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Bari Weiss is an American opinion writer, author, and key historical figure in promoting and platforming anti-transgender extremism. Weiss is founder of anti-trans group blog The Free Press. In 2025, Weiss sold the blog to Paramount and was named editor-in-chief of CBS News.

While at the New York Times, Weiss popularized the intellectual dark web (IDW), a group of public intellectuals whose reactionary and anti-progressive views are also often anti-trans. The IDW has been described as “a gateway to the far right.”

Weiss has platformed, appeared with, promoted, and logrolled for other anti-transgender extremists and activists, including J.K. Rowling, Alice Dreger, Jesse Singal, Katie Herzog, Abigail Shrier, Sue Evans, Suzy Weiss, Julie Bindel, Hannah Barnes, Carole Hooven, Leighton Woodhouse, Michael Shellenberger, J. Michael Bailey, Aaron Sibarium, Maud Maron, Jamie Reed, Andrew Sullivan, Lisa Selin Davis, and Helen Lewis.

Background

Bari M. Weiss was born March 25, 1984 to Lou and Amy Weiss, owners of Weisslines, a flooring retailer. Weiss has three siblings, including anti-trans activist Suzy Weiss. Weiss grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After high school, Weiss lived in Israel for about a year through the Nativ College Leadership Program sponsored by United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

Weiss earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University in 2007.

Weiss is a prominent activist in pro-Zionist causes, a self-described “Zionist fanatic.” An article in Jewish Currents noted that “Weiss has a long history of claiming to support free speech while trying to curtail the speech of Palestinian rights advocates.” While at Columbia in 2004, Weiss helped promote but does not appear in the video Columbia Unbecoming, a collection of testimonies from 14 students who felt they were not able to express pro-Zionist views freely at Columbia University and Barnard College. The film was backed by The David Project, a pro-Israel group based in Boston that became Hillel in 2019. In December 2004 Weiss was involved in creating the organization Columbians for Academic Freedom, which targeted several professors in Columbia’s Middle East and Asian Languages and Cultures (MEALAC) department. Weiss stated that Columbia Unbecoming was edited to include published comments by the targeted professors: “We put the mentions of the publications in the film to expose the racism of these professors.” Three of the targeted professors took leaves of absence following a Columbia investigation that largely cleared them of wrongdoing. In 2006, Weiss was editor of The Columbia Current, a student publication about Jewish affairs.

A 2005 article in the Columbia Blue and White noted:

Her name has become a buzzword in the suspended but probably not defunct MEALAC intimidation scandal. But once more, for the record, it is Bari Weiss, C’07. It began with a skimpy documentary from Boston-based Zionist group The David Project, which featured several Columbia students accusing Middle East Studies professors of intimidation. But the debate has since sprawled to include defenders of Israel and Palestine, students’ rights and professors’ rights, what constitutes academic freedom, and has pitched one small chunk of passionate students against another. As one of four founders of the controversial students’ rights group Columbians for Academic Freedom (CAF), and the only one yet to graduate, Bari seems next in line to succeed her new boyfriend and former General Studies Student Body President Ariel Beery, G’05, as the voice of slighted students everywhere.

Even though Bari has been to Israel about a dozen times, and deferred coming to Columbia for a year to work on a kibbutz, she doesn’t fit perfectly into what some conservative and Zionist activists seek in a talking head. For one thing, Bari wants to see a Palestinian state. Moreover, her activist work as the founder of the Columbia Coalition for Sudan may prevent her from becoming the new face of the Ziorganizers.

In 2007, while living in Israel on a Dorot Fellowship, Weiss wrote for Haaretz and The Forward. From 2011 to 2013, Weiss served as a senior editor at Tablet, then worked at the Wall Street Journal from 2013 to 2017. From 2017 until resigning in 2020, Weiss was a staff writer and editor for the opinion section of the New York Times.

While at the New York Times, Weiss published a 2018 puff piece promoting the “renegades” and “heretics” of the intellectual dark web. Anti-trans historian Alice Dreger backed out just prior to publication. People Weiss mentions in the piece include Sam Harris, Eric Weinstein, Bret Weinstein, Dave Rubin, Heather Heying, Jordan Peterson, Ben Shapiro, Douglas Murray, Maajid Nawaz, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Christina Hoff Sommers, Joe Rogan, Candace Owens, Milo Yiannopoulos, Charlie Kirk, Richard Dawkins, Claire Lehmann, Debra Soh, Michael Shermer, Steven Pinker, Stefan Molyneux, Mike Cernovich, Alex Jones, Charles Murray, and Kanye West.

Am I a member of this movement? A few months ago, someone suggested on Twitter that I should join this club I’d never heard of. I looked into it. Like many in this group, I am a classical liberal who has run afoul of the left, often for voicing my convictions and sometimes simply by accident. This has won me praise from libertarians and conservatives. And having been attacked by the left, I know I run the risk of focusing inordinately on its excesses — and providing succor to some people whom I deeply oppose.

Weiss authored the 2019 book How to Fight Anti-Semitism. The tactics Weiss learned though pro-Zionism reflect the similar tactics Weiss has used to attack trans rights, framing it as a “free speech” debate where anti-trans activists are fearless truth-tellers being oppressed and “cancelled” by “illiberal” opponents.

After anti-trans extremist Elon Musk bought Twitter in October 2022. Musk soon gave several writers access to internal Twitter documents. Dubbed the “Twitter Files,” the findings were released over the next several months. Authors were Bari Weiss as well as Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, Lee Fang, David Zweig, Alex Berenson, and Paul D. Thacker. Weiss published the second installment, on Twitter’s “visibility filtering” practices, on December 8, 2022. Then on December 12, 2022, Weiss published the fifth installment, regarding suspension of President Donald Trump’s Twitter account around the time of the January 6, 2021 United States Capitol attack.

Weiss was married to Jason Kass from 2013 to 2016 and married Nellie Bowles in 2021. They have two children.

Anti-transgender efforts

Weiss was a key figure in securing funding for anti-trans group Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism.

Weiss is also a founder of the University of Austin, a college conceived in 2021 by Joe Lonsdale, Pano Kanelos, Niall Ferguson, and Weiss. Anti-trans activists who have been listed as associated with the school include Coleman Hughes, Michael Shellenberger, Peter Boghossian, Richard Dawkins, Rob Henderson, Sohrab Ahmari, Jonathan Haidt, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Glenn Loury, Kathleen Stock, Andrew Sullivan, Steven Pinker, Caitlin Flanagan, Nadine Strossen, Tyler Cowen, and Larry Summers. One event sponsored by the school was a “debate” between Deirdre McCloskey and Kathleen Stock in which they largely agreed.

Weiss is the founder and editor of The Free Press (formerly Common Sense) and the host of the podcast Honestly. The Free Press has been described as “best known for anti-trans fearmongering.” In a 2024 New York Times profile, Matt Flegenheimer wrote:

Ms. Weiss and Ms. Bowles resettled in Los Angeles, telling associates it was a respite from the pitilessness of New York.

She assembled a small staff and promised to cover stories that others ignored while affording grace to those with whom she clashed.

At an early team retreat, where Ms. Weiss asked the group to share something that informed their values, she chose a clip from “Transparent,” the 2010s television series with a trans protagonist, which she said she found moving despite what she assumed were political differences with the show’s creator.

“Bari said that she’d chosen it because she never wanted to forget the humanity of those with whom she vehemently disagrees,” said an attendee, Megan Phelps-Roper, a former member of the Westboro Baptist Church (and now fierce opponent of its bigoted teachings) who worked with Ms. Weiss.

Podcast

Weiss began a podcast in 2021 titled Honestly with Bari Weiss and frequently has guests on to discuss their gender critical views, including:

See also on this site

References

Molloy, Parker (October 9, 2025). CBS News just made a terrible mistake. DAME https://www.damemagazine.com/2025/10/09/cbs-news-just-made-a-terrible-mistake/

Perry, Sophie (October 7, 2025). ‘Gender-critical’ queer journalist Bari Weiss appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/10/07/bari-weiss-gender-critical-trans-cbs/

Redford, Patrick (October 6, 2025). Bari Weiss Signs Huge Deal To Usher CBS News Into Its Vichy Era. Defector https://defector.com/bari-weiss-signs-huge-deal-to-usher-cbs-news-into-its-vichy-era

Villareal, Daniel (October 6, 2025). Queer “anti-woke” journalist Bari Weiss is now CBS News’ editor-in-chief. That’s troubling. LGBTQ Nation https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/queer-anti-woke-journalist-bari-weiss-is-now-cbs-news-editor-in-chief-thats-troubling/

Wiggins, Christopher (October 6, 2025). Anti-trans queer journalist Bari Weiss named editor in chief of CBS News. The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/news/bari-weiss-cbs-news-chief

Wiggins, Christopher (October 6, 2025). Who is Bari Weiss, the right-wing anti-trans queer woman being given the keys to CBS News? The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/news/who-is-cbs-bari-weiss

López, Quispe (October 6, 2025). Who Is Bari Weiss? What to Know About the New CBS News Leader and Her Anti-Trans Past. them https://www.them.us/story/bari-weiss-cbs-news-free-press-anti-trans

Ferguson, Malcolm (October 2, 2025). Bari Weiss, Who Thinks Everything Is Woke, Will Be CBS Editor in Chief. Anti-woke, anti-trans, pro-Israel Bari Weiss will soon lead one of the biggest media companies in the U.S. The New Republic https://newrepublic.com/post/201302/bari-weiss-cbs-editor-in-chief

Mirkinson, Jack (September 4, 2025). Vile Grifters Are Taking Over Establishment Media. The Nation https://www.thenation.com/article/society/bari-weiss-free-press-cbs-news-paramount/

Hurwitz, Sophie (August 19, 2025). I Went to the Free Press Party for Under-30s. All I Got Was Ennui. The Nation https://www.thenation.com/article/society/i-went-to-the-free-press-party-for-under-30s-all-i-got-was-ennui/

Sweeney, Billie Jean (July 24, 2025). “A Shameful Chapter”: How Anti-Trans Disinformation Drowned Out Science and Gripped the Mainstream. Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/anti-trans-disinformation-drowned-out-science-mainstream

Staff report (November 15, 2024). “Scapegoating trans people isn’t it.” Jane Coaston’s Blistering Critique of Bogus Election Year Blame Game. GLAAD https://glaad.org/scapegoating-trans-people-isnt-it-jane-coastons-blistering-critique-of-bogus-election-year-blame-game/

Villareal, Daniel (November 8, 2024). Lesbian Fox News guest blames “gender fluidity” for Democrats’ Election Day losses. LGBTQ Nation https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/11/lesbian-fox-news-guest-blames-gender-fluidity-for-democrats-election-day-losses/

Green, Emma (June 5, 2023). Is It Possible to Be Both Moderate and Anti-Woke? A small nonprofit launched by the journalist Bari Weiss devolves into tribalism. The New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-activism/is-it-possible-to-be-both-moderate-and-anti-woke

Ennis, Dawn (May 14, 2023). AAPA conference cancels anti-trans Bari Weiss after complaints. Los Angeles Blade https://www.losangelesblade.com/2023/05/14/aapa-conference-cancels-anti-trans-bari-weiss-after-complaints/

Carman, Ashley (April 21, 2023). A Podcast About J.K. Rowling’s ‘Cancellation’ Has Reached Over 5 Million Listeners. Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-04-21/bari-weiss-s-hit-podcast-about-j-k-rowling-s-beliefs-on-trans-people

Henry, Vesper; Tirell, Alyssa (April 13, 2023). Timeline: The unfolding saga between The Free Press and a Missouri gender clinic. Media Matters https://www.mediamatters.org/bari-weiss/timeline-unfolding-saga-between-free-press-and-missouri-gender-clinic

Zimmerman, E. Alexander (April 9, 2023). Opinion: Legacy media’s coverage of transgender people is disingenuous and irresponsible. Niner Times https://www.ninertimes.com/opinion/opinion-legacy-media-s-coverage-of-transgender-people-is-disingenuous-and-irresponsible/article_ef033df8-d684-11ed-90f7-03ed83da7462.html

Wiggins, Christopher (April 5, 2023). Mom’s Interview With Anti-Trans Media Draws Criticism After Teen Responds. The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/media/transgender-teen-mother-interview

Riedel, Samantha (April 6, 2023). A Trans Teen Is Debunking an Article That Attacked Their Gender Clinic. them https://www.them.us/story/trans-teen-debunking-gender-clinic-article

Urquhart, Evan (April 6, 2023). Emily Yoffe Takes Sides Against a Vulnerable Youth. Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/emily-yoffe-takes-sides

Cooper, Ryan (March 2, 2023). The Useful Idiots Fueling the Right-Wing Transphobia Panic. The American Prospect https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2023-03-02-right-wing-transphobia-panic/

Krueger, Katherine (March 2, 2023). Bari Weiss Is Full of Shit: Her big trans panic story turned out to be nonsense, just like everything else she does. Discourse Blog https://www.discourseblog.com/p/bari-weiss-is-full-of-shit

Urquhart, Evan (March 2, 2023). What is Bari Weiss’ “Free Press”? Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/what-is-the-free-press

Urquhart, Evan (February 10, 2023). Missouri Woman Claims Gender Clinic Pushes Transition on Youth. Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/reed-allegations-distorted-vague

Urquhart, Evan (December 9, 2022). The Anti-Trans Hate Account That Bari Weiss Says Is Yet Another Right-Wing Voice Censored by Twitter. Slate https://slate.com/technology/2022/12/twitter-files-bari-weiss-libsoftik-elon-musk.html

Weiss cites the platform’s treatment of Libs of TikTok, a Twitter account that remains active despite its connection to multiple acts of terror and intimidation from far-right extremists, including multiple bomb threats against a children’s hospital. This portrayal of Libs of TikTok as representative of accounts posting conservative views is alarming. […]

Weiss may be best known for a column introducing “the intellectual dark web,” a group of anti-progressive types fixated on the concept of cancel culture and the idea that liberals routinely censor conservative ideas. With the Twitter Files, she describes herself leading a team that has been given “broad and expanding access” to Twitter’s internal documents and communications. This group includes opinion writer Abigail Shrier, who is best known for writing Irreversible Damage, a book opposing transition for female-assigned people on the grounds that an unproven social contagion is the root cause of transmasculine identities.

It is unsurprising that this team highlighted the treatment of an account notorious for its anti-trans activity. But Libs of TikTok goes far beyond expressing political opinions about transgender issues. That would certainly be allowed under Twitter’s policies, which exist to curb harassment, violence, and hate speech, not opinions. In fact, Libs of TikTok has repeatedly highlighted specific individuals, events, and institutions with inflammatory language, often falsely suggesting they are guilty of heinous acts against young children. The account’s spotlight has repeatedly resulted in harassment and violent threats toward the individuals involved, in a process typically referred to as stochastic terrorism. Those targeted include doctors and hospitals that provide gender-affirming care for youth, teachers and schools with inclusive policies, and all-ages or youth-focused drag events.

Contrary to the extremist rhetoric, gender-affirming care is supported by all mainstream medical organizations as potentially lifesaving for young people with gender dysphoria. It is also perfectly possible to speak with children about the existence of transgender people and about families headed by same-sex parents in an age-appropriate, nonsexual way.

Winters, Kelley (October 9, 2021). Transgender Affirmation in Retrograde. Trans Policy Reform Blog https://transpolicyreform.wordpress.com/2021/10/09/transgender-affirmation-in-retrograde/

Gill-Peterson, Jules (September 13, 2021). From Gender Critical to QAnon: Anti-Trans Politics and the Laundering of Conspiracy. Stated disavowal of their own bias doesn’t account for how liberals rhetorically shelter political violence. New Inquiry https://thenewinquiry.com/from-gender-critical-to-qanon-anti-trans-politics-and-the-laundering-of-conspiracy/

Greenwald, Glenn (March 8, 2018). NYT’s Bari Weiss Falsely Denies Her Years of Attacks on the Academic Freedom of Arab Scholars Who Criticize Israel. The Intercept_ https://theintercept.com/2018/03/08/the-nyts-bari-weiss-falsely-denies-her-years-of-attacks-on-the-academic-freedom-of-arab-scholars-who-criticize-israel/

Roth, Jordan (May 26, 2005). An academic freedom fighter. Jerusalem Post https://www.proquest.com/docview/319478492?sourcetype=Newspapers alt url [full text] https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/an-academic-freedom-fighter

Swindler, Josie (September 2005). Campus Characters. [p. 5-6] The Blue and White https://s3.amazonaws.com/BWARCHIVE/2005/sep05.pdf

Coverage in anti-trans press

Stiles, Andrew (October 7, 2025). Liberal Media, Activists Silent as Bari Weiss Makes LGBT History at CBS News. Washington Free Beacon https://freebeacon.com/media/liberal-media-activists-silent-as-bari-weiss-makes-lgbtq-history-at-cbs-news/

Testa, Jessica (October 6, 2025). How Bari Weiss Won: At The Free Press, she battled “wokeness” and buddied up with billionaires. Now she’s the editor in chief of CBS News. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/business/media/bari-weiss-free-press-cbs-news.html

Flegenheimer, Matt (August 11, 2024). Bari Weiss Knows Exactly What She’s Doing. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/11/business/media/bari-weiss-free-press.html

Selected writing by Weiss

Weiss, Bari (July 15, 2023). When Ideology Corrupts Medicine—and How One Reporter Exposed it. A conversation with Hannah Barnes about the medical scandal at Tavistock, the UK’s flagship youth gender clinic. The Free Press https://www.thefp.com/p/when-gender-ideology-corrupts-medicine-tavistock

Weiss, Bari (July 14, 2020). Resignation letter. https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter [archive]

Stephens, Bret; Weiss Bari (October 10, 2018). Why Is Israel Scared of This Young American? New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/10/opinion/israel-lara-alqasem-bds.html

In March, the writer Andrew Sullivan described each of us as a “Zionist fanatic of near-unhinged proportions.” It was a cheap shot. The word “near” should not have been a part of the sentence.

Otherwise, we happily plead guilty as charged.

Weiss, Bari (May 8, 2018). Meet the Renegades of the Intellectual Dark Web. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/opinion/intellectual-dark-web.html

Weiss, Bari (September 12, 2017). Opinion: A Political Conservative Goes to Berkeley. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/opinion/conservative-berkeley-ben-shapiro.html

There’s no question that Ben Shapiro loves to provoke college students. He once brought a diaper to a campus speech to offer to “self-indulgent pathetic children who can’t handle anyone with an opposing point of view.” In another, while entertaining a question from a young woman who called for greater sensitivity toward transgender people, he shot back: “If I call you a moose are you suddenly a moose?”

Yet this sharp-tongued Never Trumper was also, according to the Anti-Defamation League, by far the most bullied Jewish journalist of 2016

Weiss, Bari (August 1, 2017). When Progressives Embrace Hate. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/opinion/womens-march-progressives-hate.html

We just saw what happens to legitimate political parties when they fall prey to movements that are, at base, anti-American. That is true of the populist, racist alt-right that helped deliver Mr. Trump the White House and are now hollowing out the Republican Party. And it can be true of the progressive “resistance” — regardless of how chic, Instagrammable and celebrity-laden the movement may seem. 

Weiss, Bari (November 16, 2004). In the Name of Academic Freedom. Columbia Spectator https://www.columbiaspectator.com/2004/11/16/name-academic-freedom/

Book

Weiss, Bari (2019). How to Fight Anti-Semitism. Crown, ISBN 978-0593136058

Media

Inaya Folarin Iman with Bari Weiss, Helen Lewis, Katie Herzog, and Mick Hume (May 22, 2021). Can truth survive the new journalism? Feat. Bari Weiss, Helen Lewis, Katie Herzog & Mick Hume Free Speech Champions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2wz6SuQSuY

Resources

Bari Weiss (bariweiss.com) [archive]

The David Project (davidproject.org) [archive]

The Current (columbia.edu/cu/current)

  • Ediotrial Staff (2006) [archive]
  • columbia.edu/cu/current/editors.html
  • columbiacurrent.org [archive]

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Substack (substack.com)

  • bariweiss
  • earlier url: thefp.com/people/2067309-bari-weiss
  • original url: bariweiss.substack.com/people/2067309-bari-weiss
  • The Free Press
  • thefp.com
  • Common Sense with Bari Weiss
  • bariweiss.substack.com [archive]
  • commonsense.substack.com [archive]
  • commonsense.news [archive]

Honestly (honestlypod.com)

Tablet (tabletmag.com)

  • Bari Weiss
  • tabletmag.com/contributors/bari-weiss

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Forward (forward.com)

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

Andrew Doyle is a writer and anti-transgender activist who created the Titania McGrath character, a satire of social justice warriors.

Background

Doyle was born in Derry, Northern Ireland and grew up Catholic. Doyle cearned a bachelor’s degree at Aberystwyth University, a master’s degree at University of York, and a doctorate from University of Oxford.

Doyle co-wrote satiric news reporter Jonathan Pie and has published two books as Titania McGrath: Woke: A Guide to Social Justice (2019) and My First Little Book of Intersectional Activism (2020).  

Doyle joined GB News in 2021 as host of Free Speech Nation.

Anti-trans activism

UnHerd published an overview of Doyle’s anti-transgender views, which center on the “gay erasure” conspiracy theory that claims trans people are a plot to eliminate gay people like Doyle:

certain Left-leaning activists are doing their utmost to advance a social constructionist view of both sex and gender. The result has been a curious theoretical alliance between gender ideologues — for whom outmoded stereotypes are taken to signify an authentic self — and traditionalists who similarly feel that male and female behaviour ought to be strictly defined.

[…]

In her new book Time to Think, Hannah Barnes has revealed that between 80-90% of adolescents who were referred to the Tavistock paediatric gender clinic were same-sex attracted. Other writers, such as Helen Joyce, have already drawn on studies that confirm a strong correlation between gender non-conformity in youth and homosexuality in adult life. Members of the staff at the Tavistock itself joked that soon “there would be no gay people left” and whistle-blowers revealed that homophobia was endemic.

[…]

It is significant that activists who insist that stereotypes of male and female behaviour are suggestive of an innate “gender identity” should also seek to deny the reality of sexual dimorphism. The view that sex is a “spectrum” has even infiltrated major academic literature, including the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. 

The End of Woke

In 2025, Doyle published The End of Woke: How the Culture War Went Too Far and What to Expect from the Counter-Revolution. Doyle discusses the anti-trans movement and takes issue with accusations of misogyny:

The accusations of misogyny were particularly bizarre given that over the past few years I have covered the rising threats to women’s rights on my show with a tenacity that has been notably absent in other media outlets. Every week on my show I have invited women to appear, including Helen Joyce, Maya Forstater, Jo Phoenix, Julie Bindel, Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, Milli Hill, Kellie-Jay Keen, Dr Jane Clare Jones, Jo Bartosch, Mara Yamauchi, Lisa Keogh, Holly Lawford-Smith, Sarah Phillimore, Nadine Strossen, Carol Decker, Kate Coleman, Joan Smith, Baroness Claire Fox, Rosie Kay, Marion Calder, Emma Hilton, Stella O’Malley, Judy Glenney, Moira Deeming, Yasmine Mohammed, Kara Danksy [sic], Sall Grover, Denise Fahmy, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Sharron Davies.

Doyle also discusses the rift in “gender critical” activism:

The writer and psychotherapist Stella O’Malley has also been on the receiving end of intense vitriol from this small unrepresentative faction. She has recently decried the ‘lunatic fringe of the GC movement’ who ‘have become what they first sought to fight against’. As she writes: ‘There have been way too many people who had important perspectives to offer and who were mercilessly bullied – and sometimes shamed into silence. I think of Jane Clare Jones, Jenny Watson, Laura Becker, Shannon Thrace, Ali Ceesay, Janice Turner, Sarah Phillimore, Exulansic, Helen Pluckrose, Christina Buttons, Colin Wright, Andrew Gold, Fionne Orlander, Debbie Hayton, Miranda Yardley, Kristina Harrison, Buck Angel, Claire Graham, Graham Linehan, James Esses, Benjamin Boyce, Clive Simpson, Mike Bailey, Phil Illy, James Cantor, Ken Zucker, Ray Blanchard, Billboard Chris, Genspect, LGB Alliance, Kathleen Stock, Julie Bindel, Women’s Place UK, Judith Green, Labour Women’s Declaration, Fair Play for Women, Aaron Tyrrell [sic], Aaron Kimberly, GD Alliance, Corinna Cohn, and, of course, myself and hundreds more that I’ve missed or forgotten about.’

References

Doyle, Andrew (March 24, 2022). Have we reached peak trans? UnHerd https://unherd.com/2022/03/have-we-reached-peak-trans/

Doyle, Andrew (February 19, 2023). JK Rowling is NOT a transphobe, says Andrew Doyle. GBNews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sPytU-qgq8

Doyle, Andrew (January 29, 2023). Nicola Sturgeon ‘not being honest’ over transgender bill, Andrew Doyle says. GBNews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxTy5ZXMN1U

Doyle, Andrew (March 20, 2022). Andrew Doyle on trans debate: If murderers get upset about being misgendered my sympathy is limited. GBNews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW5TuawAjig

Doyle, Andrew (March 1, 2023). The gender wars started in 1531. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2023/03/the-gender-wars-started-in-1531/

Books

Doyle, Andrew (2026). The End of Woke: How the Culture War Went Too Far and What to Expect from the Counter-Revolution. Constable, ISBN 978-1408723968

Doyle, Andrew (2022) The New Puritans: How the Religion of Social Justice Captured the Western World 

Doyle, Andrew (2021) Free Speech and Why It Matters 

Doyle, Andrew (2020) Titania McGrath’s: My First Little Book of Intersectional Activism 

Doyle, Andrew (2019) Titania McGrath’s Woke: A Guide to Social Justice 

(Doyle, Andrew 2017) Jonathan Pie: Off the Record 

Resources

Andrew Doyle (andrewdoyle.co.uk)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Jessica Simpson, formerly known as Jessica Yaniv, is a Canadian litigant and troll known for several controversies regarding sexuality and gender identity.

Background

Jessica Serenity Simpson was born June 12, 1987. While attending Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 2008, Simpson called for a National Sex Day and promised free condoms to participants. After over 140,000 people joined the event’s Facebook group, Simpson said it was a marketing stunt.

Simpson ran a tech review website called Trusted Nerd while working at call centers and doing tech support as JY Knows It Business Consulting. Simpson ran the social media for pop music siblings Cimorelli, originally to get rid of impostors, but was apparently posting on behalf of the group from around 2010 to 2017. Louise Nussac, a fan of Cimorelli, was also involved in working with the group and alleged that Simpson engaged in inappropriate activity while managing the accounts. Nussac also alleged that Simpson was behind a string of personal attacks.

Teenager Jessica Rumpel reportedly filed an anonymous tip against Simpson to a Canadian child exploitation tipline, but no charges came from the complaint. Simpson claims the inappropriate messages were by an impersonator or were not sent to Rumpel.

Simpson was a frequent participant in Langley township council meetings, often on gender-related controversies. In 2019 Simpson unsuccessfully proposed a topless “all-bodies swim” at a Langley Township public pool for ages 12 and up, with parents and guardians prohibited.

Simpson’s antics have been widely covered in conservative media and among anti-transgender activists, most notably by Rebel News. Simpson and critics were fond of trolling each other on social media, leading to several temporary and permanent suspensions. Anti-trans extremist Meghan Murphy unsuccessfully sued Twitter to reinstate a personal account following a fight with Simpson. Murphy’s account was later reinstated by anti-transgender troll Elon Musk. Anti-trans author and activist Lindsay Shepherd was briefly banned from Twitter in 2019 after exchanging insults with Simpson.

Litigation and legal issues

Simpson has been described as a “prolific litigant” who often uses AI to write legal complaints, some of which refer to non-existent legal cases.

In 2016, Simpson sued Vancouver Playhouse for $24,000 after reportedly inhaling smoke from burned sage at an event. The case was settled for $500.

Beginning in 2018, Simpson filed human rights complaints against at least 15 businesses, alleging anti-trans discrimination. Most were waxing salons run by Asian immigrants who declined to wax Simpson’s scrotum and pubic area. At least two businesses later closed. Simpson acknowledged making racist remarks to some salon employees. In 2019, a human rights tribunal ruled against Simpson and demanded $6,000 in restitution, upheld on appeal. They found that Simpson had directed racist remarks at some salon operators and was motivated by money and revenge. Simpson’s appeal was rejected.

In 2019, Simpson was arrested after brandishing a prohibited taser during a YouTube debate with conservative troll Blaire White. RCMP seized two tasers during the arrest. Simpson was found guilty, then sentenced to probation and a firearms prohibition. Simpson sued Langley township and filed complaints against the RCMP, alleging mistreatment while in detention.

Anti-trans extremist Amy Hamm also got into a dispute with Simpson, who accused Hamm of assault. Hamm then sued for defamation.

In 2020, Simpson filed more complaints, but those were later dropped. During the media circus, Simpson attacked conservative troll Keean Bexte of Rebel News and was found guilty of the assault in 2022.

Simpson also filed a complaint against Canada Galaxy Pageant after they did not allow Simpson to compete. The case was dismissed in 2025.

In December 2020, the RCMP charged Simpson with mischief and uttering threats during a dispute with anti-transgender troll Chris Elston. Simpson also enrolled at Simon Fraser University that year.

In 2021 Simpson sued Fraser Health and the Provincial Health Services Authority for allegedly revealing personal health information.

In 2021, Simpson sued lBC Emergency Health Services for $2,100, claiming a paramedic had damaged Simpson’s stove when they put their bag on it. That year, the Langley fire department stated they would charge Simpson for any future calls for service. They said Simpson had engaged in “inappropriate and lewd conduct” during dozens of non-emergency calls for help getting out of the bathtub.

A suit Simpson brought against Rebel News was dismissed under anti-SLAPP statutes.

Simpson also lodged nine small claims cases against the Langley strata corporation where Simpson lives.

In 2022, Simpson sued a pharmacy for not allowing Simpson to enter with a “service dog.” Simpson lost the case.

In 2023, Simpson took action against BC Emergency Health Services for flagging Simpson as a “mental health concern” who “can be unpredictable and abusive to responders, may also have weapons in apt.” In dismissing the case and ordering Simpson to pay $1,620, the decision noted that Simpson made 53 calls to BC ambulance in 20 months, over 30 of which involved police backup.

In 2023 Simpson was found guilty of public mischief for falsely setting off a fire alarm and sentenced to 18 months probation. Simpson set off the alarm at the retirement home where parent Miriam Yaniv lives. Simpson’s “service dog” Rexy was not behaving at the facility, which led to a confrontation that culminated in Simpson calling 911 and setting off the fire alarm. In 2024 Simpson’s request to have probation conditions lifted was denied. Following the ruling Simpson hurled racial slurs and verbal abuse at anti-trans reporter Drea Humphrey of Rebel News.

In 2024, Simpson was added to a class action suit against Quaker Oats after the company removed products from shelves during a recall. Simpson was later removed.

In 2025, Simpson’s mortgage company began foreclosure procedures. Court documents alleged Simpson was avoiding being served legal papers.

In 2025, Simpson filed a human rights complaint against gas station owners Hung Long Enterprises for refusing entry to Simpson and dog Rexy. Simppson claimed Rexy was a service dog. The case was dismissed.

The website Meow Mix (meowmix.online) maintains a running update of Simpson’s lawsuits and legal issues.

References

note: many stories below include deadnaming and anti-transgender sentiment.

Borg, Jeremy (October 19, 2025). IN-DEPTH: The many controversies and crimes of Jessica/Jonathan Yaniv. Western Standard https://www.westernstandard.news/alberta/in-depth-the-many-controversies-and-crimes-of-jessicajonathan-yaniv/68341

Hutchinson, Joe (October 17, 2025). Trans activist who sued female beauty spa for refusing to give her bikini wax is now WANTED by police. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15203021/Trans-woman-beauty-spa-bikini-wax-FUGITIVE.html

Oldcorn, Christopher (July 29, 2025). Ontario Human Rights Tribunal dismissed Jessica Yaniv’s complaint against Canada Galaxy Pageants. Western Standard https://www.westernstandard.news/ontario/ontario-human-rights-tribunal-dismissed-jessica-yanivs-complaint-against-canada-galaxy-pageants/66467

Jäger, Jarryd (April 22, 2025). Notorious transgender activist Jessica Yaniv now identifying as ‘Métis woman.’ Western Standard https://www.westernstandard.news/news/notorious-transgender-activist-jessica-yaniv-now-identifying-as-m%C3%A9tis-woman/64202

Levant, Ezra (October 8, 2024). CAUGHT ON TAPE: Human rights tribunal threatens to censor Rebel News. Rebel News https://www.rebelnews.com/caught_on_tape_human_rights_tribunal_threatens_to_censor_rebel_news

Staff report (September 26, 2024). We’re being sued! Stop Yaniv! Rebel News https://www.rebelnews.com/stop_yaniv

Humphrey, Drea (August 7, 2024). BREAKING: Rebel News successfully lifts publication bans on Jonathan Yaniv court hearings. Rebel News https://www.rebelnews.com/rebel_news_successfully_lifts_publication_bans_on_jonathan_yaniv_court_hearings

Humphrey, Drea (September 13, 2024). Judge dismisses request to lift conditions on trans predator’s criminal conviction. Rebel News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3nlW38sRFI protectdrea.com [redirects to Rebel News as of October 2024]

Small, Reid (May 26, 2022). Transgender activist Yaniv found guilty of assaulting journalist. Western Standard https://www.westernstandard.news/bc/watch-transgender-activist-yaniv-found-guilty-of-assaulting-journalist/article_f6c746be-dd34-11ec-932e-4bf58217e946.html

Wood, Graeme (March 28, 2024). Tribunal dismisses B.C. trans activist’s fire alarm claim. Vancouver Is Awesome https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/highlights/tribunal-dismisses-bc-trans-activists-fire-alarm-claim-8520125

Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (March 26, 2022). Transgender person with male genitals sues female beauty pageant for refusing service. https://www.jccf.ca/court_cases/transgender-person-with-male-genitals-sues-female-beauty-pageant-for-refusing-service/

Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (October 30, 2020). If Yaniv is permitted to compete in beauty pageant it would violate the Charter rights of women and girls. https://www.jccf.ca/the-post-millennial-if-yaniv-is-permitted-to-compete-in-beauty-pageant-it-would-violate-the-charter-rights-of-women-and-girls/

Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (October 26, 2020). Yaniv targets beauty pageant in new discrimination complaint. https://www.jccf.ca/yaniv-targets-beauty-pageant-in-new-discrimination-complaint/

Desai, Devika (August 27, 2020). Trans activist Jessica Yaniv files second lawsuit against 3 beauticians after losing human rights suit to them in 2019. National Post https://nationalpost.com/news/trans-activist-jessica-yaniv-files-second-lawsuit-against-3-beauticians-after-losing-human-rights-suit-to-them-in-2019

Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (February 2, 2020). New human rights complaints on hold over Yaniv’s failure to pay $6,000 in costs to women. https://www.jccf.ca/new-human-rights-complaints-on-hold-over-yanivs-failure-to-pay-6000-in-costs-to-women/

Urback, Robyn (January 11, 2020). Ignoring Jessica Yaniv allows her to distort the struggle for trans equity. The Globe and Mail https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-ignoring-jessica-yaniv-allows-her-to-distort-the-struggle-for-trans/

Larsen, Karin (October 22, 2019). Estheticians don’t have to wax male genitalia against their will, B.C. tribunal rules. CBC https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/transgender-woman-human-rights-waxing-1.5330807

Hoonhout, Tobias (October 22, 2019). Canadian Court Rules against Transgender Activist Jessica Yaniv in Fight with Beauticians over Waxing. National Review https://www.nationalreview.com/news/jessica-yaniv-canadian-court-rules-against-transgender-activist-in-waxing-case/

Wood, Graeme (July 25, 2019). Genital waxing complainant’s topless-OK youth LGBTQ2S+ swim proposal delayed by Township of Langley. North Shore News / Glacier Media https://www.nsnews.com/genital-waxing-complainant-s-topless-ok-youth-lgbtq2s-swim-proposal-delayed-by-township-of-langley-1.23895812  [archive]

Joyce, Helen (July 25, 2019). A Canadian Human Rights Spectacle Exposes the Risks of Unfettered Gender Self-ID. Quillette https://quillette.com/2019/07/25/a-canadian-human-rights-spectacle-exposes-the-risks-of-unfettered-gender-self-id/

Claxton, Mathew (August 23, 2019). Controversial Langley transgender activist arrested over stun gun. Aldergrove Star https://www.aldergrovestar.com/news/controversial-langley-transgender-activist-arrested-over-stun-gun [archive]

Stratis, Niko (August 15, 2019). We Need To Talk About Jessica Yaniv. Canadaland https://www.canadaland.com/we-need-to-talk-about-jessica-yaniv/

Stone, Gemma (August 12, 2019). Jessica Yaniv is bad. Medium https://medium.com/@notCursedE/jessica-yaniv-is-bad-869eeaa31afc

Brean, Joseph (August 6, 2019). Trans activist Jessica Yaniv’s human rights complaints brought her prominence; now she’s accused of harassment and predatory behaviour. National Post https://nationalpost.com/news/jessica-yaniv

The Canadian Press (August 10, 2008). Unzip and unwind, says National Sex Day organizer. CTV News https://www.ctvnews.ca/unzip-and-unwind-says-national-sex-day-organizer-1.315017 [archive]

Media

Rebel News (January 20, 2025). Trans activist suing Rebel News after attacking journalists—causes $10k bill! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX1VKpdkcLk

Rebel News (December 20, 2023). Rabid ‘trans activist’ Jessica Simpson threatens to harm female Rebel News reporter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToD7Z8tbWxk

Blaire White (February 15, 2021). Jessica Yaniv Is Back and Worse Than Ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcqpyOqbAuE

Blaire White (April 17, 2020). Trying To Follow Jessica Yaniv’s Makeup Tutorial ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6tUA5fHb5Y

CBC News (Janury 8, 2020). Activists say transgender woman’s waxing complaints are bad for their cause. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu4hR3UpT6Y

Blaire White (December 10, 2019). Jessica Yaniv Is Back. And It’s Bad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCCbs_imjAw

READY TO GLARE (December 6, 2019). #161: Jessica Yaniv is still an issue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6LK523Slbw

Rebel News (October 22, 2019). “Jessica” Yaniv LOSES lawsuits against female estheticians who refused to wax his genitals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTLUG3cHtz0

Repxion (October 1, 2019). The Jonathan Yaniv Files https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu_3x2BTBB0

Cecil McFly (September 11, 2019). The Creepy Career of Yaniv. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMwKgNkVJGM

Blaire White (August 19, 2019). I Got Jessica Yaniv To Confess On Tape. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbINkdXvQfs

Rebel News (August 16, 2019). Blaire White: Jessica Yaniv has my address & says he’s buying a gun | Keean Bexte. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfXcg9EQxJw

Rebel News (August 15, 2019). EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE: Jessica Yaniv ASSAULTS Rebel reporter with CANE! | David Menzies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcEnBHAYYVM

Rebel News (August 9, 2019). EXCLUSIVE: “Mama Yaniv” ASSAULTS Rebel reporter, Jessica BLOCKS car and calls cops! | Keean Bexte. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv5Ym21cqN0

Rebel News (August 8, 2019). Who is Jessica Yaniv? An exclusive Rebel exposé. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzZJGlJ9lSA

Miss London (August 6, 2019). Blaire White vs Jessica Yaniv (highlights). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWOhwxWGr8M

Rebel News (August 6, 2019). Jessica Yaniv brandishes illegal “taser,” threatens reporter with pepper spray | Sheila Gunn Reid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvxLBWS6ycA

Blaire White (August 5, 2019). Heated Debate w/ Jessica Yaniv: Trans Predator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnhnShhxfhQ

Calmversations with Benjamin Boyce (July 28, 2019). Yaniv’s Predatory History (Interview). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWWyR96BZOU

Hunter Avallone (July 27, 2019). Jessica Yaniv Just got Worse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ysZxw_vqZ8

READY TO GLARE (July 26, 2019). The skeletons in Jessica Yaniv’s closet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ffM9caVrQ

Blaire White (July 23, 2019). Exposing Jessica Yaniv: Trans Predator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI_lXO7zrAQ

dumpbox (July 23, 2019). Alex Jones interviews Jessica Yaniv. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndWEwrxeHYk

Resources

Meow Mix (meowmix.online)

  • Note: deadnaming and controversial content
  • Comprehensive “verifiable news articles and helpful guides” about Simpson

JY Knows It (jyknowsit.com) [archive]

Trusted Nerd (trustednerd.com) [archive]

Stop Yaniv (stopyaniv.com) [redirects to RebelNews.com]

Protect Drea (protectdrea.com) [redirects to Rebel News as of October 2024]

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

  • JessicaSimpsonLaw
  • National Sex Day 2008 event
  • facebook.com/events/6920059261 [deleted]

YouTube (youtube.com)

ResearchGate (researchgate.net)

OCRID (orcid.org)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Grace Lidinsky-Smith is an “ex-transgender” activist. Lidinsky-Smith’s work has been cited by conservative psychologist Erica Anderson and others seeking to restrict access to healthcare for gender diverse youth and young adults.

Lidinsky-Smith is featured in the anti-trans propaganda piece Detransition Diaries, produced by the Center for Bioethics and Culture Network. Lidinsky-Smith was also featured in anti-trans segments by Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly. Lidinsky-Smith also appeared on podcasts with anti-trans activists Bridget Phetasy, Lesley Stahl, and Graham Linehan. Lidinsky-Smith was also featured in pieces by Emily Bazelon and Azeen Ghorayshi during the New York Times anti-transgender coverage crisis.

Background

Lidinsky-Smith “detransitioned” after making a gender transition as an adult that included hormones as well as top surgery with Sidhbh Gallagher.

Ex-trans activism

Lidinsky-Smith then became active in ex-trans organizations like Gender Care Consumer Advocacy Network (GCCAN).

In 2022, Patrick Hunter, Corinna Cohn, and Lidinsky-Smith submitted a proposed presentation to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. They planned to present and discuss work by Hunter, Kenneth Zucker, Riittakerttu Kaltiala, and Lisa Littman. It was rejected.

In 2022, Lidinsky-Smith was featured by both Azeen Ghorayshi and Emily Bazelon in the New York Times during their anti-trans coverage crisis.

In 2022, Lidinsky-Smith was featured in the anti-trans propaganda video The Detransition Diaries by Jennifer Lahl and Kallie Fell, as well as in their 2024 book by the same name.

In 2023, Lidinsky-Smith was featured in the anti-trans book Gender Madness by “Oli London.”

In the 2024 book Bad Ink: How The New York Times Sold Out Transgender Teens, Riki Wilchins noted that Azeen Ghorayshi included Lidinsky-Smith in a piece about teens choosing top surgery, even though Lidinsky-Smith was not a teen:

Ghorayshi also gratuitously introduced Grace Lidinsky-Smith, who transitioned as an adult at age 23 and then detransitioned later. So it turns out this cautionary tale is not about a minor and thus irrelevant to the topic at hand.

She didn’t bother to mention that Lidinsky-Smith is president of Gender Care Consumer Advocacy Network, an organization which promotes blanket bans on both youth and adult care, state monitoring of all affirming care, and malpractice lawsuits against care providers. GCCAN also claimed that top surgery is marketed “like cigarette companies used to market tobacco to children.”⁴⁶⁶ ⁴⁶⁷ ⁴⁶⁸ ⁴⁶⁹

Lidinsky-Smith was also featured on 60 Minutes, where Lesley Stahl briefly interviewed a single, unnamed happy trans teen before devoting the bulk of the segment to detransition and regret. She also did not disclose Lidinsky-Smith’s leadership of GCCAN.⁴⁷⁰ ⁴⁷¹ ⁴⁷²

References

Serano, Julia (July 24, 2023). Spotting Anti-Trans Media Bias on Detransition. Medium https://juliaserano.medium.com/spotting-anti-trans-media-bias-on-detransition-a9a782a46894

Burns, Katelyn (March 1 2023). How Journalists Can Responsibly Report on Trans Kids. NBCU Academy https://nbcuacademy.com/trans-kids-journalism/

Hollar, Julie (June 23, 2022). NYT Centers Trans Healthcare Story on Doctors—Not Trans People. FAIR https://fair.org/home/nyt-centers-trans-healthcare-story-on-doctors-not-trans-people/

Factora, James (May 25, 2021). Dear 60 Minutes, There Is No “Both Sides-Ing” Trans Healthcare. them https://www.them.us/story/60-minutes-platforms-detransitioners-trans-healthcare

Ellefson, Lindsey (May 24, 2021). GLAAD Slams ‘Shameful’ ’60 Minutes’ Story on Transgender Youth. The Wrap https://www.thewrap.com/glaad-60-minutes-transgender-youth-cbs-news/

Sarnoff, Marisa (May 24, 2021). GLAAD Calls Out 60 Minutes for ‘Fearmongering’ Segment With ‘Anti-Trans Dog Whistles’ About Transgender Youth. Mediaite https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/glaad-calls-out-60-minutes-for-fearmongering-segment-with-anti-trans-dog-whistles-about-transgender-youth/

Anti-trans coverage

Anllo, L. (2025). Challenges of Sexual Life after Detransition: Trauma, Disenfranchised Grief, and Unmet Needs. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 51(6), 639–651. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623x.2025.2531167

Lahl, Jennifer; Fell, Kallie (2024). The Detransition Diaries. Ignatius Press, ISBN 978-1621646372

“London, Oli” (2023). Gender Madness: One Man’s Devastating Struggle with Woke Ideology and His Battle to Protect Children.  Skyhorse Publishing, ISBN 978-1510778061

Ferguson, Samuel D. (2023). Does God Care about Gender Identity? Crossway, ISBN 978-1433591150

Richards, Gillian (September 20, 2022). These 3 Women Tried Transgenderism, and Then Stopped. The Washington Stand https://washingtonstand.com/news/these-3-women-tried-transgenderism-and-then-stopped

Jackson, Mary (October 6, 2022). “Our voices can no longer be denied”: New films highlight the dangers of the transgender trend. World News Group https://wng.org/articles/our-voices-can-no-longer-be-denied-1664936820

Dreher, Rod (September 28, 2022). Gaslighting Mengeles Who Mutilate Kids. The American Conservative https://www.theamericanconservative.com/gaslighting-mengeles-who-mutilate-kids/

Ghorayshi, Azeen (September 26, 2022). More Trans Teens Are Choosing ‘Top Surgery.’ New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/26/health/top-surgery-transgender-teenagers.html

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

James, Sharon (September 24, 2021). The Hidden Harm of Gender Transition. The Gospel Coalition https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/hidden-harm-gender-transition/

Stahl, Lesley (May 23, 2021). State bills would curtail health care for transgender youth. CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transgender-health-care-60-minutes-2021-05-23/

Jones, Kevin J. (June 29, 2021). ‘Gender transition’ regret deserves a voice, says former patient. Catholic News Agency https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248192/gender-transition-regret-deserves-a-voice-says-former-patient

Deese, Kaelan (May 27, 2021). Woman who spoke about detransition responds to ‘unfair’ backlash from transgender activists. Washington Examiner https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2874426/woman-who-spoke-about-detransition-responds-to-unfair-backlash-from-transgender-activists/

Selected writing by Lidinsky-Smith

Lidinsky-Smith, Grace (June 25, 2021). There’s No Standard for Care When it Comes to Trans Medicine | Opinion Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/theres-no-standard-care-when-it-comes-trans-medicine-opinion-1603450

(May 15, 2020). Interview with Dr. Lisa Littman.

Media

Megyn Kelly with Walt Heyer and Grace Lidinsky-Smith (August 4, 2022). Two Detransitioners Share How They Faced Backlash For Simply Sharing Their Stories. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNtKHlLjHCc

Walk-Ins Welcome with Bridget Phetasy and Grace Lidinsky-Smith (May 26, 2022). Grace Lidinsky-Smith Discusses The Gender Lens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAKI07QavXk

Graham Linehan with Grace Lidinsky-Smith (March 10, 2022). Detrans Awareness Day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LIM7uY1itE

Heterodorx with Corinna Cohn, Nina Paley, and Grace Lidinsjy-Smith (July 26, 2021). Episode 27: America’s Most Undercompensated Detranssexual with Grace Lidinsky-Smith. https://heterodorx.com/podcast/americas-most-undercompensated-detranssexual-with-grace-lidinsky-smith/

Stahl, Lesley (May 23, 2021). Health care challenges for transgender youth. CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com/video/transgender-health-care-60-minutes-video-2021-05-23/

Resources

X/Twitter (x.com)

Gender Care Consumer Advocacy Network (gccan.org) [archive]

  • Who We Are [archive]
  • gccan.org/who-we-are

YouTube (youtube.com)

Substack (substack.com)

Ravelry (ravelry.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

IMDb (imdb.com)

Grace Branham is an American “ex-transgender” activist.

Branham served as treasurer for ex-trans organization Gender Care Consumer Advocacy Network (GCCAN).

Background

Branham earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in 2018 and a graduate certificate from University of Kansas in 2022. Following a stint at a dog daycare facility, in 2022 Branham took a job at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis as an animal research technician.

From the GCCAN site:

Grace Branham is a post-operative detransitioner who received gender care from the ages of 15 to 21. S/he did not feel adequately supported by providers before, during, or when ending treatment and believes all consumers deserve high-quality care whether they are considering transition, in the process, or detransitioning. S/he hopes GCCAN’s work will help providers better understand the varied experiences of consumers so they may better serve sexuality- and gender-diverse communities.

References

Alumni spotlight: Grace Branham. IU Department of American Studies. https://americanstudies.indiana.edu/about/alumni-grace.html

Resources

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Gender Care Consumer Advocacy Network (gccan.org) [archive]

  • Who We Are [archive]
  • gccan.org/who-we-are

S. Ding Lab (sdinglab.wustl.edu)

Carey Callahan is an American therapist and a key historical figure in the ex-transgender movement. Callahan’s activism helped unleash a wave of anti-trans legislation targeting healthcare for transgender youth and adolescents. Callahan has written for anti-trans publications 4thWaveNow and The Economist and has appeared on anti-trans podcasts Calmversations and Blocked and Reported.

Callahan is featured in several anti-trans publications, including in the 2018 book When Harry Became Sally by Ryan T. Anderson of the Heritage Foundation and in the 2018 Atlantic article “When a Child Says She’s Trans” by Jesse Singal.

Callahan is a founder of the Gender Care Consumer Advocacy Network (GCCAN), a group of activists with regrets about aspects of their gender transitions. GCCAN campaigned against current trans healthcare protocols, demanding more gatekeeping from therapists.

Callahan has used a number of names and aliases, including:

  • “Maria Catt”
  • “mariacatt42”
  • “CareyCallsBS”
  • “catt_bear”
  • Carey Callahan
  • Carrie Maria Callahan
  • Carrie English
  • Carrie Callahan-English

Background

Carrie Maria Callahan was born May 1, 1982. Callahan earned a bachelor’s degree from the The Ohio State University in 2004. After college, Callahan worked as a union field organizer, then as a counselor and educator at Marilyn G. Rabb Foundation, Lyon-Martin Health Services, and The Emily Program.

In June 2012, at age 30, Callahan came out as genderqueer and began therapy. In October 2012 Callahan began a course of bimonthly intramuscular testosterone injections. In March 2013, Callahan moved to San Francisco, but had trouble finding work. Callahan soon decided that the issue was “not a trans thing, but a trauma thing” related to past trauma, including a sexual assault in college. Callahan stopped testosterone in June 2013 and socially transitioned again about a year after that in 2014.

Callahan moved back to Ohio, earned a Master’s degree from the University of Akron in 2018, then worked at OhioGuidestone as a therapist from 2018 until May 2021. Callahan is married to lawyer James P. English (born 1977), and they are raising their child (born 2021).

In 2022 Callahan stated via email: “I sought out an affirming therapist when I should have been much more responsible about investigating the symptoms I was experiencing before seeking testosterone.”

Ex-trans activism

Callahan was a key early organizer in the ex-trans movement.

Despite being 30 years old when deciding to take hormones for nine months before stopping, Callahan was extensively featured in the 2018 Atlantic article, “When a Child Says She’s Trans” by Jesse Singal and an accompanying video.

Callahan previously collaborated with Ky Schevers, another ex-trans activist who later left the movement because of “the role transphobic detrans communities play in organized transphobia.” In 2019 Callahan helped create Gender Care Consumer Advocacy Network (GCCAN). In 2022, Callahan stated via email in part:

My focus when organizing GCCAN was on democratic decision making within the group and I wasn’t careful like I should have been about making sure Ky’s partner understood I was passing information on to the board for transparency’s sake, not trying to steer the group into supporting harmful legislation. I thought when we got the chance to vote against working with a ROGD parents group our decision making process was working. While I believe my intent and work was misunderstood, I can see how I was creating that risk.

In March 2019 Callahan spoke on a panel organized by anti-trans extremist organization Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF). The panel also included moderator Traci Nally and gender critical panelists Corinna Cohn and Nina Paley. Callahan discussed a 2017 USPATH presentation and a similar canceled presentation on “detransition” at Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference. Callahan criticized informed consent and pediatric transition, promoted ex-trans media like Pique Resilience Project, and directed attendees to a since-deleted article titled “Advice for gender dysphoric teens” that contained links to other recommended ex-trans resources.

When it became clear that Callahan’s efforts were having their desired effect, Callahan started to have some misgivings about being the face of the American ex-trans movement. Callahan stated via email, “It’s very sad to me that I wasn’t able to do more to steer detrans people away from being used as pawns.” Callahan’s goal is now reportedly “greater emphasis on and programming for those of us who explore but do not arrive at a trans identity.”

In 2023 Callahan testified in opposition to Ohio House Bill 68, a proposed law banning gender affirming healthcare for minors (the “Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act”) and banning transgender athletes competing in sex-segregated sports in Ohio high schools, colleges, and universities (the “Save Women’s Sports Act”). Callahan’s testimony concluded:

“I am begging you to stop attacking trans healthcare and trans people. I am begging you to stop referencing detransitioners such as myself as a justification for attacking trans healthcare and trans people. You aren’t protecting children from becoming a detransitioner like me. You are exiling good people from our state, traumatizing kids and families, and working hard to make Ohio a less safe place to raise kids. You are doing real harm to me personally, to my neighbors who live a cul de sac up, to the lovely trans kids I know, to the lovely discerning kids I know, to the doctors and therapists who have put in the years of education and experience to improve people’s quality of life. Please drop this misguided experiment and use your elected positions to help Ohioans live good lives. Thank you.”

By then the damage was already done, and Callahan’s earlier ex-trans activism reached its inevitable outcome. Ohio House Bill 68 passed in 2024, banning trans healthcare for minors and curtailing other civil rights for trans children and adults.

References

Urquhart, Evan (December 27, 2023). Washington Post Reports on Detransitioner Opposition to Care Bans. Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/washington-post-carey-callahan

Urquhart, Evan (December 13, 2023). Detransitioners Oppose Ohio’s Gender Affirming Care Ban. Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/detransitioners-among-opponents-of-ohio-plan-to-ban-gender-affirming-care

Urquhart, Evan (January 21, 2023). The Trans “Detransition” Wars. Slate https://slate.com/human-interest/2023/01/trans-detransition-facts-research-study-atlantic.html

Slothouber, V. (2020). (De)trans visibility: moral panic in mainstream media reports on de/retransition. European Journal of English Studies, 24(1), 89–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825577.2020.1730052

Ford, Zack (February 7, 2018). ‘I was enraged to see my story distorted and used’: Detransitioners object to anti-transgender book. ThinkProgress https://archive.thinkprogress.org/detransitioner-ryan-anderson-transgender-25fad9803c2e/

Bigley, James II (October 19, 2012). Feast for Your Eyes. Cleveland Magazine https://clevelandmagazine.com/articles/feast-for-your-eyes/

Anti-trans coverage

Parks, Casey (December 27, 2023). Her story fueled anti-trans bills. Now, she’s fighting them. Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/12/27/ohio-transgender-carey-callahan-detransitioner/

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

Dreher, Rod (October 24, 2019). When They Come For Your Kid. The American Conservative https://www.theamericanconservative.com/transgender-when-they-come-for-your-kid/

Murphy, Meghan (June 19, 2018). Why must trans activists smear those who put forth inconvenient narratives about ‘gender identity’? Feminist Current https://www.feministcurrent.com/2018/06/19/must-trans-activists-smear-put-forth-inconvenient-narratives-gender-identity/

Singal, Jesse (June 18, 2018). When a Child Says She’s Trans. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/07/when-a-child-says-shes-trans/561749/

Selected writing by Callahan

Callahan, Carey (December 15, 2023). By vetoing HB 68, Gov. DeWine will keep our state’s exemplary gender-affirming health care as a national model: Carey Callahan. Cleveland Plain Dealer / Cleveland.com https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2023/12/by-vetoing-hb-68-gov-dewine-will-keep-our-states-exemplary-gender-affirming-health-care-as-a-national-model-carey-callahan.html

Callahan, Carey (December 14, 2023). An URGENT plea for my nuanced friends. Medium https://mariacatt42.medium.com/an-urgent-plea-for-my-nuanced-friends-72cb516fa8e8

Callahan, Carey (May 24, 2023). Witness Testimony of Carey Callahan (Opponent). House Bill 68 Committee Activity (PDF) https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/cm_pub_api/api/unwrap/general_assembly_135/chamber/135th_ga/ready_for_publication/committee_docs/cmte_h_pub_health_policy_1/testimony/cmte_h_pub_health_policy_1_2023-05-24-0930_557/hb68_callahan_opponent.pdf

Callahan, Carey (December 3, 2019). Gender identity is hard but jumping to medical solutions is worse. The Economist https://www.economist.com/open-future/2019/12/03/gender-identity-is-hard-but-jumping-to-medical-solutions-is-worse

Callahan, Carey (October 21, 2019). What you can do for your kid: Series intro. 4thWaveNow https://4thwavenow.com/2019/10/21/what-you-can-do-for-your-kid-series-intro/

Callahan, Carey (December 18, 2018). Advice for gender dysphoric teens. [deleted – archive] https://mariacatt42.medium.com/advice-for-gender-dysphoric-teens-9a3e34a2e5ba Resources recommended:

  • Crash (crashchaoscats.wordpress.com) [deleted – archive] aka ex-trans whistleblower Ky Schevers
  • 23 (twentythreetimes.tumblr.com) [deleted – archive]
  • Detransition Sister (detransitionsister.com) [deleted – archive]
  • Butch Coming Home (butchcominghome.wordpress.com) [deleted – archive]
  • Retransition / Joel Nowak (retransition.org) [abandoned – excluded from archives] [archive]
  • Detransition Info (detransinfo.tumblr.com) [inactive – archive]
  • Cari (guideonragingstars.tumblr.com) [inactive – archive]
  • Permutational (permutational.tumblr.com) [inactive – archive]
  • New Thought Crime (newthoughtcrime.com) [inactive – archive]
  • Redress (redressalert.tumblr.com) [private – archive]
  • Max (b0rnwr0ng.wordpress.com) [private, directs to gumroad.com/wearethecatfish]
  • Tejuina (tejuina.tumblr.com) [private – archive]

Media

NPR Here & Now Anytime with Scott Tong (January 3, 2024). Why one Ohio therapist changed her mind about gender-affirming care for kids. https://www.npr.org/2024/01/03/1196978922/here-now-anytime-draft-01-03-2024

People Who Read People with Zachary Elwood and Carey Callahan (December 23, 2021). Could gender identity theory itself be creating more gender dysphoria?, with Carey Callahan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqabc-1VVPM

Blocked and Reported with Jesse SingalJesse Singal vs. transgender people, Katie Herzog, and Carey Callahan (). Episode 50: Could Detransitioners Be Any More Bigoted? https://www.blockedandreported.org/p/episode-50-could-detransitioners-a6e

WoLF with Carey Callahan, Traci Nally, Corinna Cohn, and Nina Paley (March 26, 2019). Does sex matter? Gender Identity vs Material Reality. WLRN Live Stream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RguD61siLB8

Nicolas Pollock, Brian Jimenez, Ashley Bloom Kenny, Kasia Ciepak-Mayr von Baldegg (2018). Detransitioned: The Lives of Carey Callahan. The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/562988/detransitioned-film/ alt url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6V0p3_bd6w

  • [alt title] Reversing a Gender Transition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6V0p3_bd6w
  • [alt title] ‘I Wanted to Take My Body Off’: Detransitioned

Calmversations with Benjamin Boyce and Carey Callahan (December 2, 2018). On Transition, Activism, & Therapy, with Carey Callahan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XJAyUiY_tM

Bawdy Storytelling with Carey Callahan (June 6, 2013). Carey Callahan: Wanderlust. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tS6sYGmkzQ

Resources

Gender Care Consumer Advocacy Network (gccan.org) [archive]

  • Who We Are [archive]
  • gccan.org/who-we-are

Carey Callahan (careycallahan.com) [archive]

Maria Catt (mariacatt.com) [archive]

X/Twitter (x.com)

  • CareyCallsBS [deleted]
  • catt_bear [deleted]

Medium (medium.com)

  • mariacatt42 [articles prior to 2022 have been deleted]

SlideShare (slideshare.net)

reddit (reddit.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

4thWaveNow (4thwavenow.com)

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

Corinna Cohn is an American software developer who identifies as transsexual and gender critical. Cohn frequently appears in media to share conservative opinions and criticize various aspects of the trans rights movement.

Cohn was an officer in the Gender Care Consumer Advocacy Network, an organization which promotes gatekeeping models of care.

Background

Corinna Ariel “Cori” Cohn was born on June 13, 1975 and transitioned in the 1990s.

Cohn ran a comic store and website called Otakurama from 2002 to 2005.

Cohn is a software engineer who has worked for Fusion Alliance and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance.

Activism

Cohn is a longtime internet troll who participates in virulently anti-trans forums.

In 2015, Cohn was profiled in a piece by anti-trans activist Michelle Goldberg on the conservative transgender movement. The piece mentioned “Helen Highwater,” Miranda Yardley, “Snowflake Especial,” “Gender Minefield,” “Gender Apostates,” and “Aoife Assumpta Hart.”

In 2018 Cohn was triggered by Twitter’s revised policies that prohibited deadnaming and misgendering trans and gender diverse people. Cohn began making media appearances soon after.

Cohn has appeared in media with an number of gender critical and anti-transgender people, including Benjamin Boyce, Miranda Yardley, Nina Paley, Carey Callahan, Genspect, Call Me Sam, Mars F (Upperhandmars), Stephanie Winn, Gender Dysphoria Alliance, ICONS – Independent Council on Women’s Sports, and Feminist Heretics.

Cohn is a board member of Gender Care Consumer Advocacy Network, an activist group involved in the “ex-trans” movement that seeks to reduce options for medical transition.

In 2021 Cohn and fellow gender critical activist Nina Paley began the podcast Heterodorx.

In 2022 Cohn published a regret narrative in the Washington Post, suggesting that minors and young adults considering transition should “slow down.” Cohn has expressed the following regrets:

  • “a lifetime set apart from my peers”
  • “I wasn’t old enough to make that decision”
  • “I have resigned myself to never finding a partner”
  • “became a medical patient and will remain one for the rest of my life”
  • “intercourse never became pleasurable”
  • “I’m still working out how much regret to feel”

Via Media Matters for America:

Cohn, who hosts the podcast Heterodorx, has recently begun to put her anti-trans views into action. In late January, Cohn spoke in front of the Indiana House of Representatives in favor of HB 1041, a legislative effort that Cohn claimed would “strengthen the rights for girls and young women competing in sport” by excluding trans student athletes from competition. In her testimony, Cohn defined herself as “a transsexual,” arguing that her “sex is male, and neither science nor medicine can change that.” In the months since, Cohn has served as an expert and a witness for legislative efforts to restrict gender-affirming care in both Alabama and Ohio. 

Cohn signed her testimony to the Ohio General Assembly as the secretary and treasurer of Gender Care Consumer Advocacy Network. GCCAN was founded in 2019 under the stated mission “to empower recipients of gender transition-related care to become healthy and whole,” but it has rapidly aligned itself with the right-wing campaign against gender-affirming care policies, with Cohn serving as a board member. 

Informed Dissent podcast

In December 2024, Cohn began co-hosting Informed Dissent, a “gender critical” podcast with Ben Appel, Lisa Selin Davis, “Eliza Mondegreen”, and Jamie Reed. Guests include Alex Byrne, Anna Hutchinson, Maud Maron, Leor Sapir, Lauren Schwartz.

References

Downard, Whitney (February 22, 2023). Anti-trans medical care bill passes Senate committee. Indiana Capital Chronicle https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2023/02/22/anti-trans-medical-care-bill-passes-senate-committee/

Tirrell, Alyssa (October 31, 2022). Recent witness in anti-trans legislative hearings claims that trans people “did not even exist in 1939” and could not have been victims of the Holocaust. Media Matters for America https://www.mediamatters.org/twitter/recent-witness-anti-trans-legislative-hearings-claims-trans-people-did-not-even-exist-1939

Steve Hammer and Chuck Workman (September 3, 2003). 30 under 30: Innovators in the arts. Nuvo https://www.nuvo.net/arts/30-under-30-innovators-in-the-arts/article_c99ebd9c-ae71-5c71-93dd-4f0f26bc75bc.html

Anti-trans coverage

Green, Emma (May 17, 2023). The Party Is Cancelled: Inside a monthly New York City hangout, where fired university professors and controversial TikTokers get together to have discussions they feel they can’t have anywhere else. New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-local-correspondents/the-party-is-cancelled

Olohan, Mary Margaret (January 24, 2022). EXCLUSIVE: Biologically Male Transsexual Tears Into Radicals Attacking Women’s Sports: ‘It Is Unfair to Expect Girls to Cede Their Hard-Won Rights.’ Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/01/24/transsexual-slams-planned-parenthood-aclu-womens-sports/

Goldberg, Michelle (December 9, 2015). The Trans Women Who Say That Trans Women Aren’t Women: Meet the apostates of the trans rights movement. Slate https://slate.com/human-interest/2015/12/gender-critical-trans-women-the-apostates-of-the-trans-rights-movement.html

Selected writing by Cohn

Cohn, Corinna (April 11, 2022). Opinion: What I wish I’d known when I was 19 and had sex reassignment surgery. Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/11/i-was-too-young-to-decide-about-transgender-surgery-at-nineteen/

Cohn, Corinna (June 22, 2020). For 30 Years, I’ve Tried to Become a Woman. Here’s What I Learned Along the Way. Quillette https://quillette.com/2020/06/22/for-30-years-ive-tried-to-become-a-woman-heres-what-i-learned-along-the-way/

Resources

Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)

Substack (substack.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

  • corinna-cohn-83026a24 [deleted]

Otakurama (otakurama.com) [archive]

Blogspot (blogspot.com)

Gender Care Consumer Advocacy Network (gccan.org) [archive]

  • Who We Are [archive]
  • gccan.org/who-we-are

X/Twitter (x.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Quillette (quillette.com)

Stella O’Malley is a conservative Irish therapist and anti-transgender extremist. O’Malley is a global ringleader in the modern ex-transgender and gender critical movements and a major supporter of anti-transgender efforts worldwide.

O’Malley founded anti-trans hate group Genspect. O’Malley frequently collaborates with American clinician Sasha Ayad and anti-trans extremist Mia Hughes to uplift other conservative and anti-transgender voices.

They promote

Do not under any circumstances go to Stella O’Malley for any counseling, trans or otherwise. If you are a minor forced to see O’Malley, do everything in your power to end the sessions and find supportive local resources instead.

Background

O’Malley was born on November 16, 1973. O’Malley grew up with three siblings in the Dublin area in a household where at least one parent was alcoholic.

O’Malley and spouse Henry Thompson, a construction contractor, live in Birr, County Offaly with their two children Róisín Thompson (born November 9, 2007) and Muiris Thompson (born August 5, 2009). O’Malley’s self-described parenting style is “impatient, moody and cranky” with “a very low threshold for ordinary whining.”

O’Malley authored Cotton Wool Kids (2015) Bully-Proof Kids (2017), and Fragile (2019).

Anti-trans activism

O’Malley was host of the 2018 propaganda piece Trans Kids: It’s Time To Talk. It features conservative and anti-trans activists, including James Caspian, Heather Brunskell-Evans, Venice Allan, Miranda Yardley, and people from the ex-trans movement

O’Malley is connected to a number of anti-trans organizations, most of which are just part of a web farm with reciprocal links to make O’Malley’s allies and their fringe ideologies seem more widespread and influential than they are.

These fringe front groups include:

In 2023 O’Malley co-authored the anti-trans book When Kids Say They’re Trans: A Guide for Parents with Sasha Ayad and Lisa Marchiano.

In 2024, when Texas politician Shawn Thierry lost the Democratic primary and joined Genspect as director of political strategy in the US. An article noting the announcement said:

Genspect has also been accused by medical experts and organizations of relying on junk science to support their stance. O’Malley, for instance, has falsely claimed that there are links between peer pressure, pornography and gender dysphoria. Genspect has also partnered with groups such as the right-wing Alliance Defending Freedom, and argues that no one under the age of 25 should be allowed to transition because their brains “haven’t yet fully matured.”

Gender: A Wider Lens

From 2020 to 2025, Sasha Ayad and O’Malley hosted the podcast Gender: A Wider Lens. The guests include many global leaders in modern conservative and anti-transgender activism.

Beyond Gender

In 2025, O’Malley started the podcast Beyond Gender, co-hosting with anti-trans extremist Mia Hughes and anti-trans psychologist Bret Alderman.

Rift in the anti-trans movement

In 2025, O’Malley criticized how the “the gender-critical woke” have been attacking anti-trans activists who share O’Malley’s conservative politics. According to O’Malley, “the gender-critical woke are liberal and left-wing. It is only on the issue of gender identity that the gender-critical woke break ranks with their fellow progressives.” O’Malley added:

It is deeply sad to consider how many gender-critical people have been censured or censored by the gender-critical woke. The list is long, and I’ve probably forgotten many. But among them are: Janice Turner, Debbie Hayton, Fionne Orlander, Miranda Yardley, Kristina Harrison, Buck Angel, Claire Graham, Jack Appleby, Graham Linehan, James Esses, Sarah Phillimore, Rosie Duffield, Claire Fox, Helen Pluckrose, Benjamin Boyce, Mike Bailey, James Cantor, Ken Zucker, Ray Blanchard, Billboard Chris, Genspect, LGB Alliance, Jenny Watson, Kathleen Stock, Julie Bindel, Suzanna Moore, Hadley Freeman, Sarah Ditum, Maya Forstater, Helen Joyce, Women’s Place UK, Judith Green, Labour Women’s Declaration, Fair Play for Women, Aaron Tyrrell, Aaron Kimberly, GD Alliance, Corinna Cohn, Shannon Thrace, Eva Kurilova, Frank Furedi, Alasdair Gunn, James Lindsay, Jordan Peterson, Michael Shellenberger, Mia Hughes, Abigail Shrier, Colin Wright, Christina Buttons, Andrew Doyle, and Jane Clare Jones.

Defamation suit

In 2025, O’Malley filed a defamation suit against the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) and therapist Leonie O’Dowd, citing a article in the Winter 2024 issue of The Irish Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy titled “Providing therapeutic space to transgender and non-binary clients.” That article correctly noted that Genspect has taken “an anti-trans stance” in its activism.

References

Tighe, Mark (August 3, 2025). Stella O’Malley files defamation case against professional association and fellow psychotherapist over article on trans healthcare. Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/stella-omalley-files-defamation-case-against-professional-association-and-fellow-psychotherapist-over-article-on-trans-healthcare/a1287081770.html

Downen, Robert (August 21, 2024). Rep. Shawn Thierry joins anti-trans policy group after losing Democratic primary. The Texas Tribune https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/21/shawn-thierry-lgbtq-gender-transitioning-care-genspect/

Harris, Siobhan (April 25, 2024). Europe and the Puberty Blocker Debate. Medscape https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/europe-and-puberty-blocker-debate-2024a1000831

McCarthy, Mary (March 19 2023). Stella O’Malley’s bible for parents raising troubled teenagers. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/stella-o-malley-bible-for-parents-raising-troubled-teenagers-8fclngs55

Moorhead Joanna (March 20, 2023). I was a wild teenager and this is what parents should do with nightmare kids. i https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/i-was-a-wild-teenager-now-i-teach-parents-how-to-cope-with-nightmare-kids-2215856

Leveille, Lee (April 2, 2022). Leaked audio confirms Genspect director as anti-trans conversion therapist targeting youth. Health Liberation Now! https://healthliberationnow.com/2022/04/02/leaked-audio-confirms-genspect-director-as-anti-trans-conversion-therapist-targeting-youth/

Oakes, Marianne (November 23, 2018). [Review] Trans kids: It’s time to talk. GenderGP https://www.gendergp.com/blog/trans-kids-its-time-to-talk/

O’Callaghan, Helen (September 19, 2015). Four experts give their top tips for parenting. Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20354443.html

Coverage in anti-trans press

Moorhead, Johanna (March 19, 2022). How to bully-proof your kids for life. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/mar/19/how-to-bully-proof-your-kids-for-life-according-to-the-expert

“Reporter” (May 2023). Birr woman’s company hosts major conference highlighting dangers of transgender movement. https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/midland-tribune/1172404/birr-woman-s-company-hosts-major-conference-highlighting-dangers-of-transgender-movement.html

“Harriet” (August 12, 2022). Notes from the CATA Conference: keynote address by Stella O’Malley. The Standard https://thestandard.org.nz/notes-from-the-cata-conference-keynote-address-by-stella-omalley/

Kinchen, Rosie (November 18, 2018). Thank God they didn’t make this tomboy trans. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/thank-god-they-didnt-make-this-tomboy-trans-thzt8xr3z

Selected anti-trans writing by O’Malley

O’Malley, Stella (September 18, 2025). Charlie Kirk’s death has exposed the bigotry of the ‘Be Kind’ brigade. Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2025/09/18/charlie-kirks-death-has-exposed-the-bigotry-of-the-be-kind-brigade/

O’Malley, Stella (September 9, 2025). Why are the Irish media silent about the persecution of Graham Linehan? Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2025/09/09/why-are-the-irish-media-silent-about-the-persecution-of-graham-linehan/

O’Malley, Stella (July 2, 2025). JK Rowling vs the pronoun police. Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2025/07/02/jk-rowling-vs-the-pronoun-police/

O’Malley, Stella (June 22, 2025). No more experiments on children. Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2025/06/22/no-more-experiments-on-children/

O’Malley, Stella (May 29, 2025). When You’re Gender-Critical – and You’re Woke. Genspect https://genspect.org/when-youre-gender-critical-and-youre-woke/

O’Malley, Stella; Gosling, Matilda (October 10, 2022). Children and gender distress: Modish answers may not be the best. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/children-and-gender-distress/

O’Malley, Stella (August 23, 2022). At the American Academy of Pediatrics, ‘Affirmation’-Based Gender Dogma Is Finally Being Challenged. Quillette https://quillette.com/2022/08/23/challenge-to-affirmation-based-gender-dogma-at-american-academy-pediatrics/

O’Malley, Stella (23 March 2023). An Expert’s Top Tips For Dealing With Teenagers. Grazia https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/parenting/an-experts-top-tips-for-dealing-with-teenagers/

O’Malley, Stella; Ayad Sasha (August 23, 2022).When Kids Say They’re Trans. Quillette https://quillette.com/2023/12/12/when-kids-say-theyre-trans/

O’Malley, S., Garner, M., Withers, R., Caspian, J., & Jenkins, P. (2021). The communication of evidence to inform trans youth health care. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 5(9), e32–e33. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2352-4642(21)00197-8

  • Pang, K. C., Giordano, S., Sood, N., & Skinner, S. R. (2021). Regret, informed decision making, and respect for autonomy of trans young people. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 5(9), e34–e35. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2352-4642(21)00236-4

O’Malley, Stella (May 4, 2021). Gaslighting the Concerned Parents of Trans Children—A Psychotherapist’s View. Quillette https://quillette.com/2021/05/04/gaslighting-the-concerned-parents-of-trans-children-a-psychotherapists-view/

Resources

Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)

Beyond WPATH (beyondwpath.org)

Stella O’Malley (stellaomalley.com)

The OldBuilders Company (oldbuilders.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Substack (substack.com)

Spiked (spiked-online.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

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

Joey Brite is an American ex-transgender activist who organized an anti-transgender conference in 2020 and is an executive producer of the 2023 anti-trans film No Way Back (originally Affirmation Generation). Director Laura VanZee-Taylor, producer Penka Kouneva, and executive producer Brite are responsible for including convicted sex offender David Arthur Kendall as one of the ex-trans activists featured.

Background

Alicia Nancy Neff was born in February 4, 1955 in Los Angeles to Charles “Bud” Neff and Carolyn Jeannette Neff. Neff’s father was a musician who ran Neff’s Paint and Wallpaper in Anaheim, and Alicia Neff graduated from Anaheim High School in 1972.

As an adult, Neff began using the names Alicia Brite and Joey Brite, usually styled joey brite. Brite and a songwriting partner began performing original “women’s music.” Brite also worked in set design and theatrical props, eventually becoming lighting assistant for an independent film company “that churned out lesbian porn for theatrical release.”

Brite has kept a connection with the paint and wallpaper industry since the late 1980s, operating an interior paint consultancy called The COLOR Effect since 1995.

Brite was a DJ at KPFA in Berkeley from 1983 to 1985. Brite was associated with Mills College from 2001 to 2003, working as a liaison for Fremont High School. In 2004 Brite began producing events and fundraisers and started handling social media for several artists.

In 2020, Brite described conservative trans people Blaire White, Scott Newgent, Fionne Orlander, and Buck Angel as the “four horsemen of the gender critical apocalypse.”

Brite continues working in production, incorporating Small Pockets Productions LLC in California in 2020 and Behind the Curtain Productions Inc in New York in 2022.

2020 conference

On August 8, 2020, Brite held the “Can I Get a Witness” conference. It was dedicated to the memory of Magdalen Berns and featured many prominent anti-transgender activists:

  • Wall Street Journal writer Abigail Shrier and Author of the recently published Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters
  • Therapist Sasha Ayad M. Ed., LPC at Inspired Teen Therapy
  • Investigative writer and blogger Jennifer Bilek
  • Jane Wheeler, President of Rethink Identity Medicine Ethics, Inc.
  • Lawyer Kara Dansky
  • Don Smith, an outraged citizen from Sweden
  • Endocrinologist Quentin Van Meter
  • Lesbian film director Catherine Crouch
  • Filmmaker and activist Vaishnavi Sundar
  • In Conversation: Stephanie Davies-Arai from Transgender Trend and radical lesbian critic Julia Long
  • Health journalist Jamila Bey
  • Sydney Wright, a detransitioned woman
  • Eugenia Rodrigues, Founder of No Corpo Certo (Brazilian Campaign Against Transing Kids)
  • Julia Diana Robertson, Senior Editor at The Velvet Chronicle
  • Women Are Human Founder (remaining anonymous for her own protection)
  • Spinster founder MK Fain
  • Youtuber The Deprogrammer (remaining anonymous or her own protection)
  • Thistle Pettersen from Women’s Liberation Radio News
  • In Conversation: Sports Coach Linda Blade and Save Women’s Sports founder Beth Stelzer
  • Feminist Current founder and pod-caster Meghan Murphy
  • Mother turned activist Lynn Meagher
  • Epidemiologist Hacsi Horvath, a detransitioned man
  • Sherri Golden, a lesbian who was attacked at the 2018 San Francisco annual Dyke March
  • Writer Donovan Cleckley
  • Doula Courtney Catearth
  • Alicia Strada, who was attacked by other women for her views on gender identity
  • The TERF Exhibit Founder Sam Reitger (remaining anonymous for her own protection)

In a 2021 recap of anti-trans developments, Brite cited highlights from Jennifer Bilek, Lierre Keith, Sasha Ayad, Stella O’Malley, MK Fain, Eugenia Rodrigues. Keira Bell, Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights, LGB Alliance, KS Jolly in Feminist Current, Jo Brew, Bernadette O’Malley, Women’s Liberation Front, Tulsi Gabbard, Save Women’s Sport, Josephine Bartosch, Courtney Catearth, Karen Davis of You’re Kiddin’, Right?, Mr Menno, SEGM, Abigail Shrier, JK Rowling, and Alix Aharon of of Partners for Ethical Care.

References

Brite, Joey (October 2, 2020). The Four Horsemen of the Gender-Critical Apocalypse. Uncommon Ground https://uncommongroundmedia.com/the-four-horsemen-of-the-gender-critical-apocalypse/

[Obituary] (April 19, 2013). Charles Neff. Orange County Register https://obits.ocregister.com/us/obituaries/orangecounty/name/charles-neff-obituary

[Obituary] (March 15, 2016). Carolyn Jeannette Neff. Orange County Register https://obits.ocregister.com/us/obituaries/orangecounty/name/carolyn-neff-obituary?id=16292068

Pettersen, Thistle (2021). Highlights of 2020 with Joey Brite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLj9sOvfhCA WLRN Edition 57: Radical Feminism 2020 https://womensliberationradionews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/edition-57-interview-with-joey-brite-transcript.pdf

Resources

The COLOR Effect (thecoloreffect.com) 2003–2016 [archive]

Bizapedia (bizapedia.com)

Ticket Tailor (tickettailor.com)

  • Can I Get a Witness conference [archive]
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20200726073240if_/https://www.tickettailor.com/events/canigetawitness/394113 2/4

YouTube (youtube.com)

Blogspot (blogspot.com)

Twitter (twitter.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

  • thecoloreffect [2015-2017]

Debbie Hayton is a conservative transgender British educator and critic of mainstream transgender activism. Hayton gets money and attention by siding with those opposed to rights for sex and gender minorities.

Hayton’s work frequently appears in anti-transgender publications, most notably UnHerd and The Spectator. Hayton’s views have also appeared in Daily Express, Global Research, The Critic Magazine, Fox News, TalkTV, Daily Mail, The Telegraph, and The Guardian.

Background

Deborah “Debbie” Hayton was born April 23, 1968. Hayton grew up in Consett in North East England. After graduating Blackfyne Comprehensive School in 1986, Hayton entered Newcastle University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1989 and a doctorate in 1992. Hayton worked in research until 1995, then began a career as a physics teacher. Hayton taught at Handsworth Grammar School in Birmingham from 1996 to 2002, then at King Henry VIII School in Coventry from 2002 to 2022. Beginning in 2016 Hayton began offering classroom timetable support and began freelance writing.

Hayton is based in Bristol, is married to Stephanie, and has three children. Hayton transitioned in 2012.

Activism and trolling

Hayton’s writing is a mix of first-person stories and gender critical views on several trans topics:

Hayton authored a letter supporting anti-trans author Kathleen Stock. The letter was signed by like-minded gender critical trans people: Tina Daniels, Lily Geidelberg, Sophie Gibbons, Kristina Harrison, Seven Hex, Jennifer Kenyon, Claudia McLean, Sarah McDonnell, Fionne Orlander, Nyah Putzo, Toni Roche-Simmons, Katie Sangwell, Gillian Simpson, Sian Taylder, and Miranda Yardley.

Hayton appeared in the 2018 anti-trans propaganda piece Trans Kids: It’s Time to Talk hosted by Stella O’Malley.

Hayton enjoys trolling and mocking the trans community members who hold differing views. Hayton is known for wearing a T-shirt that says “Trans women are men. Get over it.”

References

Hayton, Debbie (May 9, 2022). My autogynephilia story. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2022/05/the-truth-about-autogynephilia/

Stanford, Peter (October 16, 2021). The trans women who support women’s rights. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/16/meet-trans-women-agree-publicly-question-gender-self-identification/

Hellen, Nicholas (December 22 2019). Trans woman Debbie Hayton faces ban for transphobia. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/trans-woman-debbie-hayton-faces-ban-for-transphobia-96tfkl5gc

Resources

Debbie Hayton (debbiehayton.com)

Timetable Support (timetablesupport.uk)

Facebook (facebook.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Muck Rack (muckrack.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

UnHerd (unherd.com)