Luka Hein is an American ex-transgender activist. Hein gets money and attention by making it more difficult for others to get trans healthcare.
Background
Luka “Bunny” Hein was born January 29, 2002. Hein is a Minnesota native and grew up in Nebraska.
Hein had a “rough home life” and claims, “I was a young teenager with a history of mental health issues who was groomed and preyed upon online” which reached “the point of authorities getting involved.”
Hein’s parents were “scared” but supportive of Hein’s requests for trans healthcare after reportedly being “bullied and emotionally blackmailed” by healthcare professionals.
Hein received care at University of Nebraska Medical Center. Hein’s chest “was the biggest issue” and led to binding. In 2018, Hein requested and received top surgery with parental consent, then started hormones.
Hein stopped testosterone at age 20. Hein moved to Wisconsin for school and began traveling the country testifying against trans healthcare.
2023 lawsuit
The same activist law firm representing the handful of American ex-trans activists filed suit in Nebraska in 2023.
According to the filing, Hein’s alleged disorders, diseases, âcomorbidities,â problems, and maladies include:
parents divorced in 2015 (age 13)
struggled in school
could not concentrate
lost motivation
anxiety
panic attacks
lost appetite
easily angered
cutting
suicidal ideation
placed in a âpartial care psychiatric programâ (February 2017)
diagnosed depression (2017)
diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder (2017)
prescribed antipsychotic medication
groomed online by an older man
sent sexually explicit pictures to older man
police investigation after man made threats
traumatized
returned to a âpartial care psychiatric programâ (May 2017)
antipsychotic medication increased
prescribed SSRI
Coming out as trans (June 2017)
hated menses
uncomfortable with developing breasts
found transgender influencers online
ordered a chest binder
transferred from an all-girls school
moved from childhood home
changed name
began identifying as male
referred to UNMC Gender Clinic
UNMC Gender Clinic
met with Megan Smith-Sallans (July 2017)
met with Nahia Jean Amoura
diagnosed gender identity disorder (2017)
prescribed Xanax (August 2017)
More mental health care
stopped going to school
returned to a âpartial care psychiatric programâ (September 2017)
prescribed ADHD medication (September 2017)
overwhelmed by the custody arrangements
loneliness
UNMC Gender Clinic
referred for requested top surgery (October 2017)
Met with Perry Johnson, who noted âTypically, we would wait until the patient is a little bit older, but this would be influenced by the potential negative impact psychologically on the patient by prolonging the transition. […] I would require a letter from the patientâs therapist regarding the appropriateness of the operation and the appropriateness of the timing of the procedure.â
preoperative evaluation (July 3, 2018)
top surgery with Perry, assisted by Stephen Barrientos (July 26, 2018, age 16)
prescribed testosterone by Amoura (November 2018, age 16)
parents did not consent to hysterectomy
legal adulthood (January 29, 2020)
quit taking testosterone (late 2022, age 20)
informed Amoura of change in gender identity (January 10, 2023, age 20)
The lawsuit cites 2019 publications by anti-trans activists Paul Hruz and James Cantor.
Cat Cattinson is the stage name of Cat Girton, an American ex-transgender activist. Girton gets money and attention by making it more difficult for others to get trans healthcare.
Background
Catherina R. “Cat” Girton was born in April 1991 to John Girton (born 1942) and Linda Girton (born 1956).
When Girton brought up gender issues at age 15, both parents expressed concern. Girton earned an associate’s degree from Sierra College in 2014, then took a job at Biotechnology Calendar in 2016.
John and Cat occasionally perform music together. In 2017, Cat Girton released the album Local Vocals & Bizarre Guitar.
Girton began a medical transition at the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020, taking hormones for four months at age 29 before stopping. Girton claims that in that short time “my health and professional singing voice were damaged by experimental gender medicine.”
Girton earned a bachelor’s degree from University of California Santa Cruz in 2022.
Transition Justice
Girton teamed up with anti-trans group Partners for Ethical Care on “The Transition Justice Project, which connects “detransitioners and others negatively affected by gender medicine with legal assistance.”
Laura Becker is an American artist and ex-transgender activist.
Background
Laura Becker was born around 1997 in Wisconsin and has two younger siblings. Around age 11, Becker was reportedly diagnosed with “what would be considered autism now” and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Becker has reportedly been a mental hospital inpatient four times. Through Tumblr, Becker learned about gender identity and expression. Becker graduated from Wauwatosa East High School.
In 2016, at age 19, Becker began a medical transition with hormones, followed by top surgery at age 20 with Clifford King in Madison, Wisconsin.
Becker began the development of Funk God in 2017 after using it as a blog name.
Becker says identity and self-esteem issues led to “depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health concerns.” Around 2022, Becker made additional changes in gender identity and expression.
Becker earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 2022. Becker lives in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin metro area.
Ex-trans activism
Becker appears in No Way Back: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care, a 2023 anti-transgender film focusing on the ex-transgender movement. The film is controversial for including convicted sex offender David Arthur Kendall as one of the original ex-trans activists featured alongside Becker. Becker also provided artwork for the film.
Wortham, Jenna (November 16, 2018). On Instagram, Seeing Between the (Gender) Lines. The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/16/magazine/tech-design-instagram-gender.html
Carmel, Julia (December 4, 2021). Alok Vaid-Menon Finds Beauty Beyond Gender. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/04/style/alok-vaid-menon-artist-nonbinary-poet-activist.html
Jeffrey Marsh is an American author and media personality. Marsh identifies as nonbinary and is known for positive and affirming videos about self-acceptance.
In 2007, Marsh moved to New York and continued performing at cabarets. Works included a 2010 tribute to performer Julian Eltinge and a 2012 tribute to self-help guru Richard Simmons.
Marsh began a relationship with American art historian Jeffrey “Jeff” Fraiman and shared a website.
Activism
Marsh is well-known for affirming short-form videos on social media, particularly Vine, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
Marsh is the author of two books:
How to Be You: Stop Trying to Be Someone Else and Start Living Your Life (2016)
Take Your Own Advice: Learn to Trust Your Inner Voice and Start Helping Yourself (2023)
Marsh has worked with youth organization Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network and has contributed to TIME, Oprah.com, and Huffington Post.
Marsh says two things bring peace when faced with hatred. The first is Marsh’s mission in life to “bring forth what needs to be healed” in everyone. The second is a belief that people hate “so they don’t have to face their own pain,” something Marsh knows of from personal experience.
References
Whittington, Lewis (June 5, 2003). Taking the Stage. mycitypaper.com. [archive] https://mycitypaper.com/articles/2003-06-05/art.shtml
Hunka, George (February 11, 2010). Julian at Dixon Place. Culturebot. [archive] http://www.culturebot.org/2010/02/5530/julian-at-dixon-place/
Staff report (August 8, 2016). Jeffrey Marsh, Viner of the Year, says stop trying to be someone else and start living your life. cbslocal.com [archive] http://jackseattle.cbslocal.com/2016/08/08/jeffrey-marsh-viner-of-the-year-says-stop-trying-to-be-someone-else-and-start-living-your-life/
David Paisley is a Scottish actor and trans-inclusive LGBTQ+ rights activist.
Background
Paisley was born February 2, 1979 is originally from Falkirk. Paisley is one of seven children; Paisley’s parent Janet Paisley is a noted author.
David Paisley began acting as a teen and came out as gay at age 18. Paisley studied at University of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian University before committing to acting full-time.
Paisley is known for roles in Tinsel Town, River City, Holby City, Casualty, and Eastenders.
Transgender activism
Paisley has been critical of trans-exclusionary queers like the LGB Alliance.
In 2021, Paisley had a dispute with Joanna Cherry, a Scottish politician and gender critical activist. Paisley called out Cherry for making a donation to a crowdfunder backed by anti-trans pressure group Fair Cop. Cherry sent a letter demanding Paisley retract the message, apologize, pay ÂŁ500 to a charity of Cherry’s choice, and pay ÂŁ2,000 in legal costs.
Following significant online abuse, Paisley considered deleting all social media accounts and leaving Scotland.
Sam Brinton is an American nuclear engineer and LGBTQ activist. In 2022 Brinton briefly served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, the first openly genderfluid person in federal government leadership. The role ended after Brinton was accused of stealing luggage at airports.
Background
Samuel Otis Brinton was born in September 1987 and grew up in Perry, Iowa in a Baptist household. After coming out as bisexual, Brinton was reportedly sent to conversion therapy that practiced harsh aversion techniques. Much of Brinton’s subsequent activism focused on ending conversion therapy.
Brinton graduated from Perry High School in 2006, earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in 2011, and earned a dual master’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2013.
According to an official biography, prior to the DOE role, Brinton held energy policy roles at the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Breakthrough Institute, the Clean Air Task Force, Third Way, and Deep Isolation.
Brinton married Kevin Rieck in 2019.
Theft accusations
Shortly after taking office in 2022, Brinton was accused of theft of women’s luggage at airports. The investigation uncovered at least three cases:
Washington Reagan (2018): reportedly arrested in May 2023
Las Vegas (July 2022): pled no contest, paid restitution, 180-day suspended sentence
Minneapolis (September 2022): mental health evaluation ordered
The scandal received widespread media attention and cost Brinton the DOE job.
Susie Green is a British gender rights activist who focuses on transgender youth. Green helped her child Jackie medically transition as a minor, including gender affirming surgery in 2010 at age 16. Green was involved in the British charity Mermaids as a trustee from 2011 to 2015, then as CEO from 2016 to 2022.
Background
Susie Marie Green was born in December 1957. She was an IT manager for Citizens Advice from 2002 to 2015. Green lives in Yorkshire, and is married to Tim Green. They have four adult children, including twins.
Green gave a 2017 talk at TEDx Truro that was criticized by anti-trans activists. Green later removed the video.
Green was a consultant on the 2o18 ITV drama Butterfly and helped shape the WPATH chapter on children and adolescents.
She got involved at Mermaids in 2000 because her daughter Jackie was trying to navigate gender transition as a minor. During her time as CEO, the debate about transgender youth intensified, particularly following a ÂŁ500,000Â grant from the National Lottery and corporate sponsorships.
Under Green, Mermaids launched the first legal challenge of its kind against the LGB Alliance, a trans-exclusionary charity which is critical of “gender ideology.” Mermaids sought to end its charitable status.
In late 2022, Mermaids was hit with several setbacks. New Mermaids trustee Jacob Breslow resigned after a 2011 presentation he gave at a conference for minor-attracted persons held by B4U-ACT came to light. Complaints from staff led to an outside audit conducted by DEI consultants the Social Justice Collective. Days after Green resigned, UK’s Charity Commission launched a statutory inquiry into Mermaids after reports that they offered chest binders to teens whose parents opposed their transitions.
Green has been recognized for her contributions to the trans community on several occasions, including an event at Buckingham Palace. In 2016 she won the Diversity Champion Award. In 2023 Green joined GenderGP as project manager on the GenderGP Trans Youth Fund.
SJC (2022). EDI Audit: Recommendations and Next Steps. https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/EDI-Audit_-Recommendations-and-Next-Steps.pdf
Reverend Alexander Faludy is is a British Anglican priest who has written about trans issues in Hungary.
Background
Alexander “Alex” Faludy was born in 1983 and is grandchild of Hungarian poet György Faludy. Faludy is the youngest student admitted to Cambridge despite living with dyslexia. After earning a bachelor’s degree, Faludy did graduate studies at Oxford, then trained for the priesthood at Mirfield. Faludy served as parish priest in Newcastle from 2008 to 2018.
Trans coverage
Faludy has discussed the anti-LGBTQ policies enacted under Fidesz, Hungary’s right-wing populist party. They have rules prohibiting “promotion to minors” of subjects related to LGBTQ people. Faludi described in UnHerd how Hungary has also made legal change of gender impossible:
Ralph Leonard is a British-Nigerian writer who writes on international politics, religion, culture, and humanism.
2020 UnHerd article
Using a question India Willoughby posed on Big Brother about dating transgender people, Leonard wrote for anti-transgender publication UnHerd about the so-called “cotton ceiling” debate about cisgender women who won’t date trans women.
Unfortunately, two years on, the ethics of refusing transsexual people as dating partners remains a fraught subject: questions such as âIs it transphobic for lesbians not to date trans women?â are being discussed online. Again, they tend to arouse strong reactions. Some lesbians, for instance, have expressed concerns that raising the question of whether they âshouldâ be attracted to trans women is a surreptitious attempt to pressure, manipulate and guilt trip them into shifting their sexual boundaries into unwanted sex in the name of being more âopenâ.
Of course, there are lesbians who are reluctant to date trans women because they believe they are not actually women (or at least not women in the same way biologically born women are)â. But itâs worth remembering that lesbians have endured a long history of attempts to control their sexuality, whether through hideous practices such as religious indoctrination, conversion therapy or âcorrectiveâ rape to âmake them straightâ. And why focus the attack on lesbians, when many straight men would also reject trans women as a potential mate?
This obviously provokes a wider question: when does a preference become a convenient cover for bigotry and prejudice? On some level, as this tweet declares, âdating is discriminationâ. But the question provoked by that Big Brother episode was: when is discrimination acceptable, and when is it unacceptable?
References
Leonard, Ralph (October 7, 2020). Is dating discrimination? UnHerd https://unherd.com/2020/10/the-dangerous-politics-of-desire/