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 âmental health concernâ 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 Yanivâs 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
JĂ€ger, Jarryd (April 22, 2025). Notorious transgender activist Jessica Yaniv now identifying as ‘MĂ©tis 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 Yanivâs 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 journalistsâcauses $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). âJessicaâ 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: âMama Yanivâ 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 didnât 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 âlike cigarette companies used to market tobacco to children.ââŽâ¶â¶ âŽâ¶â· âŽâ¶âž âŽâ¶âč
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-Smithâs leadership of GCCAN.âŽâ·â° âŽâ·Âč âŽâ·ÂČ
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 DoctorsâNot 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 âBoth Sides-Ingâ Trans Healthcare. them https://www.them.us/story/60-minutes-platforms-detransitioners-trans-healthcare
Ellefson, Lindsey (May 24, 2021). GLAAD Slams âShamefulâ â60 Minutesâ 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 âFearmongeringâ Segment With âAnti-Trans Dog Whistlesâ 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), 639â651. 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. Â 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). âOur voices can no longer be deniedâ: 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 âTop Surgery.â 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). âGender transitionâ 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 âunfairâ 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: Americaâs 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 GCCANâs 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)
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 OâMalley 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 RĂłisĂn 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. OâMalley, 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 âhavenât yet fully matured.â
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 Iâve 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, Womenâs Place UK, Judith Green, Labour Womenâs 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 OâMalley 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 OâMalleyâs 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: Itâs time to talk. GenderGP https://www.gendergp.com/blog/trans-kids-its-time-to-talk/
OâCallaghan, 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 OâMalley. The Standard https://thestandard.org.nz/notes-from-the-cata-conference-keynote-address-by-stella-omalley/
Kinchen, Rosie (November 18, 2018). Thank God they didnât 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 Kirkâs death has exposed the bigotry of the âBe Kindâ 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 Youâre Gender-Critical â and Youâre 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, âAffirmationâ-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 Expertâs 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 Theyâre Trans. Quillette https://quillette.com/2023/12/12/when-kids-say-theyre-trans/
OâMalley, 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), e32âe33. 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), e34âe35. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2352-4642(21)00236-4
O’Malley, Stella (May 4, 2021). Gaslighting the Concerned Parents of Trans ChildrenâA Psychotherapistâs 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.
Dianna T. Kenny is an Australian psychologist and anti-transgender extremist. Kenny was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric and Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group and is an ambassador to Australian anti-trans hate group Binary. Kenny contributed a chapter to a 2018 anti-trans book edited by Michele Moore and Heather Brunskell-Evans and has contributed to anti-trans blog Gender Clinic News by Bernard Lane.
Background
Dianna Theadora Kenny earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Sydney in 1975, followed by training in music and education. Kenny then attended Macquarie University, earning a master’s degree in 1980 and a doctorate in 1988. While in school, Kenny worked in troubled students. Kenny taught at University of Sydney from 1988 to 2019. In 2019 Kenny founded DK Consulting.
Selected writing by Kenny
Kenny, Dianna (February 4, 2025). Disoriented doctors: Trans social contagion affects not only teenage patients but the medical profession. Gender Clinic News https://www.genderclinicnews.com/p/disoriented-doctors
Kenny D (2025). Psychotherapy for Gender Dysphoric Young People: It Is Not About Gender. MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202508.0272.v1
Kenny, Dianna (August 15, 2024). Gender gymnastics: Society has tumbled off the vaulting horse of reality. Gender Clinic News https://www.genderclinicnews.com/p/gender-gymnastics
Kenny, Dianna (July 8, 2024). Not born this way: The psychic pandemic that drives transgender medicalisation can be arrested, but it demands sane leadership at the top as well as sensitive therapy. Gender Clinic News https://www.genderclinicnews.com/p/not-born-this-way
Kenny, Dianna (2021). The social contagion of gender dysphoria. https://diannakenny.com.au/the-social-contagion-of-gender-dysphoria/
Kenny, D. T. (2019). Gender development and the transgendering of children. In M. Moore & H. Brunskell-Evans (Eds.), Inventing transgender children and young people (pp. 93â107). Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Books
Kenny, Dianna (2025) InTRANSigence: Gender Ideology, Social Contagion, and the Making of a Transgender Generation. Independently published, ISBN 979-8262604371
- Kenny, Dianna (2024). Gender Ideology, Social Contagion, and the Making of a Transgender Generation. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, ISBN 978-1036414788
Media
TERF Talk Down Under (September 15, 2022). TERF Talk #48 Dr Dianna Kenny, the truth about gender dysphoria. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZbEsaJMvRU
Resources
Dianna T. Kenny (diannakenny.com.au)
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
Substack (substack.com)
X/Twitter (x.com)
Google Scholar (scholar.google.com)
Eric Weinstein is an American mathematician and former hedge fund manager. Weinstein was a managing director of Thiel Capital from 2013 until 2022.
Weinstein coined the term intellectual dark web (IDW), a social movement associated with anti-transgender activism and extremism. Weinstein has expressed fairly nuanced views of trans issues compared to most people considered part of the intellectual dark web.
Background
Eric Ross Weinstein was born on October 26, 1965 and has a younger sibling, Bret Weinstein. They grew up in Southern California.
Eric Weinstein earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Pennsylvania, then attended Harvard, earning a master’s degree, then a doctorate in 1992.
After teaching at MIT and Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Weinstein served as a managing director for Peter Thiel at Thiel Capital from 2013 until 2022.
Intellectual dark web
Weinstein coined the term intellectual dark web (IDW) in 2017 as a name for a loose alliance described as a “gateway to the far right.” Many are opponents of transgender rights. Members typically get money and attention by claiming to be “canceled” or silenced by the minorities and progressive movements they criticize (called DARVO in general; see also the Dregerian Narrative in relation to trans issues, named after IDW inaugural member Alice Dreger.
Podcast
Weinstein hosted a podcast called The Portal from 2019 to 2020. Guests included several critics of the transgender rights movement and their supporters, including Douglas Murray, J. D. Vance, Ross Douthat, James OâKeefe, Bret Weinstein, Anna Khachiyan, Tyler Cowen, Sam Harris, Bryan Callen, and Peter Thiel.
42: Cashing Out My Trump & IDW Positions
41: Douglas Murray â Heroism 2020: Defense of Our Own Civilization
- Douglas Murray 23 October 2020
40: Introducing The Portal Essay Club – What if everyone is simply insane?
39: Admission To Sugar Baby U.
- Kimberly de la Cruz 29 July 2020
38: Mass Media, Markets, and Human Malware: A Portal Q&A
37: Surfing the Wake of The Woke
- Andrew Marantz 1 July 2020
36: Dark Matter, Black Matters and All That Jazz
- Stephon Alexander 11 June 2020
35: Balaji Srinivasan – The Heretic & The Virus
- Balaji Srinivasan 21 May 2020
34: Zev Weinstein – On Parenting, Boys & Generation Z
- Zev Weinstein 13 May 2020
33: Josh Wolfe – The Mind Financing The Future
32: J. D. Vance – American Dreams and Nightmares
- J. D. Vance 29 April 2020
31: Ryan Holiday – Conspiracy, Manipulation & other Pastimes
- Ryan Holiday 23 April 2020
30: Ross Douthat – The Rave Before the Fall
- Ross Douthat 16 April 2020
29: Jamie Metzl – The Bio-Hacker will see you now, Ready or Not
- Jamie Metzl 12 April 2020
Special A Portal Special Presentation- Geometric Unity: A First Look
28: Eric Lewis – The Singular Genius of Elew
27: Daniel Schmachtenberger – On Avoiding Apocalypses
- Daniel Schmachtenberger 27 March 2020
26: James OâKeefe: What is (and isn’t) Journalism in the 21st century
- James OâKeefe 19 March 2020
25: The Construct: Jeffrey Epstein
24: Kai Lenny – To Play and Flirt with Giants
- Kai Lenny 28 February 2020
23: Agnes Callard – Courage, Meta-cognitive detachment and their limits
- Agnes Callard 24 February 2020
22: Ben Greenfield – Wheat From Chaff in Human Fitness
- Ben Greenfield 15 February 2020
21: Ashley Mathews (aka Riley Reid) – The mogul and brains behind America’s Sweetheart
- Ashley Mathews (aka Riley Reid) 31 January 2020
20: Sir Roger Penrose – Plotting the Twist of Einsteinâs Legacy
- Sir Roger Penrose 24 January 2020
19: Bret Weinstein – The Prediction and the DISC
- Bret Weinstein 18 January 2020
18: Slipping the DISC: State of The Portal and Chapter 2020
17: Anna Khachiyan – Reconstructing The Mystical Feminine From The Ashes Of âThe Feminine Mystiqueâ
- Anna Khachiyan 20 December 2019
16: Tyler Cowen – The Revolution Will Not Be Marginalized
- Tyler Cowen 16 December 2019
15: Garrett Lisi – My Arch-nemesis, Myself
- Garrett Lisi 6 December 2019
14: London Tsai – The Reclusive Dean of The New Escherians
- London Tsai 30 November 2019
13: Garry Kasparov – Avoiding Zugzwang in AI and Politics
- Garry Kasparov 23 November 2019
12: Vitalik Buterin – The Ethereal Prince and His Virtual Machine
- Vitalik Buterin 21 November 2019
11: Sam Harris – Fighting with Friends
- Sam Harris 15 November 2019
10: Julie Lindahl: Shaking the poisoned fruit of shame out of the family tree
- Julie Lindahl 31 October 2019
9: Bryan Callen – Cracking Wise
- Bryan Callen 30 October 2019
8: Andrew Yang – The Dangerously Different Candidate the Media Wants You to Ignore
- Andrew Yang 2 October 2019
7: Bret Easton Ellis – The Dark Laureate of Generation X
- Bret Easton Ellis 29 September 2019
6: Jocko Willink – The Way of the Violent Intellectual
- Jocko Willink 7 September 2019
5: Rabbi Wolpe – âSo a Rabbi and an atheist walk into a podcastâŠâ
- Rabbi David Wolpe 31 August 2019
4: Timur Kuran – The Economics of Revolution and Mass Deception
- Timur Kuran 20 August 2019
3: Werner Herzog
- Werner Herzog 25 July 2019
2: What is The Portal
1: Peter Thiel
Welcome to The Portal
References
-https://twitter.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1104080066139500544
Joe Rogan #1320 Gender Binary is a Form of Oppression – Eric Weinstein | Joe Rogan -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl9SBJ4JsAw
Resources
Eric Weinstein (ericweinstein.org)
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
YouTube (youtube.com)
Twitter (twitter.com)
Facebook (facebook.com)
Edge (edge.org)
Emily Bazelon is an American writer and anti-transgender activist whose work has been cited to support anti-trans legislation in America. Bazelon wrote a 2022 New York Times Magazine feature about trans healthcare for minors that anti-trans legislators use to justify bans and restrictions affecting healthcare and legal rights for people of all ages. This page documents Bazelon’s historic role in the oppression of trans and gender diverse people.
Background
Emily C. Bazelon was born March 4, 1971. Like many cisgender reporters on this subject, much of Bazelon’s life and many opinions were shaped by a medico-juridical worldview and by extraordinary privilege. Bazelon’s grandparent was federal judge David L. Bazelon, a pioneer in the field of mental health law and namesake of the nonprofit Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington DC. Bazelon’ parent Richard L. Bazelon (born 1943) is a lawyer, and parent Eileen A. Ferrin Bazelon (born 1944) is a psychiatrist. Both practice in Pennsylvania. Emily Bazelon has three siblings: Dana, Jill, and Lara.
Bazelon attended the elite Germantown Friends School, then graduated from Yale in 1993. Bazelon earned a law degree from Yale Law School in 2000 and served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal. Bazelon had a Dorot fellowship in 1993 and was named a Soros Justice Media Fellow in 2004. Bazelon clerked for Judge Kermit Lipez in 1997. Bazelon married Paul E. Sabin (born 1970). They have two children, Eli and Simon.
2022 New York Times piece
In June 2022, Bazelon published “The Battle Over Gender Therapy” in the New York Times. It is part of their long-running “cisgender person under siege” stories placing non-trans people at the center of their coverage of trans issues.
Bazelon’s piece is centered on cisgender psychiatrist Scott Leibowitz.
It also launders the extremist views of Genspect into the New York Times. Genspect defined the rise in transgender-identified children as a “gender cult” and mass craze, “suggesting that exposure to transgender kids, education about trans people, and trans ideas on the internet could spread transness to others.” Some parents from Genspect stated transgender people should not be able to transition until the age of 25. The article also referenced a Substack newsletter by an anonymous Genspect parent titled “It’s Strategy People!” about how the organization gets its perspective into the media by purposefully not referring to transgender children as “mentally ill” or “deluded.”
The article was criticized by transgender people, including Dr. Sunny Moraine, who described the article as “sanitizing wildly transphobic talking points,” and Instructor Alejandra Caraballo of Harvard Law School, who described it as having “only just further opened the door for eliminationist policies.”
PinkNews stated the article “uncritically platformed gender-critical group Genspect” and spread “vile rhetoric.”
The Texas Observer accused Bazelon of “elevat[ing] a handful of outliers and their discredited theories about trans people to prominence they do not enjoy among the medical community” for “the sake of ‘balance’ and objectivity” and that “the article echoes right-wing fear-mongering about whether trans kids should be allowed to transition and even suggests their existence could be dangerous to other young people.” The Observer notes, “All of this could have been avoided had Bazelon listened to more experts and included more transgender people. That includes Ky Schevers and Lee Leveille, who run a trans advocacy group called Health Liberation Now! Bazelon communicated extensively with them both while working on the article, conducting interviews that were ultimately discarded.” The Observer added that “the state of Texas is using it as evidence in an ongoing attempt to investigate trans-supportive healthcare as ‘child abuse’.” Schevers said “The NYT just platformed a group made up of transphobic parents & conversion therapists who’ve written about how they have the same end goals as hardline trans eliminationists but moderate their views to try to break into the mainstream.”
2023 attack on union leadership
Bazelon was also a signatory on the 2023 letter drafted by Jeremy W. Peters attacking their own union leadership. The Guild had raised concerns about the Times’ hostile work environment for trans journalists. A Times employee told the San Francisco Chronicle there were still no trans reporters on staff in 2023.
2023 Missouri Attorney General ruling
Below is an example of how Bazelon’s 2022 piece is used to deny healthcare and other rights to trans and gender diverse people living in Missouri.
15 CSR 60-17.010 Experimental Interventions to Treat Gender Dysphoria
(2) It is an unfair, deceptive, fraudulent, or otherwise unlawful practice for any person or health organization to provide a covered gender transition intervention to a patient (or refer a patient for such an intervention) if the person or health organization:
(D) Fails to ensure that the patient has received a full psychological or psychiatric assessment, consisting of not fewer than 15 separate, hourly sessions (at least 10 of which must be with the same therapist) over the course of not fewer than 18 months to explore the developmental influences on the patientâs current gender identity and to determine, among other things, whether the person has any mental health comorbidities; 32
32 Compare Bazelon, âThe Battle Over Gender Therapy,â The New York Times Magazine, June 15, 2022, updated March 17, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/15/magazine/gender-therapy.html (noting certain researchers admit and assert that only the Amsterdam clinic, âwith its comprehensive assessments,â has procured results showing strong psychological benefits for individuals who medically transitioned in adolescence, and observing the Amsterdam clinic currently requires âat least six monthly [mental health] sessionsâ following âa longer period on a waiting listâ prior to beginning treatment) [PDF]
Responses by Bazelon
Critics
Supporters
References
HLN (June 22, 2022). Health Liberation Now!âs Response to NYT Article âThe Battle Over Gender Therapy. Health Liberation Now! https://healthliberationnow.com/2022/06/22/health-liberation-nows-response-to-nyt-article-the-battle-over-gender-therapy/
Brand, Madeline (June 15, 2022). Why are doctors pulling away from gender-affirming health care? Press Play with Madeline Brand, KCRW https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/press-play-with-madeleine-brand/senate-nevada-lgbtq-jennifer-grey/trans-gender-health-care
McMenamin, Lexi (July 22, 2022). The New York Times, The Atlantic, More Keep Publishing Transphobia. Why? Teen Vogue https://www.teenvogue.com/story/nyt-transphobia-july-oped
Coyne, Jerry (July 14, 2022). A Congresswoman and an ACLU lawyer go after the New York Times for transphobia. Why Evolution Is True. https://whyevolutionistrue.com/2022/07/14/a-congresswoman-and-an-aclu-lawyer-go-after-the-new-york-times-for-transphobia/
Cockburn (June 9, 2022). NYT finally tackles gender therapy. Spectator World https://spectatorworld.com/topic/nyt-times-gender-therapy-trans-emily-bazelon/
Hilu, Charles (July 12, 2022). Rashida Tlaib Wants the New York Times to Suppress Facts about Trans Issues. National Review https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/rashida-tlaib-wants-the-new-york-times-to-suppress-facts-about-trans-issues/
Davis, Lisa Selin (June 30, 2022). The Misplaced Outrage at The New York Timesâ Gender-Affirming Care Article. Reality’s Last Stand https://www.realityslaststand.com/p/the-misplaced-outrage-at-the-new
Hollar, Julie (June 23, 2022). NYT Centers Trans Healthcare Story on DoctorsâNot Trans People. FAIR https://fair.org/home/nyt-centers-trans-healthcare-story-on-doctors-not-trans-people/
Baska, Maggie (June 16, 2022). New York Times faces searing backlash for publishing âharmfulâ anti-trans âpropagandaâ: âDo better.â PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/06/16/new-york-times-magazine-trans-article-backlash/
Lehrer, Brian (June 15, 2022) How Politics is Intruding on Medical Gender Therapy. The Brian Lehrer Show, WNYC https://www.wnyc.org/story/how-politics-intruding-on-medical-gender-therapy/
Staff report (March 4, 1966). Eileen Ferrin Engaged To Richard L. Bazelon. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1966/03/05/archives/eileen-ferrin-engaged-to-richard-l-bazelon.html
O’Connell, Kit (July 22, 2022). There Is No Legitimate ‘Debate’ Over Gender-Affirming Healthcare: A recent New York Times article that experts called inaccurate and unethical now serves as evidence in Texas against transgender kids. Texas Observer https://www.texasobserver.org/emily-bazelon-transgender-healthcare-debate-new-york-times/
Loewinger, Micah (August 11, 2023). Go Woke, Go Broke. On the Media https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/episodes/on-the-media-go-woke-go-broke
Bazelon Center: Our History http://www.bazelon.org/about/history/
Hernandez, Alec (April 7, 2015). Bazelon encourages writing carefully, but daringly. Yale Daily News https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2015/04/17/bazelon-encourages-writing-carefully-but-daringly/
Bazelon, Emily (15 June 2022). The Battle Over Gender Therapy. The New York Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20220616095935/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/15/magazine/gender-therapy.html
Baska, Maggie (16 June 2022). New York Times faces searing backlash for publishing ‘harmful’ anti-trans ‘propaganda’: ‘Do better.’ PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/06/16/new-york-times-magazine-trans-article-backlash/
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
X/Twitter (x.com)
Facebook (facebook.com)
Note: In 2025, this site phased out AI illustrations after artist feedback. The previous illustration is here.
Tucker Carlson is an American conservative media personality and anti-transgender activist.
Background
Tucker McNear Carlson was born May 16, 1969 in San Francisco to Lisa McNeal and Dick Carlson (born 1941), a broadcaster and lobbyist. Carlos has a younger sibling Buckley Swanson Peck Carlson. Carlson’s parents divorced in 1976, with Lisa moving to France. Dick Carlson then married Swanson Enterprises heir Patricia Caroline Swanson in 1979.
Carlson attended boarding school in Rhode Island and began dating future spouse Susan Andrews there. The yearbook says Carlson led the “Dan White Society.” White assassinated gay politican Harvey Milk.
Carlson worked for The Heritage Foundation at Policy Review, then wrote opinion pieces at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazett. Carlson joineed The Weekly Standard in 1995. A 1999 profile of George W. Bush for Talk magazine led to controversy as well as work at New York, Reader’s Digest, Esquire, Slate, The New Republic, The New York Times Magazine, The Daily Beast, and The Wall Street Journal.
In 2000 CNN hired Carlson to host The Spin Room and later Crossfire. In 2004, Jon Stewart harshly criticized Carlson and Paul Begala, which attributed to the show’s cancellation. Carlson adjusted to a different on-air tone after the incident.
In 2004, PBS aired Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered for about a year. In 2005 MSNBC aired Tucker until 2008.
From 2010 to 2020 Carlson was editor of The Daily Caller. In June 2020, Carlson sold his one-third stake in The Daily Caller following questions about the organization selling their mailing list the the Donald Trump campaign.
From 2009 to 2023 Carlson hosted an appeared on Fox News shows, including Red Eye, Hannity, Fox & Friends Weekend, and Tucker Carlson Tonight. In 2021 Fox entered into a multi-year contract to air and podcast and shows Tucker Carlson Originals and Tucker Carlson Today. Carlson was dismissed in 2023.
In 2023 Carlson relaunched on Twitter/X as host of Tucker on X.
Carlson has authored three books:
- Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites: My Adventures in Cable News (2003)
- Ship of Fools: How a Selfish Ruling Class is Bringing America to the Brink of Revolution (2018)
- The Long Slide: Thirty Years in American Journalism (2021)
Anti-transgender activism
Carlson hosted the 2022 two-part special “Transgressive: The Cult of Confusion,” showcasing the ex-transgender movement.
References
Grant, Melissa Gira (September 28, 2022). Doxxed Doctors, Library Bomb Threats, and Attacks on Pride Centers: A Week in Escalating Anti-LGBTQ Violence. The New Republic https://newrepublic.com/article/167882/rising-right-wing-lgbtq-threats-violence-tiktok-tucker-carlson
Goggin, Ben; Tenbarge, Kat (November 23, 2022). Right-wing influencers and media double down on anti-LGBTQ rhetoric in the wake of the Colorado shooting. NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/right-wing-influencers-media-double-anti-lgbtq-rhetoric-wake-colorado-rcna58371
Baker-Jordan, Skylar (September 20, 2022). Tucker Carlson’s latest LGBT rant proves he’s been radicalized. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/tucker-carlson-gay-trans-rant-radical-b2171570.html
Wiggins, Christopher (September 23, 2022). Tucker Carlson Says Hospitals Should Expect Threats Over Trans Care. The Advocate https://news.yahoo.com/tucker-carlson-says-hospitals-expect-163813949.html
Resources
Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)
GLAAD Accountability Project (glaad.org/gap)
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Susan Evans is a British psychoanalytic psychotherapist. Evans was a key critic of trans healthcare for gender diverse youth at the Tavistock. The clinic was later closed.
Evans and spouse Marcus Evans co-authored the 2021 book Gender Dysphoria: A Therapeutic Model for Working with Children, Adolescents and Young Adults.
Evans is involved with SPLC-designated hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM).
Background
Evans worked for 12 years at the Tavistock in the Adult Department, Youth Gender Identity Service and for the Portman Clinic in Probation officer supervision and as Programme Organiser and senior clinical lecturer. Evans was also a Senior Fellow of the University of East London.
Evans has been a member of the British Psychotherapy Foundation, London Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Service, and the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC).
2021 book
The following people are mentioned in the acknowledgements:
We are grateful to the following people who have generously given their time and expertise to the development of this book: Annie Pesskin, Ian Williamson, Richard Stephens, Margot Waddell, Frances Grier, and Ema Syrulnik, as well as all our colleagues at the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine. We are grateful to Kate Pearce at Phoenix for offering to publish this book.
2022 Tavistock closure
Evans was involved in the attacks on gender affirming care for gender diverse you at the Tavistock clinic, a federally funded gatekeeping facility with unethically long wait times due to underfunding.
Evans’ version of things was reported via anti-trans activist Bari Weiss:
I was a nurse working on a team that recklessly prescribed puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to kids. I blew the whistle in 2005. Now the government is finally listening.
References
Evans, Sue (August 4, 2022). How Tavistock Came Tumbling Down. The Free Press https://www.thefp.com/p/how-tavistock-came-tumbling-down
Resources
Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)
Evans Psychotherapy (evanspsychotherapy.co.uk)
X/Twitter (x.com)
Facebook (facebook.com)
Stephanie Davies-Arai is a British anti-transgender activist. Davies-Arai is director of Transgender Trend, a clinical advisor to anti-trans hate group Genspect, and has been involved in numerous anti-trans campaigns in the UK and beyond.
Background
According to Lily Maynard:
Stephanie & her twin sister Helen were born in Chester in the late 50s, hot on the heels of their older sister Gill. Their father was a bank manager and their mother a housewife and librarian, who managed and reorganised information systems for the Leicester police after their move to a small market town when the twins were seven.
Davies-Arai wrote: “I am a heterosexual woman who lived most of my childhood wanting to be a boy; for a few years my sister and I would answer to nothing except our ârealâ names: Bill and Mike. I entered puberty kicking and screaming.” The twins dressed as schoolboys and engaged in “tomboy” activities until age 12. At puberty Davies-Arai reportedly became bulimic.
Davies-Arai trained as a sculptor after attending Wyggeston Grammar School for Girls in Leicester. Davies-Arai earned a bachelor’s degree from Gwent College of Higher Education in 1979, took courses at St. Martins College, and earned a master’s degree from Bidai University of Art & Design in 1990. While there, Davies-Arai gave birth to the first of four children. Davies-Arai’s sculptures began to be primarily about pregnancy and motherhood.
Davies-Arai and spouse moved back to England. Davies-Arai’s oldest child had behavioral problems. In 2000, Davies-Arai was a founder of Lewes New School, a small private school in East Sussex where that child might get specialized attention. Davies-Arai became a certified educational trainer in 2003.
Materials on how to deal with troubled children led to Davies-Arai’s “parental rights” activism:
âIt was too child-centred. It kind of treated children as victims in a way, as if they always had a problem. It didnât seem to give permission for parental authority.â
In 2008 Davies-Arai and spouse divorced. Davies-Arai began the training course Communicating with Kids, which was later developed into a 2014 book.
Anti-trans activism
As the four children reached adulthood, Davies-Arai was writing a weekly parenting blog.
Davies-Arai founded Transgender Trend in 2015 after being outraged by an article titled “Parenting a Transgender Child” by Sarah Virginia White. Davies said:
Youâre validating a childâs false belief. You wouldnât get that in any other area, in any parenting book. Itâs not healthy when listening to your child becomes so key that it becomes âyou must agree with your childâ. If you believe that your child knows best, youâre then supposed to follow the child. The child becomes the adult and the adult becomes the child.â
After getting more and more into the transphobic “parental rights” movement, Davies-Arai produced an anti-trans schools guide “Supporting gender diverse and trans-identified students in schools” in 2018.
After Liz Truss announced plans to change the UK’s Gender Recognition Act in 2020, an open letter signed by about 8,000 cisgender women said “we are incredibly concerned that the language you have used is very similar to the anti-trans rhetoric used by transphobic hate groups and organisations such as Womanâs Place UK, Transgender Trend and the LGB Alliance.”
In 2022, Davies-Arai was awarded the British Empire Medal by Queen Elizabeth II.
References
Maynard, Lily (February 28, 2021). Stephanie Davies-Arai & the story of Transgender Trend. https://lilymaynard.com/stephanie-davies-arai-transgender-trend/
Davis, Lisa Selin (June 13, 2022). From Tomboy to Transgender Trend. https://lisaselindavis.substack.com/p/from-tomboy-to-transgender-trend
White, Sarah Virginia (February 20, 2015). Parenting a Transgender Child. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/parenting-a-transgender-child_b_6709858
Davies-Arai, Stephanie (2015). Is My Child Transgender? https://stephaniedaviesarai.com/is-my-child-transgender/
Resources
Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)
Stephanie Davies-Arai (stephaniedaviesarai.com)
Transgender Trend (transgendertrend.com)
Communicating with Kids (communicatingwithkids.co.uk) [archive]
HuffPost UK (huffingtonpost.co.uk)
X/Twitter (x.com)
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
