Bernard Zuger vs. transgender people

Bernard Zuger was a Russian-American psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and anti-transgender activist. Zuger was among the first researchers to suggest a possible link between “effeminacy in boys” and “adult male homosexuality.”

Zuger co-authored work with many leading lights in anti-trans activism, including Ray Blanchard, Susan Bradley, Susan Coates, Peggy Cohen-Kettenis, Richard Green, John Money, and Kenneth Zucker. Zuger published in anti-trans journals Archives of Sexual Behavior and Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.

Background

Bernard E. Zuger was born on September 20, 1905 in Ludmir, Russia.

Zuger earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College and a medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Zuger served as an Army officer in Egypt during World War II. Upon return, Zuger trained in psychiatry.

Zuger was a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at New York University Medical School and practiced at the Children’s Psychiatric Clinic at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut.

Zuger and spouse Miriam Troop Zuger had a child, Abigail Zuger.

Zuger died on April 19, 1998.

Anti-trans activism

Starting in the 1960s, Zuger followed a group of “effeminate” patients for at least two decades and concluded that they often grew up to be gay. Zuger argued against psychoanalytic theories that blamed parents. Zuger’s studies of family factors, parental age, twins, and a 1970 critique of John Money’s research on people with variations of sex charateristics, all promoted Zuger’s view that being gay is an innate trait.

Selected writing by Zuger

Zucker KJ, Green R, Coates S, Zuger B, Cohen-Kettenis PT, Zecca GM, Lertora V, Money J, Hahn-Burke S, Bradley SJ, Blanchard R (1997). Sibling sex ratio of boys with gender identity disorder. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1997;38(5):543-551. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.1997.tb01541.x

Zuger B (1989). Homosexuality in families of boys with early effeminate behavior: an epidemiological study. Arch Sex Behav. 1989;18(2):155-166. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01543121

Zuger B (1988). Is early effeminate behavior in boys early homosexuality? Compr Psychiatry. 1988;29(5):509-519. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-440x(88)90067-3.

Zuger B (1987). Childhood cross-gender behavior and adult homosexuality. Arch Sex Behav. 1987;16(1):85-88. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541844

Zuger B (1984). Comments on “Psychoanalytic theories of gender identity,” by Ethel Spector Person and Lionel Ovesey. J Am Acad Psychoanal. 1984;12:299-300. PsychNet ID 1983-32490-001

Zuger B (1981). Homosexuals who give no history of effeminacy. J Am Acad Psychoanal. 1981;9(3):483-487. https://doi.org/10.1521/jaap.1.1981.9.3.483

Zuger B (1980). Homosexuality and parental guilt. Br J Psychiatry. 1980;137:55-57. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.137.1.55

Zuger B (1984). Early effeminate behavior in boys: outcome and significance for homosexuality. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1984;172(2):90-97. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005053-198402000-00005

Zuger B (1978). A neglected source-book on homosexuality. Br J Psychiatry. 1978;133:87-88. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.133.1.87

Zuger B (1978). Effeminate behavior present in boys from childhood: ten additional years of follow-up. Compr Psychiatry. 1978;19(4):363-369. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-440x(78)90019-6

Zuger B (1976). Monozygotic twins discordant for homosexuality: report of a pair and significance of the phenomenon. Compr Psychiatry. 1976;17(5):661-669. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0010-440x(76)80011-9

Zuger B. Letter: Comments on “Gender role differentiation in hermaphrodites.” Arch Sex Behav. 1975;4(5):579-581. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542136

Zuger B (1974). Effeminate behavior in boys: parental age and other factors. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1974;30(2):173-177. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1974.01760080033004

Zuger B, Wolman SR, Shapiro LR (1972). “Could this be a new syndrome?”: report of two further cases, without answering the question. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1972;14(5):647-656. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.1972.tb02648.x

Zuger B (1972). Understanding human freedom: a necessary ingredient in treating adolescents. Am J Psychother. 1972;26(2):263-267. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1972.26.2.263

Zuger B (1970). Gender role determination: a critical review of the evidence from hermaphroditism. Psychosom Med. 1970;32(5):449-467. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-197009000-00001

Cohn LS, Zuger B (1970). Scrutiny of parental relationships in affecting the behavior of effeminate boys. Am J Psychiatry. 1970;127(1):107-108. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.127.1.107

Zuger B (1970). Self-consciousness considered within a theory of self. Am J Psychoanal. 1970;30(2):135-144. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01874036

Zuger B (1970). The role of familial factors in persistent effeminate behavior in boys. Am J Psychiatry. 1970;126(8):1167-1170. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.126.8.1167

Zuger B, Taylor P (1969). Effeminate behavior present in boys from early childhood. II. Comparison with similar symptoms in non-effeminate boys. Pediatrics. 1969;44(3):375-380. PMID: 5809894.

Zuger B (1966). Effeminate behavior present in boys from early childhood. I. The clinical syndrome and follow-up studies. J Pediatr. 1966;69(6):1098-1107. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3476(66)80301-3

Zuger B (1955). The states of being and awareness in neurosis and their redirection in therapy. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1955;121(6):573-579. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005053-195506000-00012

Zuger B (1952). Growth of the individual’s concept of self: theory and some pediatric considerations. AMA Am J Dis Child. 1952;83(6):719-732. PMID: 14922944.

References

Staff report (May 11, 1998). Pediatrician who studied effeminacy, B. Zuger, dies. Deseret News https://www.deseret.com/1998/5/11/19379452/pediatrician-who-studied-effeminacy-b-zuger-dies/

Obituaries (April 21, 1998). Paid Notice: Deaths Zuger, Dr. Bernard. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/21/classified/paid-notice-deaths-zuger-dr-bernard.html