On July 9, 2025, the United States Federal Trade Commission held a workshop on “potential illegality of so-called gender transition procedures for minors under the Federal Trade Commission Act.”
Commissioned by the Trump Administration, the workshop was titled “The Dangers of ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ for Minors.” It featured many leading lights in anti-transgender extremism.
Scheduled speakers and panelists
- Claire Abernathy (ex-trans activist)
- Soren Aldaco (ex-trans activist)
- Gareth Amaya Price (unaccepting parent)
- Simon Amaya Price (ex-trans activist)
- Beth Bourne (unaccepting parent)
- Leta Boylan (anti-trans healthcare worker)
- Jordan Campbell (DOJ, anti-trans lawyer)
- Annie Chiang (FTC)
- Michelle A. Cretella (anti-trans healthcare worker)
- Paul Dupont (anti-trans activist, American Principles Project)
- Andrew Ferguson (FTC)
- Erin Friday (unaccepting parent)
- Glenna Goldis (anti-trans lawyer)
- Miriam Grossman (anti-trans healthcare worker)
- Eithan Haim (anti-trans healthcare worker)
- Melissa Holyoak (FTC)
- Edmund LaCour (anti-trans lawyer)
- Jennifer Lahl (anti-trans healthcare worker)
- Michael Laidlaw (anti-trans healthcare worker)
- Patrick Lappert (anti-trans healthcare worker)
- Helen Spiegel Lee (unaccepting parent)
- Kayla Lovdahl (ex-trans activist)
- Myles Lynch (FTC)
- Ian Mason (FTC)
- Mark R. Meador (FTC)
- Chad Mizelle (DOJ)
- Prisha Mosley (ex-trans activist)
- Josh Payne (anti-trans lawyer)
- Tamara Pietzke (anti-trans healthcare worker)
- Jamie Reed (anti-trans healthcare worker)
- Jay W. Richards (anti-trans activist, Heritage Foundation)
- Leor Sapir (anti-trans activist, Manhattan Institute)
- Lauren Schwartz (anti-trans healthcare worker)
- Brandon M. Showalter (anti-trans activist, Christian Post)
- Vanessa Sivadge (anti-trans healthcare worker)
- Forrest Smith (ex-trans activist)
- Sara Stockton (anti-trans healthcare worker)
- Elvira Syed (unaccepting parent)
- Gwen Turecki (unaccepting parent)
Agenda: Wednesday, July 9
Welcome Keynote
- Andrew N. Ferguson, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission
Panel 1: A Conversation with Parents and Survivors
- Simon Amaya Price
- Gareth Amaya Price
- Claire Abernathy
- Elvira Syed
- Kayla Lovdahl
- Moderated by Andrew N. Ferguson, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission
Deception and Fraud in Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
- Miriam Grossman, MD
Panel 2: The Politicization of Science
- Edmund LaCour, Jr., Solicitor General of Alabama
- Eithan Haim, MD and whistleblower
- Leor Sapir, Ph.D., Fellow at The Manhattan Institute
- Jordan Campbell, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Consumer Protection Branch, US Department of Justice
- Moderated by Annie Chiang, Attorney Advisor to the Chairman, Federal Trade Commission
Harms of Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
- Michael Laidlaw, MD
Panel 3: What Does the Science Actually Say About Gender-Affirming Care?
- Jennifer Lahl, RN, BSN, The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network
- Patrick Lappert, MD, plastic and reconstructive surgeon
- Lauren Schwartz, MD, psychiatrist
- Dr. Michelle Cretella, MD, pediatrician
- Moderated by Myles Lynch, Attorney Advisor to the Chairman, Federal Trade Commission
Remarks
- Melissa Holyoak, Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission
- Chad Mizelle, Chief of Staff, Department of Justice
Panel 4: A Conversation with Parents and Survivors
- Prisha Mosley
- Soren Aldaco
- Beth Bourne
- Forrest Smith
- Helen Spiegel Lee
- Gwen Turecki
- Moderated by Chad Mizelle, Chief of Staff, Department of Justice
Panel 5: Blowing the Whistle on ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ for Minors
- Vanessa Sivadge, RN
- Jamie Reed, Executive Director, LGB Courage Coalition
- Tamara Pietzke, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Leta Boylan, RN
- Sara Stockton, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Moderated by Ian Mason, Special Advisor to the Chairman, Federal Trade Commission
The Biggest Predators in the Industry
- Erin Friday, Esq.
Panel 6: How Can the FTC Protect Families from Harm?
- Brandon Showalter, Journalist, The Christian Post
- Josh Payne, Partner, Campbell Miller Payne
- Glenna Goldis, consumer protection attorney
- Paul Dupont, Policy Director, American Principles Project
- Jay Richards, Ph.D., William E. Simon Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation
- Moderated by Mark R. Meador, Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission
Closing Remarks
- Mark R. Meador, Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission
References
Riedel, Samantha (July 10, 2025). The DOJ Is Investigating Clinics That Serve Trans Youth for “Healthcare Fraud.” them https://www.them.us/story/department-of-justice-subpeonas-trans-affirming-care-youth
Wiggins, Chrisopher (July 10, 2025). FTC hosts anti-trans workshop LGBTQ+ advocates call ‘government-sponsored disinformation.’ The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/news/ftc-gender-affirming-care-workshop
GLAAD (July 10, 2025). Fact Sheet: Speakers Invited by Trump Administration Spread Disinformation at National Hearing On Medical Care for Transgender People. https://glaad.org/fact-sheet-anti-trans-speakers-at-ftc-workshop-on-transgender-medical-care/
Godoy, Jody (July 2, 2025). US FTC workshop criticizing medical care for transgender youth draws staff opposition. https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-ftc-workshop-criticizing-medical-care-transgender-youth-draws-staff-2025-07-02/
Coverage in anti-trans media
Ghorayshi, Azeen; Thrush, Glenn (July 10, 2025). Justice Dept. Demands Patient Details From Trans Medicine Providers. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/health/transgender-medicine-minors-trump-subpoena.html
Mitchell, Elizabeth Troutman (July 10, 2025). FTC to Investigate Trans Industry’s Threats of Child Suicide. Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/07/10/ftc-has-unequivocal-basis-to-scrutinize-transgender-industry-commissioner-says/
Mitchell, Elizabeth Troutman (July 09, 2025). Federal Trade Commission to Investigate Deception, Fraud in Transgender Industry. Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/07/09/executive-branch-protecting-consumers-investigate-deception-transgender-industry/
Do No Harm (July 9, 2025). Do No Harm Fellows Provide Expertise at FTC’s Workshop on Child Transgender Industry. https://donoharmmedicine.org/2025/07/09/do-no-harm-fellows-provide-expertise-at-ftcs-workshop-on-child-transgender-industry/
Do No Harm (May 21, 2025). FTC Takes Aim at Child Transgender Industry’s ‘Deceptive’ Practices. https://donoharmmedicine.org/2025/05/21/ftc-child-transgender-interventions/
Resources
Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov)
- The Dangers of “Gender-Affirming Care” for Minors
- ftc.gov/news-events/events/2025/07/dangers-gender-affirming-care-minors
- The Dangers of ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ for Minors: Speakers
- ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Healthcare-Workshop-Speakers-July-9-2025.pdf
- Video
- https://www.ftc.gov/media/dangers-gender-affirming-care-minors
- Transcript
- ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/FTC-The-Dangers-of-Gender-Affirming-Care-for-Minors-Transcript.pdf