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Claire Lehmann vs. transgender people

Claire Lehmann is an Australian writer and anti-transgender activist. Lehmann is a key figure in the so-called intellectual dark web, described as a gateway to the far right. Lehmann is founding editor of anti-trans publication Quillette, also classified a pathway to right-wing radicalization.

Background

Claire (Jensen) Lehmann was born on July 18, 1985 and grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. Lehmann earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Adelaide in 2010. Jensen married Harold M. “Harry” Lehmann at age 27 and dropped out of graduate school when their first child was born in 2013.

Lehmann worked from 2011 to 2014 as a Policy Research Assistant at Australian College of Nursing and from 2015 to 2016 as a communications officer​ at National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance.

Lehmann has contributed to other anti-trans publications, including Rebel News, The Australian, The Dispatch, and Colin Wright’s Reality’s Last Stand.

Anti-transgender activism

Lehmann founded Quillette in October 2015. It was incorporated in Australia as Quillette Pty Ltd in 2018.

Lehman profiled anti-trans psychologist Lee Jussim in 2015.

Lehmann began writing for alt-right publication Rebel News in 2017.

References

Engber, Daniel (January 8, 2019). Free Thought for the Closed-Minded: Quillette pretends to be a platform for debate. It’s actually a soapbox for self-pity. Slate https://slate.com/technology/2019/01/quillette-claire-lehmann-intellectual-dark-web.html

Thielman, Sam (November 29, 2019). Villains: Steve Brodner illustrates some of the worst offenders in the disinformation world. Columbia Journalism Review https://www.cjr.org/special_report/villains-disinformation-steve-brodner.php

Lester, Amelia (November 11, 2018). The Voice of the ‘Intellectual Dark Web’ Claire Lehmann’s online magazine, Quillette, prides itself on publishing ‘dangerous’ ideas other outlets won’t touch. How far is it willing to go? Politico Magazine https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/11/11/intellectual-dark-web-quillette-claire-lehmann-221917/

Selected anti-trans writing by Lehmann

Lehmann, Claire (June 2, 2023). Trans Activists Have No Right to Pervert the English Language. Reality’s Last Stand https://www.realityslaststand.com/p/trans-activists-have-no-right-to

Lehmann, Claire (December 4, 2015). How a Rebellious Scientist Uncovered the Surprising Truth About Stereotypes. Quillette https://quillette.com/2015/12/04/rebellious-scientist-surprising-truth-about-stereotypes/

Lehmann, Claire (May 19, 2023). Trans activists have no right to pervert the English language, writes Claire Lehmann. The Australian https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/trans-activists-have-no-right-to-pervert-the-english-language-writes-claire-lehmann/news-story/a3809b3716c4c068c629e5df6b5224a9?amp&nk=13b72df8027fed82dcbc8a39446b952c-1684445053 [archive]

Lehmann, Claire (June 23, 2023). Why Queensland’s gender IDs are a dangerous defiance of science. The Australian https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/why-queenslands-gender-ids-are-a-dangerous-defiance-of-science/news-story/02b5575c2baae36536ebacc2ea48de15 [archive]

Lehmann, Claire (April 24, 2017). “Transgender is the new black”: More teens than ever want to “try out” a different sex. A Brisbane psychiatrist who works in a gender clinic has reported that many adolescents are now coming to him with the aim of “trying out” transgenderism. Rebel Media https://www.therebel.media/_transgender_is_the_new_black_teens_beg_to_try_out_a_different_sex [archive]

Lehmann, Claire (May 16, 2017). Platform for misandrist “screeds” ends, with death of feminist Fairfax Media. Rebel Media https://www.therebel.media/platform_for_misandrist_screeds_ends_with_death_of_feminist_fairfax_media [archive]

Lehmann, Claire (May 7, 2017). Nick Gillespie: Today’s universities are “constipated and stultified.” Rebel Media https://www.therebel.media/no_longer_a_place_for_dangerous_ideas_universities_constipated_and_stultified [archive]

Lehmann, Claire (May 2, 2017). Third wave feminist hypocrisy: “Deep down, they know they’re wrong” Daisy Cousens, freelance writer for the Spectator Australia and Quadrant Magazine, is a critic of third wave feminism. Rebel Media https://www.therebel.media/third_wave_feminist_hypocrisy_deep_down_they_know_they_re_wrong [archive]

Lehmann, Claire (April 13, 2017). Transgender athletes crush females: It’s “violence against women.” Last month, New Zealand transgender weight lifter Laurel Hubbard dominated, setting records in the women’s international competition held in Melbourne Australia. Rebel Media https://www.therebel.media/transgender_athletes_crush_females_it_s_violence_against_women [archive]

Lehmann, Claire (April 7, 2017). Here’s the real reason banks are suddenly launching “social justice” campaigns: HSBC has just announced that they will be offering their customers 10 gender neutral pronouns for their trans and non gender binary customers. Rebel Media https://www.therebel.media/here_s_the_real_reason_banks_are_suddenly_launching_social_justice_campaigns [archive]

Lehmann, Claire (February 27, 2017). How Libertarian Students Can Save Universities From Victimhood Culture. Rebel Media https://www.therebel.media/how_libertarian_students_can_save_universities_from_victimhood_culture [archive]

Lehmann, Claire (February 13, 2017). Why the old Left was better than the new Left. Rebel Media https://www.therebel.media/how_new_left_abandoned_old_left_s_fight_to_defend_liberal_values [archive]

Lehmann, Claire (May 29, 2015*). Feminism Must Be Reclaimed From Radicals. Quillette http://quillette.com/2015/05/29/feminism-must-be-reclaimed-from-radicals/ *note: this date is prior to the blog’s October 2015 founding.

Media

Unsupervised Learning with Razib Khan and Claire Lehmann (July 27, 2025). Claire Lehmann: after the Intellectual Dark Web. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUwQSvwGzto

Network State Podcast with Balaji Srinivasan and Claire Lehmann (July 16, 2025). Claire Lehmann on the Internet Century. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCoegnhTaDs

The Dishcast with Andrew Sullivan and Claire Lehmann (May 9, 2025). Claire Lehmann On Staying Independent. https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/claire-lehmann-on-staying-independent

The Good Fight with Yascha Mounk and Claire Lehmann (May 1, 2025). Claire Lehmann on The Psychology Behind Wokeness. https://www.persuasion.community/p/claire-lehmann-on-the-psychology

Centre for Independent Studies with Tom Switzer, Louise Perry, and Claire Lehmann (March 28, 2025). Biological reality vs progressive ideals | Louise Perry & Claire Lehmann. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hN7T2L4f1g alt url https://www.cis.org.au/commentary/video/biological-reality-vs-progressive-ideals-louise-perry-claire-lehmann/

The Free Press / Honestly with Bari Weiss, Brianna Wu, Claire Lehmann, and Batya Ungar-Sargon (February 25, 2025). DEBATE: Will Trump’s Blunt Approach End the Ukraine War? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L59ypLV8HIg

Quillette with Claire Lehmann and Michael Shellenberger (December 2, 2024). Censorship, Pharmaceuticals & Nuclear Energy: Michael Shellenberger & Claire Lehmann in Conversation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz-lenJ0T0U

Quillette with Claire Lehmann and Michael Shellenberger (November 29, 2024). Australia’s Misinformation Bill & Under 16s Social Media Ban: Michael Shellenberger & Claire Lehmann. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUFb6J7zE5c

Quillette with Iona Italia and Claire Lehmann (September 30, 2024). Speeches from Quillette’s Claire Lehmann and Iona Italia at the Quillette Social in Sydney (2024). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHr5QZiC7fk

Melody Rachel (June 18, 2024). Why I Challenge Left-Wing Dogma – Claire Lehmann. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH4tCCZj49I

Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (May 23, 2024). Was The Sexual Revolution A Mistake? | Claire Lehmann & Louise Perry | ARC Off-Stage Conversation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE02p5y6ofY

Mercatus Center with Tyler Cowan and Claire Lehmann (November 21, 2023). Claire Lehmann on Speaking Freely | Conversations with Tyler. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA01e5B9aOI

Maiden Mother Matriarch with Louise Perry and Claire Lehmann (November 5, 2023). Biological Denialism – Claire Lehmann | Maiden Mother Matriarch 38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyuham3HjMY

Quillette with Claire Lehmann and Zoe Booth (June 27, 2023). It’s Hip to be “Trad.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIHtTRgXucA

Quillette with Claire Lehmann and Zoe Booth (June 8, 2023). Quillette’s Bias. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxBKpbvBM6o

Unsupervised Learning with Razib Khan and Claire Lehmann (October 17, 2022). Claire Lehmann: An Australian at the heart of the heterodox web. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkFn1yno7r4

Newsmax Australia with Nick Cater and Claire Lehmann (September 13, 2022). Cancel culture will lead to society’s downfall: Claire Lehmann | Nick Cater. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI_mJ9sboAE

Newsmax Australia with Nick Cater and Claire Lehmann (September 13, 2022). Lefitst ideologies have infiltrated science and medicine: Claire Lehmann | Nick Cater. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r41cbsM605I

Coleman Hughes with Claire Lehmann (August 26, 2022). Quillette, IDW, and Conspiracy with Claire Lehmann. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGNScV9wYo4

Jordan B Peterson with Claire Lehmann (April 11, 2022). Quillette’s Founder: Starting The Most Controversial Magazine In The World | Claire Lehmann | EP 243. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmPAXGGHoU

Centre for Independent Studies (April 11, 2021). Cancel Culture Crusades | Claire Lehmann. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9IzVjiHTQ8

UnHerd / Lockdown TV with Freddie Sayers (February 19, 2021). Claire Lehmann: Facebook has made a bad miscalculation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kjSUai1E9I

Sky News Australia / Inside the News with Rita Panahi and Claire Lehmann (December 17, 2020). Treatment for children with gender ambiguity ‘shouldn’t be hyjacked by activists.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jnhFOOUq8Q

TRIGGERnometry with Konstantin Kisin, Francis Foster, and Claire Lehmann (August 23, 2020). “Activism Has No Place in Journalism” – Claire Lehmann. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfx8krJ6N3A

John Anderson with Claire Lehmann (Mar 5, 2020). Free Thought | Claire Lehmann. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKXqbiHa4Yo

Sky News Australia / The Friday Show with Rita Panahi and Claire Lehmann (October 4, 2019). Activist academics are not scholars: Claire Lehmann. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ13W8fQ29A

Rebel Wisdom with David Fuller and Claire Lehmann (April 17, 2019). Claire Lehmann & Quillette, Thinking Differently. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMTrywlKnW4

The Rubin Report with Dave Rubin and Claire Lehmann (September 28, 2018). Free Thought, Outrage, & the Alt Right | Claire Lehmann | MEDIA | Rubin Report. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afmxd42UNZA

The Rubin Report with Dave Rubin and Claire Lehmann (September 26, 2018). Respecting Ideas, Even Dangerous Ones (Pt. 1) | Claire Lehmann | MEDIA | Rubin Report. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMXYeD6xeRs

Minds Podcast with Brian. Dimitri, and Claire Lehmann (July 8, 2018). Claire Lehmann on Quillette Magazine, Mythcon, Social Politics and More. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QABvZrUxd8

The Dissenter with Ricardo Lopes and Claire Lehmann (May 17, 2018). #26 Claire Lehmann: Quillette, Leadership in the Feminine, Ethical Journalism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDRiIm0SBL8

Jordan B Peterson with Claire Lehmann (March 10, 2018). Quillette: Discussion with Founder/Editor Claire Lehmann. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUs72-WqmwI

Rebel News with Mark Latham, Gavin McInnes, and Claire Lehmann (August 9, 2017). Mark Latham’s Outsiders: Google vs. Free Speech (Guests Gavin McInnes, Claire Lehmann). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS1MEEf9Wcc

Rebel News (May 16, 2017). Claire Lehmann: Rabid feminist Fairfax Media is dying. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATWwGClglno

Rebel News with Ezra Levant and Claire Lehmann (April 30, 2017). Claire Lehmann: Why I was blacklisted by Australian media. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-R0iyvEzKU

Rebel News (February 13, 2017). Why the old Left was better than the new Left. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr1vkFM2kfo

Michael Tracey with Claire Lehmann (October 20, 2016). MT + Claire Lehmann. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdBRXont25Y

Resources

Quillette (quillette.com)

Lehmann & Co (lehco.com.au)

Vendorable (vendorable.com)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

The Australian (theaustralian.com.au)

The Dispatch (rebelnews.com)

Rebel Media (therebel.media) [archive]

  • Claire Lehmann
  • therebel.media/claire_lehmann [archive]