Emma Thomas is a British former schoolteacher and anti-transgender activist affiliated with anti-trans hate group Genspect. Thomas is the child of a transgender parent who transitioned in the 1980s. Thomas operates the personal website Children of Transitioners.
Background
Emma Thomas was born in around 1970. Thomas was 11 years old when one parent (born in ~1948) began a gender transition at around age 33. Thomas has stated that the other parent was “sick,” and that Thomas was in custody and living alone with the trans parent.
Anti-transgender activism
In August 2019, Thomas launched the website Children of Transitioners. The first blog post said in part:
“For a long time, the last thing I wanted to do was confront my emotions around transgenderism and my father. I have always avoided stories with trans characters. But, for various reasons, this issue has chased me through adulthood and expanded all around me. Now barely a day goes by that transgenderism isn’t in the news and another outrageous thing is said and done by a ‘trans woman’ that sets my teeth on edge.”
[…] And I want to start with the fact that we have to pretend that it’s OK. Because it’s not just about pleasing your parent, which of course we want to do with all our heart. That’s why we’ve changed the pronouns. That’s why we can’t say Daddy any more. It’s more than that because if you say you are unhappy with what’s happening you are uncool, a bigot, difficult. Perhaps you are made to feel like you are hurting your parent if you get the language ‘wrong’ or that you are breaking a special pact. Your personal is also political and you have to be OK about it… or other parents won’t get to see their kids perhaps. Or trans people will look bad. Lots of people’s feelings rest on you suppressing yours.
Starting in 2020, Thomas started doing media appearances as “Emma Bryn.” In May 2022, Thomas created a Twitter account ChildrenOfTrans.
Thomas has spoken at Genspect events and is a member of Genspect’s Killarney Group think tank and Beyond Trans support group. Thomas is a contributor to Genspect’s The Gender Framework.
Thomas appears in Behind the Looking Glass, a 2024 anti-trans film by Vaishnavi Sundar about “wives and children of trans-identified men.”
Video presentation
In 2024, Thomas spoke at the Genspect conference in Lisbon, which included this slide:
Moving forward…
- Our situations can be complex and we need professionals to look beyond ideology to the human situations and treat us accordingly. We want social workers to be supported in protecting children of trans people – no laws on ‘conversion therapy’ to make it difficult for example.
- This is distinctly different from having a trans partner. Understand that there is a different kind of love and loyalty, which can be exploited and manipulated.
- The myths of ‘true trans’ and ‘trans kids’ are not just misleading; they are also damaging. We absorb these ideas and are often too young or overwhelmed to question them.
- We need you to help us understand boundaries and express discomfort. Abuse isn’t just physical – there are boundary violations that you might not see in other families. In trying to please our parents, we might not be aware that we can and should say no.
- Understand that we may have identity problems of our own.
- Ditch the lanyards and posters of the trans flag everywhere. It doesn’t mean ‘safe space’ to us.
- My father is 76 this year. As this cohort ages, we have new challenges such as dementia. Some parents forget they ever had a trans identity and are distraught at having a different name and a different body. Help us, and professionals, handle that without policing pronouns for example.
Anti-trans coverage
Murphy, Meghan (March 6, 2024). Emma Thomas’ father ‘came out’ as trans when she was nine—now she fights to protect kids like her. Feminist Current https://www.feministcurrent.com/2024/03/06/emma-thomas-father-came-out-as-trans-when-she-was-nine-now-she-fights-to-protect-kids-like-her/
Selected writing by Thomas
Thomas, Emma (March 19, 2026). Beyond the Loneliness of Family Members. Genspect https://genspect.org/beyond-the-loneliness-of-family-members/
Thomas, Emma (December 10, 2025). It’s Time The Media Told the Whole Story About Adult Transition. Genspect https://genspect.org/its-time-the-media-told-the-whole-story-about-adult-transition/
Thomas, Emma (August 9, 2019). On the pressure to pretend that it’s all OK. Children of Transitioners https://childrenoftransitioners.org/2019/08/09/on-the-pressure-to-pretend-that-its-all-ok/ [archive]
Media
Maiden Mother Matriarch with Louise Perry, “Ute Heggen,” and Emma Thomas (August 31, 2025). The Experiences of Trans Widows – Ute Heggen & Emma Thomas | Maiden Mother Matriarch Episode 160. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgUilpzBAjo
Women’s Declaration International (August 1, 2025). Emma Thomas Children of Transitioners UK Our campaigning to safeguard children of trans people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAxRfFZnaKM
Women’s Rights Network (April 23, 2025). Emma Thomas of WRN N.Somerset on BBC Radio Bristol: meeting the needs of vulnerable women in Bristol. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spB1pChAlwo
Inciteful Sisters with “Jane” and Emma Thomas (March 20, 2025). Episode 11: Emma Thomas and Children of Transitioners. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gErmpY9REXQ
Genspect with Emma Thomas (January 29, 2025). My Father Announced He Was a Transsexual When I Was 11 – Emma Thomas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrN3whF1Z58
Lime Soda Films / Vaishnavi Sundar (August 30, 2024). Behind The Looking Glass – FIRST EVER Documentary about the Wives & Children of Trans-Identified Men. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frffv2sB8zE
Gender: A Wider Lens with Stella O’Malley, Sasha Ayad, and Emma Thomas (June 21, 2024). Growing Up with a Trans Parent with Emma Thomas, from Children of Transitioners | Episode 169. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQRf5V98ibg
Women’s Rights Network with “Emma Bryn” and Olwen (August 11, 2022). My Father, Transwoman – Olwen’s Story – Audio Podcast – S3 Ep2 Pt2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awvc_DbX0ek
Women’s Rights Network with “Emma Bryn” and Olwen (August 9, 2022). My Father, Transwoman – Emma’s Story – Audio Podcast – S3 Ep2 Pt1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fivgz1paIaQ
Object UK with Janice Williams and “Emma Bryn” (December 5, 2020). My Dad was an Autogynephile – Emma Bryn – Hidden Voices. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZ6mk6YkUw
OurPath / OurVoices with Kristin Kalbli and “Emma Bryn” (February 1, 2020). S3 Ep 1: Growing Up with a Trans Parent. https://ourpath.org/ourpath_podcast/s3-ep-1-growing-up-with-a-trans-parent/
Resources
Chlidren of Transitioners (childrenoftransitioners.org)
- About
- childrenoftransitioners.org/about
X/Twitter (x.com)