Parents of ROGD Kids (PROGDK) is an anti-transgender front group for unsupportive parents of trans and gender-diverse children. It promotes the controversial concept “rapid-onset gender dysphoria” (ROGD).
Using tactics developed by anti-abortion activists, the group organizes clinic protests at children’s hospitals that support gender diverse youth.
Background
PROGDK was created in the fall of 2017, and the website launched in December. Two key people listed are “Suzanna Diaz,” aka Monica Hegmann, and “Janine MacLean,” who is listed as media consultant. Since launching, their organization has grown to “over 2,300 parents.” The majority of parents come from the US (74%), and they have affiliate groups in Canada, the UK, Australia/NZ, Scandinavia and Germany.”
According to their website:
“Parents of ROGD Kids was created by two mothers with teenage daughters who suddenly decided they were transgender without any prior history of gender dysphoria, but with long histories of mental health issues. They were skeptical of the affirmative model. It just didn’t seem to fit in their child’s case, yet everywhere they went, they were told to affirm their children. These mothers felt isolated, intimidated and terrified for their daughters.
They met online in a group of like-minded mothers. Eventually, the group arranged a secret meeting somewhere in the US. It had to be secret to avoid angry trans-rights activists. It was such a relief to find others in the same situation, and so empowering to know they were not alone, that they decided to create Parents of ROGD Kids, so that no other parent would ever have to feel so isolated and alone.
Their primary goal is to support the work of four anti-transgender psychologists:
They maintain a private online support group.
Background on “ROGD” and 2018 Littman paper
In 2016, Lisa Marchiano posted notices to three anti-trans blogs (4thWaveNow, Transgender Trend, and Marchiano’s own Youth TransCritical Professionals) seeking survey respondents who believed they had observed “a sudden or rapid development of gender dysphoria” in young people. This new disease model was then workshopped and developed on forums for anti-trans activists, especially unaccepting parents of gender diverse children.
In 2018, Lisa Littman published a paper about “rapid onset gender dysphoria” that was later republished with corrections following significant negative response from clinicians and from the trans community. Littman’s “ROGD” paper has been widely criticized for its methodological limitations, biased sample, inadequate conceptual framing, lack of ethical safeguards, and potential to harm transgender youth by undermining affirming care. The broader consensus in both academia and clinical practice is that the “ROGD” hypothesis lacks credible scientific basis and is not recognized as a legitimate diagnosis.
In 2019, Diaz, using the pseudonym “Frances Mallory,” published a report in anti-trans publication Post Millennial about a secret meeting of anti-trans parents:
“One of the highlights of the meeting came when Dr. Michael Bailey, a leading authority on gender dysphoria, skyped in to speak with us. He listened to our stories with interest and compassion, then assured us that our children did not fit into the traditional categories of gender dysphoria, which have been recognized and well-studied for many years. Rather, they were exhibiting a new kind of gender dysphoria that had never been seen before. Researchers had dubbed it Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD), and it is so new that it has never been properly studied. Since the meeting described in this article, Dr. Lisa Littman has published the first ever study on Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria. Dr. Michael Bailey is working with Parents of ROGD Kids to publish another study which corroborates Dr. Littman’s findings.”
2019 anti-trans resource guide for parents
In 2019, PRODGK teamed up with anti-trans groups American College of Pediatricians, Minnesota Family Council, Family Policy Alliance, The Heritage Foundation, WoLF, and The Kelsey Coalition to publish an anti-trans “gender resource guide.”
2023 “ROGD” paper
In 2023, the Archives of Sexual Behavior published the latest in its 50 years of academic attacks on trans and gender diverse youth. The first author is “Suzanna Diaz,” one of several aliases used by Monica Hegmann. The second author is anti-trans extremist J. Michael Bailey.
The International Academy of Sex Research (IASR) opened an investigation into how the “Diaz”/Bailey paper was published. IASR President Meredith Chivers announced the investigation, angering Bailey, who was Chivers’ dissertation advisor.
The journal’s publisher, Springer, added a note to the article:
10 May 2023 Publisher’s Note: readers are alerted that concerns have been raised regarding methodology as described in this article. The publisher is currently investigating this matter and a further response will follow the conclusion of this investigation.
Fired sexologist Kenneth Zucker, Archives‘ longtime editor, was defended by anti-trans organization Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism in an open letter.
References
Serano, Julia (May 31, 2023). Understanding the Anti-Trans Parent Movement. Medium https://juliaserano.medium.com/understanding-the-anti-trans-parent-movement-90d126de1fc9
McCall, Becky (September 13, 2018). ‘Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria’ in Adolescents Stirs Debate. Medscape https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/901951 [archive: 1 – 2 – 3]
Coverage in anti-trans press
“Mallory, Frances” [Monica Hegmann] (April 11, 2019). Parents with gender dysphoric kids are fighting back. Post Millennial https://thepostmillennial.com/parents-with-gender-dysphoric-kids-are-fighting-back
Parents of ROGD Kids (September 19, 2018). Parents of ROGD Kids Organization Supports Dr. Littman’s Findings and Calls for Action. https://www.parentsofrogdkids.com/press-releases/2018/9/19/parents-of-rogd-kids-organization-supports-dr-littmans-findings-and-calls-for-action
Littman, Lisa (August 16, 2018). Rapid-onset gender dysphoria in adolescents and young adults: A study of parental reports. PLOS One https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202330
Media
Gender: A Wider Lens with Stella O’Malley, Sasha Ayad, and J. Michael Bailey (July 12, 2023). Follow-Up Episode: 116 Part II – Retraction w/ Dr. Michael Bailey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v8Tw93s2T0
Gender: A Wider Lens with Stella O’Malley, Sasha Ayad, and J. Michael Bailey (June 2, 2023). EP 116 — Identity Politics vs. The Pursuit of Knowledge with Dr. Michael Bailey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHqDGVRzoGk
Joey Brite and Erin Brewer (September 21, 2020). Can I Get a Witness conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKWqWqOv9yg
DocAmitay with “Suzanna” (March 21, 2018). The Harmful Reality Behind Trans Ideology That No One Wants to Admit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KsfAljD2Oc
DocAmitay with “Suzanna” (February 25, 2018). This Mom of an ROGD Kid Schools the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbaCYgCC5-o
Resources
Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)
- Parents of ROGD Kids
- transdatalibrary.org/organization/parents-of-rogd-kids
Parents of ROGD Kids (parentsofrogdkids.com)
X/Twitter (x.com)