Walt Heyer and transgender people

Walt Heyer is an American ex-transgender activist. Heyer gets money and attention by making trans healthcare harder to get. Heyer is a key historical figure in the ex-trans movement.

Heyer has served as a Senior Fellow in the Center for Family Studies at Family Research Council.

Background

Walter James “Walt” Heyer was born on October 25, 1940 to Charles Milton Heyer (1914–1962) and Mary Alice Eakman Heyer (1920–2007). From 1978 to 1983, Heyer was an assistant manager of product planning for American Honda Motor Company In Gardena, California, focusing on the new Acura division.

Heyer married Sarah Horton in around 1963. “In my early 20s and engaged to be married, I confided to my fiancée about my cross-dressing. She figured we could work it out. We got married and had two children.” Heyer started a gender transition around age 40, had top surgery, and used the name Laura Jensen for eight years. In around 1983, at age 42, Heyer divorced and had bottom surgery with Stanley Biber. According to an interview with American Family Association, Honda fired Heyer soon after: “Within three months, Heyer was a homeless alcoholic living in a park in Long Beach, California.”

Heyer reportedly took courses at University of California-Santa Cruz to become a counsellor, but had “strong desires” to revert back to living as Walt. In May 1988, Heyer got clean and sober.

Heyer reportedly made a “detransition” in 1991 at around age 50 and had the breast implants removed. In 1996, at the age of 55, Heyer reportedly changed all legal documents to Heyer’s previous name and sex. In 1997, Heyer testified in a case where 18 former AHM executives (and four other individuals) were convicted of federal fraud and racketeering charges in relation to the bribery and kickback schemes between 1994 and 1997.

Heyer remarried to Kaycee Heyer on May 19, 2007. They have been affiliated with Southwest Church in Indian Wells, California.

Ex-trans activism

Since 2008, Heyer has operated a website called Sex Change Regret, which is now part of the Nfluence Network, an Indiana-based Christian ministry run by Lucas and Krissy Miles. In 2008, Heyer also started a YouTube channel called “returnedhome.”

Heyer frequently appears in the media to attack the trans rights movement. Here’s writing frequently appears in anti-transn publications, including The Daily Signal. The Federalist, The Washington Stand, and Public Discourse.

References

January, Brianna (October 15, 2019). The Heritage Foundation co-hosted a half day anti-LGBTQ event. Here are the worst comments from panelists. Media Matters for America https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/heritage-foundation-co-hosted-half-day-anti-lgbtq-event-here-are-worst-comments

January, Brianna (September 13, 2019). Laura Ingraham dedicated a podcast episode to extreme anti-trans rhetoric and misinformation. Media Matters for America https://www.mediamatters.org/laura-ingraham/laura-ingraham-dedicated-podcast-episode-extreme-anti-trans-rhetoric-and

January, Brianna (April 18, 2019). Anti-LGBTQ group Heritage Foundation has hosted four anti-trans panels so far in 2019. Media Matters for America https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/anti-lgbtq-group-heritage-foundation-has-hosted-four-anti-trans-panels-so-far

Gogarty, Kayla (March 21, 2019). Extreme anti-LGBTQ groups Family Research Council and American College of Pediatricians were on Capitol Hill fighting the Equality Act. Media Matters for America

Ford, Zak (January 25, 2018). Conservative book ‘When Harry Became Sally’ attacks trans people while conveniently leaving them out. ThinkProgress https://archive.thinkprogress.org/review-when-harry-became-sally-transgender-moment-4033a1b06dbb/

Percelay, Rachel (October 26, 2015). Utah Radio Station Co-Hosts Hate Group Conference On “Understanding Homosexuality.” Media Matters for America

Jones, Zinnia (July 31, 2015). Gender Analysis 09. Walt Heyer and “sex change regret.” Gender Analysis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvpnVRb1_4A

Maza, Carlos (June 2, 2015). What The Media Should Know About Walt Heyer And “Transition Regrets.” Media Matters for America https://www.mediamatters.org/cnn/what-media-should-know-about-walt-heyer-and-transition-regrets

Voss, Donna Carol (July 2, 2015). Who Are the Villains in the Transgender World? The Huffington Post

Selected writing by Heyer

Heyer, Walt (January 25, 2024). I Was ‘Trans’ for 8 Years. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/i-was-trans-eight-years-usa-1863862

Heyer, Walt (December 23, 2023). A Message to Governor DeWine Regarding the Ohio SAFE Act: Sign It. The Washington Stand https://washingtonstand.com/commentary/a-message-to-governor-dewine-regarding-the-ohio-safe-act-sign-it

Heyer, Walt; Bauwens, Jennifer (December 19. 2023). Gender Dysphoria Is About Confusion. So Is Its Latest Claim for Disability Status. The Washington Stand https://washingtonstand.com/commentary/gender-dysphoria-is-about-confusion-so-is-its-latest-claim-for-disability-status

Heyer, Walt (April 14, 2023). I Fell for the Deception of Trangenderism. The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/04/14/i-fell-for-deception-of-transgenderism/

Heyer, Walt (March 23, 2023). The ‘Sex Change’ I Had 40 Years Ago Was A Scam, Not Medicine. The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2023/03/23/the-sex-change-i-had-40-years-ago-was-a-scam-not-medicine/

Heyer, Walt (January 27, 2023). I Know From Experience: Transgender Identities Devalue, Dehumanize, and Destroy. The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/01/27/i-know-from-experience-transgender-identities-devalue-dehumanize-and-destroy/

Heyer, Walt (April 27, 2022). Gender Dysphoria and Adverse Childhood Experiences. Public Discourse https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2022/04/81999/

Heyer, Walt (March 2, 2022,). Performing ‘Sex-Change Procedures’ on Kids Is Child Abuse, Texas’ Attorney General Says. He’s Right, and I Should Know. The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/03/02/performing-sex-change-procedures-on-kids-is-child-abuse-texas-attorney-general-says-hes-right-and-i-should-know/

Heyer, Walt (February 17, 2022). Therapists Treat Dysphoria As A Trauma Symptom, Until It’s About Sex. The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2022/02/17/therapists-treat-dysphoria-as-a-trauma-symptom-until-its-about-sex/

Heyer, Walt (February 3, 2022). 3 Myths From Trans Folklorists That Allow Men Like Lia Thomas To Hurt Themselves And Others. The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2022/02/03/3-myths-from-trans-folklorists-that-allow-men-like-lia-thomas-to-hurt-themselves-and-others/

Heyer, Walt (January 07, 2022). All Adrian Wanted Was A Family. Transgender Doctors Left Him Despairing And Sterile. The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2022/01/07/all-adrian-wanted-was-a-family-transgender-doctors-left-him-despairing-and-sterile/

Heyer, Walt (January 05, 2022). Wake Up, America: Cultural Marxism Is ‘Identifying’ as Transgenderism. The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/01/05/wake-up-america-cultural-marxism-is-identifying-as-transgenderism/

Heyer, Walt (December 3, 2021). Cross-Sex Hormones Are Steroids and Addictive. The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/12/03/cross-sex-hormones-are-steroids-and-addicting/

Heyer, Walt (July 16, 2021). Inconvenient Truth: No One Actually Changes Gender, Only Persona. The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/07/16/inconvenient-truth-no-one-actually-changes-gender-only-ones-persona

Heyer, Walt (June 30, 2021). How A 10-Year-Old Girl’s Mom Saved Her From Going Transgender. The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2021/06/30/how-a-10-year-old-girls-mom-saved-her-from-going-transgender/

Heyer, Walt (April 20, 2021). How To Talk To Someone Struggling With Gender Confusion. The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2021/06/30/how-a-10-year-old-girls-mom-saved-her-from-going-transgender/

Heyer, Walt (February 5, 2021). I Know What Happens To The Kids in ‘Transhood’, Because It Happened To Me. The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2021/02/05/i-know-what-happens-to-the-kids-in-transhood-because-it-happened-to-me/

Heyer, Walt (January 26, 2021). It’s Not Just ‘Gender Dysphoria.’ It’s Now ‘Rapid Onset Marxism.’ The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/01/26/its-not-just-gender-dysphoria-its-now-rapid-onset-marxism/

Heyer, Walt (February 21, 2020). ‘Sex Change’ Isn’t Surgically Possible, My Surgeon Testified in Court. The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/02/21/sex-change-isnt-surgically-possible-my-surgeon-testified-in-court/

Heyer, Walt (January 13, 2020). In The Past 5 Years, The Transgender Explosion Has Wounded More And More People. The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2020/01/13/in-the-past-5-years-the-transgender-explosion-has-wounded-more-and-more-people/

Heyer, Walt (November 18, 2019). Pastor Jeff Looked at Me through the Eyes of God. Public Discourse https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2019/11/58390/

Heyer, Walt (November 17, 2019). 1 Year After Sex Change, This Teen Regrets His ‘Frankenstein Hack Job.’ The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/11/17/1-year-after-sex-change-this-teen-regrets-his-frankenstein-hack-job/

Heyer, Walt (February 11, 2019). Hormones, surgery, regret: I was a transgender woman for 8 years — time I can’t get back. USA Today https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/02/11/transgender-debate-transitioning-sex-gender-column/1894076002/

Heyer, Walt (October 16, 2019). ‘Batwoman’ Actress Ruby Rose Is Happy She Didn’t Transition to a Man. The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/10/16/batwoman-actress-ruby-rose-is-happy-she-didnt-transition-to-a-man/

Heyer, Walt (August 7, 2019). Diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria—Too General and Too Much Harm. Public Discourse https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2019/08/55621/

Heyer, Walt (July 8, 2019). 4 Trans People Beg For Help With Their Gender Identity Crises. The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2019/07/08/4-trans-people-beg-help-gender-identity-crises/

Heyer, Walt (February 5, 2019). 14 Years After Becoming Transgender, Teacher Says ‘It Was A Mistake.’ The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2019/02/05/14-years-becoming-transgender-teacher-says-mistake/

Heyer, Walt (November 26, 2018). Mom Dresses Six-Year-Old Son As Girl, Threatens Dad With Losing His Son For Disagreeing. The Federalist http://thefederalist.com/2018/11/26/mom-dresses-six-year-old-son-girl-threatens-dad-losing-son-disagreeing/

Heyer, Walt (March 26, 2018). Childhood Sexual Abuse, Gender Dysphoria, and Transition Regret: Billy’s Story. Public Discourse https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2018/03/21178/

Heyer, Walt (January 12, 2018). This Man Received 167 Sex-Change Surgeries. He Lives in a World of Regret. The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2018/01/12/man-received-167-sex-change-surgeries-lives-world-regret/

Heyer, Walt (October 10, 2017). The Transgender Matrix: It’s Time to Choose the Red Pill. Public Discourse http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2017/10/20169/

Heyer, Walt (August 23, 2017). My ‘Sex Change’ Was a Myth. Why Trying to Change One’s Sex Will Always Fail. The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2017/08/23/sex-change-myth-trying-change-ones-sex-will-always-fail/

Heyer, Walt (July 26, 2017). I Was Once Transgender. Why I Think Trump Made the Right Decision for the Military. The Daily Signal http://dailysignal.com/2017/07/26/why-forcing-the-military-to-pay-for-sex-changes-would-be-disastrous/

Heyer, Walt (July 10, 2017). Doctors Admit They Don’t Know Which Kids Should Gender Transition But Do It To Them Anyway. The Federalist http://thefederalist.com/2017/07/10/doctors-admit-dont-know-kids-gender-transition-yet-anyway/

Heyer, Walt (June 12, 2017). The Experiment on Our Children: Doctors Don’t Know Who the Real Trans Kids Are. Public Discourse https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2017/06/19512/

Heyer, Walt (April 27, 2017). Bravo to the Truth: What’s Wrong with Transgender Ideology. Public Discourse http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2017/04/19080/

Heyer, Walt (April 13, 2017). Research Claiming Sex-Change Benefits Is Based On Junk Science. The Federalist http://thefederalist.com/2017/04/13/research-claiming-sex-change-benefits-based-junk-science/

Heyer, Walt (January 12, 2017). How The Trump Administration Can Truly Help Gender-Struggling Americans. The Federalist http://thefederalist.com/2017/01/12/trump-administration-can-truly-help-gender-struggling-americans/

Heyer, Walt (January 5, 2017). A Nine-Year-Old Boy is Spreading a “Contagion of Mass Delusion.” Public Discourse http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2017/01/18465/

Heyer, Walt (January 3, 2017). The National Geographic Transgender Cover Champions Child Abuse And Junk Science. The Federalist http://thefederalist.com/2017/01/03/national-geographic-transgender-cover-champions-child-abuse-junk-science/

Heyer, Walt (September 27, 2016). Transgender Identities Are Not Always Permanent. Public Discourse https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2016/09/17753/

Heyer, Walt (September 21, 2016). Pushing Kids Into Transgenderism Is Medical Malpractice. The Federalist http://thefederalist.com/2016/09/21/pushing-kids-transgenderism-medical-malpractice/

Heyer, Walt (June 17, 2016). Regret Isn’t Rare: The Dangerous Lie of Sex Change Surgery’s Success. Public Discourse https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2016/06/17166/

Heyer, Walt (April 21, 2016). Drop the T from LGBT. The Federalist http://thefederalist.com/2016/04/21/drop-the-t-from-lgbt/

Heyer, Walt (April 5, 2016). Freedom to Change Your Life: Why the Government Shouldn’t Ban “Reparative Therapy.” Public Discourse https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2016/04/16625/

Heyer, Walt (February 2, 2016). 50 Years of Sex Changes, Mental Disorders, and Too Many Suicides. Public Discourse https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2016/02/16376/

Heyer, Walt (January 5, 2016). The Danish Girl: People Aren’t Born Transgender, But Playing Dress-Up Can Spark Psychological Problems. Public Discourse https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2016/01/16191/

Heyer, Walt (September 22, 2015). Transgender Characters May Win Emmys, But Transgender People Hurt Themselves. The Federalist http://thefederalist.com/2015/09/22/transgender-characters-may-win-emmys-but-transgender-people-hurt-themselves/

Heyer, Walt (August 19, 2015). Transgender Regret Is Real Even If The Media Tell You Otherwise. The Federalist http://thefederalist.com/2015/08/19/transgender-regret-is-real-even-if-the-media-tell-you-otherwise/

Heyer, Walt (June 8, 2015). Public School LGBT Programs Don’t Just Trample Parental Rights. They Also Put Kids at Risk. Public Discourse https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/06/15118/

Heyer, Walt (April 27, 2015). “Sex Change” Surgery: What Bruce Jenner, Diane Sawyer, and You Should Know. Public Discourse http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/04/14905/

Heyer, Walt (April 16, 2015). Outlawing Psychotherapy For Trans-Kids Will Not Prevent Suicides. The Federalist http://thefederalist.com/2015/04/16/outlawing-psychotherapy-for-trans-kids-will-not-prevent-suicides/

Heyer, Walt (April 1, 2015). I Was a Transgender Woman. Public Discourse https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/04/14688/

Books

Bauwens, Jennifer; Heyer, Walt (2025). Embracing God’s Design: Addressing the Spiritual and Psychological Crisis Behind Transgender Identity. Fidelis Publishing, ISBN 978-1956454994

Heyer, Walt (2020). Articles of Impeachment against Sex Change Surgery. Walter Heyer, ISBN 978-1732345379

Heyer, Walt (2018). Trans Life Survivors. Walter Heyer, ISBN 978-1732345355

Heyer, Walt (2015). Kid Dakota and the Secret at Grandma’s House. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, ISBN 978-1508465218

Heyer, Walt (2015). A Transgender’s Faith. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform ISBN 978-1506155357

Heyer, Walt (2013). Gender, Lies and Suicide: A Whistleblower Speaks Out. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, ISBN 978-1492100737 alternate title: Sex Change-It’s Suicide, ISBN 978-1490529219

Heyer, Walt (2011). Paper Genders: Pulling the Mask Off the Transgender Phenomenon. Make Waves Publishing, ISBN ‎978-0615468594

Heyer, Walt (2009). Perfected with Love: A Powerful and Inspiring True Story. Xulon Press, ISBN 978-1607918387

Heyer, Walt (2006). Trading My Sorrows: A True Story of Betrayals, Bad Choices, Love, and the Journey Home. Xulon Press, ISBN 978-1600341564

Media

Delafé Testimonies (August 18, 2025). I Underwent Surgery and Tried to Live as a Woman, Until This Happened 😳… (Testimony). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQGjonkkkvw

Lila Rose with Walt Heyer (April 29, 2025). I Transitioned 40 Years Ago: Now I Regret Everything w/Walt Heyer | E209 Lila Rose Show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhUp95q1B6o

Real Women/Real Stories (December 9, 2022). Detransition: I Want My Sex Back (Directed by Artyom Vorobey). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3D8OyCT7ac

Daily Wire (August 31, 2021). I Became Transgender. Here’s Why I Regret It. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbXyyq1333I

Focus on the Family with Kathy Grace Duncan and Walt Heyer (March 24, 2021). The Journey Back to My True Identity (Part 2) – Walt Heyer & Kathy Grace Duncan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNkV9NHp8pA

Focus on the Family with Kathy Grace Duncan and Walt Heyer (March 23, 2021). The Journey Back to My True Identity – Walt Heyer & Kathy Grace Duncan (Part 1). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9YExJ7dWn0

Situation Report with Chad Robichaux, Jeremy Stalnecker, and Walt Heyer (November 17, 2020). Walt Heyer Talks About The Facts of Transgender Regret. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6pkBQaYDYQ

The Heritage Foundation (June 19, 2020). YouTube Won’t Allow You to Hear These 6 Words From Former Transgender Identifying Person Walt Heyer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBL2bIZtfQw

PragerU with Candace Owens and Walt Heyer (October 13, 2019). The Candace Owens Show: Walt Heyer | Candace Owens Show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJOuO9IxTdE

The Heritage Foundation (April 4, 2019). He Used To Be Trans—Here’s What He Wants Everyone To Know. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlRkLtKqSrY

Pure Passion (December 14, 2016). Walter Heyer Pt 1 – From Walt to Laura to Walt – a transgender’s story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcROI-IUAk