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Dana Beyer and transgender people

Dana Beyer is an American physician, political candidate, and transgender rights activist. Beyer is an important figure in early 21st century trans rights activism.

Background

Dana Beyer was born February 9, 1952 and grew up in New York City. Beyer was reportedly diagnosed with a difference of sex development.

Beyer earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in 1974 and a medical degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1978. Beyer practiced as an eye surgeon before going into activism and politics.

Beyer ran three unsuccessful campaigns for public office in Maryland: State Delegate in 2010, and State Senator in 2014 and 2018. Beyer’s bid in 2014 against gay incumbent Richard Madaleno led to criticism from some local LGBT activists.

Trans activism

In 2003, Beyer was involved in protests of the anti-trans book The Man Who Would Be Queen. Beyer was a participant in the 2004 all-transgender benefit performance of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues, performing a piece with fellow physicians Becky Allison and Marci Bowers.

In 2009, Beyer was a co-author of the Dallas Principles, a set of eight guiding principles to achieve full LGBT equality, created in response to what the authors felt was the Obama Administration’s slow action on campaign promises about LGBT equality.

Beyer was part of the DSM-V Task Force for “gender identity disorder,” which was renamed “gender dysphoria” in 2012.

From 2012 to 2017, Beyer wrote many articles on timely trans topics on HuffPost, including an interview with activist Riki Wilchins, a profile of sexologist Milton Diamond, and an obituary for trans-supportive therapist Leah Schaefer. Beyer also criticized Alice Dreger’s attempt to rehabilitate J. Michael Bailey’s reputation in Galileo’s Middle Finger, noting the difference in Lambda Literary Foundation’s response to criticism of their nomination process in 2004 and 2015.

Beyer has done philanthropic work for Gender Rights Maryland and Equality Maryland. Beyer served on the board of A Wider Bridge, a North American organization which promotes LGBTQ inclusion in Israel and equality for Israel. Beyer also served as regional advocacy chair for J Street, a national organization which advocates for diplomacy with Israel and a peaceful two-state solution.

Beyer was inducted into Maryland’s Montgomery County Human Rights Hall of Fame in 2014. Some local LGBT activists protested the selection, including Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin and Equality Maryland Executive Director Carrie Evans.

Conservative views

Beyer is a conservative transmedicalist and has advocated for aspects of transsexual separatism.

In 2017, Beyer wrote:

Ever since the trans community grew into its activism during the 90s, and began to include more than just transsexual persons (those who transition with medical and surgical treatment), the issue of who falls under the umbrella has grown. I myself wrote about this in a column in 2013, and the controversy has waxed and waned. Now, I believe the growth in the non-binary movement is the greatest challenge to our internal cohesion.

Beyer soon became a favored source for anti-trans activists in media. In 2020, Beyer appeared on The Weekly Dish podcast with Andrew Sullivan to discuss “tensions within LGBTQ.”

Beyer was quoted in a 2021 Free Press article by Katie Herzog that claimed medical schools are “now denying biological sex.” Beyer stated: “The practice of medicine is based in scientific reality, which includes sex, but not gender. The more honest a patient is with their physician, the better the odds for a positive outcome.”

In a 2024 conversation with Josh Szeps, the show notes say:

“Transsexual” sounds like an old-fashioned term. But it describes a real medical condition in which your brain has the opposite sex from your body. Are transsexuals threatened by newer gender-queer, non-binary theories of sex? Dr Dana Beyer says so. She’s one of the most influential and effective trans activists in history. A medical doctor and self-described transsexual, she’s been striding the hallways of power since the 1970s meeting with the likes of Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden to achieve landmark wins for LGBT rights. Today, she believes modern gender theory is harming transsexuals like herself.

In 2025, Beyer was quoted in a New York Times article by Nicholas Confessore that blamed “the transgender rights movement” for its loss in the Supreme Court case U.S. v. Skrmetti, which allowed states to ban trans healthcare for minors. Beyer stated: “There are a lot of conversations happening right now. People know the movement is stuck. They know we’ve gone too far. They know we’ve lost the thread.”

In 2026, Ben Kawaller, Matt Boll, and Andy Mills released the three-part podcast series Strange Bedfellows via Reflector. Beyer reiterated conservative views about sex, gender, and sexuality.

References

Herzog, Brad (November 2019). Identity Politics. Cornell Alumni Magazine https://cornellalumnimagazine.com/identity-politics/ [archive]

Lavers, Michael K. (October 14, 2014). Honor for trans activist sparks controversy. Washington Blade https://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/10/14/beyer-induction-md-county-hall-fame-sparks-controversy/

Turque, Bill (October 3, 2014). Montgomery County Hall of Fame induction leads to harsh words among LGBT leaders. Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/maryland-news/montgomery-county-hall-of-fame-induction-leads-to-harsh-words-among-lgbt-leaders/2014/10/03/ee6c090e-4a3a-11e4-a046-120a8a855cca_story.html

Anti-trans coverage

Confessore, Nick (June 19, 2025). How the Transgender Rights Movement Bet on the Supreme Court and Lost. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/magazine/scotus-transgender-care-tennessee-skrmetti.html

Herzog, Katie (July 27, 2021). Med Schools Are Now Denying Biological Sex. The Free Press https://www.thefp.com/p/med-schools-are-now-denying-biological

Selected writing by Beyer

Beyer, Dana (September 13, 2018). Transgender Lives: Your Stories: Dana Beyer. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/opinion/transgender-today/stories/dana-beyer

Beyer, Dana (September 11, 2017). Don’t Punish Trans Girls For The Mistakes Of Others. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dont-punish-trans-girls-for-the-mistakes-of-others_b_59b6f4dae4b0883782dec24a

Beyer, Dana (July 9, 2017). The Nomenclature Wars: Conflict In The LGBTQ Trenches. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-nomenclature-wars-conflict-in-the-lgbtq-trenches_b_5962c740e4b08f5c97d06aec

Beyer, Dana (June 23, 2017). Are There Too Many Ribs in the Trans Umbrella? HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/are-there-too-many-ribs-in-the-trans-umbrella_b_594d6060e4b0c85b96c6590f

Beyer, Dana (June 5, 2017). An Interview With Pioneering Trans Activist And Author, Riki Wilchins. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/an-interview-with-pioneering-trans-activist-and-author_b_59355798e4b062a6ac0ad19a

Beyer, Dana (October 29, 2016). Gavin Grimm And The Future Of Trans Rights. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gavin-grimm-and-the-futur_b_12705444

Beyer, Dana (October 27, 2016). The Crisis Of Timidity And Retrenchment In The Trans Rights Movement. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-crisis-of-timidity-an_b_12675332

Beyer, Dana (September 15, 2016). Learned Helplessness In Trans World, A Continuing Discussion. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/learned-helplessness-in-t_b_12037750

Beyer, Dana (September 12, 2016). Doing the Right Thing for Trans Health is Now Easier Than You Think. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/doing-the-right-thing-for_b_11978340

Beyer, Dana (September 9, 2016). Learned Helplessness in Trans World Today. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/learned-helplessness-in-t_b_11938382

Beyer, Dana (September 1, 2016). Professor Mickey Diamond: “Nature Loves Variety; Unfortunately, Society Hates It.” HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/professor-mickey-diamond_b_11820398

Beyer, Dana (August 11, 2016). Bill Maher Is Right: Trans Rights Require A Clinton Victory. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bill-maher-is-right-trans_b_11458198

Beyer, Dana (July 8, 2016). Has the Movement for LGBT Equality, and, Particularly, Trans Equality, Become Self-Sustaining? HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/has-the-movement-for-lgbt_b_10886732

Beyer, Dana (July 1, 2016). Musings On WPATH — The War Against Trans Children Is Over, Part 3. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/musings-on-wpath—-the-w_b_10777292

Beyer, Dana (June 23, 2016). Amen to That – The War Against Trans Children is Over, Part 2. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/amen-to-that—the-war-ag_b_10637312

Beyer, Dana (June 23, 2016). The War Against Trans Children is Over – Part 1 on the WPATH Conference. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-war-against-trans-chi_b_10636030

Beyer, Dana (May 9, 2016). Tears of Gratitude — The United States Publicly Embraces the Trans Community. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tears-of-gratitude—the_b_9876332

Beyer, Dana (May 4, 2016). The Trans Political Tipping Point, All Within the Past 24 Hours. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-trans-political-tippi_b_9843914

Beyer, Dana (April 4, 2016). A New Day Dawns – America’s First National Trans Political Advocacy Group Lifts Off. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-new-day-dawns—america_b_9609440

Beyer, Dana (March 30, 2016). Passing Privilege, the Gender Binary, and the Productive Power of Stereotypes. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/passing-privilege-the-gen_b_9575736

Beyer, Dana (March 22, 2016). The Lambda Literary Foundation Trips but Rights Itself Quickly and With Dignity. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-lambda-literary-found_b_9526090

Beyer, Dana (February 24, 2016). LGBT Aimlessness — Victory Blindness, AWOL Leadership, and Trans Panic. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lgbt-aimlessness—-victo_b_9308470

Beyer, Dana (January 31, 2016). We Are Not Your Enemies — Pinklying, Pinkwashing and the Decline of the LGBTQ Left. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/we-are-not-your-enemies_b_9128730

Beyer, Dana (January 11, 2016). Two Forgotten Communities — Bisexual and Crossdresser. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/two-forgotten-communities_b_8956102

Beyer, Dana (December 30, 2015). 2015 Trans Year in Review — The Downside / A Long Time Comin’. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/2015-trans-tear-in-review_b_8894586

Beyer, Dana (December 28, 2015). 2015 Trans Year in Review — The Upside. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/2015-trans-year-in-review_b_8884358

Beyer, Dana (December 24, 2015). A Tale of Two Clinics. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-tale-of-two-clinics_b_8875066

Beyer, Dana (November 12, 2016). A Message to the American Trans Community. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-message-to-the-american_b_12926266

Beyer, Dana (November 12, 2015). Gay Transphobia, 2015 Style. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gay-transphobia-2015-styl_b_8546278

Beyer, Dana (November 10, 2015). The State of the Trans Community, Part 4 — Allies or Adversaries? HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-state-of-the-trans-co_b_8525538

Beyer, Dana (November 6, 2015). The State of the Trans Community, Part 3 – the Houston Debacle and Its Significance. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-state-of-the-trans-co_b_8492996

Beyer, Dana (October 30, 2015). The State of the Trans Community, Part 2 — Awkwardness as Progress. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-state-of-the-trans-co_b_8437614

Beyer, Dana (October 28, 2015). The State of the Trans Community — Great Expectations. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-state-of-the-trans-co_b_8414106

Beyer, Dana (July 21, 2015). Open Trans Military Service — The Final Barrier To Full Inclusion Falls. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/open-trans-military-servi_b_7841388

Beyer, Dana (June 8, 2015). What Makes a Woman? A Trans Woman Responds to a Mid-20th Century Era Feminist. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-makes-a-woman-a-tran_b_7533324

Beyer, Dana (May 28, 2015). Strange Bedfellows Perpetuate the Denial of Proper Care for Young Trans Girls. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/strange-bedfellows-perpetuate-the-denial-of-proper-care-for-young-trans-girls_b_7463428

Beyer, Dana (May 22, 2015). A Brief Timeline of Trans Activism to Bolster The New York Times Timeline. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-brief-timeline-of-trans-activism-to-bolster-the-new-york-times-timeline_b_7423618

Beyer, Dana (May 15, 2015). Must We Alienate Our Women Allies? HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/must-we-alienate-our-wome_b_7294032

Beyer, Dana (April 22, 2015). Galileo’s Middle Finger Reflected Back at the Defenders of the Anti-trans Pseudoscience of J. Michael Bailey. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/galileos-middle-finger-re_b_7119420

Beyer, Dana (February 26, 2015). The Second Coming of the Man Who Would Be Queen. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-second-coming-of-the_b_6763188

Beyer, Dana (February 4, 2015). Political Correctness and Its Diffusion Into the Trans Community. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/political-correctness-and_b_6614800

Beyer, Dana Beyer, Dana (January 21, 2015). Kids Do the Darndest Things! The Vagina Monologues in the Context of Historical Ignorance. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kids-do-the-darndest-thin_b_6502018

Beyer, Dana (August 15, 2014). TERF Wars: Trans Women and Feminist Extremism in Context. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/terf-wars-trans-women-and-feminist-extremism-in-context_b_5682910

Beyer, Dana (March 24, 2014). Anti-Trans Slurs and Drag: Who Exactly Is Transgender, and Does It Matter? HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/anti-trans-slurs-drag_b_5022301

Beyer, Dana (February 4, 2014). Suicidality and Resilience in the Trans Community. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/suicidality-and-resilience-in-the-trans-community_b_4719512

Beyer, Dana (October 31, 2013). The Fundamentals of Transphobia. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-fundamentals-of-transphobia_b_4183760

Beyer, Dana (August 14, 2013). Who, Then, Really Is Trans? HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/who-then-really-is-trans_b_3750240

Beyer, Dana (July 1, 2013). Gender Transition in Children: A Dialogue Continued. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gender-transition-in-children_b_3530335

Beyer, Dana (May 9, 2013). It Really Isn’t Getting Better For Some Trans Women. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/it-really-isnt-getting-better-for-some-trans-women_b_3231738

Beyer, Dana (February 12, 2013). The Ethics of Gender Transition. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-ethics-of-gender-tran_b_2666438

Beyer, Dana (January 30, 2013). Remembering Dr. Leah Schaefer, The Sweet Singer-Turned-Psychiatrist Who Healed A Generation Of Trans Women. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/leah-schaefer-trans-women_b_2569123

Beyer, Dana (December 5, 2012). The End Of Transgender As A Mental Illness. HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-end-of-transgender-as-a-mental-illness_b_2238147

Beyer, Dana (2003). Willow Arune and Dana Beyer debate “Autogynephilia.” https://transgendermap.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/05/willow-arune-dana-beyer.pdf

Media

Longview / Strange Bedfellows with Ben Kawaller

Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps (July 11, 2024). “Is Trans Ideology Harming Transsexuals?” with Dana Beyer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60j_juiuhrw

The Weekly Dish with Andrew Sullivan (November 27, 2020). Dana Beyer On Her Trans Victories, The Science Of Sex, And The Tensions Within “LGBTQ.” https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/dana-beyer-on-her-trans-victories

Aravosis, John (December 3, 2020). Trans 101: An introduction to transgender issues, with guest Dana Beyer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z32RthlF7Ng

Human Rights Campaign (August 5, 2014). When Identities Collide: LGBTQ Advocates & Religious Conflict. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07lCNsqfHZw

Ali Sue (November 17, 2012). Meet Dr Dana Beyer Iconic Trans Activist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSuL-NsazhI

Resources

Dana Beyer (danabeyer.com)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

HuffPost (huffpost.com)

The Dallas Principles (thedallasprinciples.org) [archive]

  • Full text: The Dallas Principles
  • thedallasprinciples.org/The_Dallas_Principles/Home_files/The Dallas Principles.pdf [archive]

Facebook (facebook.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections (uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org)