Lisa Littman vs. transgender people

Lisa Littman is an American public health researcher and anti-transgender activist.

Littman is involved in efforts to restrict gender affirming care for children and youth. Littman created the disputed diagnosis “rapid onset gender dysphoria” (ROGD) and is a key figure in the ex-transgender movement.

Anti-transgender activism

Littman created the anti-trans front group Institute for Comprehensive Gender Dysphoria Research (ICGDR) with Stella O’Malley in 2021.

Under the auspices of ICGDR, Littman published a paper on “detransition” in anti-trans academic journal Archives of Sexual Behavior.

Littman contributed a chapter titled “Psychosocial factors and gender dysphoria: emerging theories” to the 2023 ant-trans book Sex and Gender: A Contemporary Reader.

References

Sullivan, Alice; Todd, Selina [Eds.] (2023). Sex and Gender: A Contemporary Reader. Taylor & Francis, ISBN 9781032261195

Littman, Lisa (August 16, 2018). Parent reports of adolescents and young adults perceived to show signs of a rapid onset of gender dysphoria. PLOS ONE (March 19, 2019 corrected ed.). 13 (8): e0202330. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0202330.

Littman, Lisa (March 19, 2019). Correction: Parent reports of adolescents and young adults perceived to show signs of a rapid onset of gender dysphoria. PLOS ONE. 14 (3): e0214157 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0214157.

Wadman, Meredith (September 7, 2018). ‘Rapid onset’ of transgender identity ignites storm. Science. 361 (6406): 958–959. doi:10.1126/science.361.6406.958

WPATH Global Board of Directors (September 4, 2018). WPATH Position on “Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD)” (PDF). World Professional Association for Transgender Health

ROGD Statement. Coalition for the Advancement & Application of Psychological Science.

Ashley, Florence (July 2020). A critical commentary on ‘rapid-onset gender dysphoria.’ The Sociological Review. 68 (4): 779–799. doi:10.1177/0038026120934693

(August 29, 2018. ). Reader outcry prompts Brown to retract press release on trans teens. Retraction Watch

(October 22, 2018.). Rapid-onset gender dysphoria’ is a poisonous lie used to discredit trans people. The Guardian

Why ‘rapid-onset gender dysphoria’ is bad science. The Conversation.

Kay, Jonathan (March 19, 2019). An Interview With Lisa Littman, Who Coined the Term ‘Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria.’ Quillette https://quillette.com/2019/03/19/an-interview-with-lisa-littman-who-coined-the-term-rapid-onset-gender-dysphoria/

Littman, Lisa (September 27, 2021). The website for the Institute for Comprehensive Gender Dysphoria Research (ICGDR) is now live. Littman Research https://littmanresearch.com/news-2/

Littman, Lisa (2021). Individuals Treated for Gender Dysphoria with Medical and/or Surgical Transition Who Subsequently Detransitioned: A Survey of 100 Detransitioners. Archives of Sexual Behavior 50, pages3353–3369 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02163-w

RI Business Portal (January 15, 2o01). Fictitious name: ICGDR https://business.sos.ri.gov/CorpWeb/CorpSearch/CorpSummary.aspx?FEIN=001717167

Resources

Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)

• Lisa Littman
• transdatalibrary.org/person/lisa-littman

Littman Research (littmanresearch.com)

Institute for Comprehensive Gender Dysphoria Research (icgdr.org)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

• Rapid-onset gender dysphoria controversy

Note: In 2025, this site phased out AI illustrations after artist feedback. The previous illustration is here.