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Karen Ranney / “Ute Heggen” / “Lea Utsira” vs. transgender people

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“Ute Heggen” and “Lea Utsira” are pen names of Karen Ranney, an American dancer, teacher, and anti-transgender activist. Ranney’s former spouse made a gender transition, prompting Ranney to self-describe as a “trans widow.”

Ranney appears in Vaishnavi Sundar’s anti-trans video Behind The Looking Glass with other “trans widows.”

Background

Karen Ranney was born in December of 1956. Ranney’s spouse came out as transgender in the 1990’s after the birth of their second child. Ranney found the spouse’s journals in 1992, which led to a confrontation. The couple later divorced.

Ranney has published children’s books under the name “Lea Utsira.”

Anti-trans activism

In around 2021, Ranney began going public as a “trans widow,” including a profile in the New York Post. In 2022 under the pen name “Ute Heggen,” Ranney published In the Curated Woods: True Tales from a Grass Widow. The book was blurbed by Isabella Malbin and Donovan Cleckley.

Ranney has appeared on several anti-trans podcasts, including Maiden Mother Matriarch, Critical Therapy Antidote Podcast, Advocates Protecting Children. Women’s Declaration International, and Unmasking the Trans Movement.

Anti-trans coverage

Ridley, Jane (May 24, 2025). I thought I had the perfect marriage until I found my husband’s secret journals. My blood ran cold, I was about to vomit… Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14736229/perfect-marriage-husband-secret-journals.html

McClure, Ashley (September 12, 2023). This Mother Calls Herself a Widow After Her Ex-Husband Deserted Their Family by Transitioning. Independent Women’s Features https://www.iwfeatures.com/profile/this-mother-calls-herself-a-widow-after-her-ex-husband-deserted-their-family-by-transitioning/

Cleckley, Donovan (June 22, 2022). In That Closet in a Closet: A Review of ‘In the Curated Woods’ Continue reading In That Closet in a Closet: A Review of ‘In the Curated Woods.’ Women Are Human https://www.womenarehuman.com/in-that-closet-in-a-closet-a-review-of-in-the-curated-woods/

Ridley, Jane (October 12, 2021). I became a ‘trans widow’ after my husband became a woman. New York Post https://nypost.com/2021/10/12/i-became-a-trans-widow-after-my-husband-became-a-woman/

Selected writing by Ranney

“Heggen, Ute” (August 13, 2022). Challenging the Linguistic Capture of Synthetic Sex Ideology, One Memoir at a Time. 4W https://4w.pub/challenging-the-linguistic-capture-of-the-synthetic-sex-ideology-one-memoir-at-a-time/

Books

“Heggen, Ute” (2022). In the Curated Woods: True Tales from a Grass Widow. iUniverse, ISBN 978-1663231031

“Utsira, Lea” (2021). My Heart, Your Heart. iUniverse, ISBN 978-1663221926

“Utsira, Lea” (2021). Leaves. iUniverse, ISBN 978-1663220400

Media

Maiden Mother Matriarch with Louise Perry, “Ute Heggen,” and Emma Thomas (August 31, 2025). The Experiences of Trans Widows – Ute Heggen & Emma Thomas | Maiden Mother Matriarch Episode 160. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgUilpzBAjo

Kelly Oliver Dougall with “Ute Heggen” (August 20, 2025). “Everybody is Lying” – Ute Heggen talks to Kelly about her experience of marrying a trans woman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06KGYUogdB8

Critical Therapy Antidote Podcast with Michael Olan, Jaco van Zyl, and “Ute Heggen” (April 30, 2025). Escaping the Closet Behind the Closet | Speaking with Trans Widow, Ute Heggen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6seecgRV9pE

Kelly Oliver Dougall with “Ute Heggen” (February 12, 2025). I am a trans widow – Kelly Oliver Dougall talks to Ute Heggen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Io8fkfsdUU

Irene BritUSA with “Ute Heggen” (October 22, 2024). He Pretended to Be the Mother | Interview With Ute Heggen Part 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAbPvnCkJng

Runawaysiren940 with “Ute Heggen” (October 4, 2024). Trans Tales: Ute Heggen, Trans Widow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXqW31VB804

Lime Soda Films / Vaishnavi Sundar (August 30, 2024). Behind The Looking Glass – FIRST EVER Documentary about the Wives & Children of Trans-Identified Men. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frffv2sB8zE

Unmasking the Trans Movement with Jon Uhler and “Ute Heggen” (May 19, 2024). Guest Ute Heggen: Unmasking the Dark Sexual Deviance Behind Sexually Deviant AGP/”Trans” Husbands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bIIsIhwVOU

Carol with “Ute Heggen” (May 17, 2024). The Husband Who Wanted to Be Queen: Interview with Trans Widow Ute Heggen Part 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mjIDfK3yRA

Tammy Peterson with “Ute Heggen” (September 8, 2023). Trans Widow: Navigating Divorce and Despair with a Trans Husband | Ute Heggen | EP 35. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV9d7-ZXQW8

Rachel Twigg with “Ute Heggen” (July 28, 2023). Trans Widow Ute Heggen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsgZ3cpSFjs

Advocates Protecting Children with Erin Brewer, Maria Keffler, and “Ute Heggen” (June 15, 2022). Transjacked: Ute Heggen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc_pyyMqYtA

mechantechatonne with “Ute Heggen” (May 7, 2022). The Power of Language featuring Ute Heggen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilQ7LxDw_QQ

Women’s Declaration International with “Ute Heggen” (August 30, 2022). Female erasure, by Ute Heggen.

Resources

Substack (substack.com)

WordPress (wordpress.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

4W (4w.pub)