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Elizabeth Chesak and transgender people

Elizabeth Chesak is an American ex-transgender activist. Chesak serves on the US board of anti-trans group Women’s Declaration International (WDI USA).

Background

Elizabeth Joy Chesak was born in September of 1996 and grew up in Indiana. Chesak earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Iowa in 2019. While there, Chesak was involved in progressive feminist activism. Chesak identified as transgender from 2012 to 2019.

According to the WDI USA website:

Elizabeth discovered radical feminism in 2019 while deprogramming from years spent in the “gender identity” cult. She is especially interested in connecting older and younger feminists so that the generations may benefit from each other’s knowledge, skills, and ideas. Having first joined WDI USA as Chief of Staff, she currently serves as President and facilitates the organization’s Desisted & Detransitioned Women’s Caucus. Her term began August 1, 2024.

Selected writing by Chesak

Dansky, Kara; Cypher, Elspeth; Chesak, Elizabeth (December 18, 2025). Policy, not biology. New York Review https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2026/03/26/policy-not-biology/

  • response to Currah, Paisley (December 15, 2025). The Anti-Trans Playbook. New York Review https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2025/12/18/the-anti-trans-playbook-paisley-currah/

WDI USA (September 2025). WDI USA 2025 National Convention https://womensdeclarationusa.com/wdi-usa-2025-national-convention/

  • Why Has The Fight to Save Women’s Sports Been Uniquely Successful? Facilitator: Elizabeth Chesak; Speakers: Kim Jones, Kim Russell, Jennifer Sey
  • Detransition: What’s Next? Facilitator: Elizabeth Chesak; Speakers: Claire Abernathy, Prisha Mosley, Elle Palmer

Media

Women’s Liberation Radio News with Thistle Petterson, Emily Faye, and Elizabeth Chesak (July 22, 2023). Life Beyond Trans with Elizabeth Chesak. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aykuXhj6V6Y

Women’s Declaration International – USA (Dec 11, 2025). Detransition: What’s Next? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrz8OZxb530

Resources

Women’s Declaration International USA (womensdeclarationusa.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

Her Campus (hercampus.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)