“Shape Shifter” is the stage name of July R. Carlan, an American accountant and ex-transgender activist who gets money and attention by making it harder for others to get trans healthcare.
Background
July Roxella Carlan was born on July 11, 1990. Carlan had a “consensual” sexual experience at age 11 and came out as gay to unaccepting parents at 16.
At age 22 in graduate school, Carlan learned about nonbinary identities and booked an appointment at Fenway Health in Boston on November 15, 2012. At the initial consultation, Carlan described a pattern of high-risk sexual behavior as well as incidents of anti-LGBT discrimination and assault. Carlan also expressed a desire to become pregnant.
Affter signing an informed consent form on December 27, 2012, Carlan began hormones via Fenway Health. In a follow-up appointment in March 2013, a therapist noted Carlan’s “internalized transphobia,” because Carlan wanted to “be seen as more than a trans woman.”
By mid-December 2013, Carlan reported inconsistent use of hormones in order to regain sexual function and engage in high-risk sexual behavior. In December 2014, Carlan reported:
- depression and anxiety
- seeking validation through sex
- struggles with sexual compulsivity and hopes that GRS will reduce sexual urges
- did not want to take hormones in order to enjoy sex
- could not find a job in finance and had “begun a career in strip dancing”
In the first half of 2015, Carlan had multiple therapy sessions and received clearance for bottom surgery.
After getting elective bottom surgery as an adult, Carlan “realized I was just a castrated man.” Carlan has sometimes identified as a “homosexual transsexual,” a term promoted by anti-transgender activists.
On or about May 10, 2022, at age 31, Carlan publicly announced plans to make additional gender changes. Carlan no longer identifies as a trans woman, “but as a gender-non-conforming man.” Carlan reportedly just liked feminine clothing and makeup.
Carlan is a Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts. Carlan is in a relationship with a “sugar daddy” who is nearly 50 years older. Howard Carlan (born December 6, 1941) goes by “Cat Man” in their videos.
Anti-transgender activism
Carlan has regret about taking some medical gender transition steps and has found an anti-trans audience who wants to amplify these rare cases of regret.
In 2022, Carlan testified against healthcare for trans youth before the Florida Board of Medicine.
In addition to numerous media appearances about regret, Carlan has also been critical of trans athletes and supports misinformation and conspiracy theories about trans healthcare.
In 2022, Carlan launched a YouTube channel featuring videos about transition regret. In 2024, all original content was deleted and it was converted into an AI slop channel featuring similar content about regret.
Lawsuit
On October 12, 2023, Carlan filed a lawsuit against Fenway Community Health Center. Carlan was repreented by Mitra N Forouhar. On March 28, 2025 Judge Myong J. Joun entered a decision that “Fenway is dismissed from this action.”
On April 2, 2025, Carlan filed an appeal.
References
Staff report (November 13, 2023). MA Lawsuit Claims Trans Medical Care is Gay Conversion Therapy. Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/ma-lawsuit-trans-care-gay-conversion
Sum News (November 2016). New Members. mscpa.org https://digitaleditions.sheridan.com/publication/?i=355533&p=20&view=issueViewer
Coverage in anti-trans press
LGB Courage Coalition (January 6, 2025). One Way Only: Questioning the Trans Narrative and Breaking Free from a Singular Path to Authenticity. https://lgbcouragecoalition.substack.com/p/one-way-only-questioning-the-trans
Lucia, Gary (November 12, 2023). The ‘gender affirming care’ lawsuits keep coming… Flashing Green https://flashinggreen.substack.com/p/the-gender-affirming-care-lawsuits
Dansky, Kara (November 27, 2023). Some thoughts on a few interesting recent “detransition” lawsuits. https://karadansky.substack.com/p/some-thoughts-on-a-few-interesting
Sapir, Leor; Figliolia, Joseph (November 8, 2023). Medicine with a “Transgender Bias.” City Journal https://www.city-journal.org/article/medicine-with-a-transgender-bias
Staff report (October 18, 2023). Shape Shifter v. Fenway Health: Latest US Detransitioner Court Case Exposes Faults with “Gender-Affirming Care.” https://genspect.org/emerging-court-cases-highlight-critical-issues-in-gender-affirming-healthcare-shape-shifter-v-fenway-health/
Deshpande, Neera (September 13, 2022). Slow-Motion Trans Wreck: The ghastly fad of genital mutilation will end when the lawsuits begin. The American Mind https://americanmind.org/salvo/slow-motion-trans-wreck/
Gordon, James (August 27, 2022). ‘I was brainwashed by the trans community’: Detransitioner reveals he regrets having his penis removed and says woke doctors didn’t warn him of negative consequences because it would be ‘bad for business.’ Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11151433/Detransitioner-says-brainwashed-having-gender-reassignment-surgery-woke-doctors.html
Selected writing by Carlan
“Shape Shifter” [foreword] (2024). Trans to Detrans: a Soul Solution. Saguaro Soul, ISBN 979-8989663125
“Shape Shifter” (June 22, 2022). The Boy Who Shifted Shapes: A Detransitioner’s Story. Reduxx https://reduxx.info/opinion-the-boy-who-shifted-shapes/
Legal case
Justia (April 2, 2025). Carlan v. Fenway Community Health Center, Inc., et al. Case No. 25-1315. https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca1/25-1315
Goldstein, Julie Rei (March 31, 2025). “Long Awaited #DeTransLaw Update in the case of July Carlan (aka ShapeShifter): The United States’ Motion to Intervene has been GRANTED which means Fenway Health has been Dismissed from this case. Plaintiff has been granted leave to refile the complaint against the US per FTCA.” https://x.com/JulieRei/status/1906764321771962765
Goldstein, Julie Rei (May 14, 2024). “#DeTransLaw NEWS: US Attorney’s Office has officially substituted Fenway Community Health in July Carlan’s (ShapeShifter) case as they were deemed an officer/employee of the Public Health Service. This is the 3rd case (Ulery and Towe) against GAC Providers where this has occurred.” https://x.com/JulieRei/status/1790441950148968708
Goldstein, Julie Rei (March 11, 2024). “Some #DeTransLaw news: In July Carlan’s case (a.k.a. Shape Shifter), the US Attorney’s offce has asked for a 60 day stay for the Sec of Health & Human Services to determine if Fenway is a “deemed” Public Health Service Employee. The Judge has stayed the case until May 11, 2024.” https://x.com/JulieRei/status/1767296891044438351
Goldstein, Julie Rei (March 5, 2024). “Something I forgot to mention. There’s a stay on the Carlan v. Fenway case until March 12, 2024 when the US Attorney’s Office is directed to file a status report or a response to Defendant Fenways Motion to Dismiss (on or before said date). #DeTransLaw” https://x.com/JulieRei/status/1765160198099112288
Goldstein, Julie Rei (March 3, 2024). “Second piece of #DeTransLaw I missed: July Carlan (aka Shape Shifter) has substituted her counsel of Samuel Blatchely for Ryan McClane who famously went on the right wing media circuit when he unsuccessfuly represented Hunter Harris against UMASS for their COVID vaccine mandate.” https://x.com/JulieRei/status/1764468309838205431
Mitra N. Forouhar (November 2023). Shape Shifter v. Fenway Health. https://mnf-law.com/lawsuits/ pdf: https://mnf-law.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ShapeShifter-v-Fenway.pdf
Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly (November 2023). Carlan v. Fenway Community Health Center, Inc. US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Case 1:2023cv12361 https://rilawyersweekly.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2023/11/Carlan-v.-Fenway-Community-Health-Center.pdf
Court Listener (October 12, 2023). Carlan v. Fenway Community Health Center, Inc. 1:23-cv-12361, (D. Mass.) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67878127/carlan-v-fenway-community-health-center-inc/
Media
Daniel Moon (April 6, 2024). Shape Shifter: The DE-TRANS Truth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnOL1Lx_jW4
Cat Cattinson with July Carlan (January 5, 2024). Cat Cattinson feat. Shape Shifter – “Grift $hop” – OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuyHgzPTmb0
Jubilee (April 2, 2023). Should Minors Transition? Detransition vs Trans | Middle Ground. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl0LZZFos-g
Soft White Underbelly (March 23, 2023). Ex (Detransitioning) Trans Woman interview-Shape Shifter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsbtaXqfg1o
Marcus Dib with Arielle Scarcella and July Carlan (Jan 1, 2023). “I Had Bottom Surgery & My Dysphoria Is Still Here” : Male To Female To Male. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGnngC6lWuU
Marcus Dib with Arielle Scarcella and July Carlan (January 1, 2023). Detransitioner: I Regret Losing My P*nis feat. Shape Shifter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2ooaw6OH0c
TT Exulansic with July Carlan (December 20, 2022). Interview: Shapeshifter and Exulansic Finally Meet! https://exulansic.substack.com/p/interview-shapeshifter-and-exulansic
Cat Cattinson with July Carlan (December 6, 2022). “Being trans wasn’t my authentic self.” – Interview with Shape Shifter, detrans man. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB_m8f60tr4
Outkick / Fearless with Tomi Lahren and July Carlan (November 21, 2022). Trans ‘Shape Shifter’ doxxed by LGBTQ community, Michael Farren performs & Trump’s return to Twitter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LGXnptuKYE
Misha Petrov with July Carlan (November 19, 2022). Detransitioner On How Gender Stereotypes Pushed Him Into Medically Transitioning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3YomHp-liU
The Get Better Researcher (October 31, 2022). Detransitioner Shape Shifter Florida Board of Medicine Testimony. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko_MJln6c_4
Transparency with Aaron Kimberly, Aaron Terrell and July Carlan (August 29, 2022). EP46 – Owning Male Femininity – with Shape Shifter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoUE23la-uo
Blaire White (July 3, 2022). Detransitioner: “My Penis Is Gone Forever & I Regret it” | Emotional Interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRh80xSI8QQ
Arielle Scarcella with July Carlan and Brian (June 5, 2022). “I Miss My Penis” : Brave Detrans Men Speak Out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrRLpJ1uIzw
Calmversations with Benjamin Boyce and July Carlan (June 4, 2022). When Transition Goes Wrong | with Shape Shifter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MorvzXI2uw
Transition Radio Show with Mark Angelo, Maritza Cummings, and July Carlan (May 29, 2022). TRS Presents An Interview With Shape Shifter: Transition A Costly Lie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YauXu8tpKgA
Resources
CPA Directory (cpadirectory.com)
X/Twitter (x.com)
- ShifterofShapes [deleted]
YouTube (youtube.com)
GoFundMe (gofundme.com)
- Fundraiser for legal expenses. [deleted]
- gofundme.com/f/6dawp-fundraiser-for-legal-expenses [deleted – not archived]
reddit (reddit.com)
Instagram (instagram.com)
TikTok (tiktok.com)
“Michelle Alleva” is the stage name of Michelle Zacchigna, a Canadian ex-transgender activist. Zacchigna gets money and attention by making it more difficult for others to get trans healthcare.
Zacchigna has used a number of aliases and handles:
- “Scarlett P”
- “Michelle Alleva”
- somenuanceplease
- sumenuancepls
Zacchigna transitioned as an adult and made additional identity and expression changes ten years later.
Background
Zacchigna was born in 1988. Zacchigna reports being bullied in school, especially from ages 8 to 13. After a close adolescent friendship ended, Zacchigna experienced even more social isolation. Zacchigna alleges having the following problems as a teen:
- developmental trauma
- dissociation
- low self-esteem
- self-harm
- anxiety
- depression
- 2008 suicide attempt
- dated older people “who didn’t seem to have my best interests at heart”
At age 20, Zacchigna identified as asexual:
Although I had never had gender dysphoria before, the more I thought about gender and how I wanted to present myself, the more self-aware I became about my body, and the more I wanted to change it. I thought about my past and became convinced that I had been bullied because I was trans and just didn’t know it.
In spring 2010, at age 21, Zacchigna went to the Gender Journeys support group at Toronto’s Sherbourne Health. Two years later, in 2012, Zacchigna saved up and then paid out of pocket for elective top surgery in Florida.
Because transition doesn’t make you a new person or change who you are, Zacchigna felt better for a while, but then reported problems started again:
- social anxiety
- still difficult to make friends
- depression
- gender dysphoria
- couldn’t cry anymore “because of the hormones”
- uncontrolled acne
- poor self-care
- gained about 70-80 pounds
- fired for “inconsistent” work output
- irregular sleep schedule
- stopped caring about appearance
- became low income
- moved back in with family
- failed out of college
- autism spectrum disorder
- ADHD
- post-traumatic stress symptoms
- major depressive disorder
- medical trauma
- low voice
- male-pattern balding
- facial hair
- an enlarged clitoris
- a flat chest
- the inability to ever become pregnant
- “among other things”
Following a 2017 evaluation that added to Zacchigna’s long list of problems, in 2018 Zacchigna had a “medically unnecessary” partial hysterectomy because “it was covered by provincial insurance, and I liked the idea of not having any more periods or pap exams.”
Zacchigna is upset and angry “that I wasn’t screened for the diagnoses I later received before I was prescribed hormones.” Zacchigna was screened prior to the hysterectomy but still blames others for that decision made at age 30.
Anti-transgender activism
Now based in Orillia, Ontario, Zacchigna’s income is now supplemented by making it harder for other adults to get trans healthcare:
“I have spent the last 18 months involved in health care advocacy related to this topic. I’ve presented at webinars, spoken at universities, been featured in news articles, appeared on Podcasts, and written blogs semi-regularly sharing my experiences and my thoughts about how this could have happened.”
In 2022 Zacchigna announced a planned lawsuit:
“I’ve been holding this card close to my chest for a while, and I’m ready to show it. In November 2022, I commenced legal action against the Canadian healthcare providers that facilitated my medical transition in Ontario,”
Zacchigna is now a source for a number of anti-trans activists and outlets, including Michael Shellenberger, the National Post, and Western Standard. Zacchigna is also active in the anti-trans “parental rights” movement, appearing in Lighthouse and the 2023 film No Way Back.
References
Oldcorn, Christopher (February 23, 2023). Ontario woman sues healthcare professionals over irreversible gender transition. Western Standard https://www.westernstandard.news/news/ontario-woman-sues-healthcare-professionals-over-irreversible-gender-transition/article_28765010-b3a4-11ed-9dca-7f4bb5988028.html
Murphy, Madeline (November 2, 2022) Michelle Alleva Shares Her Story of Detransitioning. Irish Rover https://irishrover.net/2022/11/michelle-alleva-shares-her-story-of-detransitioning/
GD Alliance (June 30, 2021). Meet Scarlett P. Gender Dysphoria Alliance https://www.genderdysphoriaalliance.com/post/meet-scarlett-p
Humphrey, Adrian (February 22, 2023). Ontario detransitioner who had breasts and womb removed sues doctors. National Post https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/michelle-zacchigna-ontario-detransitioner-sues-doctors
Alleva, Michelle (May 2022). “Removing my completely healthy uterus is my greatest regret.” Michelle Alleva’s Story: Detransition. Lighthouse https://www.lighthouseforum.ca/stories/michellealleva
Shellenberger, Michael (March 22, 2023). Why This Detransitioner Is Suing Her Health Care Providers. Public https://public.substack.com/p/why-this-detransitioner-is-suing
Resources
Twitter (twitter.com)
GiveSendGo (givesendgo.com)
YouTube (youtube.com)
Substack (substack.com)
IMDb (imdb.com)
Michelle Forcier is an American pediatrician who specializes in sexual health and gender identity for adolescents.
Background
Michelle Marie Forcier earned a bachelor’s degree from Brown University in 1987, followed by a medical degree from University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 1992. In 1997 Forcier earned a master’s degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health. Forcier did a pediatric residency at University of Utah, followed by fellowships at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Planned Parenthood Central North Carolina, and Department of Family Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine.
Forcier is or has been licensed in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Illinois, South Carolina, Alabama, and Utah. Forcier has taught at Duke University, University of North Carolina, and Northwestern University. Since 2009 Forcier has taught at Brown University.
Forcier is a member of the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Forcier married pediatrician Geoffrey Abbott “Geoff” Allen (born 1961). They have one child.
Transgender care and public-facing work
Forcier is known to many from an appearance in the 2022 anti-trans propaganda piece What Is a Woman? In it, Forcier earnestly explains why affirming models of care for minors are the American medical consensus. Many people who enjoy anti-trans extremist Matt Walsh’s bad-faith interview tactics found the exchange entertaining.
Forcier was named in lawsuits filed by ex-trans activists Layton Ulery and Isabelle Ayala. Forcier was voluntarily dismissed from the Ulery lawsuit by the plaintiff in May 2025. The Ayala case was dismissed in June 2025.
References
Rogers, Kristen (March 15, 2024). What to know about puberty blockers. CNN https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/15/health/puberty-blockers-explained-nhs-wellness
Ring, Trudy (July 27, 2023). Three Who Were in Matt Walsh’s Anti-Trans Film Say They Were Deceived. The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/transgender/matt-walsh-what-is-a-woman-deceptive
Norton, Amy (January 19, 2023). Hormonal Therapies Are Boosting the Mental Health of Trans Youth. U.S. News & World Report https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-01-19/hormonal-therapies-are-boosting-the-mental-health-of-trans-youth
Knox, Liam (September 25, 2022). Attack on Vanderbilt Clinic Has Ripple Effects. Inside Higher Ed https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/09/26/trans-health-clinic-weathers-political-firestorm
Petrow, Steven (March 7, 2017). Civilities: Taking all your questions about transgender teens with Brown U. expert Dr. Michelle Forcier and Steven Petrow. Washington Post https://live.washingtonpost.com/civilities-with-steven-petrow-20170307.html
Crandall, Brian (June 7, 2016). RI doctor leads effort on caring for transgender children. WJAR https://turnto10.com/news/local/ri-doctor-leads-effort-on-caring-for-transgender-children
Rupp, William (August 20, 2011). ‘This Old House’ Picks ‘Happy Renters.’ Patch https://patch.com/rhode-island/barrington/this-old-house-picks-happy-renters
Coverage in anti-trans press
Staff report (June 9, 2025). UpToDate is Out-of-Date on Child Sex Change Interventions. Do No Harm https://donoharmmedicine.org/2025/06/09/uptodate-is-out-of-date-on-child-sex-change-interventions/
Solas, Nicole (February 20, 2024). Detransitioners Sue Rhode Island Medical Provider And Persistent Public School Agitator. Daily Wire https://www.dailywire.com/news/detransitioners-sue-rhode-island-medical-provider-and-persistent-public-school-agitator
Ryan, Benjamin (December 5, 2023). Lawsuits by Regretful ‘Detransitioners’ Take Aim at Medical Establishment’s Support for Gender-Transition Treatments for Minors. New York Sun https://www.nysun.com/article/lawsuits-by-regretful-detransitioners-take-aim-at-medical-establishments-support-for-gender-transition-treatments-for-minors
Sapir, Leor (October 31, 2023). Is the AAP Placing Its Own Members at Risk? New lawsuits and a panel on gender and sexuality at the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recent conference signal trouble for pediatricians who rely on its guidance. City Journal https://www.city-journal.org/article/is-the-aap-placing-its-own-members-at-risk
Lamb, Matt (October 26, 2023). Two women damaged by ‘gender transitions’ sue prominent pro-transgender doctors. LifeSite News https://assets.lifesitenews.com/news/women-gender-transitions-sue-doctors/?utm_source=most_recent&utm_campaign=catholic
Perkins, Faith (October 26, 2023). Gender detransitioner sues prominent doctors she says pushed her into it. The Lion https://readlion.com/another-gender-detransitioner-sues-prominent-doctors-she-says-pushed-her-into-it/
Tilley, Caitlin (October 26, 2023). Autistic woman, 20, sues American Academy of Pediatrics over claims she was rushed onto transgender hormone-warping drugs – despite suffering from a number of mental health conditions. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12671149/american-academy-pediatrics-transgender-detransition-lawsuit-isabelle-ayala.html
Hunter, Heather (October 25, 2023). Detransitioner sues American Academy of Pediatrics for medical malpractice in historic lawsuit. Washington Examiner https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2751078/detransitioner-sues-american-academy-of-pediatrics-for-medical-malpractice-in-historic-lawsuit/
Potter, Will (October 21, 2023). EXCLUSIVE: Lesbian detransitioner with multiple personality disorder who escaped cult sues medics who prescribed her testosterone after deciding she was transgender, causing painful and permanent side effects. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12654975/Detransitioner-multiple-personality-gender-reassignment.html
Kornick, Lindsey (June 13, 2023). Doctor defends giving transgender treatments to 8 and 10-year-olds: ‘Respect kids as individuals.’ Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/media/doctor-defends-giving-transgender-treatments-8-10-year-olds-respect-kids-individuals
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/
Selected publications by Forcier
Sherer, I., & Forcier, M. (2025). Stress in Gender-Diverse Youth. In Signs & Symptoms in Pediatrics. American Academy of Pediatrics https://doi.org/10.1542/9781610028219-74
Forcier, Michelle; Olson-Kennedy, Johanna (2022 with updates). Gender development and clinical presentation of gender diversity in children and adolescents. UpToDate https://www.uptodate.com/contents/gender-development-and-clinical-presentation-of-gender-diversity-in-children-and-adolescents
Van Schalkwyk, Gerrit ; Turban, Jack L.; Forcier, Michelle (2020). Pediatric Gender Identity: Gender-affirming Care for Transgender & Gender Diverse Youth. Springer, ISBN 9783030389093
Hodax, J. K., Wagner, J., Sackett-Taylor, A. C., Rafferty, J., & Forcier, M. (2020). Medical Options for Care of Gender Diverse and Transgender Youth. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 33(1), 3–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2019.05.010
Rafferty, J. R., Donaldson, A. A., & Forcier, M. (2020). Primary Care Considerations for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth. Pediatrics In Review, 41(9), 437–454. https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.2018-0194
Panagiotakopoulos, L., Chulani, V., Koyama, A., Childress, K., Forcier, M., Grimsby, G., & Greenberg, K. (2020). The effect of early puberty suppression on treatment options and outcomes in transgender patients. Nature Reviews Urology, 17(11), 626–636. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-020-0372-2
Wagner, J., Sackett-Taylor, A. C., Hodax, J. K., Forcier, M., & Rafferty, J. (2019). Psychosocial Overview of Gender-Affirmative Care. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 32(6), 567–573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2019.05.004
Jain, J., Kwan, D., & Forcier, M. (2019). Medroxyprogesterone Acetate in Gender-Affirming Therapy for Transwomen: Results From a Retrospective Study. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 104(11), 5148–5156. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2018-02253
Forcier M, Brown JD, Brown, RT (2018). LGBTQ Youth: Enhancing Care for Gender and Sexual Minorities. American Academy of Pediatrics https://watermark02.silverchair.com/aap_9781610021371-all_front_matter.pdf
Samuel E, Forcier M (2015). Acute medical care for the transgender patient. In Sex and Gender in Acute Care Medicine, Ed: McGregor AJ, Choo EK, Becker BM. NY Cambridge University Press, 2015: 216-229, ISBN 9781107668164
Agnieszka J, Forcier M (September 2016). Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth: Psychosocial and Medical Considerations. Rhode Island Medical Journal http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal/2016/09/2016-09-31-adolescent-janicka.pdf
Forcier, Michelle (2015). Lecture, Pediatric and Adolescent Gender Care, Web Seminar, Fenway Health Center, Boston, MA
Forcier, Michelle (2014). Services for Transgender Youth in Primary Care Settings. Society for Teachers in Family Medicine, US
Forcier, Michelle (2014). Puberty Blockers for Use in Transgender Children, Medical Advisory Meeting, Chicago, IL
Forcier, Michelle (2014). Transgender Health Panel, Gender Spectrum East, Baltimore, MD
Forcier, Michelle; Haddad, Emily (2013). Health care for gender variant or gender non-conforming children. Rhode Island Medical Journal Apr;96(4):17-21.
Forcier, Michelle (2012).Transgender is a Pediatric Opportunity: Pediatric Endocrine Nursing Society meeting, Orlando, FL
Media
Brown University (November 27, 2023) Trans Youth Now Series: Michelle Forcier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onR2ctah3UE
Healio (October 18, 2019). AAP supports ‘gender-affirming care’ for youth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4qlSOdu6MI
NBC Nightly News (April 21, 2015). One Doctor Explains the Journey for Kids Who Are Transitioning. https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/one-doctor-explains-the-journey-for-kids-who-are-transitioning-431478851632
TODAY (April 23, 2015). Experts answer questions about transgender kids. https://www.today.com/video/experts-answer-questions-about-transgender-kids-432814659705
NBC News (April 21, 2015). One Doctor Explains the Journey for Kids Who Are Transitioning. https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/one-doctor-explains-the-journey-for-kids-who-are-transitioning-431478851632
Resources
Brown University (brown.edu)
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
Instagram (instagram.com)
Lifespan (lifespan.org) [archive]
Note: this profile previously misstated Forcier’s name at birth and spouse. This site regrets the errors.
Tom Chivers is a British science writer and anti-transgender activist. Chivers was the science editor at UnHerd when they published numerous unscientific articles about sex, gender, and biology. Chivers and podcast co-host Stuart Ritchie frequently logroll for anti-trans activist Jesse Singal.
Note: for the British poet and archaeologist born in 1983, see thisisyogic.com
Background
Thomas “Tom” Chivers began writing for the Telegraph in 2007. Chivers was science editor at UnHerd from 2018 to 2022, then became the science writer at the i newspaper.
Chivers has written for the Times, the Telegraph, the Observer, the Guardian, politics.co.uk, New Scientist, CNN, Wired, Smithsonian Air & Space, BuzzFeed UK.
Chivers is author of The Rationalist’s Guide to the Galaxy (2019), How to Read Numbers (2021), and Everything is Predictable (2024).
Anti-trans activism
Setting aside some questionable pieces on “Thai transvestites” and what-not, Chivers’ first salvo in anti-transgender activism was a 2014 piece using Laverne Cox to assert that trans women are not women. Chivers then characterizes biologists who use value-neutral terms and conceptualizations as engaging in “science denial.” Chivers defends the term “biological sex ” and supports anti-transgender reparative therapy.
Chivers is situated within the right-wing media landscape in the UK:
The UK has an increasing number of small but influential online-only media, in addition to the websites, apps and podcasts of many of the titles listed above. On the political right, sites like Conservative Home, Spiked, UnHerd, CapX, Reaction and The Spectator’s Coffee House blog are sources of right-wing opinion and debate but play relatively little role in breaking news stories.
CMDS (2021)
In 2024, Chivers promoted the anti-trans Cass Review on The Studies Show. The podcast was later rebranded as Science Fictions.
References
Center for Media, Data and Society (November 2021). Media Influence Matrix: United Kingdom. https://cmds.ceu.edu/sites/cmcs.ceu.hu/files/attachment/basicpage/1923/mimukfinalreport_0.pdf
Selected anti-trans writing by Chivers
Chivers, Tom; Ritchie, Stuart (April 23, 2024). Paid-only Episode 7: Youth gender medicine & the Cass Review. The Studies Show https://www.thestudiesshowpod.com/p/paid-only-episode-7-youth-gender
Chivers, Tom (December 7, 2021). Trans counselling is not conversion therapy. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2021/12/trans-counselling-is-not-conversion-therapy/
Chivers, Tom (December 10, 2019). Of course biological sex exists. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2019/12/yes-of-course-biological-sex-exists/
Chivers, Tom (December 10, 2019). The Left’s science denial. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2021/09/the-lefts-science-denial/
Chivers, Tom (April 2, 2015). 25 Quite Unexpected Facts About Sex. Buzzfeed https://www.buzzfeed.com/tomchivers/facts-about-sex
Chivers, Tommy (June 1, 2014). Whether or not Laverne Cox is a woman is not a question of biology; it’s a question of language. https://tommychivers.wordpress.com/2014/06/01/whether-or-not-laverne-cox-is-a-woman-is-not-a-question-of-biology-its-a-question-of-language/
Tom Chivers (June 1, 2008). Thai transvestites compete in Miss Tiffany Universe. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2061631/Thai-transvestites-compete-in-Miss-Tiffany-Universe.html
Resources
Tom Chivers (tomchivers.com)
WordPress (wordpress.com)
X/Twitter (x.com)
i news (inews.co.uk)
Substack (substack.com)
UnHerd (unherd.com)
Paul Embery is a British firefighter and union leader who frequently makes anti-transgender comments. Embery has written for anti-trans group blogs UnHerd, The The Spectator, Spiked, and Compact.
Background
Embery was born and raised in Dagenham. Embery served as a firefighter in London. Embery won a case after being dismissed from his union for supporting Brexit. In 2020, Embery published Despised: Why the Modern Left Loathes the Working Class.
Anti-transgender activism
Embery’s central thesis is that the Labour Party has abandoned workers in favor of “trans rights” and other social issues:
It has over recent years become blindingly apparent that only a handful in the party ever venture to discuss these sorts of macroeconomic questions. Matters of employment, growth and prosperity can jolly well take their place behind the campaign for trans rights and Palestine in the queue of priorities.
As it happens, the publication of the report coincided with the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. You can guess which took precedence on the Twitter feeds of Labour MPs during those 24 hours.
Embery has made a number of anti-trans statements.
In 2017 Embery wrote on Twitter, “There’s something Orwellian about allowing someone to insert a lie on their birth certificate & forcing society to accept the lie as truth.”
Embery added, “Coming next: short people may identify as tall, fat people may identify as thin, and ugly people may pretend to be George Clooney.”
In 2022 Embery quoted a Spiked article by Brendan O’Neill titled “Eddie Izzard was born male and he will die male,” then said, “Pretty much sums it up.”
In 2023, Embery denied the UK’s relentless attacks on trans people, writing, “There is no “war” on trans people. There is simply resistance to increasingly strident and unscientific demands.”
References
Parkin, Simon (May 10, 2023). Norfolk firefighter wins damages from union boss over tweet. Norwich Evening News https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/23511797.norfolk-firefighter-wins-damages-union-boss-tweet/
Jackman, Josh (August 3, 2017). Exclusive: Transgender firefighter says union official’s transphobic remarks ‘incited hate.’ PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2017/08/03/transgender-firefighter-says-union-officials-transphobic-remarks-incited-hate/
Jackman, Josh (July 27, 2017). Union refuses to condemn high-ranking official for transphobic remarks. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2017/07/27/union-refuses-to-condemn-high-ranking-official-for-transphobic-remarks/
Coverage in anti-trans press
Staff report (December 7, 2020). ‘Wokeness is no substitute for political campaigning’: Paul Embery on the sad growth of social-justice activism. Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2020/12/07/wokeness-is-no-substitute-for-political-campaigning/
Selected anti-trans writing by Embery
Embery, Paul (April 15, 2024). The unravelling of a cult: The Cass review is a welcome blow against trans-mania. https://www.paulembery.com/p/the-unravelling-of-a-cult
Embery, Paul (May 26, 2020). Whose side is Labour on? UnHerd https://unherd.com/2020/05/whose-side-is-labour-on/
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Muck Rack (muckrack.com)
X/Twitter (x.com)
UnHerd (unherd.com)
Substack (substack.com)
HuffPost (huffingtonpost.co.uk)
Spiked (spiked-online.com)
The Spectator (spectator.co.uk)
Compact (compactmag.com)
Bev Jackson is a Dutch anti-transgender activist. Jackson is a founder of UK anti-trans hate group LGB Alliance. Jackson contributed to anti-transgroupo blogs Spiked and The Critic.
Jackson promotes the conspiracy theory that trans people and gender recognition based on self-identification are erasing or eradicating lesbians.
Background
Beverley Ruth Jackson was born in June 1951. At 11 years old, Jackson reportedly experienced antisemitism at a new school.
Jackson studied math at the London School of Economics. Jackson was a founding member of the UK Gay Liberation Front, the only woman to attend the first GLF meeting in October 1970:
I was a student at LSE. I started there in 1969, I was studying maths, and I walked down the corridor and I saw a poster which said: “First meeting of the UK Gay Liberation Front.” It was the most astonishing thing because I had to translate it in my head as to what it might mean. I had heard that “Gay” was a new word for homosexual, and I knew “Liberation” was about freedom and “Front” sounded a bit militant. It sounded very exciting and I thought “I think I want to be on there that sounds right.” I went to this first meeting and there were 19 men there, and just one woman – me – so I was immediately voted on to the steering committee.
[…] I was among the minority of lesbians who decided to work within gay liberation; most lesbians worked within women’s liberation because of feeling more in common with other women’s issues. The fact of lesbians being doubly oppressed both as women and as homosexuals is just a really important part of understanding what it means to be a lesbian.
Jackson has worked as a translator and writer. In 2015 Jackson was mostly involved with refugee rights, writing A Month with Starfish, a book about volunteering to aid refugees for a month on the island of Lesbos.
Anti-trans activism
In late 2016 Jackson began criticizing transgender youth and was surprised that other disagreed. Jackson’s radicalization happened in 2018 when Angela Wild went to the front of the Pride march with the “Get the L Out” group.
Jackson wrote a letter to Stonewall president Ruth Hunt expressing concerns “about young lesbians having nowhere to meet, not being able to call themselves lesbians any more, about the way in which people were encouraging children to think that they might be born in the wrong body and a whole range of other concerns that really worried me.” The letter was ignored.
Jackson has said of trans women:
Look: you can be a lovely gentle male and you can wear dresses and you can call yourself Lilian and it’s absolutely fine. But you’re still a male and you can imagine you might be all sorts of things, but you’re still a male.
The final straw for Jackson was when Stonewall opposed ex-transgender activist Keira Bell, who sued the Tavistock GIDS Clinic.
After a meeting commemorating the 50th anniversary of Gay Liberation Front was cancelled, Jackson and Kate Harris decided to have a secret meeting to start LGB Alliance. “But everyone kept the secret. Not one of the 70 people we invited gave away the meeting at which we formed LGB Alliance.”
Jackson remains committed to separatism for lesbian and gay people:
Gay men and lesbians need spaces of their own and they have a right to spaces of their own – and that we have to say this now in 2021 is an absolute outrage. We could really lose a lot here if we don’t stand together and fight against this madness.
References
Power, Nina (January 24, 2023). The Trans War on Tomboys. Compact Magazine https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-trans-war-on-tomboys/
Gentleman, Amelia (July 6, 2023). Mermaids v LGB Alliance: who was involved in tribunal case? The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/law/2023/jul/06/mermaids-v-lgb-alliance-whos-involved-in-tribunal-ruling
Bawer, Bruce (September 12, 2022). How Amsterdam ceased to be gay heaven: The city is becoming Islamicized and gay people are paying the price. Spectator World https://thespectator.com/topic/how-amsterdam-ceased-to-be-gay-heaven/
Bridle, David (February 18, 2021). The first woman in the Gay Liberation Front in 1970 is fighting again for lesbian and gay rights in 2021. Lesbian and Gay News https://lesbianandgaynews.com/2021/02/the-first-woman-in-the-gay-liberation-front-in-1970-is-fighting-again-for-lesbian-and-gay-rights-in-2021/
Parsons, Vic (Augist 21 2020). LGB Alliance founder defends working with anti-abortion, anti-LGBT+ Heritage Foundation in resurfaced tweets. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/08/21/lgb-alliance-founder-bev-jackson-heritage-foundation-tweets/
Wansell, Geoffrey (November 1970). Homosexuals demonstrate for equal rights. The Times
Selected writing by Jackson
Jackson, Bev (October 12, 2023). There is no such thing as a ‘trans lesbian. Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/10/12/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-trans-lesbian/
Jackson, Bev (September 18, 2023). Banning ‘trans conversion therapy’ is a threat to gay kids. Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/09/18/banning-trans-conversion-therapy-is-a-threat-to-gay-kids/
Jackson, Bev (January 18, 2025). Cotton ceiling 2.0 Straight men should not be trying to seduce lesbians. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/cotton-ceiling-2-0/
Jackson, Bev (July 13, 2023). LGB Alliance will never be silenced. Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/07/13/lgb-alliance-will-never-be-silenced/
Jackson, Bev (May 12, 2023). Who took the SO out of SOGI? The UN bumbles on gender identity. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/who-took-the-so-out-of-sogi/
Jackson, Bev (July 23, 2022). CNN’s optical delusion: How American progressives get “TERF Island” wrong. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/cnns-optical-delusion/
Media
“Eliza Mondegreen” and Jenny Poyer Ackerman (December 21, 2024). Episode 20, featuring Bev Jackson. UnMuted https://jennypoyerackerman.substack.com/p/listen-to-episode-20-with-bev-jackson
Resources
A Month with a Starfish (amonthwithstarfish.com)
LGB Alliance (lgballiance.org.uk)
The Distance Magazine (thedistancemag.com)
X/Twitter (x.com)
The Critic (thecritic.co.uk)
Facebook (facebook.com)
Instagram (instagram.com)
YouTube (youtube.com)
OV.UK (service.gov.uk)
Spiked (spiked-online.com)
Ritchie Herron is a British ex-transgender activist. Herron gets money and attention by making it more difficult for others to get trans healthcare. Herron uses the handle “TullipR” online and frequently appears in conservative or fascist media.
Background
Richard “Ritchie” Herron was born on May 25, 1987. Herron is a child of divorce who claims to have been bullied at school.
After spending time on UK-based The Angels forum, Herron purchased hormones as an adult from a private pharmacy. At age 25, Herron began transition and began using the name Abby. In 2018, at age 30, Herron got vaginoplasty. Five years later, at age 35, Herron made additional gender changes, largely due to dissatisfaction with vaginoplasty results.
Herron is a Newcastle-based civil servant.
In June 2022 Herron claimed lawyers in Liverpool were preparing a legal case against Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust.
Ex-transgender activism
Similar to the ex-gay activists of the 20th century, people like Herron get money and attention by claiming to be no longer trans.
Herron is heavily invested in metaphors of disease and impairment, identifying as disabled and mentally ill. This is a kind of attention-seeking behavior. Rather than take personal responsibility for life decisions made as a 30-year-old adult, Herron chooses to blame those who tried to help.
Herron’s alleged disorders, diseases, “comorbidities,” and maladies include:
- “depression, OCD and latent homosexuality”
- autism
- “hated myself because I am gay”
- “an ear infection that led to deafness”
- a series of breakdowns
- substance misuse issues
- “no skill or co-ordination”
Here is how Herron describes the surgical results and complications:
- “nearly bled to death”
- “It literally looked like an animal had got on my crotch and it just went to town on it”
- “like my arsecrack has been extended all the way to the front”
- “under constant supervision for ongoing complications related to the deeply invasive surgery”
- feel mostly nothing in “my flesh cavity” aside from “occasional stabs of pain”
- crotch is numb, ‘shell-shocked’
- scars “still sometimes weep” and “occasionally become inflamed and cause crippling pain”
- “my body aches”
- “lifelong pain”
Herron claims these long-term problems:
- “killed my confidence”
- cannot walk long distances
- cannot ride a bike
- infertile
- incontinent
- can’t use the toilet properly
- “takes ten minutes to empty my bladder”
- sex drive “is long gone”
- “reliant on synthetic hormones”
- “lifelong medical patient”
Herron has discussed ex-trans activism in conservative or fascist outlets that include National Review, Rebel News, Daily Mail, Daily Record, Spiked, The Lion, World News Group, The Times, The Critic, The Washington Examiner. The Telegraph, The Christian Institute, Christian Post, and Christian Broadcasting Network.
Herron also frequently appears on channels featuring anti-trans content:
Herron also does collaborations with other ex-trans activists and conservative trans people:
References
Schneider, Jillian (February 1, 2023). ‘It’s disgusting, I’m disgusting’: Male detransitioner explains why no one – not even adults – should have cross-sex surgery. The Lion https://readlion.com/its-disgusting-im-disgusting-male-detransitioner-explains-why-no-one-not-even-adults-should-have-cross-sex-surgery/
Herron, Ritchie (September 13, 2022). A Detransitioner’s Perspective: Awakening from the Dream of Gender Utopia. Human Events https://humanevents.com/2022/09/13/a-detransitioners-perspective-awakening-from-the-dream-of-gender-utopia
Griffiths, Sian (June 4, 2023). ‘NHS trans surgery damaged my body for ever — it’s not safe.’ The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nhs-trans-surgery-damaged-my-body-for-ever-its-not-safe-jt2hhbrgk
Dixon, Hayley (October 22, 2022). I’ve been betrayed by medics who left me in pain because I didn’t want to be gay, says detransitioner. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/10/22/betrayed-medics-who-left-pain-didnt-want-gay-says-detransitioner/
Staff report (October 22, 2022). Man who had sex change operation paid for by NHS says medics ‘betrayed’ him and left him in lifelong pain because he did not want to be gay. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11343887/Man-sex-change-operation-paid-NHS-says-medics-betrayed-him.html
Resources
X/Twitter (x.com)
Substack (substack.com)
YouTube (youtube.com)
Note: an earlier version had a typo in Herron’s birth year.
James Caspian is a British therapist and anti-transgender activist in the “ex-transgender” movement.
Caspian was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric and Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.
Background
James Caspian was born in ~1959.
Caspian is listed on the National Register of Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists and was “strongly influenced by Jung’s Analytical Psychology.”
Anti-transgender activism
In 2016, Caspian proposed studying “detransition” while in graduate school, but Bath Spa University rejected the proposal. Caspian then became a cause célèbre among anti-trans activists, who showered Caspian with money and attention. In 2019, the High Court upheld the decision made by Bath Spa University to block Caspian’s research into transgender regret.
Caspian appeared in the 2018 anti-trans propaganda piece Trans Kids: It’s Time to Talk hosted by Stella O’Malley.
Via Stephanie Davies-Arai:
Stephanie hoped to reach professionals working in the field – psychotherapists, clinical psychologists, counsellors – people who provided talking therapy to distressed patients. The first therapist to contact her didn’t give his real name. He wanted to tell her about a proposed change to the Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy (MoU), a policy document for counsellors and therapists.
The original MoU, published in 2015, was a protection against gay conversion therapy. It was signed by all the major counselling bodies and colleges along with NHS England and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Now the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), the psychotherapy regulator, was co-ordinating a review, and activists within the profession were campaigning to add ‘gender identity’ to the MoU.
He saw that it could easily lead to “affirmation by the back door,” because it prohibited any questioning of what may have led to a client’s identification with a cross-sex gender identity and so potentially outlaw exploration with patients what being trans meant to them, or why they felt that way. In effect, they’d have to affirm clients of all ages as whatever ‘gender’ they said they were.
A therapist who tried to explore why a teenage girl might think she was a boy could be in trouble for malpractice. If what they did was labelled conversion therapy, they could be sanctioned and removed from the register. This would mean that no one could help someone work out why they thought they were in the wrong body. It would have to be accepted as fact. The risk of someone, especially a young person – the group growing fastest at gender clinics – having medical treatments and surgery they may later regret, would be exponentially increased.
These proposals would tie up the whole UK therapy sector. He said that UKCP officers were talking to politicians about using the MoU as the basis of a law against conversion therapy for ‘gender identity’. To explore and question could then become a criminal offence – the police in the therapy room. He’d heard of Stephanie and her work from another therapist, Bob Withers, and he thought she could help. After a few long phone conversations, they began to trust each other and he revealed his real name, James Caspian. In time they became good friends.
Caspian gave a glowing review to Transgender Children and Young People: Born in Your Own Body edited by Heather Brunskell-Evans and Michele Moore. Caspian also did an interview with Brunskell-Evans.
References
Staff report (February 13, 2021). James Caspian Ethics Review Form Posted Online. Trans Safety Network https://transsafety.network/posts/james-caspian-ethics-review-leaked/
Baska, Maggie (February 9, 2021). Psychotherapist blocked from studying ‘trans regret’ takes case to the EU human rights court. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2021/02/09/james-caspian-transgender-trans-bath-spa-european-court-human-rights/
Jones, Zinnia (February 28, 2019). James Caspian and “fifty trans people” who regret transitioning. Gender Analysis https://genderanalysis.net/2019/02/james-caspian-and-fifty-trans-people-who-regret-transitioning/
Patherick, Sam (February 20, 2019). Ex-Bath Spa student James Caspian fails in court fight against university. Somerset Live https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/bath-spa-university-james-caspian-2557060
Staff report (September 25, 2017). Bath Spa University ‘blocks transgender research.’ BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41384473
Petherick, Sam (September 26, 2017). Bath Spa University vetoes ‘politically incorrect’ transgender surgery reversal study. Bath Chronicle https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/bath-news/bath-spa-university-vetoes-politically-533956
Coverage in anti-trans press
Shute, Joe (February 17, 2019). ‘Why are we so scared to admit many people regret changing their gender?’ The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/scared-admit-many-people-regret-changing-gender/
Swerling, Gabriella (Fenruary 5, 2021). Psychotherapist blocked from studying ‘trans regret’ takes case to the European Court. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/05/psychotherapist-blocked-studying-trans-regret-takes-case-european/
Booker, Christopher (March 7, 2020). The tyranny of woke: How it’s fashionable in modern Britain to believe there’s no difference between men and women. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8086913/How-fashionable-modern-Britain-believe-theres-no-difference-men-women.html
Christian Concern (2018). James Caspian https://christianconcern.com/cccases/james-caspian/
Weale, Sally (September 25, 2017). University ‘turned down politically incorrect transgender research.’ The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/sep/25/bath-spa-university-transgender-gender-reassignment-reversal-research
Selected anti-trans writing by Caspian
Caspian, James (February 22, 2019). My battle with the transgender thoughtpolice. Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2019/02/22/my-battle-with-the-transgender-thoughtpolice/
Caspian, J. (2018). Brunskell-Evans, H. & Moore, M. (Eds). Transgender Children and Young People: Born in Your Own Body. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2018. Pp. 224. Hbk. £61.99.. Journal of Analytical Psychology 63:536-538 https://pep-web.org/browse/JOAP/volumes/63?preview=JOAP.063.0536A full text: http://www.heather-brunskell-evans.co.uk/body-politics/review-of-transgender-children-and-young-people-born-in-your-own-body/
‘The Hero’s Journey’ in ‘Trans in the Twenty-First Century’ edited by A. Purnell and J. Bland, published by the Beaumont Trust 2011.
Review of ‘Archetypal Gender’ by M. Anderton in Harvest 2013, published by the C.G. Jung Club, London 2013.
Media
Genspect (June 7, 2022). Trans Kids: It’s Time to Talk | 4: James Caspian. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXH_6CEjnRQ
Oren Amitay (January 27, 2018). Academic Cleansing: Fight for Truth & Free Speech vs Political Correctness and Trans Ideology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQIWoDW63ak
Christian Concern (Feb 22, 2019). Psychotherapist James Caspian’s research into transgender regret blocked by Bath Spa University. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfx3nUEwoEU
The Dissenter with Ricardo Lopes and James Caspian (Feb 15, 2018). #2 James Caspian: Censoring studies on trans people | Censura de estudos em pessoas trans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_7BMRqPtWs
Resources
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
James Caspian (jamescaspian.co.uk)
Transgender Awareness (transgenderawareness.co.uk)
CrowdJustice (crowdjustice.com)
Facebook (facebook.com)
YouTube (youtube.com)
Lindsay Shepherd is a Canadian writer and anti-transgender activist. Shepherd is part of the so-called intellectual dark web, described as a gateway to the far right.
Background
Lindsay Shepherd was born on December 7, 1994 and grew up in Burnaby, British Columbia. Shepherd earned a bachelor’s degree form Simon Fraser University, followed by a master’s degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2018.
Anti-transgender activism
Shepherd became a cause célèbre among anti-trans media figures from the “academic freedom” faction after a 2017 classroom controversy at Wilfrid Laurier University. Shepherd showed students two clips of Jordan Peterson criticizing Canada’s Bill C-16, which added gender identity and expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act and the list of characteristics of identifiable groups protected from hate propaganda in the Canadian Criminal Code.
Shepherd was called into a meeting with administrators after a student complaint, and Shepherd’s supervisor agreed to review Shepherd’s future class materials. Shepherd secretly recorded the meeting and released it to the press, which led to apologies from Shepherd’s supervisor and the college president. The university opened an independent inquiry that found no wrongdoing by Shepherd. The incident led to lawsuits by Shepherd and Peterson, as well as countersuits against Shepherd.
Shepherd appeared in the 2019 film No Safe Spaces to discuss the incident.
In 2019 Shepherd began work with anti-trans organizations Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms and True North Centre for Public Policy.
The Boston Herald identified Shepherd as a member of the intellectual dark web. Praising “intellectually curious podcast hosts like Dave Rubin and Joe Rogan,” the anonymous editorial lists “victims of these progressive mobs”:
People like Jordan Peterson, Eric and Bret Weinstein, Sam Harris, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Douglas Murray, Christina Hoff Sommers, Steven Pinker, Ben Shapiro, Lindsay Shepherd and Owen Benjamin, to name just a handful.
Shepherd was briefly banned from Twitter in 2019 after exchanging insults with litigant and troll Jessica Yaniv.
Shepherd has written for several anti-trans publications, including The Federalist, The Post Millennial, National Post, True North, and Quillette.
References
Amundson, Quinton (May 16, 2021). Lindsay Shepherd carries on fight for free speech. The Catholic Register https://www.catholicregister.org/item/33101-lindsay-shepherd-carries-on-fight-for-free-speech
Myers, Fraser (July 23, 2019). “I was banned for trans heresy.” Lindsay Shepherd on the Jessica Yaniv balls-waxing controversy. Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2019/07/23/i-was-banned-for-trans-heresy/
Krishnan, Manisha (July 16, 2019). Free Speech ‘Activist’ Lindsay Shepherd Was Banned From Twitter. Vice https://www.vice.com/en/article/xwnbxd/free-speech-activist-lindsay-shepherd-was-banned-from-twitter-and-its-very-sad
Editors (May 14, 2018). Editorial: Truth requires free thinking, honest talk. Boston Herald https://www.bostonherald.com/2018/05/14/editorial-truth-requires-free-thinking-honest-talk/
Hutchins, Aaron (December 11, 2017). What really happened at Wilfrid Laurier University: Inside Lindsay Shepherd’s heroic, insulting, brave, destructive, possibly naïve fight for free speech. Maclean’s https://macleans.ca/lindsay-shepherd-wilfrid-laurier/
Selected anti-trans writing by Shepherd
Shepherd, Lindsay (August 12, 2024). The Daily Brief | Another venue cancels women’s rights event. True North https://tnc.news/2024/08/12/db-another-venue-cancels-womens-rights-event/
Shepherd, Lindsay (August 11, 2024). Victoria venue cancels women’s rights event. True North https://tnc.news/2024/08/11/victoria-venue-cancels-womens-rights-event/
Shepherd, Lindsay (July 22, 2024). The Daily Brief | Concerns about gender ideology are a security threat? True North https://tnc.news/2024/07/22/db-concerns-gender-ideology-security-threat/
Shepherd, Lindsay (July 6, 2024). No cellphones, no gender ideology, no tuition: New independent school proposed in B.C. True North https://tnc.news/2024/07/06/independent-school-proposed-in-bc/
Shepherd, Lindsay (January 31, 2024). The Daily Brief | “Drag queen bingo” for soldiers? True North https://tnc.news/2024/01/31/db-drag-queen-bingo-caf/
Shepherd, Lindsay (December 30, 2023). Concerned parents set up overnight camp to protest gender ideology 24/7. True North https://tnc.news/2023/12/30/parents-camp-gender-ideology-protest/
Shepherd, Lindsay (September 27, 2023). Women’s centre rebrands to “PearlSpace” to be trans-inclusive. True North https://tnc.news/2023/09/27/womens-centre-trans-inclusive/
Shepherd, Lindsay (September 22, 2023). Police shut down Victoria parental rights march within 15 minutes. True North https://tnc.news/2023/09/22/police-shut-down-victoria-march/
Shepherd, Lindsay (September 21, 2023). The Daily Brief | Thousands take part in the One Million March for Kids. True North https://tnc.news/2023/09/21/db-one-million-march-kids-2/
Shepherd, Lindsay (September 10, 2023). Eventbrite drops Protect Our Kids event for being “hateful” or “dangerous.” True North https://tnc.news/2023/09/10/eventbrite-drops-protect-our-kids/
Shepherd, Lindsay (August 23, 2023). The Daily Brief | Another premier stands up for parental rights. True North https://tnc.news/2023/08/23/db-premier-parental-rights/
Shepherd, Lindsay (July 12, 2023). The Daily Brief | More parents are speaking out against gender ideology in schools. True North https://tnc.news/2023/07/12/db-parents-gender-ideology-schools/
Shepherd, Lindsay (June 27, 2023). The Daily Brief | Not respecting pronouns is a human rights violation? True North https://tnc.news/2023/06/27/db-pronouns-rights-violation/
Shepherd, Lindsay (June 19, 2023). The Daily Brief | Ottawa parents fight back against woke school board trustee. True North https://tnc.news/2023/06/19/db-ottawa-parents-woke-trustee/
Shepherd, Lindsay (June 6, 2023). The Daily Brief | Satanic drag queen story hour performers? True North https://tnc.news/2023/06/06/db-satanic-drag/
Shepherd, Lindsay (May 26, 2023). UN admits that trans activism threatens women’s rights. True North https://tnc.news/2023/05/26/trans-activism-threatens-womens-rights/
Shepherd, Lindsay (March 30, 2023). SHEPHERD: The CBC’s drag queens for kids – what is the endgame? True North https://tnc.news/2023/03/30/shepherd-cbcs-drag-queens-kids/
Shepherd, Lindsay (August 21, 2021). Protesters demand removal of biological male inmates from women’s prisons. True North https://tnc.news/2021/08/21/protesters-demand-removal-of-biological-male-inmates-from-womens-prisons/
Shepherd, Lindsay (May 10, 2021). SHEPHERD: Another Canadian professor cancelled, but she’s fighting back. True North https://tnc.news/2021/05/10/shepherd-another-canadian-professor-cancelled-but-shes-fighting-back/
Shepherd, Lindsay (September 20, 2020). DEBUNKED: Is J.K. Rowling’s new book “transphobic”? (From someone who read it). True North https://tnc.news/2020/09/20/debunked-is-j-k-rowlings-new-book-transphobic-from-someone-who-read-it/
Shepherd, Lindsay (September 13, 2020). “I ‘heart’ JK Rowling” billboard in Vancouver taken down after only a day. True North https://tnc.news/2020/09/13/i-heart-jk-rowling-billboard-in-vancouver-taken-down-after-only-a-day/
Shepherd, Lindsay (January 29, 2020). SHEPHERD: The grassroots revival of women taking on Bill C-16. True North https://tnc.news/2020/01/29/shepherd-the-grassroots-revival-of-women-taking-on-bill-c-16/
Shepherd, Lindsay (November 19, 2019). SHEPHERD: Disturbing Canadian “Sex Ed School” videos go viral. True North https://tnc.news/2019/11/19/shepherd-disturbing-canadian-sex-ed-school-videos-go-viral/
Shepherd, Lindsay (November 8, 2019). Trans activism vs. Women’s rights? An interview with Meghan Murphy. True North https://tnc.news/2019/11/08/trans-activism-vs-womens-rights-an-interview-with-meghan-murphy/
Shepherd, Lindsay; Kay, Jonathan (August 31, 2019). Yaniv’s Other Racket: How a Single Gender Troll Managed to Get ‘Hundreds’ of Women Thrown Off Twitter. Quillette https://quillette.com/2019/08/31/yanivs-other-racket-how-a-single-gender-troll-managed-to-get-hundreds-of-women-thrown-off-twitter/
Shepherd, Lindsay (August 15, 2019). Transgender Users Get Away With What Gets Others Banned From Twitter. The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2019/08/15/transgender-users-get-away-gets-people-banned-twitter/
Shepherd, Lindsay (May 11, 2019). A detransitioner, a psychologist, and Meghan Murphy speak about gender identity and kids in Vancouver. The Post Millennial https://www.thepostmillennial.com/meghan-murphy-a-detransitioner-and-a-psychologist-speak-about-gender-identity-and-kids-in-vancouver/
Shepherd, Lindsay (December 4, 2017). Lindsay Shepherd: My Laurier interrogation shows universities have lost sight of their purpose. National Post http://nationalpost.com/opinion/lindsay-shepherd-wlus-interrogation-revealed-how-university-has-lost-sight-of-its-key-purpose
Media
Benjamin A Boyce (April 4, 2021). Diversity & Exclusion | with Lindsay Shepherd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XIej5RKknw
Lindsay Shepherd (July 27, 2019). UN-BANNED from Twitter & Jessica Yaniv. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZL1jNkeaeg
Lindsay Shepherd (July 17, 2019). I’ve been BANNED from Twitter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3dbKitC3Ns
Timcast with Tim Pool (July 16, 2019). Lindsay Shepherd BANNED From Twitter For Calling Transwoman “Ugly Fat Man.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkHhmmxU48I
Benjamin A Boyce (January 9, 2019). Lindsay Shepherd SUED by her Inquisitors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9deT_iW6OA
Benjamin A Boyce (October 4, 2018). Un[REDACTING] Lindsay Shepherd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcK4Vgo7uSE
Ideacity (June 26, 2018). Lindsay Shepherd | Free Speech & Victimhood Culture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xdb7nlkzPY
Jordan B. Peterson (June 20, 2018). The Lindsay Shepherd Affair: Update. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkNv4LFpGf4
Timcast with Tim Pool (June 13, 2018). Lindsay Shepherd Files Massive Lawsuit for Free Speech Abuse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ssh4URpbR9o
Lindsay Shepherd (March 30, 2018). GOODBYE TO THE LEFT. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpg6P1PNWR8
Mark Steyn (March 14, 2018). The Mark Steyn Show with Lindsay Shepherd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUMkRa6lBAQ
Jordan B. Peterson (December 26, 2017). Deconstruction: The Lindsay Shepherd Affair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWVmDSMl30s
CBC News with Carole MacNeil and Lindsay Shepherd (December 20, 2017). Teaching assistant reacts after Wilfrid Laurier University president promises change. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81f748gBaTs
The Rubin Report with Dave Rubin and Lindsay Shepherd (December 1, 2017). Free Speech Battle with Laurier University | Lindsay Shepherd | ACADEMIA | Rubin Report. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpFUvfAvKs4
Aydin Paladin (November 29, 2017). The Death of Critical Thinking in Higher Education. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IExImIwLHgA
Gad Saad (November 27, 2017). My Chat with Laurier TA Lindsay Shepherd (THE SAAD TRUTH_551). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwUMk8DtuQ0
CBC News (November 24, 2017). Wilfrid Laurier University’s free speech controversy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we-nflsPzBk
The Quartering with Jeremy Hambly (November 21, 2017). The Lindsay Shepherd Incident-Why Laurier University Must Pay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWSbWC-QfaY
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Twitter (twitter.com)
YouTube (youtube.com)
Sarah Vaci aka “Lordy” is an Anglo-Hungarian artist and anti-transgender activist. Vaci is associated with anti-trans hate group Genspect.
Vaci’s anti-trans activism focuses on the ex-transgender movement. Similar to the ex-gay movement of the 20th century, ex-trans activists and their supporters often believe people can be cured of being transgender through “desistance” or “detransition.”
Background
Sarah Vaci was born on September 22, 1977. According to Vaci’s LinkedIn profile, after graduating James Allen’s Girls’ School, Vaci earned a bachelor of technology degree from Ravensbourne University London in 1996 and a bachelor’s degree from Kent Institute of Art and Design in 1999. In 1999, Vaci was a production assistant for Media Merchants on Art Attack.
From 2001 to 2010. Vaci held several roles at The Film and Video Workshop, including animation project leader and party planner (2001–2010), animation and video workshop leader (2002–2010), and video director/camera operator/editor (2005–2010). In 2001 to 2002, Vaci was a volunteer with The Caxton Youth Trust in a club for young people with disabilities. In 2003, Vaci worked for RCH as a production manager, then as a videography specialist.
From 2020 to 2024, Vaci worked for Outschools. According to Vaci’s Outschools profile:
Since 2001 I have led film, animation and art workshops with children age 6 to adult with a specialism in SEN in schools, hospitals and SEN schools in the UK and USA. I also ran historical animation workshops for family groups at The British Museum in London for many years. My degree is in video installation art and I have an MA/MSc in Community Arts and SEN/inclusion studies where I focussed on creating animation with autistic children. As well as videography, I’ve studied kids’ TV presenting and stand-up comedy. I’m also an expert in 2D needle-felting and known internationally for my work.
I have two children (aged 8 and 12) and we love making films with my fantastic puppets and lego animations together. I home educate my kids and love injecting creativity into teaching more serious subjects such as mathematical graphs or spelling.
Vaci earned master’s degrees in 2008 from Goldsmiths, University of London and from the Institute of Education. From 2008 to 2014, Vaci ran digital workshops at The British Museum. Vaci then opened a studio to work independently.
Vaci is based in Devon and uses the nickname “Lordy.”
Anti-transgender activism
On March 12, 2022, Vaci began a project called Metamorphosis 100, profiling people whose gender identity or expression has shifted more than once and who identified as women at the time Vaci profiled them.
Vaci joined anti-trans hate group Genspect as a digital content creator in 2023, producing videos.
Metamorphosis 100
Because transition regret is so rare, Vaci has faced challenges completing 100 profiles of ex-trans activists. Because so many of Vaci’s profiles use fake names, it’s not possible to verify if they are real or have retransitioned. A number of people profiled have withdrawn or asked to be removed, so the current number of about 60 profiles is misleading. The project stalled out after profile number 62.
The profiles are:
1: Laura Becker / Funk God
2: Cat Cattinson
3: Amber
4: Aoife [deleted]
5: Celine
6: Ashlyn
7: Aiden
8: Michelle
9: Maria
10: Emanuely
11: Amanda
12: C
13: Kat
14: Eve / Kylie
15: Jill O’Connor
16: Maria
17: ML
18: Jesse
19: Mnemosyne / Lytonya
20: Angelina Mannino
21: Oliver
22: A
23: Rada Linnea
24: Lexi
25: Jamie
26: Dakota
27: Diana Matos
28: Camille Kiefel
29: Juniper / Ellan K
30: A
31: Prisha Mosley / detransaqua
32: Jordan
33: Raven Mack
34: Jasmine / J.J. McQuade
35: Pip Malone
36: Soren Aldaco
37: Courtney Coulson
38: Rachel
39: Jade
40: [Anonymous]
41: Estella
42: Carol
43: Gabrielle
44: [withdrawn]
45: Tyla
46: Magda
47: Emma
48: [anonymous]
49: Max Robinson
50: Chloe Cole
51: Sabet
52: Violet
53: Evie
54: Victoria Gugenheim
55: Mary
56: Marina
57: Ash
58: Jade
59: Hanna
60: Layton
61: April
62: Calista
References
Linton, Deborah (July 25, 2019). Motheaten! Trump, Kim and Putin face an army of starving pests. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/jul/25/motheaten-trump-kim-putin-artwork-sarah-vaci-clothes-moth-larvae
Selected anti-trans writing by Vaci
Vaci, Sarah (August 5, 2021). My Gender Dysphoria Story https://www.sarahvaci.com/post/agenderdysphoriastory
Media
Nathan Maingard | Songwriter & Guide with Sarah Vaci (February 28, 2025). Unpacking identity, gender, detransitioning, and much more with heartful artist Sarah Vaci EP52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CBFZcv_BOM
Women’s Declaration International with Sarah Vaci (May 23, 2024). Sarah Vaci, United Kingdom, Art as Activism – The Path to Metamorphosis 100 #FQT #WDI. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gusk9U3KOps
Sarah Vaci (February 17, 2024). 100 Detransitioned Women – portraits and stories (Marina, portrait 46). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdsmjGjF_Z4
Red Moon Radfem (September 13, 2023). with Sarah Vaci (Lordy). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcKrSAJVDhE
Our Duty with Keith Jordan and Sarah Vaci (March 7, 2023). Interview with Sarah Vaci. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvDhnuPxh3c
The Shorely Insider’s Guide (July 17, 2019). Trump, Putin & Jong-un meet moth larvae at Sarah Vaci’s exhibition at Artizan Gallery | The Shorely. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfTAqp_NPzM
Resources
Sarah Vaci (sarahvaci.com) [archive]
- Bio and exhibitions
- sarahvaci.com/exhibitions [archive]
Metamorphosis 100 (metamorphosis100.com)
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
X/Twitter (x.com)
Instagram (instagram.com)
Facebook (facebook.com)
YouTube (youtube.com)
Outschool (outschool.com)