Stephanie Davies-Ara Awarded ‘British Empire Medal’ In Queen’s Birthday Honours. Star Observer https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/anti-trans-group-founder-stephanie-davies-ara-awarded-british-empire-medal-in-queens-birthday-honours/213480

Hansford, Amelia (2 June 2022). Founder of notorious anti-trans pressure group named in Queen’s birthday honours. i https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/groomer-new-lgbt-slur-incite-hatred-spark-violence-1585179

The Queen’s Birthday Honours 2022. GOV.UK. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1080317/birthday-honours-list-2022.csv/preview

Strudwick, Patrick (May 22, 2022). ‘Shocked and scared’: Trans man speaks out over reporting psychiatrist for ‘conversion therapy’. I News https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/trans-conversion-therapy-patient-speaks-out-psychiatrist-reported-1641330

Strudwick, Patrick (April 26, 2022). How ‘groomer’, the dangerous new anti-LGBT slur from America, is taking hold in Britain. i News https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/groomer-new-lgbt-slur-incite-hatred-spark-violence-1585179

Ferreira, Lou (March 22, 2022). NHS invited speakers with ‘anti-trans’ links to trans event. Open Democracy https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/nhs-pulls-trans-conference-after-speakers-links-exposed/

Norris, Sian (30 September 2021). The Far-Right Co-Option of the Transgender Rights Issue. Byline Times https://bylinetimes.com/2021/09/30/the-far-right-co-option-of-the-transgender-rights-issue/

Greenesmith, Heron (28 February 2021). Health Care for Trans Youth Is Under Attack in UK — and It’s Impacting the US. Truthout https://truthout.org/articles/health-care-for-trans-youth-is-under-attack-in-uk-and-its-impacting-the-us/

McLean, Craig (2021). The Growth of the Anti-Transgender Movement in the United Kingdom: The Silent Radicalization of the British Electorate. International Journal of Sociology. 51 (6): 473–482. https://doio.org/10.1080/00207659.2021.1939946

Savage, Rachel (4 December 2020). British LGBT+ groups see surge in calls after UK court ruling on trans teens. Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-lgbt-health-idUSKBN28E2UF

Duffy, Nick (June 17, 2020). Thousands of cisgender women sign letter urging Liz Truss to shelve ‘disturbing’ rollback of trans rights. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/06/17/liz-truss-gender-recognition-act-reform-cis-women-open-letter-trans-equality/

John, Tara (April 4, 2020). The quest for trans rights has exposed a deep divide in the UK. Scotland may show a way forward. CNN https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/04/uk/trans-rights-reforms-scotland-gbr-intl/index.html

Wakefield, Lily (March 11, 2020). Anti-LGBT+ priest tells MPs that sex education leads to sex abuse and anal cancer, and no one stopped her. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/03/11/anglican-priest-lynda-rose-lgbt-inclusive-sex-education-house-of-commons-anal-cancer-abuse/

Andersson, Jasmine (January 10, 2020). The medical, ethical, and legal complications surrounding the puberty blockers case. i https://inews.co.uk/news/puberty-blockers-legal-case-experts-transgender-382047

Duffy, Nick (October 7, 2019). Someone is trolling anti-trans group Transgender Trend in the most perfect way. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/10/07/someone-trolling-anti-trans-group-most-perfect-way/

Duffy, Nick (May 11, 2019). Education magazine TES loses star columnist over transphobia row. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/05/11/education-magazine-tes-loses-star-columnist-transphobia-row/

Keating, Shannon (22 April 2019). Gender Dysphoria Isn’t A “Social Contagion,” According To A New Study. BuzzFeed News https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/shannonkeating/rapid-onset-gender-dysphoria-flawed-methods-transgender

Duffy, Nick (September 28, 2018). Gender-neutral toilets in Canada targeted with anti-trans ‘penis’ stickers. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/09/28/gender-neutral-toilets-targeted-with-anti-transgender-penis-stickers-canada/

Strudwick, Patrick (September 12, 2018). A Leading Trans-Critical Group Said Schools Should Out Trans Pupils To Their Parents. BuzzFeed News https://www.buzzfeed.com/patrickstrudwick/trans-kids-should-be-outed-to-their-parents-says-a-group

Robertson, Alix (September 10, 2018). Schools warned over new ‘harmful’ Transgender Trend stickers. schoolsweek.co.uk https://schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-warned-over-new-harmful-transgender-trend-stickers/

WPATH Global Board of Directors (4 September 2018). WPATH Position on “Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD).” (PDF) https://www.wpath.org/media/cms/Documents/Public%20Policies/2018/9_Sept/WPATH%20Position%20on%20Rapid-Onset%20Gender%20Dysphoria_9-4-2018.pdf

Page, Morgan M. (9 July 2018). Why Are Some Feminists In The UK Freaking Out About Trans Rights?. BuzzFeed News https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/morganmpage/why-are-some-feminists-in-the-uk-freaking-out-about-trans

Glass, Jess (April 25, 2018). Exclusive: Anti-trans meeting sparks mass criticism and counter-protests from university groups. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/04/25/university-of-oxford-protest-transgender-feminism-womans-place/

Whittaker, Freddie (February 15, 2018). Schools urged to ignore ‘dangerous’ gender guidance. schoolsweek.co.uk https://schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-urged-to-ignore-dangerous-gender-guidance/

Anti-trans coverage

Rayner, Gordon (June 1, 2022). Vindication for ‘transphobic’ gender-critical campaigner named in Queen’s Birthday Honours list. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/06/01/vindication-transphobic-gender-critical-campaigner-named-queens/

Turner, Camilla; Somerville, Ewan (January 1, 2022). Group of girls’ schools says they will not accept transgender pupils and “jeopardise” their status as single-sex institutions. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/01/01/group-girls-schools-says-will-not-accept-transgender-pupils/

Somerville, Ewan (May 9, 2021). Transgender guidelines for girls schools quietly scrapped by the equalities watchdog. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/09/transgender-guidelines-girls-schools-quietly-scrapped-equalities/

Thomas, Kim (29 September 2020). What are the new rules for teaching identity in schools? The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education-and-careers/2020/09/29/new-rules-teaching-identity-schools/

“As the number of children identifying as transgender has increased, schools have consulted trans charities such as Stonewall and Mermaids about how best to approach the topic. These charities have, however, come under criticism by campaigners, including Transgender Trend and Safe Schools Alliance, for reinforcing a rigid belief in gender roles, and for encouraging children who don’t conform to gender stereotypes to believe they might be trans.”

Mohdin, Aamna (September 25, 2020). Government issues gender identity guidance for teachers in England. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/sep/25/government-issues-gender-identity-guidance-for-teachers-in-england

Selected writing by Davies-Arai

Davies-Arai, Stephanie (July 7, 2021). Teachers are powerless to resist trans activism in schools. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/07/07/teachers-powerless-resist-trans-activism-schools/

Resources

Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Transgender Trend (transgendertrend.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Magdalen Berns was a British anti-transgender extremist. Berns was a co-founder of anti-trans group For Women Scotland and was a prominent figure in the early days of the UK’s surge in anti-transgender extremism in the 2010s.

Background

Berns was born May 8, 1983 in London to parents who were involved in communist activism. They split up soon after Berns was born.

Berns attended Hampstead School in Camden, London. After working as a sound engineer and computer programmer as a young adult, Berns returned to college, making early forays into anti-drag and anti-trans activism. Berns earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Edinburgh in 2016.

Berns died from brain cancer on September 13, 2019 at age 36 in Edinburgh.

Anti-transgender activism

Berns was a sex segregationist and a trans-exclusionary lesbian. Berns was involved in the so-called “cotton ceiling” controversy involving trans women dating women who dated self-identified lesbians. Berns was opposed to the idea that a lesbian can date a trans woman who had not had bottom surgery, saying “There is no such thing as a lesbian with a penis.” Berns also opposed gender self-identification and worked to change Scotland’s laws around it. Berns also opposed value-neutral terms like sex assigned at birth:

“You don’t get ‘assigned’ reproductive organs … males are defined by their biological sex organs. Likewise, homosexuals are people who are attracted to the same biological sex.”

Berns compared trans women to “blackface actors.” Berns often said, “Trans women are men” and described trans activism as a “men’s rights movement.” Berns attacked a number of trans inclusive organizations, including LGBT charity Stonewall.

Berns co-founded the non-profit organization For Women Scotland in 2018. Their goal was to advocate for sex-based rights, maintaining the remaining sex-segregated institutions like bathrooms, sports, children’s organizations, and prisons.

In 2019, British author and anti-trans activist J.K. Rowling helped raise Berns’ profile. After Berns died, Rowling revealed that they had spoken directly. Rowling called Berns “an immensely brave young feminist and lesbian” and “a great believer in the importance of biological sex [who] didn’t believe lesbians should be called bigots for not dating trans women with penises.”

References

Joaquina (January 2, 2021). Transphobia and Antisemitism. The Social Review https://www.thesocialreview.co.uk/2021/01/02/transphobia-and-antisemitism/

Andrews, Penny (November 20, 2020). Choose your fighter: Loyalty and fandom in the free speech culture wars. Manchester University Press. p. 259. ISBN 978-1-5261-5255-8

Staff report (July 3, 2020). Permanently suspended: How Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has become the ‘most hated man’ on the internet. Irish Independent. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/permanently-suspended-how-father-ted-co-creator-graham-linehan-has-become-the-most-hated-man-on-the-internet-39336272.html

Yasharoff, Hannah (June 10, 2020). J.K. Rowling reveals she’s a sexual assault survivor; Emma Watson reacts to trans comments. USA Today https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/06/07/j-k-rowling-harry-potter-author-slammed-transphobic-comments/3169833001/

Aberle, Connor (November 15, 2018). YouTube loves to hate me. The Wesleyan Argus http://wesleyanargus.com/2018/11/15/youtube-loves-to-hate-me/

Flaherty, Colleen (September 3, 2019). College supports trans scholar under fire. Inside Higher Ed https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2019/09/03/college-supports-trans-scholar-under-fire

Smith-Engelhardt, Joe (June 28, 2019). J.K. Rowling faces backlash for allegedly displaying transphobic behaviour. Alternative Press https://www.altpress.com/news/j-k-rowling-transphobic-behavior/

Maurice, Emma (June 25, 2019). JK Rowling under fire for following a ‘proud transphobe’ on Twitter. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/06/25/jk-rowling-under-fire-following-transphobe-twitter/

Mitchell, Hilary (October 5, 2018). “Hateful” anti-trans stickers have been spotted in toilets and in public spaces around Edinburgh. Edinburgh Live https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/hateful-anti-trans-stickers-been-15242299

Anti-trans coverage

Carr, Stewart (January 21, 2023). The lesbian who launched 1,000 feminists: Story of same sex rights campaigner whose work inspired JK Rowling’s activism. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11568569/Tragic-story-feminist-campaigner-work-inspired-JK-Rowlings-activism.html

McGowan, Michael (April 14, 2022). NSW Liberal candidate likens anti-trans activism to opposing the Holocaust. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/14/nsw-liberal-candidate-likens-anti-trans-activism-to-opposing-the-holocaust

Bindel, Julie (2021). Feminism for Women: The Real Route to Liberation. Hachette UK. p. 177. ISBN 978-1-4721-3260-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=py6cDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT177

Mos-Shogbamimu, Shola (2021). This is Why I Resist: Don’t Define My Black Identity. Headline Publishing Group. pp. 140–141. ISBN 978-1-4722-8079-4.

Hyland, Jennifer (September 6, 2020). Women’s rights campaigners ‘living in fear of trans attack’ after vile abuse directed at group. Daily Record https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/womens-rights-campaigners-living-fear-22635235

Fordy, Tom (June 29, 2020). How did Graham Linehan, the creator of Father Ted, become the most hated man on the internet? The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/did-father-ted-creator-graham-linehan-become-hated-man-internet/

Jack, Malvern (June 11, 2020). JK Rowling details ‘scars of abuse’ in heartfelt riposte to activists. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jk-rowling-details-scars-of-abuse-in-heartfelt-riposte-to-activists-lcrp96q6j

Licea, Melkorka (10 June 2020). J.K. Rowling defends controversial trans comments in lengthy essay. New York Post https://nypost.com/2020/06/10/j-k-rowling-defends-her-controversial-trans-comments-in-lengthy-essay/amp/

Rowling, J.K. (June 10, 2020). J.K. Rowling writes about her reasons for speaking out on sex and gender issues. JKRowling.com https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/

Ahsan, Sadaf (December 19, 2019). J.K. Rowling sparks major backlash by supporting a researcher fired for transphobic tweets. The Guardian (Charlottetown, P.E.I. Canada). https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/lifestyles/entertainment/jk-rowling-sparks-major-backlash-by-supporting-a-researcher-fired-for-transphobic-tweets-390185/

Robertson, Julia Diana (October 13, 2019). Mourning the loss of lesbian feminist leader Magdalen Berns. The Velvet Chronicle https://thevelvetchronicle.com/mourning-loss-of-lesbian-feminist-magdalen-berns/

McCarty, Meghan (September 13, 2019). What’s Current: Lesbian feminist shero Magdalen Berns passes away at 36. Feminist Current https://www.feministcurrent.com/2019/09/13/whats-current-lesbian-feminist-shero-magdalen-berns-passes-away-at-36/

Linehan, Graham (September 13, 2019). Magdalen Berns 1983–2019. Women Are Important https://glinner.co.uk/stunning-and-brave-magdalen-berns-1983-2019/

Kearns, Madeleine (September 4, 2019). Magdalen Berns, a ‘shero’ among women. National Review https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/magdalen-berns-a-shero-among-women/

Davidson, Gina (September 1, 2019). Mixed sex loos in Scottish schools break regulations, warn campaigners. The Scotsman https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/mixed-sex-loos-in-scottish-schools-break-regulations-warn-campaigners-1-4995254

Staff report (September 1, 2019). Transgender professor defends celebrating deaths of those deemed ‘transphobic’. The College Fix https://www.thecollegefix.com/transgender-professor-defends-celebrating-the-death-of-those-deemed-transphobic/

Schiferl, Jenna (August 29, 2019). The tweet heard ’round the world: Charleston professor sparks global Twitter debate. The Post and Courier https://www.postandcourier.com/news/the-tweet-heard-round-the-world-charleston-professor-sparks-global/article_4a462cda-c9c7-11e9-8134-d32dc721835d.html

Rhodes, Mandy (August 26, 2019). The Scottish Government’s clumsy attempts to reform the Gender Recognition Act have inadvertently opened a hornet’s nest. Holyrood https://www.holyrood.com/editors-column/view,the-scottish-governments-clumsy-attempts-to-reform-the-gender-recognition-a_10717.htm

Murphy, Meghan (September 27, 2016). ‘We need to be braver’ — women challenge ‘gender identity’ and the silencing of feminist discourse. Feminist Current https://www.feministcurrent.com/2016/09/27/need-braver-feminists-challenge-silencing/

Singleton, Mary Lou (July 25, 2016). Thinking Differently conference. Women’s Liberation Front http://womensliberationfront.org/thinking-differently-conference/

Blunden, Mark (July 14, 2016). ‘Medical threat’ to transgender children on puberty-blocking drugs. Evening Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/medical-threat-to-transgender-children-on-pubertyblocking-drugs-a3296471.html

Benson, Ophelia (October 12, 2015). How to know what is “whorephobic”. Butterflies and Wheels http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2015/how-to-know-what-is-whorephobic/

Selected writing by Berns

Berns, Magdalen; et al. (April 15, 2018). Allowing boys to be Guides is wrong. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/allowing-boys-to-be-guides-is-wrong-v0dngnvjp

Berns, Magdalen (January 9, 2016). Let them call me whorephobic. Butterflies and Wheels http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2016/guest-post-let-them-call-me-whorephobic/

Media

Respect The Dead with Caelan Conrad and Amanda Hootman (July 30, 2024). Magdalen Berns: Your Favorite TERF’s Favorite TERF. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bc9jkJU96Q

The Lesbian Project Podcast with Kathleen Stock and Julie Bindel (February 2, 2024). Episode 12 FREE: being a young gender-critical feminist. https://www.thelesbianprojectpod.com/p/episode-12-free-being-a-young-gender

Blood and Terf Podcast wth “E” and “M” (1 March 2021). Ep12: A Magdalen Berns Night Supper- Transphobia in Scotland. https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/blood-and-terf-podcast-3599665/episodes/ep12-a-magdalen-berns-night-su-133312180

The Speak Up For Women Podcast Ani O’Brien and Daphna Whitmore (September 25, 2020). 9. Well, what a week – Dedicated to Magdalen Berns. https://www.listennotes.com/et/podcasts/the-speak-up-for/9-well-what-a-week-dedicated-9GpL6IcaZPD/?srsltid=AfmBOop8CSGi5D5wGU9NLDAgklFyXwwJ_YvBO1R5mObkbF1uqRDECRn7

Graham Linehan with Elizabeth Berns (September 13, 2020). Remembering Magdalen with Elizabeth Berns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrrsxbwyvdU

The State Media with Nicole Jones, Kathleen Stock, and Julie Bindel (September 10, 2020). Gender Ideology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zkc4P0rpI4

Julia Long (September 21, 2016). Thinking Differently – 09 Magdalen Berns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWSjAFYiF9U

Resources

For Women Scotland (forwomen.scot)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

YouTube (youtube.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

Patreon (patreon.com)

  • patreon.com/Magdalen [removed – archive]

PayPal (paypal.com)

Minds (minds.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

Frieda Klotz is an Irish-American writer and anti-transgender activist. Klotz launders anti-trans extremism about gender diverse youth into mainstream media outlets. Klotz has been cited by American anti-trans organizations supporting legislation harming our children.

Background

Frieda Marie Klotz was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1977 to Margaret Klotz and Frederick S. “Fred” Klotz, an American mathematician who died when Frieda was a child in an April 1988 Dublin cycle accident.

Klotz studied ancient Greek, earning a bachelor’s degree from Fred Klotz’s former employer Trinity College, Dublin, in 2000. Klotz then continued at University of Oxford, earning a master’s degree in 2001 and a doctorate in 2005. From 2005 to 2007 Klotz taught at King’s College London.

In 2007 Klotz began a long string of reviewing, editing, writing, fact-checking, and researching roles for Daily Telegraph, Euromoney, New York Times Syndicate, Irishcentral, journalism professor Susie Linfield, Salon, and New York Times Digital.

In 2011 Klotz co-edited The Philosopher’s Banquet with Katerina Oikonomopoulou. Klotz was then a contributor for The Chronicle Review, Forbes, Shimon Dotan at Roam Films, Irish Times, Prospect, The Guardian, Irish Echo, Irish Voice, the Irish Times, The Economist, MIT Sloan Management Review, Ireland’s Sunday Independent, and Diplomacy Dojo. Klotz has also written several white papers for the British government and the New York Times Company.

Klotz began attacking healthcare for transgender children while based in Brussels.

2022 Undark article

In 2022, Klotz began writing the first of many versions of the same article about gender diverse youth. These “cisgender person under siege” articles typically center a cisgender person as a hero facing assaults from “both sides.” For Klotz, the cis hero is Annelou de Vries and colleagues, and the two sides are:

  • Right-wing politicians, religious conservatives, and some health care associations are calling for medical treatment of teens to be banned or avoided if at all possible
  • Some activists and physicians say the protocol is too slow.

Klotz’s false equivalence between executing eliminationist policies and removing barriers to care is a hallmark of what biologist Julia Serano calls trans-suspicious reporting.

Klotz continues The Atlantic’s shameful leading role in “just asking questions.” This cognitive bias is called a framing effect. Here are Klotz’s questions:

But pediatric transgender medicine is a new field with a lot of questions yet to be answered by science. What is the long-term impact of blocking puberty on a young person’s health? Can practitioners correctly determine which youngsters will still identify as trans when they are adults? Do the psychological assessments contribute to children’s suffering by delaying access to puberty blockers and hormones? Why has the number of teens coming forward to receive transgender medical care, particularly those assigned female at birth, risen so dramatically in recent years?

Klotz then rattles off the litany of risks and complications recited by conservatives:

  • “desistance”
  • bone loss
  • brain development
  • genital atrophy (with an assumption of vaginoplasty)
  • medical consent
  • reproductive viability

For the “right-wing politicians, religious conservatives, and some health care associations” engaged in an assault on trans rights and autonomy we have a couple of sentences about:

All the usual suspects advocating “careful therapeutic assessments” and banning informed consent before age 26 are presented as the centrist position:

For the “some activists and physicians” side, we have:

2023 Atlantic article

Klotz wrote the same article for The Atlantic the following year, but with Finland and Norway added as countries with concerns. This article tries to shore up an alleged clinical distinction between young children and “adolescent-onset gender dysphoria,” a euphemism for the fake disease “rapid-onset gender dysphoria.”

New clinicians

New journalists

  • Jan Kuitenbrouwer
  • Peter Vasterman
  • Kaya Bouma
  • Ellen de Visser

New activists and politicians

  • Michiel Verkoulen
  • Sam van den Berg

Response by Marieke Kuypers

A group of journalists have been hitting the same talking points as their English-speaking counterparts. As trans journalists and researchers work to stay on top of the flood of anti-transgender propaganda being being laundered into “centrist” publications, journalist Marieke Kuypers gave a first-blush overview of the Dutch political situation in 2023:

  • A quick thread for any English speakers about something I’ve been afraid of ever since the publication of a Dutch article about the Dutch Approach that was heavily biased. It’s been used as more evidence of this “increasing” concern in an Atlantic piece
  • Because I’ve been looking into anti-trans targeting of The Dutch Approach, I recognize the author. Frieda Klotz’s article on the same topic from last year was published on GLP, which is a Monsanto front – the article https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/06/27/transitioning-transgender-teenagers-are-not-new-this-dutch-clinic-has-been-doing-it-for-decades/……- GLP: https://sourcewatch.org/index.php/Genetic_Literacy_Project
  • The same article by Klotz on Undark, a website tied to GLP: https://undark.org/2022/04/06/the-evolution-of-pediatric-transgender-medicine/……About the link between Undark and GLP:
  • Kuitenbrouwer and Vasterman are not qualified to judge gender care. One is a media sociologist, the other a columnist. Kuitenbrouwer is rabidly transphobic, calling the “trans-movement bloodthirsty”. They were also on a Genspect sponsored podcast
  • For some of Kuitenbrouwer’s massively transphobic work, check out these articles:
  • Vasterman shared the Undark article by the same author as the Atlantic piece, Frieda Klotz in april last year
  • Uitstekend gedocumenteerd overzichtsverhaal over de oorsprong van the Dutch approach, wereldwijd overgenomen maar nu onder vuur: “A Dutch clinic pioneered transgender medical care for kids, shaping decades of research amid criticism from all sides.” https://undark.org/2022/04/06/the-evolution-of-pediatric-transgender-medicine/
  • To make the connection even more complete, Kuitenbrouwer apparently knew about the Volkskrant article before it was published, according to this tweet in which he says there’s an article coming about the Dutch approach. Did he influence the article? https://twitter.com/kuitenbrouwer/status/1627664286280519682?s=20
  • I also spoke to someone who was interviewed for the article and retracted their story once they read the article. The told me and I have evidence that the authors spoke to anti-trans activist Michael Biggs. How much influence did he have?
  • The influence of anti-trans groups does seem obvious, they even link to one in the Volkskrant article referencing SEGM as a “group of 120 doctors”. It does not have 120 members who are doctors, but about a dozen, amongst them Michael Biggs
  • “SEGM is an ideological organization without apparent ties to mainstream scientific organizations. Its 14 core members are a small group of repeat players in anti-trans activities – a fact that the SEGM website does not disclose” Volkskrant ook niet
  • The Volkskrant also talks to dr. Kaltiala who spread the debunked social contagion (ROGD) story and was a witness in Florida, and is linked to SEGM as well https://genderanalysis.net/entity/riittakerttu-kaltiala-heino/
  • Furthermore, the detransitioner in the story matches (same process, ages of treatment, same very specific story about a back surgery and the account proudly retweeted the article) the Twitter account of someone who was invited by anti-trans group Genspect to a detrans house
  • I’m rushing the analysis I was already writing about the Volkskrant article and how it was influenced by anti-trans groups and will try to publish a translated version as soon as possible and add it to this thread once it’s finished.
  • Want to know what dr. De Vries thinks? Here are her own words in the book about the Dutch Approach by Alex Bakker:
  • This is a critical response to the article by the Dutch Transgender Network. They link to a pdf with extensive references, you can throw that in Google translate as well using the documents tab …https://www-transgendernetwerk-nl.translate.goog/belangenorganisaties-trekken-aan-de-bel-over-onzorgvuldige-journalistiek/?_x_tr_sl=nl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=nl&_x_tr_pto=wapp
  • Oh look Kuitenbrouwer seems to admit he “crossed paths” with the Dutch journalists. (I wasn’t sacked by the way, shows how reliable this guy’s info is)
  • Ahw I think he doesn’t like me so he blocked me. Here’s a screenshot
  • So apart from Vasterman &Kuitenbrouwer being unqualified & transphobic, Frieda Klotz fails to mention that contrary to the moral panic about the increase in “girls” (trans boys) in the most recent Dutch research (2022) the ratio has actually reversed to more trans women
  • You can find this recent research (in Dutch) here. Another interesting finding in light of the moral panic: years long waiting lists are causing mental distress (mostly in the form of depressive or suicidal feelings) for 70% of the group that was surveyed https://zorgvuldigadvies.nl/wp-content/upl

References

Transgender Netwerk Nederland (March 10, 2023). Belangenorganisaties Trekken Aan De Bel Over Onzorgvuldige Journalistiek [Interest groups are sounding the alarm about careless journalism] https://www.transgendernetwerk.nl/belangenorganisaties-trekken-aan-de-bel-over-onzorgvuldige-journalistiek/

Irish Mathematical Society Bulletin 21 (December 1988), p. 6.

Selected writing by Klotz

Klotz, Frieda (April 28, 2023). A teen gender-care debate is spreading across Europe. The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/04/gender-affirming-care-debate-europe-dutch-protocol/673890/

Klotz, Frieda (March 24, 2023). Book review: Behind the demise of the Tavistock Gender Clinic. Undark https://undark.org/2023/03/24/book-review-time-to-think/

Klotz, Frieda (June 27, 2022). Transitioning transgender teenagers are not new. This Dutch clinic has been helping them for decades. Genetic Literacy Project https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/06/27/transitioning-transgender-teenagers-are-not-new-this-dutch-clinic-has-been-doing-it-for-decades/

Klotz, Frieda (April 6, 2022). The fractious evolution of pediatric transgender medicine. Undark https://undark.org/2022/04/06/the-evolution-of-pediatric-transgender-medicine/

Resources

Frieda Klotz (friedaklotz.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Genetic Literacy Project (geneticliteracyproject.org)

WordPress (wordpress.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Muck Rack (muckrack.com)

Maya Forstater is a British anti-transgender activist and sex segregationist. Forstater brought the case Forstater v Centre for Global Development Europe, which established that “gender critical” views are protected as a belief under the UK’s Equality Act 2010.

Background

Maya Forstater was born on July 3, 1973 in London. Forstater’s parent is film producer Mark Forstater. Forstater earned a degree from Newcastle University. Forstater has published work for the United Nations on corporate social responsibility and economic development.

Anti-transgender activism

Forstater made a number of anti-transgender statements on social media that resulted in a UN contract not being renewed in 2019.

In 2020, Forstater created a list of “people who can help you make sense of all of this”

Forstater filed a lawsuit claiming “gender critical” views are protected under the Equality Act 2010. Forstater lost the initial case, which was then appealed to a tribunal. Forstater won the appeal in 2021, and the tribunal found in 2022 Forstater had suffered direct discrimination for holding anti-transgender views.

In 2020, Forstater co-founded anti-trans group Sex Matters and serves as Executive Director.

Litigation

Forstater v CGD Europe & Ors [2021] UKEAT 0105_20_1006 IRLR 706, [2022] ICR 1 https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKEAT/2021/0105_20_1006.html

Maya Forstater v CGD Europe and others: Appeal No. UKEAT/0105/20/JOJ (PDF). GOV.UK. [archive] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60c1cce1d3bf7f4bd9814e39/Maya_Forstater_v_CGD_Europe_and_others_UKEAT0105_20_JOJ.pdf#page55

Forstater v CGD Europe & Anor (Religion or Belief Discrimination, Sex Discrimination l) [2019] UKET 2200909/2019 (18 December 2019) https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKET/2019/2200909_2019.html

References

Moss, Lauren (July 6, 2022). Maya Forstater: Woman discriminated against over trans tweets, tribunal rules. BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62061929

Faulkner, Doug (June 10, 2021). Maya Forstater: Woman wins tribunal appeal over transgender tweets. BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57426579

Benn, Alex; Devlin Cormac (March 22, 2020). The Maya Forstater case and so-called ‘gender critical’ feminism: what was actually decided and what does it reveal about UK discrimination law?. Oxford Human Rights Hub https://ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk/the-maya-forstater-case-and-so-called-gender-critical-feminism-what-was-actually-decided-and-what-does-it-reveal-about-uk-discrimination-law/

Pedersen, Sarah (2020). The Politicization of Mumsnet. Bingley: Emerald Publishing. ISBN 978-1-83909-471-2.

Anti-trans coverage

Gordon, Tom (June 10, 2021). Maya Forstater wins landmark employment case on gender critical beliefs. The Herald (Glasgow) https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19362788.maya-forstater-wins-landmark-employment-case-gender-critical-beliefs/

Siddique, Haroon (June 10, 2021). Gender-critical views are a protected belief, appeal tribunal rules. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/law/2021/jun/10/gender-critical-views-protected-belief-appeal-tribunal-rules-maya-forstater

Wright, Oliver (May 15, 2021). Women must be heard on transgender identity, says new equalities chief. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/women-must-be-heard-on-transgender-identity-says-new-equalities-chief-kqttljxmd

Hancock, Sam (April 27, 2021). Maya Forstater: Who is woman in employment tribunal over transgender comments?. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/maya-forstater-transgender-twitter-jk-rowling-b1838151.html

Smith, Helen-Ann (April 24, 2021). Maya Forstater: Woman who lost job over transgender views warns of ‘scary’ precedent if her tribunal appeal fails. Sky News https://news.sky.com/story/maya-forstater-woman-who-lost-job-over-transgender-views-warns-of-scary-precedent-if-her-tribunal-appeal-fails-12285218

Gordon, Jane (April 23, 2021). ‘I am fighting for the right to say men can never be women.’ The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/amfightingfor-therightto-saymen-cannever-bewomen//

Suissa, Judith; Sullivan, Alice (2021). The Gender Wars, Academic Freedom and Education. Journal of Philosophy of Education. 55 (1): 55–82. https://doi.org/10.1111%2F1467-9752.12549

Selected writing by Forstater

Forstater, Maya; Joyce, Helen (April 20, 2022). Why gender identity should be left out of the ‘conversion therapy’ ban. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/apr/20/why-gender-identity-should-be-left-out-of-the-conversion-therapy-ban

Forstater, Maya (May 5, 2019). I lost my job for talking about women’s rights. Crowd Justice https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/lost-job-speaking-out/

Forstater, Maya (March 27, 2019). Has Penny Mordaunt got away with the worst Mumsnet performance ever? The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/penny-mourdant-mumsnet-gender-recognition-act-a8835621.html

Forstater, Maya (October 27, 2020). There used to be a word for us… Medium https://mforstater.medium.com/there-used-to-be-a-word-for-us-927740ce615b [archive]

Forstater, Maya (August 14, 2020). Careless words. Medium https://mforstater.medium.com/careless-words-3c018c06d0d9 [archive]

Forstater, Maya (August 12 ). Dear Rebecca Hilsenrath… Medium https://mforstater.medium.com/dear-rebecca-hilsenrath-8bee857068f5 [archive]

Forstater, Maya (July 29, 2020). How Action Aid UK erased sex. Medium https://mforstater.medium.com/how-action-aid-uk-erased-sex-ad626a7bcd64 [archive]

Forstater, Maya (July 15, 2020). Action Aid’s Policy Goes Right to The Top. Medium https://mforstater.medium.com/action-aids-policy-goes-right-to-the-top-323e1b4ab38 [archive]

Forstater, Maya (July 9, 2020). What reforms of the gender recognition regime could work? Medium https://mforstater.medium.com/what-reforms-of-the-gender-recognition-act-would-work-a6f30dc6aa6c [archive]

Forstater, Maya (July 7, 2020). Five myths and truths about my case. Medium https://mforstater.medium.com/five-myths-and-truths-about-my-case-8466d69f9489 [archive]

Forstater, Maya (June 18, 2020). Standing with JK Rowling: what can you do? Medium https://mforstater.medium.com/standing-with-jk-rowling-what-can-you-do-b341b324a4b9 [archive]

Resources

Maya Forstater (forstater.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Medium (medium.com)