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The Gender Dysphoria Institute vs. transgender people

by Andrea James Reviewed October 9, 2026 2 min read

The Gender Dysphoria Institute (GDI) is an American anti-transgender nonprofit. Its leadership is composed of anti-transgender extremists.

Founded in 2021 as The Institute for Comprehensive Gender Dysphoria Research (ICGDR), GDI is part of a web farm of anti-trans entitities connected to Genspect founder Stella O’Malley and “rapid onset gender dysphoria” promoter Lisa Littman.

GDI is the organization behind the Adolescent and Young Adult Gender Dysphoria Outcomes Study (AYAGDOS).

Background

Principal officer Lisa Littman and co-principal officer Stella O’Malley founded the organization in 2021.

AYAGDOS

The Adolescent and Young Adult Gender Dysphoria Outcomes Study (AYAGDOS) is a survey conducted by anti-trans activists Lisa Littman, Kenneth Zucker, and J. Michael Bailey

AYAGDOS was launched in September 2024. According to their press release:

We hope to enroll pairs of family members–one gender dysphoric youth and one of their parents/guardians–to complete a series of separate online surveys over a period of five years. However, participation of both family members is not required. Gender dysphoric youth can participate without involving their parents, and parents of gender dysphoric youth can participate without involving their gender dysphoric child.

The Northwestern University IRB Study Number is STU00215665 and the BRANY IRB Study Number is 22-076-1188.

People

Their website and IRS filings have listed the following leaders:

References

Baum, S. (March 17, 2026). Scientists Behind the “Social Contagion” Myth Are Recruiting Trans Young People For Study, Community Leaders Warn. Erin In The Morning https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/scientists-behind-the-social-contagion

Staff report (January 31, 2026). Why Trans Communities Are Urging Caution on AYAGDOS Research. TransVitae transvitae.com/why-trans-communities-are-urging-caution-on-ayagdos-research/

Anti-trans coverage

Therapy First (March 10, 2025). New Research You Should Know About. https://therapyfirst.substack.com/p/new-research-you-should-know-about

Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (February 26, 2025). The Adolescent and Young Adult Gender Dysphoria Outcomes Study. https://www.pittparents.com/p/the-adolescent-and-young-adult-gender-f27

Littman, Lisa (January 4, 2025). Does your teen think they’re trans? Mumsnet https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/nonmember_requests/5306325-does-your-teen-think-theyre-trans

Our Duty (September 17, 2024). AYAGDOS – Adolescent and Young Adult Gender Dysphoria Outcomes Study. https://ourduty.group/2024/09/17/ayagdos-adolescent-and-young-adult-gender-dysphoria-outcomes-study/

Ryan, Benjamin (September 16, 2024). Controversial Gender Researchers Launch Long-Term Study of Gender Dysphoric Youth and Their Parents. Hazard Ratio https://benryan.substack.com/p/controversial-gender-researchers

Genspect (September 4, 2024). The Adolescent and Young Adult Gender Dysphoria Outcomes Study. https://genspect.org/the-adolescent-and-young-adult-gender-dysphoria-outcomes-study/

Davis, Lisa Selin (August 26, 2024). Two PSAs! A rally against NYS Prop 1 today; Recruitment for new study. BROADview https://www.broadview.news/p/two-psas

The Institute for Comprehensive Gender Dysphoria Research (August 26, 2024). The Adolescent and Young Adult Gender Dysphoria Outcomes Study. https://icgdr.org/the-adolescent-and-young-adult-gender-dysphoria-outcomes-study/

ICGDR (2021). IRS 2021 Form 990EZ

Resources

Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)

Gender Dysphoria Institute (gdinstitute.org)

Institute for Comprehensive Gender Dysphoria Research (icgdr.org)

Adolescent and Young Adult Gender Dysphoria Outcomes Study (ayagdos.org)

GuideStar (guidestar.org)

  • ICGDR
  • https://www.guidestar.org/profile/85-2892486

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