Miriam Ben-Shalom vs. transgender people

Miriam Ben-Shalom is an American educator, veteran, and anti-transgender extremist.

Background

Miriam Ben-Shalom was born May 3, 1948 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, one of six children in a Roman Catholic family. Ben-Shalom’s birth parent died when Miriam was six. After graduating high school in 1967, Ben-Shalom married and had a child. At 19, Ben-Shalom converted to Judaism, moved to Israel, joined the military, changed names, and remarried. In 1971, Ben-Shalom divorced and returned to the US, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

In 1974, Ben-Shalom enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. After coming out as lesbian in the media, Ben-Shalom was honorably discharged in 1976. Ben-Shalom sued, and after a lengthy court battle, lost in 1990. Ben-Shalom then co-founded the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of America (GLBVA), now American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER). Ben-Shalom continued protesting until America’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was repealed.

Ben-Shalom taught English at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Ben-Shalom has been in a relationship with Karen Weiss (born September 1947).

Anti-transgender activism

After posting anti-trans views on Facebook, Ben-Shalom was disinvited from being grand marshal of the 2016 Milwaukee Pride Parade. Ben-Shalom then got even more involved in anti-trans activism.

In 2017, Ben-Shalom testified at the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs in support of Senate Bill 6, which would force trans people to use sex-segregated public facilities based on their birth certificate sex designation.

In 2017, Ben-Shalom co-founded the Hands Across the Aisle Coalition with right-wing activist Kaeley Triller Harms.

On February 16, 2017, Ben-Shalom collaborated with the Heritage Foundation to oppose trans rights.

Ben-Shalom also participated in the anti-trans group blog The Compassion Coalition.

In 2020, anti-trans activist Brandon Showalter made a presentation at an anti-trans Ruth Institute event that included a message from Miriam Ben-Shalom, who wrote in part:

I turn and turn, look around me. I see bodies mutilated. Breasts cut off. Testicles and penises removed. I hear the guffaws of Big Pharma and Big Medicine, but what I see are the sons of Joseph Mengele. I see the experiments in Auschwitz, harvested tissue samples, the cutting of children’s bodies to try and replicate twins, the sewing together of children’s bodies, experiments in changing eye color, experiments with noma, a type of gangrene. Silence is no option for me: I have 6 million people looking at me who say, “We had no voice and the world was silent—will you also be silent?”

[…] I look at so-called ‘sex-change’ operations where body parts are removed, artificial body parts installed. Children poisoned with chemicals. All in an effort to create something that simply cannot exist, just as Mengele tried to create Aryans.

I see 10-year-old boys in drag prancing around on a stage with near-naked men while others throw dollars at the child. I see children being told they are — yes!—born in the wrong body because they like toys and colors most think of as being sex-assigned. I see 12, 13, 14-year-old children being told they can start puberty blockers. I see schools telling children they can lie to their parents and “be transgender” at school. I see male ‘teachers’ tout their ‘sex change’ at school and fight to use girls’ bathrooms. I see young Lesbians being told they are really men and being subjected to intense pressure to transition. I see sex manuals for young children—what 8-year-old thinks about masturbation? Think transgenderism is not interested in hijacking children? Think this is not abuse, grooming, or pedophilic? Think again. This is not hyperbole. […] This is about stopping modern-day Josef Mengele’s, stopping the perversion of unfettered decadence.

References

Norris, San (September 30, 2021). The Far-Right Co-Option of the Transgender Rights Issue. Byline Times https://bylinetimes.com/2021/09/30/the-far-right-co-option-of-the-transgender-rights-issue/

Peltz, Madeline (February 28, 2019). Right-wing media and think tanks are aligning with fake feminists who dehumanize trans people. Media Matters for America https://www.mediamatters.org/tucker-carlson/right-wing-media-and-think-tanks-are-aligning-fake-feminists-who-dehumanize-trans

Rain, Autumn; Freed, Erwin (February 10, 2019). Self-proclaimed ‘feminists’ on Heritage Foundation panel speak against transgender rights. Socialist Action https://socialistaction.org/2019/02/10/self-proclaimed-feminists-on-heritage-foundation-panel-speak-against-transgender-rights/

Gass, Henry (April 26, 2017). For trans children and their families, a time of growing uncertainty. Christian Science Monitor https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2017/0426/For-trans-children-and-their-families-a-time-of-growing-uncertainty

Facebook / Milwaukee Pride Parade (May 3, 2016). Re: Former Grand Marshal Miriam Ben-Shalom. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1046205862114036&id=129042267163738

McGarry Funderal Home (2015). Obituary for Samuel Ages. http://mcgarryfh.frontrunnerpro.com/book-of-memories/2215570/Samuel-Ages/obituary.php

Anti-trans coverage

Harms, Kaeley Triller (September 18, 2025). Opposing gender ideology cost me and others massively. Christian Post https://www.christianpost.com/voices/opposing-gender-ideology-cost-me-and-others-massively.html

Showalter, Brandon (July 18, 2020). Reporting on the Transgender Movement: a report from the front. The Ruth Institute https://ruthinstitute.org/tell-ruth-the-truth/reporting-on-the-transgender-movement-a-report-from-the-front/

1st International Conference on Sex, Gender, and Education #GenderAndSex (February 2018). Madrid Declaration for Understanding, Respect and Freedom. Femina Europa http://femina-europa.org/actu/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MADRID’S-DECLARATION-FOR-COMPREHENSION-RESPECT-AND-FREEDOM.pdf [archive]

Anderson, Ryan T. (2018). When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment. New York: Encounter Books. p. 207. ISBN 978-1594039621.

Robertson, Julia Diana (June 30, 2017). Miriam Ben-Shalom: The Woman Who Fought ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.’ HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/miriam-ben-shalomthe-jewish-woman-that-started-the_b_5952ca6be4b0f078efd985a8

Jones, Andrea; Wood, Melody (March 3, 2017). Feminists and Conservatives Link Arms to Confront Transgender Ideology. The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2017/03/03/feminists-and-conservatives-link-arms-to-confront-transgender-ideology/

Showalter, Brandon (February 17, 2017). Jewish Lesbian, Radical Feminists, Conservative Christians Unite to Fight Transgender Bathroom Laws. Christian Post https://www.christianpost.com/news/jewish-lesbian-radical-feminists-conservative-christians-unite-transgender-bathroom-laws.html

Polcyn, Bryan; Davis, Stephen (June 8, 2016). Transgender issues are driving a wedge in LGBT community, says activist ousted from Pride Parade. Fox News – WITI https://fox6now.com/2016/06/08/transgender-issues-are-driving-a-rift-in-lgbt-community-says-activist-ousted-from-milwaukee-pride-parade/

Zax, Talya (December 15, 2016). This Jewish Lesbian Activist Helped Take Down a Carjacking Ring — and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Forward https://forward.com/culture/357130/this-jewish-lesbian-activist-helped-take-down-a-carjacking-ring-and-dont-as/

Richardson, Bradford (June 9, 2016). Prominent lesbian disinvited from gay-pride rally for transgender criticisms. Washington Times https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jun/9/prominent-lesbian-disinvited-gay-pride-rally-trans/

Ruse, Austin (May 2, 2016). Lesbian Legend Scoffs at Transgender Men, Gets Fired by Gay Group. Breitbart https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2016/05/02/lesbian-legend-fired-parade-scoffing-transgender/

Selected writing by Ben-Shalom

Ben-Shalom, Miriam and signatories (February 28, 2019). Open letter in support of Graham Linehan’s challenges to gender identity ideology. Feminist Current https://www.feministcurrent.com/2019/02/28/open-letter-in-support-of-graham-linehans-challenges-to-gender-identity-ideology/

Ben-Shalom, Miriam (July 11, 2018). Trans Bathrooms Are All About Discrimination—Against Women And Children. The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2018/07/11/trans-bathrooms-definitely-discrimination-women-children/

Ben-Shalom, Miriam (April 27, 2016). For your reading enjoyemnt (not sarcasm): I am no longer Milwaukee Pride’s Grand Marshal for their parade. Facebook. https://m.facebook.com/hagsandfuries/posts/1146861698668414

Ben-Shalom, Miriam (March 24, 2011). My 35-Year Military Battle. The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/society/military/2011/03/24/my-35-year-military-battle-miriam-ben-shalom

Media

Women’s Liberation Radio News with Miriam Ben-Shalom, “Exulansic,” Kellie Kay, and Elizabeth Chesak (). Apr 24, 2022

Women’s Liberation Radio News with Emiliann Lorenzen and Miriam Ben-Shalom (April 14, 2022). Miriam Ben-Shalom discusses upcoming events in Madison, WI | WLRN Extended Interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WJWl7zrgVY

Make More Noise with Sasha White and Miriam-Ben-Shalom (May 9, 2021). Our Mother’s Daughters. Sasha White & Miriam Ben-Shalom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3ZDpO5tIzI

Partners for Ethical Care with Maria Keffler, Erin Brewer, and Miriam Ben-Shalom (March 27, 2021). “Men Have No Business Competing in Women’s Sports”-Miriam Ben Shalom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtVRcX1xcLQ

THINQ Media Miriam Ben-Shalom and Kaeley Triller Harms (May 23, 2019). Hands Across The Aisle: Miriam Ben Shalom & Kaeley Triller Haver. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kd_azzpCfQ

(May 23, 2019). [clip] Issues with Gender Identity and Womens Rights: Miriam Ben Shalom & Kaeley Triller Haver. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDidxfC7u8o
(May 23, 2019). [clip] Transgender Activism Influencing Children: Miriam Ben Shalom & Kaeley Triller Haver. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvr7N4Ia6mo

CitizenGO (February 23, 2018). The Bending and Twisting of Sex and Gender. Ms. Miriam Ben-Shalom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7vY1g-xK7w

Deep Green Resistance (January 3, 2018). Miriam Ben-Shalom speaks with DGR Women’s Caucus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSktuQcFb5A

Heritage Foundation with Ryan T. Anderson, Kaeley Triller Harms, Mary Lou Singleton, Kami Mueller, Emily Zinos, and Miriam Ben-Shalom (February 23, 2017). Biology Isn’t Bigotry: Why Sex Matters in the Age of Gender Identity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt9DW4e1Cvw also via Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkqFgnYmVdE

Faith Uprising with Miriam Ben-Shalom and Blair Tindall (June 21, 2016). Women Speak Out (Part 2/3): Miriam Ben-Shalom & Blair Tindall. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_3x7T0V150

WISN 12 News (May 4, 2016). Miriam Ben-Shalom dropped as Pride Parade marshal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3OHQnW7mOo

equalityforum (October 1, 2015). Miriam Ben-Shalom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxWaB9VNXtQ

GetEQUAL (November 16, 2010). 11/15/10 White House DADT Action – SSGT Miriam Ben-Shalom GetEQUAL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQFqCzhKxsI