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Neil Whitehead vs. transgender people

by Andrea James Reviewed October 3, 2026 3 min read

Neil Whitehead and spouse Briar Whitehead are Christian writers from New Zealand best known for authoring the 1999 book, My Genes Made Me Do It. They have published a range of materials claiming that being gay can be “cured” via sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE), “reparative therapy,” or what they now call “sexual attraction fluidity exploration in therapy” (SAFE-T).

They have also advocated for gender identity change efforts (GICE), arguing that being transgender is a “lonely longing” that can also be cured.

Background

Neil Evan Whitehead earned a master’s degree from Victoria University of Wellington in 1965 and a doctorate from Massey University in 1971. Whitehead worked for the New Zealand government and United Nations for 27 years. In the 1990s, Whitehead began working as a scientific consultant with an interest in the psychological sciences.

Briar K. Whitehead earned a bachelor’s degree from Massey University and a postgraduate diploma from University of Canterbury. Briar Whitehead worked as a journalist before becoming an author and publisher.

Neil and Briar Whitehead were married in 1980.

Anti-trans activism

Neil Evan Whitehead has served on the Research Division Committee for the Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity, previously called NARTH.

According to a 2000 article by Whitehead:

“Most transsexuals believe that their longing for sexchange is biologically determined. However there is no real evidence for a biological basis for transsexuality in terms of measurable differences in genes, brain microstructure or physiology. Like homosexuality, transsexuality appears to be the result of a complex interaction between biology, social
environment and personal choice. Relationships between the sexes are intended to mirror that between Christ and his bride, the church. Transsexuality is therefore wrong; but the Christian response should not be judgement, but rather love and compassion, providing the means and support for a change in behaviour.”

References

Santero PL, Whitehead NE, Ballesteros D (2018). RETRACTED: Effects of Therapy on Religious Men Who Have Unwanted Same-Sex Attraction. Catholic Medical Association / Linacre Quarterly https://doi.org/10.1177/0024363918788559

Whitehead NE (January 2011). Neither genes nor choice: Same-sex attraction is mostly a unique reaction to environmental factors. Self-published https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285329852_Neither_genes_nor_choice_Same-sex_attraction_is_mostly_a_unique_reaction_to_environmental_factors

Whitehead NE (2005). Science and Sexuality: A submission to the Anglican Commission on Sex and Gender Issues. https://www.scribd.com/document/123568013/Science-and-Sexuality

Whitehead NE (March 26, 2001). Homosexuality and Mental Health Problems. NARTH http://www.narth.com/docs/whitehead.html [archive] PDF https://archive.iftcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Homosexuality-and-Mental-Health-Problems.pdf

Whitehead NE (August 2000). Are transsexuals born that way? Triple Helix via Christian Medical Fellowship original url https://www.cmf.org.uk/resources/publications/content/?context=article&id=928 https://admin.cmf.org.uk/pdf/helix/aut00/13transsex.pdf

Whitehead, Neil; Whitehead, Briar (1999). Can sexual orientation change? https://mygenes.co.nz/mgmmdi_pdfs/Ch12_change-of-orientation.pdf

Books

Whitehead Neil, Whitehead Briar (1999). My Genes Made Me Do It! A Scientific Look at Sexual Orientation. Huntington House, ISBN: 978-1563841651

  • 2023 edition full text https://mygenes.co.nz/PDFs/mgmmdi_pdfs/2023_mgmmdi_full.pdf

Media

Pure Passion Podcast with David Kyle Foster and Neil Whitehead (May 31, 2022). Dr. Neil Whitehead – The Science on the Origins of Homosexual & Transgender Disorders. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Hzlv9DHO8

Resources

RationalWiki (rationalwiki.org)

Homosexuality and the Scientific Evidence (mygenes.co.nz)

Craving for Love (cravingforlove.nz)

Neil’s Pipetunes (neilspipetunes.nz)

Briar’s Books (briarsbooks.nz)

Facebook (facebook.com)

ScienceDirect (sciencedirect.com)

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