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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.

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.

References

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

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

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

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

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

Lecture, Pediatric and Adolescent Gender Care, Web Seminar, Fenway Health Center, 2015. Taped lecture, pending pub on line at http://fenwayhealth.org/the-fenwayinstitute/education/transgender-health-conference/

Transgender is a Pediatric Opportunity: Pediatric Endocrine Nursing Society, Orlando FL 2012.

Services for Transgender Youth in Primary Care Settings. Society for Teachers in Family Medicine, US 2014.

Puberty Blockers for Use in Transgender Children, Medical Advisory Meeting, Chicago 2014.

Transgender Health Panel, Gender Spectrum East, Baltimore 2014

Rupp, William (August 20, 2011). ‘This Old House’ Picks ‘Happy Renters.’ Patch https://patch.com/rhode-island/barrington/this-old-house-picks-happy-renters

Media

Brown University (November 27, 2023) Trans Youth Now Series: Michelle Forcier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onR2ctah3UE

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

Healio (October 18, 2019). AAP supports ‘gender-affirming care’ for youth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4qlSOdu6MI

Note: this profile previously misstated Forcier’s name at birth and spouse. This site regrets the errors.

Resources

Brown University (brown.edu)

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Lifespan (lifespan.org) [archive]

Patrick Grzanka is an American academic and applied social issues researcher. Grzanka’s work often focuses on sex and gender minorities.

Background

Patrick Ryan Grzanka was born in November 1983. Grzanka attended University of Maryland, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2004 and working as a lecturer there while earning a doctorate in American studies in 2010. From 2010 to 2014 Grzanka taught at the Honors College at Arizona State University. In 2014 Grzanka took an appointment at University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Grzanka is founder and director of Social Action Research Team (SART), a group conducting applied social research with a commitment to social justice-informed scholarship and praxis.

Grzanka became known to many from a confrontational interview conducted by anti-trans extremist Matt Walsh in the transphobic film What Is a Woman? The appearance led to significant backlash.

References

Grzanka PR, DeVore EN, Gonzalez KA, Pulice-Farrow L, Tierney D (2018). The biopolitics of passing and the possibility of radically inclusive transgender health care. The American Journal of Bioethics, 18(12), 17-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2018.1531167

Fishman JR, Mamo L, Grzanka PR (2017). Sex, gender, & sexuality in biomedicine. In U Felt, R Fouché, C Miller, & L Smith-Doerr (Eds.), The handbook of science and technology studies (4th ed., pp. 379-405). MIT Press. ISBN 9780262035682

Grzanka PR (2017). Undoing the psychology of gender: Intersectional feminism and social science pedagogy. In KA Case (Ed.), Intersectional pedagogy: A model for complicating identity and social justice (pp. 61-79). Routledge. ISBN 9781138942974

DeVore EN. Frantell KA, Grzanka PR, Miles JR, Spengler ES (2019, August). Conscience clauses and sexual and gender minority mental health care: A case study. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, Chicago, IL https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000396

Resources

Social Action Research Team (socialactionrt.org)

Twitter (twitter.com)

University of Tennessee Knoxville Psychology (psychology.utk.edu)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Gert Comfrey is an American therapist who identifies as nonbinary and queer. Comfrey specializes in marriage and family therapy issues that affect sex and gender minorities.

Background

Comfrey was born in November 1985, grew up in Central Pennsylvania, and was known by another name prior to adulthood.

Comfrey earned a bachelor’s degree from Elizabethtown College in 2008, then earned two master’s degrees; one from Vanderbilt Divinity School in 2010, and one from Trevecca Nazarene University in 2015.

In 2019 Comfrey was a panelist at the LGBT+ College Conference held at Middle Tennessee State University.

Comfrey opened a marriage and family therapy practice in Nashville, Tennessee in 2019:

I have extensive experience working with transgender clients and clients wanting to explore gender identity, along with letter-writing for gender affirming surgeries. I am also a trained Circle facilitator and have offered trainings to healthcare professionals, counseling interns, and students regarding best practices when working with queer clients.

Comfrey is known to many from an appearance in the 2022 anti-trans propaganda piece What Is a Woman? In it, Comfrey earnestly explains that sex and gender are more complicated than binaries, prompting interviewer Matt Walsh to ask about personal gender identity, “So how do I know?” Comfrey responds, “That question, when it’s asked with a lot of curiosity, that’s the beginning of a lot of people’s gender identity development journey.” Many people who enjoy Walsh’s incurious bad-faith tactics found the exchange entertaining.

References

2019 LGBT+ College Conference Schedule https://www.mtsu.edu/mtlambda/2019LGBTplusCCSchedule.php]

Media

Community Changers (May 27, 2022). DDC S3 Gert Comfrey: The LGBTQ+ Community https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd4vlZCbAeM

Resources

Gert Comfrey (gertcomfrey.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

Therapy Den (therapyden.com)

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Nashville Psychotherapy Institute (nashvillepsychotherapyinstitute.org)

Alok Vaid-Menon is an American nonbinary performer and writer who uses the mononym ALOK.

Background

ALOK was born July 1, 1991, grew up in College Station, Texas, then earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Stanford University in 2013.

Art and activism

ALOK’s creative output focuses on gender, ethnicity, and loneliness. ALOK uses live performance, fashion design, and writing to express views.

Selected publications

  • Femme in Public (2017)
  • “Entertainment Value” in Unwatchable (2019)
  • Beyond The Gender Binary (2020)
  • Your Wound/My Garden. (2021)

References

Dicochea, Perlita R. (May 26, 2022). ALOK (CSRE ’13) on Making a Life. Stanford https://ccsre.stanford.edu/news/alok-csre-13-making-life

Reports, Alok Vaid-Menon via Creative Time (October 13, 2015). Greater transgender visibility hasn’t helped nonbinary people – like me | Alok Vaid-MenonThe Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/13/greater-transgender-visibility-hasnt-helped-nonbinary-people-like-me

Sharma, Jeena (March 1, 2019). ALOK: ‘Beauty Is About Looking Like Yourself.’ PAPER https://www.papermag.com/alok-beauty-2629993229.html?rebelltitem=25#rebelltitem25?rebelltitem=25

Jagota, Vrinda (December 24, 2017). Alok Vaid-Menon on Building a Transfeminine FutureVICE https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/8xvqev/alok-vaid-menon-on-building-a-transfeminine-future

Wortham, Jenna (November 16, 2018). On Instagram, Seeing Between the (Gender) LinesThe New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/16/magazine/tech-design-instagram-gender.html

Carmel, Julia (December 4, 2021). Alok Vaid-Menon Finds Beauty Beyond GenderNew York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/04/style/alok-vaid-menon-artist-nonbinary-poet-activist.html

Hawbaker, KT (June 21, 2018). Performance artist Alok Vaid-Menon on why identity categories don’t work — but stories doChicago Tribune https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ent-alok-vaid-menon-femme-in-public-pride-20180621-story.html

Resources

ALOK (alokvmenon.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Jeffrey Marsh is an American author and media personality. Marsh identifies as nonbinary and is known for positive and affirming videos about self-acceptance.

Background

Jeffrey Earl Marsh was born on July 7, 1977 in York, Pennsylvania. Marsh earned a bachelor’s degree from University of the Arts in 1999. Marsh was then a member of Le Cabaret Mélange in Philadelphia. In 2003 Marsh premiered An Evening with Jeffrey Marsh in Philadelphia.

In 2007, Marsh moved to New York and continued performing at cabarets. Works included a 2010 tribute to performer Julian Eltinge and a 2012 tribute to self-help guru Richard Simmons.

Marsh began a relationship with American art historian Jeffrey “Jeff” Fraiman and shared a website.

Activism

Marsh is well-known for affirming short-form videos on social media, particularly Vine, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

Marsh is the author of two books:

  • How to Be You: Stop Trying to Be Someone Else and Start Living Your Life (2016)
  • Take Your Own Advice: Learn to Trust Your Inner Voice and Start Helping Yourself (2023)

Marsh has worked with youth organization Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network and has contributed to TIME, Oprah.com, and Huffington Post.

Marsh is frequently criticized by social and religious conservatives, some of whom accuse Marsh of encouraging minors to reach out directly if they are in unaccepting homes. Marsh has also advised that in some cases it may be necessary to go “no contact” with unaccepting family members. In 2023 TikToker Shamirun Nessa made videos mocking Marsh, which Nessa says led to harassment. Nessa quickly became a cause célèbre among anti-trans activists, with Julie Bindel, Meghan Murphy, and others writing about the controversy.

Marsh says two things bring peace when faced with hatred. The first is Marsh’s mission in life to “bring forth what needs to be healed” in everyone. The second is a belief that people hate “so they don’t have to face their own pain,” something Marsh knows of from personal experience.

References

Whittington, Lewis (June 5, 2003). Taking the Stage. mycitypaper.com. [archive] https://mycitypaper.com/articles/2003-06-05/art.shtml

Hunka, George (February 11, 2010). Julian at Dixon Place. Culturebot. [archive] http://www.culturebot.org/2010/02/5530/julian-at-dixon-place/

Piepenburg, Erik (June 28, 2012). VHS film retrospective at Museum of Arts and DesignThe New York Times [archive] https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/movies/vhs-film-retrospective-at-museum-of-arts-and-design.html

Staff report (August 8, 2016). Jeffrey Marsh, Viner of the Year, says stop trying to be someone else and start living your life. cbslocal.com [archive] http://jackseattle.cbslocal.com/2016/08/08/jeffrey-marsh-viner-of-the-year-says-stop-trying-to-be-someone-else-and-start-living-your-life/

Compton, Julie (September 8, 2016). Genderqueer advocate Jeffrey Marsh on “How to Be You”NBC News [archive]

Marsh, Jeffrey (August 2, 2016). How to handle trolls and hatersTIME [archive] http://time.com/4394691/jeffrey-marsh-how-to-be-you/

Dickson EJ (April 21, 2022). ‘No Mercy for Child Groomers’: Far Right Targets LGBTQ TikToker Preaching Acceptance. Rolling Stone https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/jeffrey-marsh-tiktok-lgbtq-nonbinary-fox-news-harassment-1339526/

Power, Shannon (March 7, 2023). Jeffrey Marsh Controversy Explained—Nonbinary Activist Videos Spark Concern. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/jeffrey-marsh-tiktok-nonbinary-activist-shumirun-nessa-1786034

Giardina, Henry (March 23, 2023). Why is the Right Attacking Jeffrey Marsh? into https://www.intomore.com/the-internet/wtf/why-is-the-right-attacking-jeffrey-marsh/

Resources

Jeffrey Marsh (jeffreymarsh.com)

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Dormant/historic resources

How To Be You (howtobeyou.org)

Jeffrey & Jeffrey (jeffreyandjeffrey.com)

Jazz Jennings is an American media personality and transgender activist. Jennings is one of the most notable transgender youth to make a gender transition as a minor.

Background

Jennings was born October 6, 2000 in Florida. Parents Jeanette and Greg have four children in total. The surname Jennings is a pseudonym they chose to help protect their family’s privacy.

In 2007, Jennings was interviewed on 20/20 by Barbara Walters, leading to national recognition and additional appearances. In 2015, Jennings was the subject of the reality show I Am Jazz.

Jennings graduated from Broward Virtual School in 2019. Jennings was accepted to Harvard University, but deferred enrollment until 2023 to deal with “mental health setbacks.”

Jennings is involved in TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation, an organization the family founded to support trans youth.

References

Reischel, Julia (May 30, 2006). See Tom Be Jane. Village Voice https://www.villagevoice.com/see-tom-be-jane/

Goldberg, Alan B.; Adriano, Joneil (April 27, 2007). I’m a Girl: Understanding Transgender Children”ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3088298

Menendez, Alicia; Redman, Meagan; Effron, Lauren (July 14, 2015). ‘I Am Jazz’: Transgender Teen on Grappling with High School, PubertyABC News

Mendenhall, Christina (June 25, 2015). Growing Up Transgender: Jazz JenningsMiami Herald

Diaz, Johnny (October 2, 2019). South Florida trans teen Jazz Jennings delays start at Harvard UniversitySun Sentinel

Galehouse, Maggie (September 15, 2014). Jazz Jennings shares story of her triumphs, struggles as a transgender child in ‘I Am Jazz’Houston Chronicle

Rothaus, Steve (June 25, 2014). Jazz Jennings, a 13-year-old trans girl, reads from her upcoming children’s book (with video)Miami Herald

Feeney, Nolan (October 13, 2014). The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014Time

Silver, Marc (July 13, 2015). ‘I Am Jazz’ is the latest in this summer’s transgender reality show boomThe Washington Post

Jensen, Erin (June 29, 2018). Jazz Jennings is all smiles after gender confirmation surgeryUSA Today. Retrieved July 16, 2018.

Migdon, Brooke (November 3, 2021). Reality star Jazz Jennings opens up about mental health and weight gain in new season. The Hill

Resources

TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation (transkidspurplerainbow.org)

Purple Rainbow Tails (jazzmergirl.wix.com/purplerainbowtails) [archive]

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IMDb (imdb.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

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David Paisley is a Scottish actor and trans-inclusive LGBTQ+ rights activist.

Background

Paisley was born February 2, 1979 is originally from Falkirk. Paisley is one of seven children; Paisley’s parent Janet Paisley is a noted author.

David Paisley began acting as a teen and came out as gay at age 18. Paisley studied at University of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian University before committing to acting full-time.

Paisley is known for roles in Tinsel Town, River City, Holby City, Casualty, and Eastenders.

Transgender activism

Paisley has been critical of trans-exclusionary queers like the LGB Alliance.

In 2021, Paisley had a dispute with Joanna Cherry, a Scottish politician and gender critical activist. Paisley called out Cherry for making a donation to a crowdfunder backed by anti-trans pressure group Fair Cop. Cherry sent a letter demanding Paisley retract the message, apologize, pay £500 to a charity of Cherry’s choice, and pay £2,000 in legal costs.

Following significant online abuse, Paisley considered deleting all social media accounts and leaving Scotland.

References

Rodger, Hannah (February 21, 2021). MP Cherry’s £2500 defamation claim ‘could have chilling effect’ on holding power to accountHeraldScotland https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19106164.mp-cherrys-2500-defamation-claim-could-chilling-effect-holding-power-account/

Duffy, Nick (February 22, 2021). ‘Gender critical’ MP Joanna Cherry demanded actor who questioned ties to anti-trans group pay £2,500. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2021/02/22/joanna-cherry-david-paisley-trans-defamation-letter-fair-cop-mp/

Rodger, Hannah (February 21, 2021). David Paisley publishes letter sent by Joanna Cherry’s lawyersHeraldScotland https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19107223.david-paisley-publishes-letter-sent-joanna-cherrys-lawyers/

Harrison, Jody (August 31, 2001). River City actor David Paisley to leave Scotland as he no longer feels “safe.” HeraldScotland https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/19548743.river-city-actor-david-paisley-leave-scotland-no-longer-feels-safe/

Media

Attitude Magazine (June 17, 2021). Former Holby City star David Paisley on his fight against transphobia and the LGB Alliance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekwvpqraXIU

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

IMDb (imdb.com)

Twitter (twitter.com)

  • DavidPaisley [deleted]

India Willoughby is an English journalist and media personality. Willoughby is Britain’s first transgender national television newsreader and the first transgender co-host of an all-women talk show, Loose Women.

Background

Willoughby was born September 2, 1965 in Carlisle, Cumbria and attended Trinity School in Shaw, Newbury.

Willoughby began working in journalism in 1986. Willoughby trained as a journalist (NCTJ) in newspapers before moving into radio and then television. 

After presenting the news for ITV from 1999 to 2010, Willoughby then transitioned, going public in 2015 before returning to ITV in 2016.

In 2017, Willoughby was a guest on BBC’s Woman’s Hour. Host Jenni Murray asked several pointed questions, then wrote an op-ed telling trans women to stop calling themselves real women.

Willoughby then presented on Channel 5 from 2017 to 2018 before returning to ITV in 2018. Willoughby appeared on Celebrity Big Brother 2018.

Willoughby has made a number of controversial statements and often gets into arguments on social media. At one point the death threats against Willoughby got so bad that the UK’s counter-terrorism unit got involved.

References

Akinwumi, Stella (21 February 2023). Loose Women star India Willoughby receives vile ‘hand delivered’ death threat: ‘It’s like a letter from a horror film’Metro https://metro.co.uk/2023/02/21/loose-women-india-willoughby-receives-hand-delivered-death-threat-18323258/

Rufo, Yasmin; Sandford, Daniel (21 February 2023). Neo-Nazi threats probed by anti-terrorism policeBBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64720973

Bedigan, Mike (February 3, 2023). India Willoughby: Toxic transgender debate is driven by media misinformation. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/india-scotland-bbc-stirling-catholics-b2274994.html

Gayle, LaToya (January 23, 2023). ‘I’m more of a woman than JK Rowling’: India Willoughby goes viral amid dispute with Harry Potter author. Glasgow World https://www.glasgowworld.com/news/people/jk-rowling-india-willoughby-rally-3997628

Duke, Simon (7 August 2018). Who is India Willoughby? A guide to the Celebrity Big Brother contestantChronicleLive http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/who-india-willoughby-guide-celebrity-14105564

Beresford, Meka (9 January 2018). Viewers slam India Willoughby after she compares drag to blackfacePinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/01/09/viewers-slam-india-willoughby-after-she-compares-drag-to-blackface/

Butterworth, Benjamin (3 January 2018). India Willoughby’s emotional transgender coming out storyPinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/01/03/who-is-india-willoughby-transgender-loose-women-celebrity-big-brother-2018/

Dyke, Peter; Gleave, Ed (19 September 2017). Channel 5’s India Willoughby becomes victim of online abuse for being transgenderDaily Star https://www.dailystar.co.uk/tv/india-willoughby-channel-5-transgender-17024706

Murray, Jenni (March 5, 2017). Be trans, be proud — but don’t call yourself a “real woman. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/be-trans-be-proud-but-dont-call-yourself-a-real-woman-frtld7q5c

Staff report (March 5, 2017). Jenni Murray trans women article criticisedBBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39173398

Dene, Sarah (16 November 2016). Loose Women’s India Willougby is first transwoman to host all-female talk showMetro https://metro.co.uk/2016/11/16/transgender-journalist-india-willougby-to-make-landmark-appearance-on-loose-women-as-co-host-6261562/

Wakefield, Lily (23 June 2021). India Willoughby accuses GB News of ‘opening the gates of hell’ for trans peoplePinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/06/23/india-willoughby-quits-gb-news-trans-transphobia-dan-wootton/

Resources

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Sam Brinton is an American nuclear engineer and LGBTQ activist. In 2022 Brinton briefly served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, the first openly genderfluid person in federal government leadership. The role ended after Brinton was accused of stealing luggage at airports.

Background

Samuel Otis Brinton was born in September 1987 and grew up in Perry, Iowa in a Baptist household. After coming out as bisexual, Brinton was reportedly sent to conversion therapy that practiced harsh aversion techniques. Much of Brinton’s subsequent activism focused on ending conversion therapy.

Brinton graduated from Perry High School in 2006, earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in 2011, and earned a dual master’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2013.

According to an official biography, prior to the DOE role, Brinton held energy policy roles at the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Breakthrough Institute, the Clean Air Task Force, Third Way, and Deep Isolation.

Brinton married Kevin Rieck in 2019.

Theft accusations

Shortly after taking office in 2022, Brinton was accused of theft of women’s luggage at airports. The investigation uncovered at least three cases:

  • Washington Reagan (2018): reportedly arrested in May 2023
  • Las Vegas (July 2022): pled no contest, paid restitution, 180-day suspended sentence
  • Minneapolis (September 2022): mental health evaluation ordered

The scandal received widespread media attention and cost Brinton the DOE job.

References

Maxwell, Jill (December 29, 2015). Meet the Nuclear Engineer Leading the Fight Against Gay Conversion Therapyalum.mit.edu. https://alum.mit.edu/slice/meet-nuclear-engineer-leading-fight-against-gay-conversion-therapy

McDonald, John (July 7, 2022). Gender-Fluid ‘Nuclear Nerd’ Climbing the Ladder at Department of Energysouthfloridagaynews.com https://southfloridagaynews.com/National/gender-fluid-nuclear-nerd-climbing-the-ladder-at-department-of-energy.html

Has Sam Brinton’s story always been too good to be true?LGBTQ Nation. December 7, 2022. https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/12/sam-brintons-story-always-good-true/

Sands, Geneva; Vazquez, Maegan; Diamond, Jeremy (December 13, 2022). Top Energy Department official no longer employed after luggage theft accusations. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/13/politics/sam-brinton-department-of-energy/index.html

Graziosi, Graig (May 19, 2023). Former DOE official arrested for third time for allegedly stealing luggage at airportThe Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/sam-brinton-luggage-theft-arrest-doe-b2341647.html

Resources

Sam Brinton (samuelbrinton.com) [archive]

US Department of Energy (energy.gov)

  • Sam Brinton [archive]
  • https://www.energy.gov/ne/person/sam-brinton

Twitter (twitter.com)

Susie Green is a British gender rights activist who focuses on transgender youth. Green helped her child Jackie medically transition as a minor, including gender affirming surgery in 2010 at age 16. Green was involved in the British charity Mermaids as a trustee from 2011 to 2015, then as CEO from 2016 to 2022.

Background

Susie Marie Green was born in December 1957. She was an IT manager for Citizens Advice from 2002 to 2015. Green lives in Yorkshire, and is married to Tim Green. They have four adult children, including twins.

Green gave a 2017 talk at TEDx Truro that was criticized by anti-trans activists. Green later removed the video.

Green was a consultant on the 2o18 ITV drama Butterfly and helped shape the WPATH chapter on children and adolescents.

She got involved at Mermaids in 2000 because her daughter Jackie was trying to navigate gender transition as a minor. During her time as CEO, the debate about transgender youth intensified, particularly following a £500,000 grant from the National Lottery and corporate sponsorships.

Under Green, Mermaids launched the first legal challenge of its kind against the LGB Alliance, a trans-exclusionary charity which is critical of “gender ideology.” Mermaids sought to end its charitable status.

In late 2022, Mermaids was hit with several setbacks. New Mermaids trustee Jacob Breslow resigned after a 2011 presentation he gave at a conference for minor-attracted persons held by B4U-ACT came to light. Complaints from staff led to an outside audit conducted by DEI consultants the Social Justice Collective. Days after Green resigned, UK’s Charity Commission launched a statutory inquiry into Mermaids after reports that they offered chest binders to teens whose parents opposed their transitions.

Green has been recognized for her contributions to the trans community on several occasions, including an event at Buckingham Palace. In 2016 she won the Diversity Champion Award. In 2023 Green joined GenderGP as project manager on the GenderGP Trans Youth Fund.

References

The Newsroom (October 25, 2018). Mum of Leeds transgender woman who inspired ITV’s Butterfly opens up about daughter’s suicide attempts after bullying. Yorkshire Evening Post https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/mum-of-leeds-transgender-woman-who-inspired-itvs-butterfly-opens-up-about-daughters-suicide-attempts-after-bullying-237976

Gentleman, Amelia (November 25, 2022). Head of trans children charity Mermaids resigns after six years. The Guardian  https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/25/head-of-trans-children-charity-mermaids-resigns-after-six-years

Thomas, Rebecca (October 15, 2018). How ITV’s Butterfly hopes to be a ‘game-changer’ for trans people. BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-45672230

Gilligan, Andrew (December 16, 2018). Child sex-change charity Mermaids handed £500,000 by national lottery. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/child-sex-change-charity-handed-500-000-by-national-lottery-dvbt7t2kb

SJC (2022). EDI Audit: Recommendations and Next Steps. https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/EDI-Audit_-Recommendations-and-Next-Steps.pdf

Staff report (October 11, 2017). Prince Harry calls transgender children’s charity Mermaids ‘amazing’ at Buckingham Palace event. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/10/11/prince-harry-calls-transgender-childrens-charity-mermaids-amazing-at-buckingham-palace-event/

Baska, Maggie (February 9, 2023). Ex-Mermaids CEO and GenderGP launch vital trans youth healthcare fund. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/02/09/gender-gp-fund-trans-youth-healthcare-mermaids-susie-green/

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