“L. E. Dawes” / Laura VanZee Taylor vs. transgender people

Media coverage and transgender people Reviewed August 8, 2026 6 min read

Laura VanZee Taylor is an American anti-transgender activist who directed the 2023 anti-trans project No Way Back as “L. E. Dawes.” After Taylor’s child came out as trans, Taylor created a propaganda piece about the ex-transgender movement. Taylor and producer Penka Kouneva are responsible for including convicted sex offender David Arthur Kendall as one of the ex-trans activists they featured.

Background

Laura Elinor Van Zee was born August 26, 1970, grew up in Medford, Oregon, then earned a bachelor’s degree from Lewis & Clark College in 1992 and a master’s degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1994.

VanZee Taylor’s husband Jason Daniel Taylor (born 1970) is an executive at Facebook/Meta. They met in college, married in 1992, and have two children: Elinor “Ellie” Taylor and Ruby Taylor, who came out as trans, sparking VanZee Taylor’s anti-trans activism.

VanZee Taylor was a creative director for Hallmark Cards in Missouri before becoming a stay-at-home parent. In 2010, after a “a mini-midlife crisis” at age 40, VanZee Taylor began making videos.

Previous media

I Am Maris (ROCO Films 2017) profiles Maris Degener, a yoga instructor who experienced significant body image issues as a teen
Walk Through This (2018) profiles Sara Schulting Kranz, whose spouse came out as bisexual 17 years into their marriage
“If Siri Was a Mom” (2016) showcases Whitney Cicero / The New Stepford
“Somewhere” (2014) features VanZee Taylor’s family

VanZee-Taylor styles both fake and real names in numerous ways:

L. E. Dawes
L.E. Dawes
L E Dawes
LE Dawes
Laura VanZee
Laura Van Zee
Laura Taylor
Laura V. Taylor
Laura VanZee-Taylor
Laura VanZee Taylor
Laura Van Zee Taylor

Anti-transgender activism

VanZee Taylor became involved in anti-transgender activism because their younger child identified as gender diverse. VanZee Taylor then connected with other unsupportive parents from the anti-trans “parental rights” movement:

COVID-19 had been hard on my youngest. Previously an extroverted, active and affectionate boy, over the lockdown he became quiet, easily agitated and withdrawn. He spent most of his time online. Then he told us he was transgender.

He said he wanted puberty blockers and then he would go on estrogen. He matter-of-factly stated that he didn’t plan on getting “bottom surgery,” but would probably want electrolysis, voice training and facial feminizing surgery such as a tracheal shave. He knew our insurance would cover it all.

My husband and I were shocked at his pronouncement. Not because we are transphobic, but because our son had never exhibited any discomfort with his body or identity. […]

I joined a local support group with more than 100 members for parents of kids with rapid-onset gender dysphoria. Hearing their stories, with so many similarities to ours, I couldn’t help but think that something other than kids finding their authentic selves was going on here. […]

And that is why I made this film. Even if my community disapproves. Even if I have to use a pseudonym to protect my son.

In the course of attacking 300,000 American children, VanZee Taylor outed their own child in the Dallas Morning News in 2023, even though their child was not out at school.

VanZee Taylor claims “I have to use a pseudonym to protect my son,” apparently feeling the best way to protect this teen was to divulge deeply personal family information in a major newspaper to promote anti-transgender propaganda.

In June 2023, this site revealed the identities of VanZee Taylor and producer Penka Kouneva and helped get theatrical screenings at AMC canceled.

As of 2024, their trans child Ruby Taylor is out, transitioned, and in college. Kouneva’s child has also transitioned. Despite this, Kouneva and Taylor continue to post anti-trans propaganda online, primarily on the 2022affirmation account.

After being revealed to be “L.E. Dawes,” Taylor began using the name Laura Taylor (without VanZee). Under that name, Taylor operated Peanut Monkey Films.

References

Osborne, Duncan (June 17, 2023). Anti-trans film nixed after facing backlash. Gay City News https://gaycitynews.com/anti-trans-film-nixed-no-way-back/

Factora, James (June 15, 2023). AMC Theatres Is Hosting an Anti-Trans Documentary During Pride Month. them. https://www.them.us/story/amc-theatres-no-way-back-documentary

Anti-trans coverage

Leesman, Madeline (June 20, 2023). AMC Cancels Screenings of Film Documenting Detransitioners Following Backlash. TownHall https://townhall.com/news/madelineleesman/2023/06/20/detransition-documentary-pulled-from-theaters-over-woke-backlash-n2624711

Skinner, Anna (June 19, 2023). AMC Cancels ‘Anti-Transgender’ Documentary After Backlash. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/amc-removes-anti-transgender-documentary-1807663

Propper, David (June 19, 2023). AMC pulls documentary featuring detransitioners from theaters in face of pressure. New York Post https://nypost.com/2023/06/19/amc-pulls-documentary-featuring-detransitioners-from-theaters/

Prestigiacomo, Amanda (June 18, 2023). AMC Theatres Cancels De-Transitioner Film Following Trans Group’s De-Platforming Campaign. Daily Wire https://www.dailywire.com/news/amc-theatres-cancels-de-transitioner-film-following-trans-groups-de-platforming-campaign

Stone, Sasha (June 18, 2023). AMC Pressured to Pull a Film Labeled “Anti-Trans.” Awards Daily https://www.awardsdaily.com/2023/06/18/amc-pressured-to-pull-a-film-labeled-anti-trans/

Emmons, Libby (June 17, 2023). EXCLUSIVE: Producers of ‘No Way Back: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care’ speak out after AMC Theaters cancels film screenings. Post Millennial https://thepostmillennial.com/exclusive-producers-of-no-way-back-the-reality-of-gender-affirming-care-speak-out-after-amc-theaters-cancels-film-screenings

Pauling, Joshua (June 15, 2023). Realists Unite! New Documentary on Gender-Affirming Care Presents “Pro-Reality” Position in Response to Trans Ideology. Public Discourse https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2023/06/89416/

Skinner, Anna (June 19, 2023). AMC Cancels ‘Anti-Transgender’ Documentary After Backlash. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/amc-removes-anti-transgender-documentary-1807663

Stone, Sasha (June 18, 2023). AMC Pressured to Pull a Film Labeled “Anti-Trans.” Awards Daily https://www.awardsdaily.com/2023/06/18/amc-pressured-to-pull-a-film-labeled-anti-trans/

PITT (February 21, 2023). AFFIRMATION GENERATION, an original documentary. Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT). https://pitt.substack.com/p/affirmation-generation-an-original

Osborne, Matt (February 19, 2023). Affirmation Generation: The Lies Of Transgender Medicine. The Distance https://www.thedistancemag.com/p/affirmation-generation-the-lies-of

Selected writing by Taylor

Taylor, Laura [as “L. E. Dawes”] (February 17, 2023). OPINION Filmmaker: I believed in gender affirming care. Then I saw what happened to my son. Dallas Morning News https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2023/02/18/i-made-a-film-about-transgender-kids-that-doesnt-align-with-my-politics/

Media

NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (May 4, 2023). AFFIRMATION GENERATION Presents: Ask Me Anything w/ 2 Experts & 2 Detransitioners ~ 05.04.2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkzBEM5RLis

NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (September 7, 2022). Affirmation Generation documentary-Official Trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s1pg7UByoU

KOBI-TV (April 18, 2018). Five on 5 – Laura VanZee Taylor – Film Maker . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzgUen2rQq0