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Martin Lalumiere is currently working at the Clarke Institute. He has published work with Ray Blanchard and J. Michael Bailey.

Lalumiere has joined the International Academy of Sex Research and the editorial board at the journal controlled by Clarke Institute personnel, The Archives of Sexual Behavior.

Martin Lalumiere, B.Sc., M.Ps., Ph.D. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 
Unit 3 
Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1H4 
Tel: (416) 535-8501, 2669 
Fax: (416) 583-4327 
Email to:[email protected] 

Dr. LalumiĂšre obtained his B.Sc. (1989) and his M.Ps. (1990) from the UniversitĂ© de MontrĂ©al (1990), and his Ph.D.(1995) from Queen’s University at Kingston (where he received the Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal). He is currently a Research Psychologist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Law and Mental Health Program. Previously, he was a Research Psychologist at the Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre, Research Department (1996-1997), and a Research Fellow in Psychology and Psychiatry at Queen’s University (1994-1996). Most of his time is spent conducting research on the causes of sexual aggression, sexual preferences, and psychopathy. 

Recent Publications 

LalumiĂšre, M. L., Blanchard, R., & Zucker, K. J. (2000). Sexual orientation and handedness in men and women: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 126, 575-592. 
LalumiĂšre, M.L., Chalmers, L., Quinsey, V.L., & Seto, M.C. (1996) A test of the mate deprivation hypothesis of sexual coercion. Ethology and Sociobiology, 17, 299-318. 
LalumiĂšre, M.L., Harris, G.T., Quinsey, V.L., & Rice, M.E. (1998) Sexual deviance and number of older brothers among sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse, 10, 5-15. 
LalumiĂšre, M. L., Harris, G. T., & Rice, M. E. (2001). Psychopathy and developmental instability. Evolution and Human Behavior, 22, 75-92. 
LalumiĂšre, M.L., & Quinsey, V.L. (1994). The discriminability of rapists from non-sex offenders using phallometric measures: A meta-anaylsis. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 21, 150-175. 
LalumiĂšre, M. L., & Quinsey, V. L. (1999). A Darwinian interpretation of individual differences in male propensity for sexual aggression. Jurimetrics, 39, 201-216. 
Quinsey, V. L., & LalumiĂšre, M. L. (2001). Assessment of sex offenders against children (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. 
Seto, M. C., LalumiĂšre, M. L., & Blanchard, R. (2000). The discriminative validity of a phallometric test for pedophilic interests among adolescent offenders against children. Psychological Assessment, 12, 319-327. 
Seto, M. C., LalumiĂšre, M. L., & Kuban, M. (1999). The sexual preferences of incest offenders. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 108, 267-272.

Lisa Diamond is an associate professor of psychology and gender identity at the University of Utah. She was quoted by the Washington Blade on 8 July 2005 praising a study by Gerulf Rieger which claimed male bisexuality does not exist.

“Research on sexual orientation has been based almost entirely on self-reports, and this is one of the few good studies using physiological measures.”

Rieger is a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology at Northwestern University. He is being groomed by his mentor J. Michael Bailey to engage in “science by press conference,” a way of getting publicity and attention through carefully timed media manipulation.

Dr. Diamond was not involved in the study, which involved the use of plethysmograph quackery.

Lisa M. Diamond website:

http://www.psych.utah.edu/diamond/diamond.html

Benedict Carey. Straight, Gay or Lying? Bisexuality Revisited. New York Times, July 5, 2005.

Sexual Orientation, Controversy, and Science

J. MICHAEL BAILEY (NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY), PAUL L. VASEY (UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE), LISA M. DIAMOND (UNIVERSITY OF UTAH), S. MARC BREEDLOVE (MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY), ERIC VILAIN (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES), AND MARC EPPRECHT (QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY)

Psychological Science in the Public Interest (Volume 17, Number 2)

Sexual Orientation, Controversy, and Science

Show lessJ. Michael BaileyPaul L. VaseyLisa M. DiamondS. Marc BreedloveEric VilainMarc EpprechtFirst Published April 25, 2016 Research Article 

https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100616637616
Article information 

The Man Who Would Be Queen is a notoriously anti-transgender book by J. Michael Bailey.

In March 2003, Northwestern University psychologist J. Michael Bailey published The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism.

The Man Who Would Be Queen was crafted and marketed in ways influenced by academic racists and others in the neo-eugenics movement. Bailey uses scientific-sounding arguments to claim sexual minorities and people who display gender diversity are “evolutionary mistakes,” and he claims those who disagree with his ideas are liars.

Normally, a book this scientifically unsound and tainted with charges of academic misconduct, practicing without a license, fabricating data, and sex with a research subject would not even be dignified with a response by many involved, but The Man Who Would Be Queen somehow got published through the Joseph Henry Press, an imprint of the National Academies Press which specializes in science books for popular audiences.

Published commentaries on Bailey

A selection of comments from people concerned about this book and its message

J. Michael Bailey was Chair of the Psychology Department at Northwestern University until 2004. He stepped down in the wake of an investigation into charges of ethics violations surrounding his 2003 book The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism. Many see this book as the most defamatory book written about gender variance since Janice Raymond wrote The Transsexual Empire in 1979.

Below are some published peer reviews and commentaries about the quality of his “science.”

Selected published commentaries and coverage

‱ LINK: Kinder, gentler homophobia (by David Ehrenstein, The Advocate) http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid29121.asp

‱ LINK: Biological reductionism meets gender diversity in human sexuality (by Walter O. Bockting, Journal of Sex Research) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/Bockting/Bockting%20Review.html and commentary by Christine Burns http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/Bockting/Burns%20commentary.html

‱ LINK: Ethical minefields: The sex that would be science (by Julie M. Klein, Seed Magazine) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/Ethics/Ethical%20Minefields%20-%20Seed%20Magazine.html

http://www.seedmagazine.com/?p=article&n=above&id=130

‱ LINK: Queer Science: An ‘elite’ cadre of scientists and journalists tries to turn back the clock on sex, gender and race http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?sid=96 (01-01-2004) LINK:(by Heidi Beirich and Bob Moser, Southern Poverty Law Center)

‱ LINK: Book review (by Pauline Park, Ph.D. Gay Today) http://gaytoday.com/reviews/061603re.asp

‱ LINK: Bailey on gay femininity (by Paul Varnell, Chicago Free Press) http://www.indegayforum.org/authors/varnell/varnell109.html

‱ LINK: Why are you a queen? (by Paul Varnell, Washington Blade) http://www.washingtonblade.com/2003/10-17/view/columns/queen.cfm

‱ LINK: Weird science (by Kim McNabb, Chicago Free Press) http://www.indegayforum.org/authors/mcnabb/mcnabb1.html

‱ LINK: Author is ripped for transsexual research (by Robert Becker, Chicago Tribune) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/ChicagoTribune-7-29-03.html

‱ LINK: Dr. Sex (by Robin Wilson, Chronicle of Higher Education) http://chronicle.com/free/v49/i41/41a00801.htm

‱ LINK: New gene theory rests on bad science (by Vernon Rosario, Gay & Lesbian Review) http://calbears.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3491/is_200311/ai_n8283071

‱ LINK: Trans activists file charges against NU professor (by Gary Barlow, Chicago Free Press) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/Chicago%20Free%20Press%20-%20Trans%20Activists%20File%20Charges.htm

‱ LINK: NU panel to investigate prof’s research tactics (by Sheila Burt and Laurel Jorgensen , Daily Northwestern) http://media.www.dailynorthwestern.com/media/storage/paper853/news/2003/11/18/Campus/Nu.Panel.To.Investigate.Profs.Research.Tactics-1912932.shtml

‱ LINK: Bailey accused of having sex with research subject (by Sheila Burt, Daily Northwestern) http://media.www.dailynorthwestern.com/media/storage/paper853/news/2004/01/06/UndefinedSection/Bailey.Accused.Of.Having.Sex.With.Research.Subject-1913112.shtml

‱ LINK: University examining Bailey’s sex research (by Katie Walton, Daily Northwestern) http://media.www.dailynorthwestern.com/media/storage/paper853/news/2004/02/09/Campus/University.Examining.Baileys.Sex.Research-1913654.shtml

‱ LINK: University investigates ethics of sex researcher (by Robert Stacy McCain, Washington Times) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/Washington%20Times%2011-25-03.html

‱ LINK: NIH director defends funds for criticized sex research (by Robert Stacy McCain, Washington Times) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/Washington%20Times%201-30-04.html

‱ LINK: Northwestern U. psychologist is accused of having sex with research subject (by Robin Wilson, Chronicle of Higher Education) http://chronicle.com/weekly/v50/i17/17a01702.htm

‱ LINK: NU professor faces sexual allegations (by Gary Barlow, Chicago Free Press) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/Chicago%20Free%20Press%2012-17-03.html

‱ Letters re: Dr. Sex (in Chronicle of Higher Education) /info/dr-sex.html

‱ LINK: Dr. Sex (by Kate Gambreno, Newcity Chicago) http://www.newcitychicago.com/chicago/2392.html

‱ LINK: Book review (by Geoff Parkes) http://web.archive.org/web/20031024053250/http://www.adequacy.net/features/book/book160.shtml

‱ LINK: Book review (by Deirdre McCloskey, Reason) http://www.reason.com/0311/cr.dm.queer.shtml

‱ Een Mann gevangen in een mannenlichaam (by Peter Vermey, NRC, excerpts translated by Arianne ven der Ven) /info/louis-gooren.html

‱ LINK: Sex and Transsexuals (by Dennis Rodkin, Chicago Reader) https://securesite.chireader.com/cgi-bin/Archive/abridged2.bat?path=2003/031212/TRANS&search=transsexual

‱ LINK: Transsexual Travesty (by Deirdre McCloskey, Chicago Reader) https://securesite.chireader.com/cgi-bin/Archive/abridged2.bat?path=2003/031219/LETTERS/MCCLOSK&search=transsexual

‱ LINK: The man who would write about queens (Transgender Tapestry) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/IFGE-Reviews.html

‱ LINK: Tapestry review: The Man Who Would be Queen (by Christine Beatty, Transgender Tapestry) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/IFGE-Reviews.html

‱ LINK: Not a man, not the queen (by Gwen Smith, Bay Area Reporter) http://www.gwensmith.com/writing/transmissions67.html

‱ LINK: Book review of The Man Who Would Be Queen (by Liza Mundy, Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A61894-2003Mar20&notFound=true

‱ Lost in the Male (by John Derbyshire, National Review) https://www.transgendermap.com/?page_id=18388

‱ LINK: Book review of The Man Who Would Be Queen (by A. Dean Byrd, Ph.D, NARTH) http://www.narth.com/docs/queen.html

‱ Transsexuals and the Law (by Dan Seligman, Forbes) /info/dan-seligman.html

‱ LINK: Bailey’s Wick (by Jamison Green, Planet Out) http://www.planetout.com/pno/people/columns/green/archive/20031014.html

‱ LINK: Autogynephilia: A Mistaken Model (by Beth Orens) http://www.starways.net/beth/ag.html

‱ LINK: To call a woman a queen (by Alison Campbell, Diverse City) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/DiverseCity/DiverseCity.html

‱ LINK: 2 Transsexual Women Say Professor Didn’t Tell Them They Were Research Subjects (by Robin Wilson, Chronicle) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Chronicle-7-17-03.html

‱ LINK: Transsexuals file complaints over book (by Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/ChicagoTribune-7-30-03.html

‱ Transsexuality treatise triggers furor (by Constance Holden, Science) /info/sciencenow.html

‱ Transsexuals protest (by Jon Marcus, Times Higher Education Supplement) /info/bailey-protest.html

‱ LINK: Diagnosis as libel: A letter of warning to Bailey (by Deirdre McCloskey, U. of Illinois at Chicago) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/Reader/Deirdre%20McCloskey%20puts%20Bailey%20on%20notice.html

Community response /info/bailey-commentary.html

The trans community has mobilized around this matter, with a wide variety of letters, published commentaries, petitions, etc.

Primary resources include an Investigation by Professor Lynn Conway http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/LynnsReviewOfBaileysBook.html

and the Clearinghouse on this site. /info/bailey-blanchard-lawrence.html\

This page has selective commentary from the trans community on J. Michael Bailey’s book on gender variance.

J. Michael Bailey is Chair of the Psychology Department at Northwestern University. In March 2003, he published a book called The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism. Many see this book as the most defamatory book written about gender variance since Janice Raymond wrote The Transsexual Empire in 1979.

‱ (05-02-2003) LINK: Critique of The Man Who Would Be Queen (by Jed Bland) http://www.gender.org.uk/chstnuts/queen0.htm

‱ (03-14-2004) The Man Who Would Be Queen: A response (by Caillean McMahon, D.O.) /info/queen-response.html

‱ (05-27-2003) LINK: Comments (by Ben Barres, M.D., Ph.D. Stanford University) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/BaileyA1.html#anchor141609

‱ (08-18-2003) LINK: The Aforementioned Ugly (by S. Bear Bergman) http://www.butchdykeboy.com/bdb/bear.a1

‱ (06-27-2003) LINK: Essay from a young transitioner (by Nell) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Nell%27sEssayOnBBL.html

‱ (08-17-2003) Letter from Europe (by Karla) /info/karla.html

‱ (05-04-2003) LINK: Bailey’s “poster child for autogynephilia” in her own words (by “Cher” aka Anjelica Kieltyka) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Anjelica.html

‱ (06-06-2003) Slavery through essentialism (by Tati do Ceu) /info/bailey-slavery.html

‱ (06-09-2003) A Youth TS Perspective (by Bonnie Jackson) /info/bailey-autogynephile.html

‱ (06-09-2003) Why Bailey’s book is offensive (by Kelly Novak, M.S.) /info/bailey-transgender.html

‱ (06-11-2003) Direct effect: how Bailey personally made my life harder (by women he’s hurt) /info/bailey-defamation.html

‱ (06-12-2003) LINK: The Man Who Wouldn’t Leave Us Alone (by Ryka) http://www.geocities.com/rykaryka/Baileyrant.html

‱ (05-02-2003) Northwestern U. Psychologist J. M. Bailey Debases Social Science In Quest For Celebrity (by Sonia John). /info/bailey-psychology.html

‱ (04-27-2003) LINK: The National Academy meets the National Enquirer (by Rebecca Allison, M.D.) http://www.drbecky.com/blog05.html#apr13

‱ (06-17-2003) Bailey on institutional reading lists (by Andrea James) /info/bailey-university.html

‱ (06-16-2003) My correspondence with Northwestern Student Affairs (by Andrea James) /info/bailey-psychologist.html

‱ (06-23-2003) LINK: Open letter to Northwestern Administration (by Lynn Conway) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/NorthwesternLetter1.html

‱ (06-18-2003) LINK: Transphobia for Dummies (by Lynn Conway) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/BooksForDummies.html

‱ (06-19-2003) Bailey’s sexism and analogies of race (by Andrea James) /info/bailey-racism.html

‱ (06-20-2003) Mike Bailey and “homosexual transsexuals” (by Andrea James) /info/bailey-homosexual.html

‱ (06-21-2003) A note regarding Bailey’s children (by Andrea James) /info/bailey-children.html

‱ (06-18-2003) LINK: Transphobia for Dummies (by Lynn Conway) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/BooksForDummies.html

‱ (06-26-2003) The Man Who Would Be A Scientist (by Gwyneth Rhian Morgan) /info/bailey-scientist.html

‱ (06-25-2003) LINK: Bailey ignores community criticism (by Lynn Conway) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/BaileyDeclinesContacts.html

‱ (06-25-2003) LINK: Review (by Lisa Lees) http://www.lisalees.com/trans/reviews/bailey.html

‱ (06-21-2003) LINK: The Bailey Controversy, Trans Activism, and Prudery (by Harper Jean) http://www.livejournal.com/users/garconfille/122906.html

‱ (05-15-2003) I’m Me, Therefore I Am [PDF file- requires reader] (by Christine Burns) http://www.tsroadmap.com/info/Im_Me.pdf

‱ (05-15-2003) Not Quite So Incredibly Brave [PDF file- requires reader] (by Christine Burns) http://www.tsroadmap.com/info/NotBrave.pdf

‱ (05-24-2003) When Sally Met Harry [PDF file- requires reader] (by Christine Burns) http://www.tsroadmap.com/info/sally.pdf

‱ (04-14-2003) My first response to Bailey’s book (by Andrea James) /info/j-michael-bailey-blanchard.html

‱ (04-15-2003) Original introductory materials (by Andrea James) /info/autogynephilic-intro.html

‱ (04-24-2003) My spin on Bailey (by Helen) /info/bailey-transsexual.html

‱ (04-23-2003) Because I Am: A letter to J. Michael Bailey (by Annette) /info/bailey-northwestern.html

‱ (05-01-2003) Book review of The Man Who Would Be Queen (by Christine Johnson) /info/bailey-autogynephilia.html

‱ (05-06-2003) “Political correctness” (by Richard Green, M.D., J.D. and comment by Christine Burns) /info/bailey-richard-green.html

‱ (05-14-2003) Correspondence on Bailey’s book and Northwestern’s legal liability (by Australian WOMAN Network) /info/bailey-lawsuit.html

‱ (05-14-2003) Letter to Bailey (by Australian WOMAN Network) /info/bailey-transsexualism.html

‱ (07-17-2003) Brochure given to attendees at International Academy of Sex Research (ed. by Andrea James) /bailey/index.html

‱ (06-20-2003) LINK: Press release (by National Transgender Advocacy Coalition) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/NTACpressrelease.html

‱ (03-09-2004) LINK: Investigative report (by Professor Lynn Conway) http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/LynnsReviewOfBaileysBook.html

‱ (08-06-2003) John Money vs. J. Michael Bailey (intro by Andrea James) /info/bailey-john-money.html

‱ (04-19-2003) Divided we fall: the dangers of categorizing transsexual women (by Evelyn, intro by Andrea James) /info/divided.html

‱ (05-17-2003) LINK: Excerpts from other community responses (by Rebecca Allison, M.D.) http://www.drbecky.com/blog06.html

‱ (07-17-2003) LINK: Identity rape: psych exposed women without their consent (via PsychWatch) http://psychwatch.blogspot.com/2003_07_13_psychwatch_archive.html#105845090093478495

‱ (08-07-2003) Biology is destiny: new book drawing fire (via GenderPAC) /info/bailey-genderpac.html

‱ (09-13-2003) HBIGDA President blasts Bailey book (courtesy Eli Coleman) /info/eli-coleman.html

‱ (09-30-2003) LINK: Book review (via Logged Off) http://home.iprimus.com.au/laurapalmer/manwhowouldbequeen.htm

‱ (08-17-2003) Gordon Walker review (via GLIP Newsletter) /info/gordon-walker.html

‱ (11-09-2003) Bailey potpourri (via contributors) /info/bailey-misc.html

‱ (06-30-2003) LINK: Book review (via GID.info) http://www.angelfire.com/psy/gid/bailey.htm

‱ (07-01-2003) LINK: Book review (by Christine Beatty) http://www.glamazon.net/bailey.html

‱ (05-14-2003) Overview of Bailey’s methodology and bias (by Andrea James) /info/bailey-transgendered.html

‱ (05-14-2003) LINK: It’s a guy thing (by Julie Marie) http://www.geocities.com/juliemarielee2001/blog2004-04.htm#anchor20040410

Transkids.us is a site with some controversial opinions from authors who identify as “homosexual transsexual.” This site suggests that any young person dealing with these feelings who is not exclusively attracted to males is not a “transkid.” The fact that they strongly endorse the views of J. Michael Bailey is also a cause for concern.

Commentaries on this collection of materials

‱ (05-14-2003) Anne Lawrence’s responses to critics /info/lawrence-autogynephilia.html

‱ (05-28-2003) LINK: Book Launches Controversy Among Transsexual Women (by Debra Hyde) http://www.yesportal.com/news.cfm/1341 http://www.pursedlips.com/

‱ (05-18-2003) LINK: …and the Cat Fight Gets Even Nastier (by Jamie Faye Fenton) http://members.tgforum.com/jamie/blog/2003_07_01_archive.html

‱ (06-16-2003) Kathleen Becker on “autogynephilia” /info/kathleen-becker.html

‱ (05-18-2003) Kendra Blewitt on “autogynephilia” /info/kendra-letter.html

‱ (05-06-2003) Willow Arune on “autogynephilia” and exchange with Dana Beyer, M.D. /info/dana-beyer-willow-arune.html /info/bailey-willow-arune.html

‱ (01-19-2004) Jamie Faye Fenton on “autogynephilia” /info/jamie-faye-fenton.html

‱ (05-15-2003) Selected letters and excerpts from readers /info/selected-letters.html

The “brain sex” concept put forth by Moir and Jessel is far more troubling to me than the Bem Sex Role Inventory.

Description: The purpose of the Moir-Jessel Brain Sex Test is “to determine whether your brain functions within the normal range for a male or a female.” This test gives two scores of which the participant selects the correct one for their sex. The interpretation of these scores, breaks the male and female scores each into three categories.

  • Males scoring less than 0 are “Extremely Masculine.”
  • Males scoring between 0 and 60 are “Normal Males.”
  • Males scoring greater than 60 are “Feminine Males.”
  • Females scoring less than 50 are “Masculine Female.”
  • Females scoring between 50 to 100 is “Normal Female.”
  • Females scoring greater than 100 is “Extremely Feminine.”

Anne Lawrence states: “The book BRAIN SEX, from which the test is derived, is a sloppy piece of pop science, full of oversimplifications, unsupported inferences, and speculations presented as though they were facts.” She adds, “The test has not been validated by actual samples of male and female subjects… [T]he test has never been validated with a sample of transsexuals, either.”

I agree about the lack of scientific validity in this extremely controversial book. I would also add that science can be used, or misused, for social purposes. Valid observations can be used to draw absurd conclusions, like the concept of “social Darwinism” put forth by racists and proponents of eugenics.

Moir and Jessel’s Brain Sex is to sexism what Murray and Herrnstein’s The Bell Curve is to racism: a veneer of scientific methodology laid over an agenda that is sexist at its very core. I find the fact that this book is warmly embraced by many transgender women to be a highly troubling commentary on our community’s attitude toward gender stereotypes.

To argue that social inequalities between the sexes is based on brain structure is simply misogyny draped in a labcoat.

Resources

Brain Sex (2015 edition)

Gender tests

The Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) is a gender test that was developed by Sandra Lipsitz Bem (1944–2014), who began researching sex roles since the early 1970s. The Bem test indicates the degrees of absorption of cultural definitions of gender, as reflected in the user’s personality.

Overview

Cynthia Connor and colleagues summarize Bem’s findings in an interesting article titled “Intrinsic Motivation and Role Adaptability with Regards to Drama Students:”

The possession of both masculine and feminine characteristics has important consequences for behavior (Bem, S. L., 1974). An expanded behavioral repertoire gives androgynous individuals superior sex-role adaptability in comparison to sex-typed individuals. The androgynous individual is able to adapt to a variety of situations. Sex-typed people internalize societies sex-appropriate behaviors as being desirable and exclude cross-sexed behaviors from their behavioral repertoires. Sandra Bem’s pioneering research on the dimensions of masculinity and femininity led to the development of the Bem Sex Role Inventory, (1974). The Bem Sex Role Inventory measures masculinity and femininity as two discriminable dimensions. The androgynous individual scores high on both dimensions. Sex-typed individuals score high on one dimension and reject while rejecting the characteristics of the other dimension. Androgynous people enact their masculine and feminine on different occasions (Vonk, R. & Ashemore, R. D., 1993). In describing their masculine, feminine and gender neutral attributes sides, Androgynous subjects use more situational qualifiers to explain their behavior. This supports Sandra Bem’s theory that androgyny is manifested as situational flexibility (1975).

After continued research into androgyny, Bem developed a cognitive schema theory of sex role behavior (Cook, E. P. 1985). Androgyny is a particular way of processing information. Androgynous individuals do not use sex-role related schemas to guide their information processing. Gender schematic individuals divide the world into masculine and feminine. They use traditional sex-role standards in their processing of information. Gender schema theory does not emphasize the degree to which an individual is masculine or feminine, but rather the extent to which they process new information along in terms of sex roles (Hargreaves, D. J. & Colley, A. M., 1987).

This inventory (BSRI) provides independent assessments of masculinity and femininity in terms of the respondent’s self-reported possession of socially desirable, stereotypically masculine and feminine personality characteristics. This can also be seen as a measurement of the extent to which respondents spontaneously sort self-relevant information into distinct masculine and feminine categories. The self administering 60-item questionnaire measures masculinity, femininity, androgyny, and undifferentiated, using the Masculinity and Femininity scales.

Criticisms

While Bem’s theories are very interesting, the test itself for use in our community is problematic for several reasons:

  • Reliance on gender stereotypes which can be recognized as male or female by the test taker.
  • Self-reporting by the test taker based on the above can influence the outcome.
  • While Bem asserts that androgynous takers will score high on both scales, this may not be true for trans people. Many people in our community are gender schematic, or very invested in culturally defined sex-appropriate behaviors, and a baseline has not been established for us.

References

  • Bem, S. L. (1974). The measurement of psychological androgyny. Journal of Counseling & Clinical Psychology, 42, 155-162.
  • Bem Sex – Role Inventory. Bem, Sandra L. USA: Consulting Psychologists Press; 1981.

Resources

Gary Sturt (garysturt.free-online.co.uk)

Mindgarden (mindgarden.com)

The COGIATI is an online “gender test.” COGIATI stands for Combined Gender Identity And Transsexuality Inventory. It sounds like it is a science test (even though it is not). It was made to tell if someone is a transgender woman, but it can not tell you that.

I like and respect Jennifer Diane Reitz. Jennifer created the COGIATI as part of a series Transsexual Tests. She has helped many people. However, I disagree strongly and respectfully with Jennifer on the COGIATI test. I do not think it will help people. These kinds of tests are not scientific. They do not have scientific validity.

The COGIATI has questions that Jennifer says are based on sex differentiation. The scores are:

  • -650 to -390: Class 1 (Definite Male)
  • -389 to -130: Class 2 (Feminine Male)
  • -129 to 129: Class 3 (Androgyne)
  • 130 to 389: Class 4 (Probable Transsexual)
  • 390 to 650: Class 5 (Classic Transsexual)

Many questions are like questions on other tests by Bem and Moir-Jessel. Those tests have problems, too.

Jennifer says:

The COGIATI is a prototype. It was designed for only one target: the curious, unsure, pre-operative POTENTIAL Male-To-Female transsexual (not a post-op, not someone who is already certain, not a Female-To-Male, not anyone else who fails to fit the stated definition target). Further, it was constructed for that given target only because no scientifically and medically based test for such people exists. None. Anywhere. I saw that there was a void, no physicians were filling it, and so I set to work. The COGIATI is a challenge to the scientific and medical community to follow my example, and do a better job than I.

While this is a good goal, I think the test is based on bad ideas and bad science. Some tests look like science, but they are not. This fake science is called pseudoscience.

People who like their score will think it is a good test. That is called bias.

To learn more on why gender tests are bad, go here.

Resources

Transsexuality (transsexual.org)

  • Gender Test Center
  • https://www.transsexual.org/TEST0.html

Some gender questioning people ask me about online “gender tests.” I think gender tests are pseudoscience. They look like science but are not. I worry these tests might hurt some people who take them. They might make a bad choice in life because of the results. I think these tests are very bad for young people and for people without much school.

Why gender tests are bad

1. You do not learn anything new from gender tests

  • Some people take the tests for fun or as a joke. That is great!
  • If you are taking one because you are questioning your gender and want answers, you need to be careful. You already know that you might want to make changes. It is better to talk in person with people who can help. Online tests seem like easy answers, but there are no easy answers.

2. You can often get the score you want

  • You can often tell which answers are “masculine” or “feminine.” Your score may also change based on when or how you take the test.

3. You might make big choices based on your score

  • A quick test with a score is less work than thinking hard about how you feel. Some people use the score as “proof” they should do something. Big choices should not be based on an online test. Do not use a number or category from your test score to make a big life choice.
  • Some people do not like to make big choices. They want to be told what to do. That way if things go wrong, they can blame something.

4. Gender tests look like science, but they are not

  • I am happy people study sex and gender. I would be happy if a test could tell if you should make a gender change. No test can do that yet.
  • We do not know why some people are transgender or gender diverse yet.
  • That means the tests are not based on proven things.

5. Gender tests will give the wrong result to some people

  • Even good tests are not always right. Think of a test for cancer. Most of the time, the test is right, but sometimes it is wrong. There are two ways it can be wrong:
    • It says you have cancer when you do not have it (a false positive)
    • It says you do not have cancer, but you do (a false negative)
  • If enough people take a test, even a good one, some will get put in the wrong group.
  • Some people make a gender change, but later they wish they had not done it. This happens when you do not think hard enough about why you want to make a gender change. People who like gender tests may not want to think hard.

6. Some people use gender test scores like game scores

  • Some people think their score means they are “more transgender” than someone with a lower score.
  • Many people want to know where they stand among other people:
    • Grades in school
    • Standardized tests (SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT, GMAT, etc.)
    • IQ tests
    • Mensa
    • “Rate your mate” quizzes
    • Beauty pageant scores
    • Sports rankings
  • Gender tests seem real to some who think that “numbers don’t lie.” But gender identity can not be reduced to a number or score.

7. Gender tests say there are simple “types” for things that are not simple

  • People do not fit into simple types. That is what is great about people!
  • Many of the ways we divide people into types are too simple.
  • For instance, dividing people as only “gay” or “straight” gets rid of a lot of big differences. The same is true with dividing people as only “male” or “female.” Sexuality and gender are a spectrum, not a binary of two things.
  • Think of a rainbow. Imagine saying there are only two colors: warm and cool. That would get rid of a lot of colors!

Background

When I was in grade school, there was a “gender test” we used to tell if someone was a boy or girl by how they looked at their fingernails: if you look at your nails with fingers bent and palm facing you, you were a boy, and if you looked at them with fingers straight and the back of your hand facing you, you were a girl.

This kind of belief is called a stereotype. A stereotype is an idea or image of a group of people or things that is too simple. Some people might not match their stereotype. Some adults think we can split people in types based on stereotypes.

A note on horoscopes

Horoscopes are another way to classify people that is fake science. It takes something scientific (looking at the stars and when you were born) and says that you are a type based on that stuff. People who believe in it say everyone falls into one of twelve types. Each type acts in different ways. Capricorns act this way, and Cancers act that way.

Horoscopes are a lot like gender tests. People hear what they want in the results. In science, this is called confirmation bias. There are even people who plan their day based on a horoscope. That is about as smart as planning your life based on a gender test.

Things like “gender tests” and horoscopes should only be done for fun.

Here are some of the “gender tests” you might hear people talk about:

These are all fake science and should not be taken seriously.

This page uses easy words. This helps young people read it. This also helps people who don’t know many English words. The words in bold are hard. You need to know what they mean, or this will be hard to read. You can use these links to looks up words you don’t know:
Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary
Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

Nancy Henley was an American psychologist and sibling of the birth parent of notorious transgender troll Kiira Triea aka Denise Magner. Henley’s sibling Dorothy Main Magner was Magner’s birth parent. Magner incorporated aspects of Henley’s work and life into a fabricated autobiography. Magner was also involved in maintaining Johns Hopkins email servers through family connections there.

Background

Nancy Eloise Main Henley was born on October 27, 1934 in Palatka, Florida. Henley began her education at Johns Hopkins after getting married and starting a family, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1964, a master’s degree in 1967, and a doctorate in 1968. Henley was affiliated with University of Maryland, Baltimore County from 1968–1971, Lowell Technological Institute/University of Lowell, from 1974–1980, and University of California, Los Angeles from 1980–1994. Most of Henley’s writing was on gender, feminism, language, and the social psychology of power.

Henley retired to Glen Burnie, Maryland and died there from a stroke on June 4, 2016.

My 2007 note to Henley

(Sent to <[email protected]> and <[email protected]>. I did not get a reply to my note or calls.)

Dear Dr. Henley:

My name is Andrea James. I am a writer and activist based here in Los Angeles. You can read about my work at the link below. Like you, my areas of interest include gender and violence (I have done anti-violence projects with Jane Fonda and Eve Ensler as well as Patti Giggans at Peace Over Violence/LACAAW), and I know much of your work covers these topics.

I am writing to you because I am doing some fact checking on an upcoming project, and I am interested in profiling a woman named Denise Tree, who says she is your niece. In the interest of being thorough, I felt it would be prudent to confirm this directly with you prior to publication.

Below is the quotation from Denise that prompted my note (presented verbatim):

“I strongly reccommend _Language, Gender and Society_ ed. in part by my aunt, Nancy Henley. Chock full of good reading about sex dichotymous verbal and non-verbal communications and also how “sex” is hardwired into language itself. 

🙂 Yes it’s afavorite – The Estelle and Dorothy in the dedication is my grandmother and mother.”

Because the dedication in your book Language, Gender and Society lists Estella, not Estelle, I felt I should confirm with you. Denise also says your sister Dorothy lived in the Philippines in the 1950s and was in a relationship with Denise’s father, a Finnish man. She says Dorothy gave birth to her on Clark Air Base in the Philippines and later moved from Finland to Baltimore in the 1960s, where Dorothy married someone else.

If Denise is your niece, I hope you understand that I am merely trying to be as thorough as possible in my fact-checking. I have been doing research for a long time, and my instincts told me I should confirm this information directly with you. If this information about your sister is not correct, I obviously do not want to publish any misinformation, and I would like to get a correction out there.

Thanks for any confirmation you can provide. I will follow up with a call as well, and I appreciate your time!

Sincerely,
Andrea

I did not receive a reply.

References

Rutherford A, Dean K (2016). Nancy Main Henley (1934–2016). American Psychologist, Vol 71(9), Dec 2016, 976. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/amp0000088

George M (2016). Nancy Henley. Psychology’s Feminist Voices. http://www.feministvoices.com/nancy-henley/

Resources

Social Psychology Network (https://socialpsychology.org/)

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

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

Background

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

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

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

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

Transgender research

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

Cohen-Kettenis was a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Standards of Care Committee and of the Task Force of the Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline on the endocrine treatment of gender-dysphoric/gender-incongruent persons.

Cohen-Kettenis was Chair of American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5 “gender identity disorder” subcommittee. In 2009, trans people protested the APA convention after Cohen-Kettenis inlcuded “autogynephilia” activist Ray Blanchard and anti-trans conversion therapist Kenneth Zucker on the subcommittee.

I designed the poster, helped organize, and spoke at the protest against Cohen-Kittenis and the APA.

Cohen-Kettenis was also member of the WHO ICD-11 Working Group on Sexual Disorders and Sexual Health.

Comments on J. Michael Bailey and Ray Blanchard

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

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

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

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

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

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

References

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

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

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

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

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

Selected publications by Cohen-Kettenis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Media

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

Resources

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Amsterdam UMC (amsterdamumc.org)

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

Background

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

Anti-transgender activism

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

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

Higgon syas:

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

References

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

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

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

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

Resources

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

ResearchGate (researchgate.net)

YouTube (youtube.com)