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Rebecca Allison, aka “Dr. Becky,” was an American cardiologist who created one of the earliest and most important online resources for transgender medical information.

Allison was deeply involved in transgender activism and served in leadership roles at GLMA and AMA.

Background

Rebecca Anne “Becky” Allison was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on December 21, 1946. Allison’s parents were Errol Ward Atkinson and Mabel Blackwell Atkinson.

Allison earned a medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1971. After working as a general practitioner, Allison completed a specialty in cardiology in 1987, but lost that practice within a year of making a gender transition.

Allison served as chief of cardiology at CIGNA based in Arizona starting in 1998. Allison was named one of Phoenix Magazine’s Top Doctors in Phoenix for 2006, 2007, and 2008. In 2012 Allison went into private practice before retiring in 2018.

Allison died on August 11, 2024 following a long illness.

Activism

Allison was a frequent contributor to the Grace and Lace Letter, an evangelical publication for trans and gender diverse people founded and edited by Lee Frances Heller in 1990.

In 1998, Allison created drbecky.com, a resource site focusing on the medical, legal, and spiritual aspects of gender transition. Among Allison’s innovations were a state-by-state listing on how to update a birth certificate, criticism of “autogynephilia,” criticism of The Man Who Would Be Queen by J. Michael Bailey, a digital version of a brochure on facial feminization surgery by Douglas Ousterhout, and a section on spirituality that collected Allison’s writings for the Grace and Lace Letter.

Allison and partner Margaux Schaffer performed in our 2004 all-transgender performance of The Vagina Monologues and appear in the accompanying documentary Beautiful Daughters.

Allison was instrumental in the passage of the 2008 American Medical Association policy “Removing Financial Barriers to Care for Transgender Patients” H-185.950.

In 2009, Allison joined our protest at the American Psychiatric Association protest for including Kenneth Zucker and Ray Blanchard on the revision committee for the DSM-V. After speaking at the protest, Allison gave a speech at the meeting:

Inside the conference, Rebecca Allison, MD, a transsexual and cardiologist from Phoenix, who also chairs the American Medical Association’s committee on LGBT issues, said that the ideal solution would be to remove GID from the DSM, but retain it in the International Classification of Diseases as a “gender variance.”

The reason? So that insurance companies continue to pay for expensive medical procedures, such as hormones and surgeries. “In a perfect world,” Allison said, “psychiatrists would treat patients with gender variance, but not for gender variance.”

Allison was also active in Soulforce and organized Phoenix Transgender Day of Remembrance with spouse Margaux Schaffer for many years.

References

American Medical Association (2024). 2024 LGBTQ+ Interim Meeting – Rebecca Allison Memorial. https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/i24-lgbtg-rebecca-allison-memorial.pdf

Jackson NC, Berlew GK (2024). “There is Not One Shred of Evidence That [Being Trans] is Not a Divine Gift”: Grace and Lace Letter and the Rhetorical Construction of an Evangelical Transfeminine Identity. Rhetoric Review43(3), 187–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/07350198.2024.2349840

American Heart Association (June 2022). Pride With Heart Ambassadors. https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/diversity-inclusion/pride-with-heart

Petros, George (November 2018). Dr. Becky Allison, Cardiologist. https://www.georgepetros.com/writings/tnt/Dr-Becky-Allison.htm

American College of Cardiology (July 1, 2016). Clinical Innovators: Advocating for Equal Treatment An Interview with Rebecca Allison, MD. https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2016/07/19/10/14/clinical-innovators

Avicolli-Mecca, Tommi (May 21, 2009). Being Transgender is Not a Mental Disorder. BeyondChron https://beyondchron.org/being-transgender-is-not-a-mental-disorder/

Selected publications

Deutsch MB, Green J, Keatley J, Mayer G, Hastings J, Hall AM, Allison R, Blumer O, Brown S, Cody MK, Fennie K, Moscoe G, St Claire R, Stone MR, Wilson A, Wolf-Gould C (2013). Electronic medical records and the transgender patient: recommendations from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health EMR Working Group. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, Volume 20, Issue 4, July 2013, Pages 700–703, https://doi.org/10.1136/amiajnl-2012-001472

Allison RA (2012). Ten things transgender persons should discuss with their health care provider. Gay and Lesbian Medical Association https://glma.org/10_things_transgender_people_s.php

Allison RA (2010). Aligning Bodies with Minds: The Case for Medical and Surgical Treatment of Gender Dysphoria. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health14(2), 139–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/19359701003609872

Allison RA (2007). Transsexualism. In Fink G (ed.) Encyclopedia of Stress (2nd Edition). Elsevier, ISBN 978-0-12-088503-9

Allison RA (2007). Transsexualism. In Pfaff D, Arnold A, Etgen A, Fahrbach S, Rubin R (eds.) Hormones, Brain, and Behavior (2nd Edition). Elsevier, ISBN 978-0-12-532104-4

Allison RA (April 13, 2003). The National Academy Meets The National Enquirer. Dr. Becky http://www.drbecky.com/blog05.html [archive]

Allison RA (1999, Summer). Autogynephilia: Reply to Dr. Anne Lawrence. Transgender Tapestry, 1(86), 50-52. https://archive.org/details/transgendertapes9220unse

Allison RA (December 16, 1998). Janice Raymond and Autogynephilia. Dr. Becky http://www.drbecky.com/raymond.html [archive] Also published in Transgender Tapestry #94, Spring 2001 https://archive.org/details/transgendertapes9320unse

Media

HRC Arizona (March 28, 2012). Dr Becky Allison Individual Equality Awardee. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dsujnNDhDY

Shadow Rock UCC (December 8, 2024). Celebration of Life – Dr. Rebecca Allison. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTSQLZtIR7c

Resources

Dr. Becky (drbecky.com) [archive]

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Like Her (likeher.org)

LGBTQ Religious Archives Network (lgbtqreligiousarchives.org)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Prabook (prabook.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

Thomas Steensma is a Dutch clinician who works with gender diverse youth. Steensma’s research and clinical guidelines are frequently cited by anti-transgender extremists who reject affirmative models of care for young people seeking trans health services.

Steensma is popular with transphobes for reporting high rates of “desistance” and “detransition.”

Anti-trans activists who cite Steensma include:

Background

Thomas D. Steensma, PhD works at the Department of Medical Psychology / Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Steensma’s research is focused on people of all ages with gender incongruence. Steensma’s primary projects focus on treatment evaluation, psychosexual development and (gender) identity development (including non-binary gender identities). Steensma studied social and clinical psychology, and is trained as a child and adolescent health psychologist.

“Desistance” research

In a 2013 paper, Steensma and co-authors stated that 63% of adolescents included in the study “desisted”:

Between 2000 and 2008, 225 children (144 boys, 81 girls) were consecutively referred to the clinic. From
this sample, 127 adolescents were selected who were 15 years of age or older during the 4-year period of follow-up between 2008 and 2012. Of these adolescents, 47 adolescents (37%, 23 boys, 24 girls) were identified as persisters.

Because this is one of the highest “desistance” rates reported, anti-trans activists frequently cite this study. Critics have discussed methodological issues, particularly how to count people lost to follow-up / non-responders.

Press coverage

In 2018 KQED reported:

In Amsterdam, clinicians at the Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria are much more cautious about recommending social transitions because of the statistics on desistance. Thomas Steensma, a researcher and clinician at the center, acknowledges  these studies probably included some kids who would not be diagnosed with gender dysphoria today. Nevertheless, despite the problems with the way they classified children, “the only evidence I have from studies and reports in the literature  … is that not all transgender children will persist in their transgender identity,” Steensma said.’Why are we asking a child to conform to something that is not them because society hasn’t done its learning yet?’

In 2013, Steensma co-authored an oft-cited study that examined 127 adolescents, all of whom had displayed various levels of gender dysphoria as children. The researchers found that 80 of the children had desisted by the ages of 15 and 16. That works out to 63 percent of kids who basically stopped being transgender — a lower rate than in previous studies, but still a majority.

Some clinicians criticize this study, however, on methodological grounds, because the researchers defined anyone who did not return to their clinic as desisting. Fifty-two of the children classified as desistors or their parents did send back questionnaires showing the subjects’ present lack of gender dysphoria. But 28 neither responded nor could be tracked down.

Brooks (2018)

References

Gorcenski, Emily (May 4, 2021). Jesse Singal Still Got More Wrong Than He Thinks. https://emilygorcenski.com/post/jesse-singal-still-got-more-wrong-than-he-thinks/

Singal, Jesse (July 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/

Singal, Jesse (April 4, 2021). A (Sorta) Quick Response To The Errors In Emily Gorcenski’s Article, “Jesse Singal Got More Wrong Than He Thinks” (Updated). Singal-Minded https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/a-sorta-quick-response-to-the-errors

Singal, Jesse (March 27, 2018). A Lot of People, Myself Included, Have Been Misreading the Single Biggest Published Study on Childhood Gender Dysphoria Desistance and Persistence — It Offers Stronger Evidence for Desistance Than We Thought. Medium https://medium.com/@jesse.singal/everyone-myself-included-has-been-misreading-the-single-biggest-study-on-childhood-gender-8b6b3d82dcf3

Navarro, Danielle (May 6, 2018). Nevertheless, she desisted: A brief review of Steensma et al (2013). https://djnavarro.net/desistance-essay/

Brooks, Jon (May 23, 2018). The Controversial Research on ‘Desistance’ in Transgender Youth. KQED https://www.kqed.org/futureofyou/441784/the-controversial-research-on-desistance-in-transgender-youth

Lane, Bernard (March 17, 2021 ). Dutch expert warns on ‘blind adoption’ of puberty blockers. The Australian https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/dutch-expert-warns-on-blind-adoption-of-puberty-blockers/news-story/d235ce6ebe409e8efde979f1ae0739cc

Research

Steensma TD, McGuire JK, Kreukels BPC, Beekman AJ, Cohen-Kettenis P.T (2013). Factors Associated With Desistence and Persistence of Childhood Gender Dysphoria: A Quantitative Follow-Up Study. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (Vol. 52, Issue 6, pp. 582–590). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2013.03.016

  • Comparison of surgical outcomes and urinary functioning after phalloplasty with versus without urethral lengthening in transgender men
    FPW de Rooij, WB van der Sluis, BL Ronkes, TD Steensma, M Al-Tamimi, International Journal of Transgender Health, 1-12 2022
  • P-506 Reflecting on the Importance of Family Building and Fertility Preservation: Transgender People’s Experiences with Starting Gender-affirming Treatment as Adolescent
    N Van Mello, I De Nie, J Asseler, M Arnoldussen, T Steensma, 

    Human Reproduction 37 (Supplement_1), deac107. 469 2022
  • Gender-affirmation surgery and bariatric surgery in transgender individuals in The Netherlands: Considerations, surgical techniques and outcomes
    WB van der Sluis, RJM Bruin, TD Steensma, MB Bouman
    International Journal of Transgender Health 23 (3), 355-361 2022
  • Differences in self-perception and social gender status in children with gender incongruence
    LR van der Vaart, A Verveen, HMW Bos, FB van Rooij, TD Steensma
    Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 13591045221099394 2022
  • MP20-09 COMPARISON OF CLINICAL OUTCOMES AFTER PHALLOPLASTY WITH VERSUS WITHOUT URETHRAL LENGTHENING IN TRANSGENDER MEN
    FPW de Rooij, WB van der Sluis, BL Ronkes, TD Steensma, M Al-Tamimi, 

    The Journal of Urology 207 (Supplement 5), e320 2022
  • Self-Perception of Transgender Adolescents after Gender-Affirming Treatment: A Follow-Up Study into Young Adulthood
    M Arnoldussen, AIR van der Miesen, WS Elzinga, AME Alberse, A Popma, 

    LGBT health 1 2022
  • Tailored Gender-Affirming Hormone Treatment in Nonbinary Transgender Individuals: A Retrospective Study in a Referral Center Cohort
    JB van Dijken, TD Steensma, SA Wensing-Kruger, M Heijer, 

    Transgender Health 2022
  • Talking About Sexuality With Youth: A Taboo in Psychiatry?
    SL Bungener, L Post, I Berends, TD Steensma, ALC de Vries, A Popma
    The Journal of Sexual Medicine 19 (3), 421-429 3 2022
  • Comparison of clinical outcomes after phalloplasty with versus without urethral lengthening in transgender men
    FPW de Rooij, WB Van der Sluis, BL Ronkes, TD Steensma, M Al-Tamimi,
    EUROPEAN UROLOGY 81, S1433-S1433 2022
  • Negative Media Coverage as a Barrier to Accessing Care for Transgender Children and Adolescents
    KC Pang, M Hoq, TD Steensma
    JAMA network open 5 (2), e2138623-e2138623 1 2022
  • Genderdysforie
    SA Wensing-Kruger, L Nes, TD Steensma
    Het lichaam en psychisch functioneren, 261-277 2022
  • Surgical and demographic trends in genital gender-affirming surgery in transgender women: 40 years of experience in Amsterdam
    WB van der Sluis, I de Nie, TD Steensma, NM van Mello, 

    British Journal of Surgery 109 (1), 8-11 1 2022
  • Psychological Functioning in Non-binary Identifying Adolescents and Adults
    NM de Graaf, B Huisman, PT Cohen-Kettenis, J Twist, K Hage, 

    Journal of sex & marital therapy 47 (8), 773-784 5 2021
  • Longitudinal Outcomes of Gender Identity in Children (LOGIC): study protocol for a retrospective analysis of the characteristics and outcomes of children referred to specialist 

    E Kennedy, C Lane, H Stynes, V Ranieri, L Spinner, P Carmichael, 

    BMJ open 11 (11), e054895 1 2021
  • Transgender specific problem situations experienced during transition: Development of a Transgender Coping Questionnaire part 1
    MJA Verbeek, MA Hommes, TD Steensma, AER Bos, J van Lankveld
    4th EPATH Hybrid Conference: Reconnecting and Redefining Transgender Healthcare 2021
  • Body image in children with gender incongruence
    A Verveen, BPC Kreukels, NM de Graaf, TD Steensma
    Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry 26 (3), 839-854 1 2021
  • Gender incongruence and gender dysphoria in childhood and adolescence—current insights in diagnostics, management, and follow-up
    H Claahsen-van der Grinten, C Verhaak, T Steensma, T Middelberg, 

    European Journal of Pediatrics 180 (5), 1349-1357 21 2021
  • Psychopathology in adult transgender people
    G Castellini, J Ristori, T Steensma
    European Psychiatry 64 (S1), S47-S47 2021
  • Reliability and clinical utility of gender identity-related diagnoses: comparisons between the ICD-11, ICD-10, DSM-IV, and DSM-5
    ALC De Vries, TF Beek, K Dhondt, HCW De Vet, PT Cohen-Kettenis, 

    LGBT health 8 (2), 133-142 3 2021
  • Proportion of people identified as transgender and non-binary gender in Brazil
    G Spizzirri, R EufrĂĄsio, MCP Lima, HR de Carvalho Nunes, BPC Kreukels,
    Scientific reports 11 (1), 1-7 33 2021
  • Protocol: Longitudinal Outcomes of Gender Identity in Children (LOGIC): study protocol for a retrospective analysis of the characteristics and outcomes of children referred to 

    E Kennedy, C Lane, H Stynes, V Ranieri, L Spinner, P Carmichael, 

    BMJ Open 11 (11) 2021
  • Sexual experiences of young transgender persons during and after gender-affirmative treatment
    S Bungener, ALC de Vries, A Popma, TD Steensma
    Pediatrics 146 (6) 6 2020
  • Suicidality in clinic-referred transgender adolescents
    NM de Graaf, TD Steensma, P Carmichael, DP VanderLaan, M Aitken, 

    European child & adolescent psychiatry, 1-17 15 2020
    Timing of puberty suppression and surgic

Steensma TD, Kreukels BPC, de Vries ALC, Cohen-Kettenes PT (2013). Gender identity development in adolescence. Hormones and Behavior, July 2013, 64(2) pp. 288-297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.02.020

Henriette A Delemarre-van de Waal, Peggy T Cohen-Kettenis (2006). Clinical management of gender identity disorder in adolescents: a protocol on psychological and paediatric endocrinology aspects. European Journal of Endocrinology, Volume 155, Issue Supplement_1, Nov 2006, Pages S131–S137, https://doi.org/10.1530/eje.1.02231 [archive]

Resources

ResearchGate (researchgate.net)

Google Scholar (scholar.google.com)

Amsterdam VUMC (research.vumc.nl/en)

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

Robyn Kanner is an American marketing executive and graphic designer who has worked on several corporate and political projects. Kanner created a resource project for the trans community and has published several first-person essays.

Kanner is a favorite among anti-progressives for embracing “detransition” as a legitimate term.

Background

Robyn Grace Kanner was born July 9, 1987 and grew up in Fairfield, Maine. After initially studying history at a local college, Kanner took art classes at University of Maine at Farmington and University of Minnesota. Kanner then worked as a graphic designer at several companies in Portland, Maine before moving to Boston to do graphic design at Staples and New Balance. After working on user experience design at Amazon, Kanner moved to Brooklyn and did design work for Etsy.

In 2015 Kanner and The Betsy Community Fund crowdfunded $33,000 via Kickstarter for MyTransHealth, a website and app listing gender-supportive resources. The project included co-founders Kade Clark and Amelia Gapin, but at some point Gapin left the project for unstated reasons. Their service provider directory was updated for a couple of years, until around 2018.

After working on the creative for Beto O’Rourke’s presidential campaign, Kanner worked as a creative advisor on the 2020 Biden campaign. Kanner’s work included revising Aimee Brodbeck’s campaign logo to include Kamala Harris as well as various designs within the themes of the campaign and inauguration. In 2021 Kanner founded design firm Studio Gradients and serves as Vice President of Digital at STG.

Kanner has written about struggling with alcohol and drugs. In 2010 Kanner was arrested in Farmington, Maine for driving under the influence of drugs after crashing into parked cars and a sign. Kanner got sober in summer 2018 and has described how running helps in staying sober.

When a Child Says She’s Trans (2018)

Kanner has been critical of podcasters Katie Herzog and Jesse Singal for the ways in which they have covered trans issues, especially the ex-transgender movement. Kanner has written about struggling with gender identity and has unfortunately embraced the controversial term “detransition” to describe that gender expression. In fact, Kanner’s reification of the term is one reason Herzog and Singal are so keen to put Kanner forth as a representative of the trans community.

Kanner was one of the people who published responses to Singal’s widely-criticized 2018 Atlantic piece, “When a Child Says She’s Trans.” Below are some key passages:

Singal is eager throughout his piece to stress to his readers that young people who are exploring a trans identity might not be trans. Singal notes, “Some kids are dysphoric from a very young age, but in time become comfortable with their body.” With this, Singal is attempting to provide hope to parents that their child who says they’re trans might not be. He leaves enough doubt for you to consider gatekeeping your child’s identity. This is irresponsible.

Singal goes on to express how investigating that identity could cause harm, if adolescents begin physical transitions: “Some of these interventions are irreversible. People respond differently to cross-sex hormones, but changes in vocal pitch, body hair, and other physical characteristics, such as the development of breast tissue, can become permanent.” Here, it sounds like Singal is essentially trying to scare readers into not letting young trans people be themselves.

He implies that if you are a parent of a child who is exploring a trans identity, then you should be in a state of panic. Moreover, it behooves you, as a parent, to draw a line in the sand, marking just how far you should let your child explore their identity. 

When adults prevent young people from sifting through their identity, it leads to self-harm or worse.

There’s something so glaringly obvious about the people Singal interviewed for his feature on detransitioning. Did you catch it? They’re all alive.

Kanner (2018)

“Cancel culture” comments

Kanner became a darling of anti-progressives and members of the “intellectual dark web” after comments critical of online shaming. Kanner posted a personal phone number and invited critics to call. As part of this commitment to stopping the cycle of online shaming, Kanner has spoken directly with both Singal and Herzog on podcasts despite the criticisms of their work. Podcaster Dylan Marron described Kanner’s response to Herzog’s piece “The Detransitioners” for The Stranger:

In the summer of 2017 journalist Katie Herzog wrote a piece that was widely criticized. Ultimately she found herself at the bottom of a social media pile-on. 3,000 miles east of Katie, a woman named Robyn Kanner joined that pile-on tweeting “ur just trash.” In this episode, taped live in front an audience, Katie and Robyn meet onstage for the first time to discuss what happened between them, and the unlikely twist that brought them closer than they would have ever guessed.

Marron (2020)

In 2019, Kanner appeared on Singal’s podcast to discuss online shaming, but they did not go into Singal’s work or Kanner’s criticism of it. Singal claimed, “I think it would be great to have a critic of my work on the subject on my podcast at some point, whether it’s Robyn or someone else, and I’m looking into possibilities on that front because I’d like that to happen.”

Anti-trans activist Meghan Daum also praised Kanner for defending writers who have been criticized for their views:

In February of this year, Kanner was on the receiving end of the same kind of Twitter invective. Her crime: writing a New York Times op-ed expressing compassion for Ryan Morgan, a 17-year-old Wisconsin boy profiled in a much-maligned Esquire cover story about the difficulties of growing up white, male, middle-class, and conservative (his parents support President Trump) in the era of #MeToo, MAGA and and “toxic masculinity.” The magazine itself was criticized for the story but Morgan himself also became a target of online invective.

Daum (2019)

References

Bryant, Ann (January 28, 2010). Driver arrested after crashing into two parked cars. Lewiston Sun Journal

Kanner, Robyn (June 22, 2018). I Detransitioned. But Not Because I Wasn’t Trans. The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/06/i-detransitioned-but-not-because-i-wasnt-trans/563396/

Daum, Meghan (June 26, 2019) The Outrage Antidote: Writer and recovering Twitter-holic Robyn Kanner on social media call-out culture and making a human connection. https://gen.medium.com/the-outrage-antidote-a8c2a76a4789

Christine, Theresa (March 9, 2021). After a Winning Election Campaign Design, Robyn Kanner Has Started Her Own Studio. Print https://www.printmag.com/post/after-a-winning-election-campaign-design-robyn-kanner-has-started-her-own-studio

Marron, Dylan (January 26, 2020) Episode 32: Trash. Conversations with People Who Hate Me https://podbay.fm/p/conversations-with-people-who-hate-me/e/1580101260

Olcott, Mike (February 3, 2011). Making Noise: Designer making the seen with Portland’s best bands. Portland Press Herald

Singal, Jesse (May 23, 2019). Those Who Speak Out Against Cancel Culture Must Be Cancelled Immediately (Robyn Kanner). Singal-Minded / Substack https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/those-who-speak-out-against-cancel

Essmaker, Tina (June 13, 2017). Robyn Kanner. The Great Discontent https://thegreatdiscontent.com/interview/robyn-kanner/

Zanger, Doug (April 25, 2017 ). Changing the transgender narrative through design and care. The Drum https://www.thedrum.com/news/2017/04/25/changing-the-transgender-narrative-through-design-and-care

Smith, Lilly (December 22, 2020). Design for all Americans: How Biden’s design team helped defeat Trump. Fast Company https://www.fastcompany.com/90583515/design-for-all-americans-how-bidens-design-team-helped-defeat-trump

Resources

MyTransHealth (mytranshealth.com) [last updated ~2018] [archive]

Studio Gradients (studiogradients.com)

Studio Mosaic (studiomosaic.co)

  • mosaicstg.com

Robyn Kanner (robynkanner.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

  • robynkanner [deleted]

Instagram (instagram.com)

  • robynkanner [deleted]

Medium (medium.com)

  • robynkanner [deleted – archive]

Muck Rack (muckrack.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Chartwell Speakers (chartwellspeakers.com)

  • Robyn Kanner [removed – archive]

The Atlantic (theatlantic.com)

New York Times (nytimes.com)

VICE (vice.com)

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

“Kiira Triea” aka Denise Magner was an American computer programmer, hoaxer, and troll. Magner was one of the worst transgender internet trolls of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, using many fake names and accounts to attack perceived enemies.

Magner was a key “autogynephilia” activist, primarily through the transkids.us hoax site and through collaborations with academic fraudsters Alice Dreger and J. Michael Bailey.

Like many “autogynephilia” activists, Magner was an eccentric hoarder living in desperate poverty. Dreger and Bailey are notorious for exploiting these kinds of people, who seek validation and attention from those they see as authority figures.

In this section:

Background

Magner falsely claimed to be born as late as 1964 in published interviews and writing. Magner was born September 2, 1951.

Magner claimed to have been a patient at Johns Hopkins Gender Identity Clinic in the mid-1970s, having genital surgery at age 14. Magner was not at Johns Hopkins at age 14. Magner did not have surgery at age 14. Magner did not know or interact with unethical sexologist John Money’s victim David Reimer in any way. There is no independent evidence that Magner was ever even at the Johns Hopkins clinic or the Psychohormonal Research Unit. It’s entirely possible Magner cobbled together this biography from relative Nancy Henley, who earned a Ph.D. there. Magner made countless other bogus biographical claims. Magner later tried to scrub these from the internet when the lies piled up so deep they began to contradict each other.

Magner died of cancer on November 2, 2012 at age 61.

Kiira Triea (right) with a non-transgender woman.
Kiira Triea (right) with a non-transgender woman.
Kiira Triea and swastika.
Kiira Triea posing by a swastika.

Trolling

Magner used a multitude of aliases and sockpuppet accounts during decades of trolling. The primary ones were:

  • Denise Magner
  • Deni
  • Denise Tree
  • Kiira Triea (pronounced “KEER-uh TREE”)
  • Ariika Aeirt
  • Janelle Laren
  • Reykja Kirby Sigurdson
  • Stephanie Alexandra Velasquez
  • Gisle Benediktsson

Gender critical activism

Magner has been cited as evidence by those opposed to trans rights, including an amicus curiae brief submitted to the Supreme Court:

Transgender advocates seek to expand sex to include a host of subjective criteria, such as a person’s “brain gender” and the child-rearing they receive,42 “social activities,”43 and even “[w]ho one dates.”44 One amicus asserts that gender is “fluid” with a “continuous dimension of masculinity/femininity”45 But these ideological factors cannot define what it means to be male or female.46

This was submitted by anti-trans groups that include:

  • The American College of Pediatricians
  • The Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture
  • The Christian Medical and Dental Associations
  • The National Catholic Bioethics Center

References

Cowan, Zagria (September 13, 2010). Kiira Triea (1951 – 2012) intersex/HSTS activist, guitarist, Linux geek. A Gender Variance Who’s Who https://zagria.blogspot.com/2010/09/kiira-triea-1951-2012-intersexhsts.html

-https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/18/18-107/113231/20190822134020283_18-107%20Amici%20BOM%20National%20Medical%20and%20Policy%20Groups.pdf

Bailey JM, [Magner D] (2007). What many transsexual activists don’t want you to know and why you should know it anyway. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 50, 521–534. https://doi.org/10.1353/pbm.2007.0041

Triea K, Diamond M, Reiner WG (2009). Results from a pediatric surgical center justify intervention in disorders of sex development. J Pediatr Surg 2009 Sep;44(9):1863; author reply 1863-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2009.04.038

Resources

In this section:

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

John Gale Kenney is an American plastic surgeon and artist who served the transgender community.

Background

John Gale Kenney was born on January 13, 1950.

Kenney practiced with Milton Edgerton and focused on surgery to repair burns and traumatic injuries. In 1984, they wrote the influential article “The bladder flap for urethral reconstruction in total phalloplasty.”

After retiring from medicine, Kenney moved to South Carolina and focused on painting.

Publications

Kenney JG, DiMercurio S, Angel M. Tissue-expanded radial forearm free flap in neck burn contracture. J Burn Care Rehabil. 1990 Sep-Oct;11(5):443-5. PMID: 2246314

Stuart JD, Morgan RF, Kenney JG. Single-donor fibrin glue for hand burns. Ann Plast Surg. 1990 Jun;24(6):524-7. PMID: 2363566

Kenney JG, Fairbanks DW, Berman DE. The dartos musculocutaneous island flap in urethral reconstruction. Ann Plast Surg. 1990 Jan;24(1):63-7. PMID: 2301886

Stuart JD, Kenney JG, Lettieri J, Spotnitz W, Baker J. Application of single-donor fibrin glue to burns. J Burn Care Rehabil. 1988 Nov-Dec;9(6):619-22. PMID: 2464603

Bardakjian VB, Kenney JG, Edgerton MT, Morgan RF. Pulse oximetry for vascular monitoring in burned upper extremities. J Burn Care Rehabil. 1988 Jan-Feb;9(1):63-5. PMID: 2965708

Stuart JD, Kenney JG, Morgan RF. Pediatric burns. Am Fam Physician. 1987 Oct;36(4):139-46. PMID: 3673860

Mayer NE, Kenney JG, Edlich RC, Edlich RF. Fractures in women lacrosse players: preventable injuries. J Emerg Med. 1987 May-Jun;5(3):177-80. PMID: 3429809

Kenney JG, Smoot EC, Morgan RF, Shapiro D. Recognizing the temporomandibular joint ganglion. Ann Plast Surg. 1987 Apr;18(4):323-6. PMID: 3579173

Edlich RF, Kenney JG, Morgan RF, Nichter LS, Friedman HI, Rodeheaver GT. Antimicrobial treatment of minor soft tissue lacerations: a critical review. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 1986 Aug;4(3):561-80. Review. PMID: 3522205

Edlich RF, Kenney JG, Nichter LS, Silloway KA, Horowitz JH. Toxic epidermal necrolysis. Compr Ther. 1986 May;12(5):43-9. PMID: 3709103

Horowitz JH, Nichter LS, Kenney JG, Morgan RF. Lawnmower injuries in children: lower extremity reconstruction. J Trauma. 1985 Dec;25(12):1138-46. PMID: 2866256

Silloway KA, Morgan RC, Kenney JG, Edlich RF. The arcuate skin staple: its influence on pain of staple penetration and removal. Am J Surg. 1985 Nov;150(5):612-4. PMID: 4061743

Silloway KA, Morgan RF, Kenney JG, Edlich RF. Innovations in skin suture removal. Am J Surg. 1985 Jun;149(6):799-801. PMID: 4014557

Cardany CR, Rodeheaver GT, Horowitz JH, Kenney JG, Edlich RF. Influence of hydrotherapy and antiseptic agents on burn wound bacterial contamination. J Burn Care Rehabil. 1985 May-Jun;6(3):230-2. PMID: 3855197

Tribble CG, Persing JA, Morgan RF, Kenney JG, Edlich RF. Lightning injuries. Compr Ther. 1985 Feb;11(2):32-40. PMID: 3971698

Morgan RF, Nichter LS, Haines PC, Kenney JG, Friedman HI, Edlich RF. Management of head and neck burns. JBurn Care Rehabil. 1985 Jan-Feb;6(1):20-38. Review. No abstract available. PMID: 3916420

Edgerton MT, Gillenwater JY, Kenney JG, Horowitz J. The bladder flap for urethral reconstruction in total phalloplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1984 Aug;74(2):259-66. PMID: 6540460

Keenan KM, Rodeheaver GT, Kenney JG, Edlich RF. Surgical cautery revisited. Am J Surg. 1984 Jun;147(6):818-21. PMID: 6731701

Bryant CA, Rodeheaver GT, Reem EM, Nichter LS, Kenney JG, Edlich RF. Search for a nontoxic surgical scrub solution for periorbital lacerations. Ann Emerg Med. 1984 May;13(5):317-21. PMID: 6711927

Edlich RF, Nichter LS, Morgan RF, Persing JA, Van Meter CH Jr, Kenney JG. Burns of the head and neck. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 1984 May;17(2):361-88. Review. No abstract available. PMID: 6377194

McIntire MR, Morgan RF, Kenney JG, Edgerton MT. Postoperative protection for the external ear. Ann Plast Surg. 1983 Sep;11(3):261-2. PMID: 6638828

Archival contact information

  • Address: 914 E Jefferson St # 202 Charlottesville, VA 22902-5376
  • Phone: (434) 296-3622
  • University of Virginia Medical Center, Gender Identity Clinic, P. O. Box 376 Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA

Resources

Anderson Kenney Fine Art (andersonkenney.com)

University of Virginia Archives (archives.lib.virginia.edu/)

John Ronald Brown was an American surgeon who served the trans and gender diverse community. Brown’s career was dogged by legal troubles related to poor patient outcomes and deaths. Nicknamed “Butcher Brown” by the trans community, Brown was imprisoned for continuing to practice medicine after losing medical licensure.

Background

John Ronald Brown was born on July 14, 1922 and died in prison on May 16, 2010.

In the 1970s, Brown and partner James Spence were offering genital surgeries in San Francisco and planned a full-service clinic for medical gender transition, but those plans fell apart in 1973.

Transgender healthcare

Brown was one of the earliest surgeons to use an informed consent model, and many of Brown’s patients had been rejected by gender clinics with strict gatekeeping for trans healthcare. Brown also performed surgeries on patients seeking other kinds of body modification that colleagues would not perform. Many of Brown’s patients were desperate or poor, and they felt Brown was their best available option or only option.

Among other procedures, Brown offered orchiectomy, a crude vaginoplasty, and illegal silicone injections. Brown’s prices were often one-tenth of the cost of going elsewhere, and patients did not have to wait two years or more as was common at the time.

The quality of Brown’s results was generally considered unacceptable, earning Brown the nickname “Butcher Brown” among our community. Community-wide warnings about Brown’s dangerous practice were one of the most organized and unified examples of trans and gender diverse consumer activism in the 20th century.

Sanctions and convictions

In 1977, Brown’s medical license was revoked following the death of a patient, citing “gross negligence, incompetence and practicing unprofessional medicine in a manner which involved moral turpitude.” Brown then began illegally operating on patients in Mexico.

In 1990 Brown was convicted and imprisoned for practicing medicine without a license. Brown began performing illegal surgeries again following release.

In 1998, Brown performed an elective leg amputation for a patient who wished to have one leg removed. After the patient died from complications, Brown was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Brown died in prison from complications of pneumonia on May 16, 2010.

References

Cowan, Zagria (May 19, 2017) John Ronald Brown (1922 – 2010) surgeon – Part I https://zagria.blogspot.com/2017/05/john-ronald-brown-1922-2010-surgeon.html

Cowan, Zagria (May 19, 2017) John Ronald Brown: part II. https://zagria.blogspot.com/2017/05/john-ronald-brown-part-ii.html

Moore, Michelle. (2003, October). TG in history: Butcher John Ronald BrownTG Community News, 19-24. http://dallasdenny.com/Writing/2013/11/01/butcher-john-ronald-brown-2002/

Ciotti, Paul (December 15, 1999). Why did he cut off that man’s leg? LA Weekly https://www.laweekly.com/why-did-he-cut-off-that-mans-leg/

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Murderpedia (murderpedia.org)

Peggy Cohen-Kettenis is a Dutch psychologist who helped found an important early clinic that served trans and gender diverse youth and adolescents.

Cohen-Kettenis has also held harmful views about transgender people, particularly around disease models. Cohen-Kettenis published with many anti-trans psychologists, including J. Michael Bailey, Kenneth Zucker, Ray Blanchard, Stephen Levine, Susan Coates, and Richard Green.

Background

Peggy T. Cohen-Kettenis was born in 1948 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesia declared independence from the Dutch on August 17, 1945, and the family left in 1951 when it became dangerous for Dutch colonialists to stay, since Cohen-Kettenis’ seminal parent was a police commissioner. After arriving at The Hague, they moved to Rotterdam, then Utrecht.

Cohen-Kettenis attended Stedelijk Gymnasium Utrecht and Johan de Witt Gymnasium Dordrecht and earned a doctorate fromUtrecht University in 1973.

  • Professor of Medical Psychology VUmcVUmc Sep 2002 – Jul 2013
  • Professor UMC Utrecht Sep 1987 – Sep 2002
  • Nederlands Instituut van Psychologen (NIP) logo Voorzitter Sector G 1997 – 2000

Cohen-Kettenis served as Professor of gender development and psychopathology at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht.

Transgender research

In 1987, Cohen-Kettenis started the first outpatient clinic in Europe for children and adolescents with gender problems and intersex conditions.

Cohen-Kettenis was a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Standards of Care Committee and of the Task Force of the Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline on the endocrine treatment of gender-dysphoric/gender-incongruent persons. She was Chair of APA’s DSM-5 GID subcommittee and member of the WHO ICD-11 Working Group on Sexual Disorders and Sexual Health.

Comments on J. Michael Bailey and Ray Blanchard

Below are critical reactions Louis Gooren and Cohen-Kettenis shared about sexologists J. Michael Bailey and Ray Blanchard, following publication of Bailey’s lurid 2003 book on sex and gender minorities, The Man Who Would Be Queen.

Psychologist Peggy Cohen-Kettenis reacts less negative. She is, after reading parts of the book not surprised about the row, but “when Bailey says that sexual preference and gender identity are not two entirely independent dimensions, he is not necessarily wrong”, she says.

In contrast to Bailey, Cohen-Kettenis expresses herself very diplomatic. As no other she knows the sensitivity of this terrain and the ease with which a “conflict can be created around this issue”. The psychologist agrees that not all transsexuals are heavily gender-dysphoric in youth. She attributes the dominance of “the woman captured in a man’s body” image, to it’s endless repetition by the media.

[…] Gooren is scathing about Blanchard’s work. […] Cohen-Kettenis shares Gooren’s objections to terms like homosexual and non-homosexual transsexuals. She would rather differentiate between early and late onset transsexuals. But apart from the terminology, these groups are very similar to those of Bailey and Blanchard.
Primary TSs are more often homosexual while secondary TSs usually have had straight relationships before entering treatment, Cohen-Kettenis explains.
“In the second group, during puberty cross-dressing is often paired with sexual excitement ” she says. “When they enter treatment however, the cross dressing is very restful”.

Cohen-Kettenis estimates half the number of TSs are secondary TSs. Whether all secondary TSs have had a autogynephile history she cannot say. “Extreme gender dysphoria can, I think, come to be in all sorts of ways. Secondary TSs are a very diverse group. We also see people who still are autogynephile.”

Cohen-Kettenis thinks that patient care will not be influenced by this theory. TSs do not have to fear that Cohen would see autogynophilia as a disqualification for treatment. The decisive factor is the suffering of the client, and whether treatment can indeed help to relieve the pain. In this, Blanchard and Bailey agree and mention that autogynophiliacs do not have a higher rate of post-treatment regrets.

References

Navarro, Danielle (May 6, 2018). Nevertheless, she desisted: A brief review of Steensma et al (2013). https://djnavarro.net/desistance-essay/

Cantor, James (December 15, 2017). Statistics faulty on how many trans- kids grow up to stay trans-? http://www.sexologytoday.org/2017/12/faulty-statistics-on-how-many-trans.html

Singal, Jesse (July 25, 2016). What’s Missing From the Conversation About Transgender Kids. New York https://www.thecut.com/2016/07/whats-missing-from-the-conversation-about-transgender-kids.html

Serano, Julia (August 2, 2016). Detransition, Desistance, and Disinformation: A Guide for Understanding Transgender Children Debates. Medium https://juliaserano.medium.com/detransition-desistance-and-disinformation-a-guide-for-understanding-transgender-children-993b7342946e

Vermij, Peter (September 27, 2003). Een man gevangen in een mannenlichaam. NRC https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2003/09/27/een-man-gevangen-in-een-mannenlichaam-7655797-a1162822 Translation: Arianne van der Ven.

Selected publications by Cohen-Kettenis

Dan J. Stein, Peter Szatmari, Wolfgang Gaebel, Michael Berk, Eduard Vieta, Mario Maj, Ymkje Anna de Vries, Annelieke M. Roest, Peter de Jonge, Andreas Maercker, Chris R. Brewin, Kathleen M. Pike, Carlos M. Grilo, Naomi A. Fineberg, Peer Briken, Peggy T. Cohen-Kettenis & Geoffrey M. Reed (2020). Mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders in the ICD-11: an international perspective on key changes and controversies. BMC Med 18, 21 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-1495-2

E Coleman, W Bockting, M Botzer, P Cohen-Kettenis, G DeCuypere, … Standards of care for the health of transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming people, version 7 International journal of transgenderism 13 (4), 165-232

WC Hembree, PT Cohen-Kettenis, L Gooren, SE Hannema, WJ Meyer, … Endocrine treatment of gender-dysphoric/gender-incongruent persons: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 102 (11), 3869-3903

WC Hembree, P Cohen-Kettenis, HA Delemarre-Van De Waal, LJ Gooren, … Endocrine treatment of transsexual persons: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 94 (9), 3132-3154

Steensma, T. D., McGuire, J. K., Kreukels, B. P., Beekman, A. J., & Cohen-Kettenis, P. T. (2013). Factors associated with desistence and persistence of childhood gender dysphoria: a quantitative follow-up studyJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(6), 582–590.

ALC De Vries, JK McGuire, TD Steensma, ECF Wagenaar, … Young adult psychological outcome after puberty suppression and gender reassignment Pediatrics 134 (4), 696-704

ALC De Vries, TD Steensma, TAH Doreleijers, PT Cohen‐Kettenis Puberty suppression in adolescents with gender identity disorder: A prospective follow‐up study The journal of sexual medicine 8 (8), 2276-2283

MSC Wallien, PT Cohen-Kettenis Psychosexual outcome of gender-dysphoric children Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 47 (12 â€Š

TD Steensma, R Biemond, F de Boer, PT Cohen-Kettenis Desisting and persisting gender dysphoria after childhood: a qualitative follow-up study Clinical child psychology and psychiatry 16 (4), 499-516

CM Wiepjes, NM Nota, CJM de Blok, M Klaver, ALC de Vries, … The Amsterdam cohort of gender dysphoria study (1972–2015): trends in prevalence, treatment, and regrets The journal of sexual medicine 15 (4), 582-590

TD Steensma, JK McGuire, BPC Kreukels, AJ Beekman, … Factors associated with desistence and persistence of childhood gender dysphoria: a quantitative follow-up study Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 52 (6), 582-590

ALC De Vries, PT Cohen-Kettenis Clinical management of gender dysphoria in children and adolescents: the Dutch approach Journal of homosexuality 59 (3), 301-320

TD Steensma, BPC Kreukels, ALC de Vries, PT Cohen-Kettenis Gender identity development in adolescence Hormones and behavior 64 (2), 288-297

ALC De Vries, ILJ Noens, PT Cohen-Kettenis, IA van Berckelaer-Onnes, … Autism spectrum disorders in gender dysphoric children and adolescents Journal of autism and developmental disorders 40, 930-936

PT Cohen-Kettenis, LJG Gooren Transsexualism: a review of etiology, diagnosis and treatment Journal of psychosomatic research 46 (4), 315-333

PT Cohen-Kettenis, SHM Van Goozen Sex reassignment of adolescent transsexuals: a follow-up study Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 36 (2), 263-271

M Aitken, TD Steensma, R Blanchard, DP VanderLaan, H Wood, … Evidence for an altered sex ratio in clinic‐referred adolescents with gender dysphoria The journal of sexual medicine 12 (3), 756-763

J Drescher, P Cohen-Kettenis, S Winter Minding the body: Situating gender identity diagnoses in the ICD-11 International Review of Psychiatry 24 (6), 568-577

GM Reed, J Drescher, RB Krueger, E Atalla, SD Cochran, MB First, … Disorders related to sexuality and gender identity in the ICD‐11: revising the ICD‐10 classification based on current scientific evidence, best clinical practices, and human â€Š World psychiatry 15 (3), 205-221

SHM Van Goozen, PT Cohen-Kettenis, LJG Gooren, NH Frijda, … Gender differences in behaviour: Activating effects of cross-sex hormones Psychoneuroendocrinology 20 (4), 343-363

YLS Smith, SHM Van Goozen, AJ Kuiper, PT Cohen-Kettenis Sex reassignment: outcomes and predictors of treatment for adolescent and adult transsexuals Psychological medicine 35 (1), 89-99

PT Cohen-Kettenis, F PfÀfflin Transgenderism and intersexuality in childhood and adolescence: Making choices Sage

HA Delemarre-Van De Waal, PT Cohen-Kettenis Clinical management of gender identity disorder in adolescents: a protocol on psychological and paediatric endocrinology aspects European Journal of Endocrinology 155 (Supplement_1), S131-S137

PT Cohen-Kettenis, F PfÀfflin The DSM diagnostic criteria for gender identity disorder in adolescents and adults Archives of sexual behavior 39 (2), 499-513

PT Cohen-Kettenis, A Owen, VG Kaijser, SJ Bradley, KJ Zucker Demographic characteristics, social competence, and behavior problems in children with gender identity disorder: A cross-national, cross-clinic comparative analysis Journal of abnormal child psychology 31, 41-53

PT Cohen‐Kettenis, HA Delemarre‐Van De Waal, LJG Gooren The treatment of adolescent transsexuals: changing insights The journal of sexual medicine 5 (8), 1892-1897

ALC de Vries, TAH Doreleijers, TD Steensma, PT Cohen‐Kettenis Psychiatric comorbidity in gender dysphoric adolescents Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 52 (11), 1195-1202

G Heylens, E Elaut, BPC Kreukels, MCS Paap, S Cerwenka, … Psychiatric characteristics in transsexual individuals: multicentre study in four European countries The British Journal of Psychiatry 204 (2), 151-156

W Meyer III, WO Bockting, P Cohen-Kettenis, E Coleman, D Diceglie, … The Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association’s standards of care for gender identity disorders, sixth version Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality 13 (1), 1-30

YLS Smith, SHM Van Goozen, PT Cohen-Kettenis Adolescents with gender identity disorder who were accepted or rejected for sex reassignment surgery: a prospective follow-up study Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 40 (4), 472-481

JF Strang, H Meagher, L Kenworthy, ALC de Vries, E Menvielle, … Initial clinical guidelines for co-occurring autism spectrum disorder and gender dysphoria or incongruence in adolescents Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology

KJ Zucker Gender identity disorder in children and adolescents Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol. 1 (1), 467-492

J Olson-Kennedy, PT Cohen-Kettenis, BPC Kreukels, … Research priorities for gender nonconforming/transgender youth: gender identity development and biopsychosocial outcomes Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity 23 (2), 172-179

T F. Beek, PT Cohen-Kettenis, BPC Kreukels Gender incongruence/gender dysphoria and its classification history International Review of Psychiatry 28 (1), 5-12

B Kuiper, P Cohen-Kettenis Sex reassignment surgery: a study of 141 Dutch transsexuals Archives of sexual behavior 17, 439-457

HEH Pol, PT Cohen-Kettenis, NEM Van Haren, JS Peper, RGH Brans, … Changing your sex changes your brain: influences of testosterone and estrogen on adult human brain structure European Journal of Endocrinology 155 (Supplement_1), S107-S114

TC Van de Grift, E Elaut, SC Cerwenka, PT Cohen-Kettenis, … Surgical satisfaction, quality of life, and their association after gender-affirming surgery: a follow-up study Journal of sex & marital therapy 44 (2), 138-148

BPC Kreukels, PT Cohen-Kettenis Puberty suppression in gender identity disorder: the Amsterdam experience Nature Reviews Endocrinology 7 (8), 466-472

D Slabbekoorn, SHM Van Goozen, J Megens, LJG Gooren, … Activating effects of cross-sex hormones on cognitive functioning: a study of short-term and long-term hormone effects in transsexuals Psychoneuroendocrinology 24 (4), 423-447

E Coleman, W Bockting, M Botzer, P Cohen-Kettenis, G DeCuypere, … & Zucker, K.(2012). Standards of care for the health of transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming people, version 7 International journal of transgenderism 13 (4), 165-232

SHM Van Goozen, PT Cohen-Kettenis, LJG Gooren, NH Frijda, … Activating effects of androgens on cognitive performance: Causal evidence in a group of female-to-male transsexuals Neuropsychologia 32 (10), 1153-1157

MSC Wallien, H Swaab, PT Cohen-Kettenis Psychiatric comorbidity among children with gender identity disorder Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 46 (10 â€Š

YLS Smith, SHM Van Goozen, AJ Kuiper, PT Cohen-Kettenis Transsexual subtypes: Clinical and theoretical significance Psychiatry research 137 (3), 151-160

TC van de Grift, PT Cohen-Kettenis, TD Steensma, G De Cuypere, … Body satisfaction and physical appearance in gender dysphoria Archives of sexual behavior 45, 575-585

PT Cohen-Kettenis, SHM Van Goozen Pubertal delay as an aid in diagnosis and treatment of a transsexual adolescent European child & adolescent psychiatry 7 (4), 246-248

BPC Kreukels, IR Haraldsen, G De Cuypere, H Richter-Appelt, L Gijs, … A European network for the investigation of gender incongruence: the ENIGI initiative European Psychiatry 27 (6), 445-450

PT Cohen-Kettenis, SEE Schagen, TD Steensma, ALC de Vries, … Puberty suppression in a gender-dysphoric adolescent: a 22-year follow-up Archives of sexual behavior 40, 843-847

ALC de Vries, TD Steensma, PT Cohen-Kettenis, DP VanderLaan, … Poor peer relations predict parent-and self-reported behavioral and emotional problems of adolescents with gender dysphoria: a cross-national, cross-clinic comparative analysis European child & adolescent psychiatry 25, 579-588

TF Beek, BPC Kreukels, PT Cohen‐Kettenis, TD Steensma Partial treatment requests and underlying motives of applicants for gender affirming interventions The journal of sexual medicine 12 (11), 2201-2205

J Drescher, PT Cohen-Kettenis, GM Reed Gender incongruence of childhood in the ICD-11: controversies, proposal, and rationale The Lancet Psychiatry 3 (3), 297-304

KJ Zucker, PT Cohen-Kettenis, J Drescher, HFL Meyer-Bahlburg, … Memo outlining evidence for change for gender identity disorder in the DSM-5 Archives of Sexual Behavior 42, 901-914

TC Van De Grift, E Elaut, SC Cerwenka, PT Cohen-Kettenis, … Effects of medical interventions on gender dysphoria and body image: a follow-up study Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine 79 (7), 815-823

SEE Schagen, PT Cohen-Kettenis, HA Delemarre-van de Waal, … Efficacy and safety of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment to suppress puberty in gender dysphoric adolescents The journal of sexual medicine 13 (7), 1125-1132

TO Nieder, M Herff, S Cerwenka, WF Preuss, PT Cohen-Kettenis, … Age of onset and sexual orientation in transsexual males and females The journal of sexual medicine 8 (3), 783-791

PT Cohen-Kettenis Gender identity disorder in DSM? Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

TD Steensma, PT Cohen-Kettenis Gender transitioning before puberty? Archives of sexual behavior 40, 649-650

LJJJ Vrouenraets, AM Fredriks, SE Hannema, PT Cohen-Kettenis, … Early medical treatment of children and adolescents with gender dysphoria: An empirical ethical study Journal of Adolescent Health 57 (4), 367-373

PT Cohen-Kettenis, TD Steensma, ALC De Vries Treatment of adolescents with gender dysphoria in the Netherlands Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics 20 (4), 689-700

I Becker, TO Nieder, S Cerwenka, P Briken, BPC Kreukels, … Body image in young gender dysphoric adults: a European multi-center study Archives of sexual behavior 45, 559-574

PT Cohen-Kettenis, SHM Van Goozen, CD Doorn, LJG Gooren Cognitive ability and cerebral lateralisation in transsexuals Psychoneuroendocrinology 23 (6), 631-641

BPC Kreukels, B Köhler, A Nordenström, R Roehle, U Thyen, C Bouvattier, … Gender dysphoria and gender change in disorders of sex development/intersex conditions: results from the dsd-LIFE study The Journal of Sexual Medicine 15 (5), 777-785

PT Cohen-Kettenis, D Klink Adolescents with gender dysphoria Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 29 (3), 485-495

TD Steensma, J Van der Ende, FC Verhulst, PT Cohen‐Kettenis Gender variance in childhood and sexual orientation in adulthood: A prospective study The Journal of Sexual Medicine 10 (11), 2723-2733

SHM Van Goozen, D Slabbekoorn, LJG Gooren, G Sanders, … Organizing and activating effects of sex hormones in homosexual transsexuals. Behavioral neuroscience 116 (6), 982

AL De Vries, TA Doreleijers, PT Cohen-Kettenis Disorders of sex development and gender identity outcome in adolescence and adulthood: understanding gender identity development and its clinical implications.Pediatric endocrinology reviews: PER 4 (4), 343-351

AS Staphorsius, BPC Kreukels, PT Cohen-Kettenis, DJ Veltman, … Puberty suppression and executive functioning: an fMRI-study in adolescents with gender dysphoria Psychoneuroendocrinology 56, 190-199

C Schneider, S Cerwenka, TO Nieder, P Briken, PT Cohen-Kettenis, … Measuring gender dysphoria: a multicenter examination and comparison of the Utrecht gender dysphoria scale and the gender identity/gender dysphoria questionnaire for â€Š Archives of Sexual Behavior 45, 551-558

SEE Schagen, FM Wouters, PT Cohen-Kettenis, LJ Gooren, SE Hannema Bone development in transgender adolescents treated with GnRH analogues and subsequent gender-affirming hormones The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 105 (12), e4252-e4263

MSC Wallien, R Veenstra, BPC Kreukels, PT Cohen-Kettenis Peer group status of gender dysphoric children: A sociometric study Archives of Sexual Behavior 39, 553-560

MSC Wallien, KJ Zucker, TD Steensma, PT Cohen-Kettenis 2D: 4D finger-length ratios in children and adults with gender identity disorder Hormones and Behavior 54 (3), 450-454

R Blanchard, KJ Zucker, PT Cohen-Kettenis, LJG Gooren, JM Bailey Birth order and sibling sex ratio in two samples of Dutch gender-dysphoric homosexual males Archives of Sexual Behavior 25, 495-514

E Hoekzema, SEE Schagen, BPC Kreukels, DJ Veltman, … Regional volumes and spatial volumetric distribution of gray matter in the gender dysphoric brain Psychoneuroendocrinology 55, 59-71

ALC De Vries, PT Cohen-Kettenis, H Delemarre-Van De Waal Clinical management of gender dysphoria in adolescents International Journal of Transgenderism 9 (3-4), 83-94

SB Levine, GR Brown, E Coleman, PT Cohen-Kettenis, JJ Hage, … The standards of care for gender identity disorders Journal of psychology & human sexuality 11 (2), 1-34

L Cohen, C De Ruiter, H Ringelberg, PT Cohen‐Kettenis Psychological functioning of adolescent transsexuals: Personality and psychopathology Journal of clinical psychology 53 (2), 187-196

SR Vance Jr, PT Cohen-Kettenis, J Drescher, HFL Meyer-Bahlburg, … Opinions About the DSM Gender Identity Disorder Diagnosis: Results from an International Survey Administered to Organizations Concerned with the Welfare of â€Š International Journal of Transgenderism 12 (1), 1-14

NM de Graaf, PT Cohen-Kettenis, P Carmichael, ALC de Vries, K Dhondt, … Psychological functioning in adolescents referred to specialist gender identity clinics across Europe: a clinical comparison study between four clinics European child & adolescent psychiatry 27, 909-919

TC Van de Grift, PT Cohen-Kettenis, E Elaut, G De Cuypere, …A network analysis of body satisfaction of people with gender dysphoria Body image 17, 184-190

AJ Kuiper, PT Cohen-Kettenis Gender role reversal among postoperative transsexuals International Journal of Transgenderism 2 (3), 1-6

SL Bungener, TD Steensma, PT Cohen-Kettenis, ALC De Vries Sexual and romantic experiences of transgender youth before gender-affirmative treatment Pediatrics 139 (3)

KJ Zucker, R Green, S Coates, B Zuger, PT Cohen‐Kettenis, GM Zecca, … Sibling sex ratio of boys with gender identity disorder Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 38 (5), 543-551

TD Steensma, PT Cohen-Kettenis, KJ Zucker Evidence for a change in the sex ratio of children referred for gender dysphoria: data from the center of expertise on gender dysphoria in Amsterdam (1988–2016) Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy 44 (7), 713-715

LJJJ Vrouenraets, AM Fredriks, SE Hannema, PT Cohen-Kettenis, … Perceptions of sex, gender, and puberty suppression: A qualitative analysis of transgender youth Archives of sexual behavior 45, 1697-1703

S Cerwenka, TO Nieder, P Cohen-Kettenis, G De Cuypere, … Sexual behavior of gender-dysphoric individuals before gender-confirming interventions: a European multicenter study Journal of sex & marital therapy 40 (5), 457-471

Media

Archief Gedragswetenschappen (ADNG) (October 4, 2021). Peggy Cohen-Kettenis (1948) Oral History ADNG. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDO4FkI5F9o

Resources

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Amsterdam UMC (amsterdamumc.org)

Jessica Simpson, also 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.

Simpson ran a tech review website called Trusted Nerd while working at call centers and doing tech support. Simpson was a frequent participant in Langley township council meetings, often on gender-related controversies.

Litigation and legal issues

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.

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.

Also 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.

In 2019 Simpson also unsuccessfully proposed a topless “all-bodies swim” at a Langley township public pool for ages 12 and up, with parents and guardians prohibited.

Anti-trans author and activist Lindsay Shepherd was briefly banned from Twitter in 2019 after exchanging insults with Simpson. 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 filled 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.

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. 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’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.

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 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.

References

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 journalistWestern Standard https://www.westernstandard.news/bc/watch-transgender-activist-yaniv-found-guilty-of-assaulting-journalist/article_f6c746be-dd34-11ec-932e-4bf58217e946.html

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/

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/

Wood, Graeme (July 25, 2019). Genital waxing complainant’s topless-OK youth LGBTQ2S+ swim proposal delayed by Township of LangleyNorth 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]

Claxton, Mathew (August 23, 2019). Controversial Langley transgender activist arrested over stun gunAldergrove Star. Black Press Group Ltd. https://www.aldergrovestar.com/news/controversial-langley-transgender-activist-arrested-over-stun-gun [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 đŸ€ą 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

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

Resources

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)

  • trustednerd [taken over by critic associated with meowmix.online]

Virginia Hughes is an American writer and anti-transgender activist who is responsible for much of the transgender coverage in the New York Times science section since 2020.

Background

Virginia Cooper “Ginny” Hughes (born 1984) grew up in Marshall, Michigan. Hughes’ family ran a local business. Hughes graduated from the Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center. Hughes then earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Brown University in 2005, then a master’s degree in science writing from Johns Hopkins in 2006. Hughes interned at NPR and Discover during that time.

Hughes then began freelancing and took a role at ScienceBlogs/Seed Media Group. Hughes married Randal “Randy” Vegter in 2012.

Hughes joined BuzzFeed in 2015, rising to Deputy Editor in Chief in 2019. Hughes joined the science desk at the New York Times in 2020 and soon helped bring over Azeen Ghorayshi and Katie J.M. Baker to write slanted pieces about gender diverse youth.

Hughes has served as an adjunct professor at NYU’s journalism school.

References

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

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

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

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

Kalish, Lil (February 15, 2023). These New York Times contributors say the paper’s coverage of gender issues is hurting trans peopleBuzzFeed News. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/lilkalish/trans-writers-open-letter-nyt-biased-coverage

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

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

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

Eckert, AJ (December 4, 2022). What the New York Times gets wrong about puberty blockers for transgender youthScience-Based Medicine https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/what-the-new-york-times-gets-wrong-about-puberty-blockers-for-transgender-youth/

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

Resources

Virginia Hughes (virginiahughes.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

NYU Journalism (journalism.nyu.edu)

Muck Rack (muckrack.com)

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

John Higgon is a British psychologist and anti-transgender activist. Higgon is supportive of the disputed diagnosis “rapid onset gender dysphoria” and supports “gender exploratory therapy,” a form of non-affirming care for trans youth. Higgon is involved with SPLC-designated hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), which led to the creation of conversion therapy lobby group Genspect.

Background

Higgon is a psychologist with Dumfries & Galloway Health & Social Care. Much of Higgon’s work is with older patients.

Anti-transgender activism

Higgon was one of several signatories who praised the Cass Review that finally closed the UK’s inefficient Tavistock youth gender clinic and opened the door for decentralized care for gender diverse youth. Higgon and friends celebrated the closure for different reasons in a response. Co-signers were:

  • Angela Dixon, GP
  • Dr David Bell, Retired Consultant Psychiatrist
  • Dr Lucy Griffin, Consultant Psychiatrist
  • Dr Seth Bhunoo, Consultant Psychiatrist
  • Dr Sallie Baxendale, Consultant Neuropsychologist. Honorary Associate Professor UCL
  • Dr Az Hakeem, Consultant Psychiatrist. Hon Clinical associate professor UCL
  • Dr Louise Irvine, GP
  • Dr John Higgon, Consultant Clinical neuropsychologist
  • Dr Madeleine Ni Dhalaigh, GP
  • Dr Robin Ion, Senior lecturer in mental health nursing
  • Bob Withers, Analytical Psychotherapist
  • Prof David Pilgrim, Chartered Clinical Psychologist
  • Dr Maja Bowen [aka “Isidora Sanger”/”la scapigliata”
  • Dr Tessa Katz, GP
  • Dr Ellen Wright, GP

Higgon syas:

We think the current guidelines effectively prohibit psychologists from taking a questioning approach and applying ethical practice in these situations. The absence of a robust evidence base supporting psychological and medical intervention is a concern in this rapidly growing population, leaving significant gaps in our understanding of many relevant issues. The disproportionate increase in presentations of females to services, the phenomenon of so-called Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria, the voices of individuals who have desisted or detransitioned, and the experiences of those for whom existing treatments have been of value must all be addressed in the search for quality research informing best-evidence practice. Such research can only be conducted in an environment that is open to discussion in a respectful and professionally inquisitive manner.

References

Staff report (April 8, 2020). Specialist HD Staff Appointed to Support Families in Dumfries & Galloway. Scottish Huntington’s Association https://hdscotland.org/specialist-hd-staff-appointed-to-support-families-in-dumfries-galloway/

Higgon et al (03 August 2022). Time for honest reflection, not defence. The British Psychological Society https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/time-honest-reflection-not-defence

Higgon et al (03 September 2020). Freedom of expression around diversity guidelines. The British Psychological Society https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/freedom-expression-around-diversity-guidelines

David Bell, Lucy Griffin, Seth Bhunoo, Sallie Baxendale, Az Hakeem, Louise irvine, John Higgon, Madeleine Ni Dhalaigh, Robin Ion, Bob Withers, David Pilgrim, Maja Bowen, Tessa Katz, Ellen Wright (2022). Comment: Review of gender identity services for children and young people. BMJ 2022; 376 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o629 (Published 10 March 2022)Cite this as: BMJ 2022;376:o629

Resources

Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care (dghscp.co.uk)

ResearchGate (researchgate.net)

YouTube (youtube.com)