Anthony Bogaert vs. transgender people

by Andrea James Reviewed November 14, 2026 11 min read

Anthony Bogaert is a Canadian psychologist and anti-transgender activist who has written on asexuality and paraphilia. Bogaert served as managing editor of anti-trans journal Archives of Sexual Behavior and has contributed to the anti-trans Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy.

Bogaert has published work with other anti-trans activists, including J. Michael Bailey, Ray Blanchard, James Cantor, Robert Dickey, Lee Ellis, Michael Kuban, Stephen Levine, Doug Vanderlaan, and Kenneth Zucker.

Background

Anthony Francis “Tony” Bogaert was born in 1963. Bogaert earned a doctorate from Western University in 1993, with a dissertation titled “The Sexual Media: The Role Of Individual Differences.” Bogaert did postdoctorate work at the University of Toronto and Queen’s University. In 1996, Bogaert was appointed to a position at Brock University.

Asexuality and transgender people

Bogaert argues that some asexual people have a lack of subjective sexual attraction, meaning that they experience objective attraction or arousal, but their subjective identity as a person is not connected to that attraction. Via Bogaert’s book Understanding Asexuality:

They–as individuals– are disconnected from their sexual responses to others of to sexual stimulation on some level. The missing piece for them is the I or me, or an identity as an individual, in subjective sexual attraction. In other words, the I is missing in the statement “I am attracted to . . .”

A similar phenomenon may occur in some forms of transgenderism. A transgendered person who was born as a biological male, for example, may not “own” his masculine responses. This individual may behave in a traditional masculine way, he may appear masculine, and his body my respond to stimulation in a traditionally masculine way, even sexually. But if this person does not “own” her responses, and in fact is completely disconnected from them because of an internal sense of self as female, these masculine responses are not part of her identity, or her I or me.

Similar forms of disconnected sexuality have been discussed in the clinical literature on paraphilias. Indeed, this phenomenon may be construed as a rather exotic paraphilia, which literally means “beyond love,” or “love beyond the usual.” Thus, a paraphilia can mean that an individual has a sexual attraction to something unusual. It could also imply something broader: any kind of unusual sexual phenomenon associated with a person, and not merely a sexual attraction to something unusual. As a consequence, if you are keeping score, the label of “asexuality” could still apply to masterbating asexuals with “disconnected” fantasies, because their paraphilia is an unusual sexual phenomenon: there is no subjective sexual attraction to anything. Complicated indeed!
Bogaert, p. 118-119

Automonosexualism and transgender people

Automonosexualism was proposed by Rohleder in 1907 as a term for people who are attracted to themselves sexually. Bogaert subscribes to Ray Blanchard’s “erotic target location error” hypothesis, where someone directs their sexual interests inward instead of outward:

Automonosexualism is rare and has sometimes been associated with transgendered individuals. For example, the phenomenon of autogynephilia (in which a man is sexually attracted to himself, but as a woman) is a type of auyomonosexualism.
Bogaert, p. 120

Selected writing by Bogaert

Bogaert, A. F., Hernder, J. E., & Johnson, J. R. (2026). Who “feels sexy” in the Google Books corpus? Text-mining evidence for gender differences in object of desire self-consciousness. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 55(1), 393–407. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-025-03362-5

Milani, S., Zdaniuk, B., Bogaert, A. F., Vaidya, M., & Brotto, L. A. (2025). Exploring digit ratio and handedness in asexual and allosexual individuals. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 34(3), 499–509. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjhs-2025-0017

Zdaniuk, B., Milani, S., Makarenko, B., Marriott, N., Bogaert, A. F., & Brotto, L. A. (2025). Asexuality: Its relationship to sibling sex composition and birth order. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 54(1), 51–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-03043-9

Milani, S., Zhang, J. Y., Zdaniuk, B., Bogaert, A. F., Rieger, G., & Brotto, L. A. (2023). Examining visual attention patterns among asexual and heterosexual individuals. Journal of Sex Research, 60(2), 271–281. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2022.2078768

Skorska, M. N., & Bogaert, A. F. (2021). The fraternal birth order. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of evolutionary psychological science (pp. 3234–3236). Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19650-3_3373

Bogaert, A. F., & Skorska, M. N. (2020). A short review of biological research on the development of sexual orientation. Hormones and Behavior, 119, 104659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104659

Skorska, M. N., & Bogaert, A. F. (2020). Fraternal birth order, only-child status, and sibling sex ratio related to sexual orientation in the Add Health data: A re-analysis and extended findings. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(2), 557–573. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01496-x

Bogaert, A. F., Ashton, M. C., & Lee, K. (2018). Personality and sexual orientation: Extension to asexuality and the HEXACO model. Journal of Sex Research, 55(8), 951–961. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2017.1287844

Bogaert, A. F. (2017). What asexuality tells us about sexuality: Commentary on Brotto and Yule (2016). Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46(3), 629–630. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0892-2

Ellis, L., Skorska, M. N., & Bogaert, A. F. (2017). Handedness, sexual orientation, and somatic markers for prenatal androgens: Are southpaws really that gay? Laterality, 22(2), 157–180. https://doi.org/10.1080/1357650X.2016.1151024

Hoffarth, M. R., & Bogaert, A. F. (2017). Opening the closet door: Openness to experience, masculinity, religiosity, and coming out among same-sex attracted men. Personality and Individual Differences, 109, 215–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.01.011

Skorska, M. N., & Bogaert, A. F. (2017). Prenatal androgens in men’s sexual orientation: Evidence for a more nuanced role? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46(6), 1621–1624. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-017-1000-y

Skorska, M. N., & Bogaert, A. F. (2017). Pubertal stress and nutrition and their association with sexual orientation and height in the Add Health data. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46(1), 217–236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0800-9

Skorska, M. N., & Bogaert, A. F. (2017). Sexual orientation, objective height, and self-reported height. Journal of Sex Research, 54(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2015.1124831

Skorska, M. N., Blanchard, R., VanderLaan, D. P., Zucker, K. J., & Bogaert, A. F. (2017). Gay male only-children: Evidence for low birth weight and high maternal miscarriage rates. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46, 205–215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0829-9

Bogaert, A. F. (2016). Asexuality as an orientation. In S. B. Levine (Ed.), Handbook of clinical sexuality for mental health professionals (3rd ed., pp. 385–388). New York: Routledge.

Bogaert, A. F. (2015). A review of “The invisible orientation: An introduction to asexuality.” Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 41(6), 691–692. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2015.1064629

Bogaert, A. F. (2015). Asexuality: What it is and why it matters. Journal of Sex Research, 52(4), 362–379. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2015.1015713

Bogaert, A. F., Visser, B. A., & Pozzebon, J. A. (2015). Gender differences in object of desire self-consciousness sexual fantasies. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 44(8), 2299–2310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0456-2

Pozzebon, J. A., Visser, B. A., & Bogaert, A. F. (2015). Vocational interests, personality, and sociosexuality as indicators of a general masculinity/femininity factor. Personality and Individual Differences, 86, 291–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.06.019

Skorska, M. N., & Bogaert, A. F. (2015). Sexual orientation: Biological influences. In J. D. Wright (Ed.), International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences (2nd ed., pp. 773–778). Oxford: Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.10208-9

Skorska, M. N., Geniole, S. N., Vrysen, B. M., McCormick, C. M., & Bogaert, A. F. (2015). Facial structure predicts sexual orientation in both men and women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 44, 1377–1394. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0454-4

Hafer, C. L., Mantonakis, A., Fitzgerald, R., & Bogaert, A. F. (2018). The effectiveness of deservingness-based advertising messages: The role of product knowledge and belief in a just world. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 35(1), 34–46. https://doi.org/10.1002/cjas.1406

Bogaert, A. F. (2017). What asexuality tells us about sexuality: Commentary on Brotto and Yule (2016). Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46, 629. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0892-2

Skorska, M. N., & Bogaert, A. F. (2017). Pubertal stress and nutrition and their association with sexual orientation and height in the Add Health data. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46, 217–236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0800-9

Skorska, M. N., & Bogaert, A. F. (2017). Sexual orientation, objective height, and self-reported height. Journal of Sex Research, 54, 19–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2015.1124831

Bogaert, A. F. (2016). Asexuality as an orientation. In S. B. Levine (Ed.), Handbook of clinical sexuality for mental health professionals (3rd ed., pp. 385–388). New York: Routledge.

Bogaert, A. F. (2015). Asexuality: What it is and why it matters. Journal of Sex Research, 52(4), 362–379. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2015.1015713

Bogaert, A. F., Visser, B. A., & Pozzebon, J. A. (2015). Gender differences in object of desire self-consciousness sexual fantasies. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 44, 2299–2310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0456-2

Rubel, A. N., & Bogaert, A. F. (2015). Consensual nonmonogamy: Psychological well-being and relationship quality correlates. Journal of Sex Research, 52(9), 961–982. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2014.942722

Visser, B. A., DeBow, V., Pozzebon, J. A., Bogaert, A. F., & Book, A. (2015). Psychopathic sexuality: The thin line between fantasy and reality. Journal of Personality, 83(4), 376–388. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12110

Bogaert, A. F., & Brotto, L. A. (2014). Object of desire self-consciousness theory. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 40(4), 323–338. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2012.756841

Bogaert, A. F. (2013). The demography of asexuality. In A. K. Baumle (Ed.), International handbook on the demography of sexuality (pp. 275–288). New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5512-3_15

Bogaert, A. F., & Liu, J. (2013). Physical size and sexual orientation: Analysis of the Chinese Health and Family Life Survey. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 42, 1555–1559. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-013-0110-4

Bogaert, A. F. (2012). Asexuality and autochorissexualism (identity-less sexuality). Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41, 1513–1514. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-012-9963-1

Bogaert, A. F. (2012). Understanding asexuality. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. https://doi.org/10.5771/9781442201019

Pozzebon, J. A., Visser, B. A., & Bogaert, A. F. (2012). Do you think you’re sexy, tall, and thin? The prediction of self-rated attractiveness, height, and weight. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 42(11), 2671–2700. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2012.00957.x

Blanchard, R., & Bogaert, A. F. (2004). Proportion of homosexual men who owe their sexual orientation to fraternal birth order: An estimate based on two national probability samples. American Journal of Human Biology, 16(2), 151–157. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.20006

Bogaert, A. F., & Cairney, J. (2004). The interaction of birth order and parental age on sexual orientation: An examination in two samples. Journal of Biosocial Science, 36(1), 19–37. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932004006030

Bogaert, A. F. (2003). Interaction of older brothers and sex-typing in the prediction of sexual orientation in men. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32(2), 129–134. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022827524721

Bogaert, A. F. (2003). Number of older brothers and sexual orientation: New tests and the attraction/behavior distinction in two national probability samples. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(3), 644–652. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.3.644

Bogaert, A. F. (2003). The interaction of fraternal birth order and body size in male sexual orientation. Behavioral Neuroscience, 117(2), 381–384. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7044.117.2.381

Bogaert, A. F., & Friesen, C. (2002). Sexual orientation and height, weight, and age of puberty: New tests from a British national probability sample. Biological Psychology, 59(2), 135–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-0511(01)00131-4

Bogaert, A. F., Friesen, C., & Klentrou, P. (2002). Age of puberty and sexual orientation in a national probability sample. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 31(1), 73–81. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014083218773

Cantor, J. M., Blanchard, R., Paterson, A. D., & Bogaert, A. F. (2002). How many gay men owe their sexual orientation to fraternal birth order? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 31(1), 63–71. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014031201935

Bogaert, A. F. (2001). Handedness, criminality, and sexual offending. Neuropsychologia, 39(5), 465–469. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0028-3932(00)00134-2

Bogaert, A. F. (2001). Personality, individual differences, and preferences for the sexual media. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 30(1), 29–53. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026416723291

Blanchard, R., Barbaree, H. E., Bogaert, A. F., Dickey, R., Klassen, P., Kuban, M. E., & Zucker, K. J. (2000). Fraternal birth order and sexual orientation in pedophiles. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 29(5), 463–478. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001943719964

Bogaert, A. F., & Hershberger, S. (1999). The relation between sexual orientation and penile size. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 28(3), 213–221. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018780108597

Blanchard, R., & Bogaert, A. F. (1998). Birth order in homosexual versus heterosexual sex offenders against children, pubescents, and adults. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 27(6), 595–603. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018773117741

Bogaert, A. F. (1998). Birth order and sibling sex ratio in homosexual and heterosexual non-white men. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 27(5), 467–473. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018752513198

Blanchard, R., & Bogaert, A. F. (1997). Additive effects of older brothers and homosexual brothers in the prediction of marriage and cohabitation. Behavior Genetics, 27(1), 45–54. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025663325313

Blanchard, R., & Bogaert, A. F. (1997). The relation of closed birth intervals to the sex of the preceding child and the sexual orientation of the succeeding child. Journal of Biosocial Science, 29(1), 111–118. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932097001119

Bogaert, A. F. (1997). Birth order and sexual orientation in women. Behavioral Neuroscience, 111(6), 1395–1397. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7044.111.6.1395

Bogaert, A. F. (1997). Genital asymmetry in men. Human Reproduction, 12(1), 68–72. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/12.1.68

Bogaert, A. F., Bezeau, S., Kuban, M., & Blanchard, R. (1997). Pedophilia, sexual orientation, and birth order. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 106(2), 331–335. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.106.2.331

Blanchard, R., & Bogaert, A. F. (1996). Biodemographic comparisons of homosexual and heterosexual men in the Kinsey interview data. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 25(6), 551–579. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02437839

Blanchard, R., & Bogaert, A. F. (1996). Homosexuality in men and number of older brothers. American Journal of Psychiatry, 153(1), 27–31. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.153.1.27

Bogaert, A. F. (1996). Volunteer bias in human sexuality research: Evidence for both sexuality and personality differences in males. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 25(2), 125–140. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02437932

Bogaert, A. F., & Blanchard, R. (1996). Handedness in homosexual and heterosexual men in the Kinsey interview data. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 25(4), 373–378. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02437580

Rushton, J. P., & Bogaert, A. F. (1989). Population differences in susceptibility to AIDS: An evolutionary analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 28(12), 1211–1220. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(89)90339-0

Resources

Brock University (brocku.ca)

Anthony F. Bogaert, PhD
brocku.ca/applied-health-sciences/health-sciences/faculty-research/faculty-directory/anthony-f-bogaert-phd/

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