Simon Amaya Price and transgender people

Simon Amaya Price is an American musician and ex-transgender activist.

Background

Simon Bryn Amaya Price was born June 2, 2004 in Massachusetts and grew up in the Boston area. Amaya Price’s parents are Lisa Nicole Amaya Price, a human resources executive, and Gareth Conan Amaya Price (aka “Raphael”), a data analyst and stay-at-home parent. Amaya Price has a sibling named Rose.

After difficulties in public school, Simon Amaya Price attended Brimmer and May, an elite private school in the wealthy suburb of Newton, Massachusetts. At 16, Amaya Price began using the name Ash. Amaya Price left early to attend Bard College at Simon’s Rock before transferring to Berklee College of Music in 2021 as part of the class of 2024.

Amaya Price advocates for disability rights as part of the autism community.

Ex-trans activism

Amaya Price’s website says:

Once identified as trans, now is committed to advocating for social, legal, and medical change, to prevent ongoing medical malpractice in the treatment of gender dysphoria. He believes that kids with gender dysphoria have enough to deal with without being enabled by therapists, teachers, guidance counselors, and doctors to make uninformed life-altering medical decisions.

Simon and unaccepting parent Gareth appeared on Benjamin Boyce in 2021 as “Ash” and “Raphael.”

Gareth

claims to support trans adults
claims “there is no way to tell” if a child is transgender
recommends parents “put your foot down” and reject affirmative models of care
claims “the phrase ‘transgender children’ really has no place”
“let’s put the ‘children’ first, not ‘transgender'”
“children can’t be classified as gay or bisexual until after puberty”
claims that “autistic children have a sense of not belonging, and the answer that is first given, it seems, is trans… I do hope this moment will pass.”
Recommends The Coddling of the American Mind by anti-trans activist Jonathan Haidt

Simon

left public school due to homophobic bullying
had trouble making friendships, was shunned following an incident in school
had a psychotic break with hallucinations and resumed self-harm (cutting) and suicidal ideation
began research in 7th grade, started watching trans YouTubers in 9th grade
came out in 9th grade
told therapist “I do not feel comfortable being a boy,”
did not like feeling of facial and body hair
originally diagnosed as ADHD, later diagnosed as autistic
father prohibited therapist’s referrals to trans support groups and clinical care
therapist resigned, pediatrician resigned
at arts camp, announced new name and they/them pronouns; did not continue at school after camp
experimented with more feminine clothes, accessories, and grooming
was nearly kicked out of college in the first week following an interaction with another student
went to a therapist who practiced cognitive nehavioral therapy
says “70% of autistic people identify and lesbian, gay, or bisexual”
claims “transmedicalists” are pushing nonbinary and nonconforming people to medicalize
considers nonbinary to be a rebellious phase of “social justice warrior” thinking

Amaya Price returned to Benjamin Boyce’s channel in 2024 to discuss joining a synagogue, autism, being bisexual, and educational updates.

At liberal Bard at Simon’s Rock as a legacy admission, Amaya Price realized “I hate all of these people” and embraced “classical liberalism.” Amaya Price said in the interview:

“children should not have the ability to be transitioned or put under any surgeries or hormone or anything like that, because that’s obviously ridiculous.”
“I have the experience of once thinking I was trans and no longer thinking I am trans, and realizing the issues with that. And I feel a duty to helpe people and their loved ones who are in situations like that as best I can.”
“the trans rights activists have tried to group as many people as possible under the trans umbrella.”
“it’s hard to desist after you started” because of shame and the sunk cost fallacy.
Recommended Irreversible Damage by anti-trans activist Abigail Shrier
Likes gender diverse artists Cavetown and Addison Grace but disagrees with them politically “It’s hard to look up to somebody when they’re saying really stupid shit.”
“I don’t think there is any good evidence I’ve seen that has been published that medically transitioning is ever a good idea for anyone. We need to protect children and young adults who are gender nonconforming, or bisexual, or gay, or lesbian, or autistic from the trans stuff.”

2024 ex-trans event

In 2024, Price announced an October 20 event titled “Born in the Right Body: Desister and Detransitioner Awareness.” Two promotional pieces said:

What happens when you realize you were wrong about being trans?
Minors can’t consent to a tattoo, but they can consent to elective, life-altering surgeries.

In announcing it on Instagram, Price wrote:

“When I talk about this topic with most people, they tell me they’ve never even heard of desisters and detransitioners. As a desister myself, I find this worrying and I have decided to organize an event this Sunday to raise awareness about this community . There will be security given the controversial nature of this topic. I encourage everyone to attend as this is an issue very close to my heart and effects a lot of people, especially LGB and neurodivergent individuals like myself. I welcome and encourage open debate and dissenting opinions.

Thanks to @berkleediversity for sponsoring this event!”

The event was scheduled for October 20 but was postponed until December 2 ” for safety reasons and to secure a bigger venue due to its popularity.”

References

Staff (July 4, 2018). Janet Price obituary. Daily Hampshire Gazette https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/gazettenet/name/janet-price-obituary?id=9990449

Eventbrite (October 20/December 2). [POSTPONED] Born in the Right Body: Desister and Detransitioner Awareness. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/postponed-born-in-the-right-body-desister-and-detransitioner-awareness-tickets-1040084118597?aff=ebdsoporgprofile