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The Wall Street Journal vs. transgender people

The Wall Street Journal is an American media organization that piublishes consistently anti-trans contect, espcially on the Opinion page.

Their journalism is considered center to center-right, and the editorial page is considered right-wing/conservative. The opinion section frequently promotes and platforms major anti-trans voices, including Gerald Posner, J. Michael Bailey, Abigail Shrier, Leor Sapir, and Colin Wright.

Contributors

In 2023, the WSJ significantly increased its anti-transgender coverage.

Leor Sapir and Colin Wright wrote a piece attacking academic publisher Springer after it retracted an unethical paper by J. Michael Bailey in 2023. The previous year, Wright had invoked the “tomboy erasure” conspiracy theory that claims gender diverse cisgender children are being forced to transition as a form of anti-LGB conversion therapy.

Abigail Shrier was allowed to complain about “The Transgender War on Women.”

Joe Barrett covered state recognition of trans identity documents. Jathon Sapsford and Stephanie Armour quoted anti-trans activist Leor Sapir, and Republican politicians Dan Crenshaw and Chris Christie, with rebuttal by Democrat Frank Pallone Jr. Stephanie Armour also covered Medicaid coverage of trans health services.

Laura Kusisto and Louise Radnofsky covered sex-segregated competitive sports. Ben Chapman and Laine Higgins also covered this.

Mariah Timms covered anti-trans developments in Missouri under AG Andrew Bailey.

Lindsay Wise, Simon J. Levien, and Isaac Yu covered Republican attempts to control the reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy of others.

Elizabeth Findell, Adolfo Flores and Peter Champelli covered the Texas ban on trans healthcare.

Mariah Timms and Laura Kusisto covered Tennessee’s ban on trans healthcare for minors.

Talal Ansari covered Zooey Zephyr’s removal from the Montana House floor.

The editorial board opined about “Transgender Patients vs. Religious Doctors: The Franciscan Alliance might be the new Little Sisters of the Poor.”

2023 Endocrine Society attacks

After Roy Eappen and Ian Kingsbury of anti-trans group Do No Harm attacked the Endocrine Society, President Stephen R. Hammes responded with an outline of the medical consensus behind the Endocrine Society’s guidelines.

Hammes was then attacked by a group of anti-trans clinicians in a subsequent letter. The signatories are:

FINLAND

UNITED KINGDOM

SWEDEN

  • Angela SĂ€mfjord, M.D. Senior consultant, Sahlgrenska University Hospital
  • Sven RomĂĄn, M.D. Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

NORWAY

  • Anne WĂŠhre, M.D., Ph.D. Senior consultant, Oslo University Hospital

BELGIUM

  • Em. Prof. Patrik Vankrunkelsven, M.D. Ph.D. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Honorary senator
  • Sophie DechĂȘne, M.R.C.Psych. Child and adolescent psychiatrist
  • Beryl Koener, M.D., Ph.D. Child and adolescent psychiatrist

FRANCE

  • Prof. Celine Masson, Ph.D. Picardy Jules Verne University Psychologist, Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants, Co-director, Observatory La Petite SirĂšne
  • Caroline Eliacheff, M.D. Child and adolescent psychiatrist, Co-director, Observatory La Petite SirĂšne
  • Em. Prof. Maurice Berger, M.D. Ph.D. Child psychiatrist

SWITZERLAND

  • Daniel HalpĂ©rin, M.D. Pediatrician

SOUTH AFRICA

  • Prof. Reitze Rodseth, Ph.D. University of Kwazulu-Natal
  • Janet Giddy, M.B.Ch.B., M.P.H. Family physician and public-health expert
  • Allan Donkin, M.B.Ch.B. Family physician

UNITED STATES

  • Clin. Prof. Stephen B. Levine, M.D. Case Western Reserve University
  • Clin. Prof. William Malone, M.D. Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine Director, Society for Evidence Based Gender Medicine
  • Prof. Patrick K. Hunter, M.D. Florida State University Pediatrician and bioethicist

Hammes was also criticized by a group of parents that included Kathleen Dooley.

Anti-trans misinformation following Charlie Kirk shooting

In September 2025, during the search for the person who shot anti-trans activist Charlie Kirk, the Wall Street Journal published a live update under the headline “Ammunition in Kirk Shooting Engraved with Transgender, Antifascist Ideology, Sources Say.” The source was a leaked internal ATF bulletin first posted by anti-trans activist Steven Crowder. Crowder pinned the post on X, and it garnered over 29 million views.

After massive pushback about their irresponsible headline and reporting, WSJ edited the headline to read “Early Bulletin Said Ammunition in Kirk Shooting Engraved With Transgender, Antifascist Ideology; Some Sources Urge Caution.”

The term “transgender ideology” is an anti-trans conspiracy theory frequently invoked by right-wing activists. After it was confirmed that the engravings were references to memes used in toxic online communities like the Groyper Army fan base of anti-trans extremist Nick Fuentes, the WSJ added an editor’s note that did not retract the headline or their reporting about “transgender ideology,” writing:

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article detailed how an internal law enforcement bulletin said that ammunition recovered following the Charlie Kirk shooting was engraved with expressions of “transgender and anti-fascist ideology.” Justice Department officials later urged caution about the bulletin by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, saying it may not accurately reflect the messages on the ammunition, and the article was updated Thursday to reflect that. This editor’s note was appended on Friday, Sept. 12, after Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said the engravings included one that said “Hey fascist!” along with other messages and symbols. He gave no indication that the ammunition included any transgender references.

Other media outlets, including the Daily Beast, the New York Post, The Telegraph, and the Jerusalem Post uncritically repeated WSJ’s claims. None of those articles were immediately updated or retracted in light of accurate information.

References

Reberkenny, Joe (September 13, 2025). Wall Street Journal slammed for false link between trans community and Kirk shooter. The Blade https://www.washingtonblade.com/2025/09/13/wall-street-journal-charlie-kirk-claim-false-link-trans-community/

Prager, Stephen (September 12, 2025). WSJ, Media Outlets Slammed for Spreading Feds’ False Claim That Kirk Shooter Expressed ‘Transgender Ideology.’ Common Dreams https://www.commondreams.org/news/charlie-kirk-2673989947

Reed, Erin (September 12, 2025). Press Conference: No “Transgender” Or “LGBTQ” Symbols Found At Kirk’s Shooting. Erin In The Morning https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/press-conference-no-transgender-or

Bryant, Jacob (September 12, 2025). WSJ Torched for False Report of ‘Trans Ideology’ on Charlie Kirk Shooter’s Bullets, Muted Retraction: ‘So Little Accountability.’ The Wrap https://www.thewrap.com/wsj-trans-ideology-charlie-kirk-bullets-false-report/

Migdon, Brooke (September 12, 2025). HRC demands WSJ retract report linking Kirk shooting to transgender community. The Hill https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/5501615-human-rights-campaign-wsj-retraction-kirk/

Wiggins, Christopher (September 12 2025). Wall Street Journal quietly walks back false claim Charlie Kirk shooter had pro-trans messages on his bullets. The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/news/wall-street-journal-charlie-kirk

Lopatto, Elizabeth (September 12, 2025). The WSJ carelessly spread anti-trans misinformation. The Verge https://www.theverge.com/politics/777630/wsj-trans-misinformation-charlie-kirk

Serano, Julia (May 7, 2024). “Gender Ideology” Is a Conspiracy Theory. Switch Hitter https://juliaserano.substack.com/p/gender-ideology-is-a-conspiracy-theory

Selected anti-trans articles

Appel, Ben (June 30, 2025). Opinion: ‘Transgender’ Kids Usually Grow Up Gay. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/transgender-kids-usually-grow-up-gay-c71b3cd8

Freeman, James (June 26, 2025). Opinion: Liberal Professors Who Oppose Sex Changes on Kids. Wall Street Journal

Curlin, Farr (June 23, 2025). Opinion: Transgender Treatments Distort the Purpose of Medicine. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/transgender-treatments-distort-the-purpose-of-medicine-ccd6e513

Editorial Board (June 18, 2025). Good Supreme Court Sense on Trans Hormones. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/supreme-court-skrmetti-tennessee-transgender-hormone-treatments-e84d97f0

Steinmann, Jessica Hart; O’Neill, Leigh Ann (June 5, 2025). Opinon: Transgenderism Won’t Let Girls Say No. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/transgenderism-wont-let-girls-say-no-oregon-track-competition-bc03e205

Eappen, Roy (May 12, 2025). Letters: Trump Tells the Truth About ‘Trans’ Children. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-tells-the-truth-about-trans-children-hhs-report-c0841b6c

O’Toole, Tim (April 29, 2025). Letters: A Way Out of Colorado’s Transgender Tyranny. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/a-way-out-of-colorados-transgender-tyranny-elections-center-a4906af5

Friday, Erin; Lee, Erin (April 17, 2025). Opinion: Colorado’s Totalitarian Transgenderism Bill. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/colorados-totalitarian-transgenderism-bill-parental-rights-freedom-e841acd2

Editorial Board (February 28, 2025). Maine’s Transgender Madness. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/maines-transgender-madness-8dabbfbe

Wright, Colin; Shapiro, Ilya (February 3, 2025). Opinion: Trump Can Ban Transgender Birth Certificates. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-can-ban-transgender-birth-certificates-policy-protect-womens-spaces-d726a9fe

Editorial Board (December 13, 2024). The Trans Double-Mastectomy Lawsuit. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/clementine-breen-lawsuit-transgender-medicine-center-for-transyouth-health-us-v-skrmetti-e22382f3

Editorial Board (December 3, 2024). Transgender Minors at the Supreme Court. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/u-s-v-skrmetti-tennessee-law-transgender-minors-hormones-treatment-9be82071

Steve Marshall (December 2, 2024). Opinion: WPATH, ‘Transgender Healthcare’ and the Supreme Court. Wall Street Journal

Readers (July 26, 2023). Letters: Parents Need Answers on Pediatric Gender Medicine. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/parents-trans-gender-diverse-kids-medical-care-endocrine-1287c55

Swaim, Barton (November 14, 2024). Opinion: Markets Foiled Transgender Ideology. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/markets-foiled-trans-ideology-dei-rollback-target-budlight-social-conservatism-b8d470e4

Editorial Board (October 13, 2024). Transgender Sports Is a 2024 Sleeper Issue. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/transgender-sports-is-a-2024-sleeper-issue-ads-ohio-wisconsin-montana-2a8d044b

Wright, Colin (August 7, 2024). Opinion: Does Imane Khelif Belong in the Women’s Ring? Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/does-imane-khelif-belong-in-the-womens-ring-olympics-boxing-transgender-ideology-b227f2cd

Morrell, Travis J. (July 26, 2024). Opinion: Ideology in Medical Schools Threatens Everyone’s Health. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/ideology-in-medical-schools-threatens-everyones-health-f6887ae3

Conservative signatories (July 14, 2023). Youth Gender Transition Is Pushed Without Evidence. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/trans-gender-affirming-care-transition-hormone-surgery-evidence-c1961e27

Hammes, Stephen R. (July 4, 2023). Endocrine Society Responds on Gender-Affirming Care It improves the well-being of transgender and gender-diverse people. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/trans-gender-affirming-care-endocrine-society-evidence-fdb8562c

Sapsford, Jathon; Armour, Stephanie (June 19, 2023). U.S. Becomes Transgender-Care Outlier as More in Europe Urge Caution. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/u-s-becomes-transgender-care-outlier-as-more-in-europe-urge-caution-6c70b5e0

Sapir, Leor; Wright, Colin (June 9, 2023). Opinion: Medical Journal’s False Consensus on ‘Gender-Affirming Care.’ Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/opinion/medical-journals-false-consensus-on-gender-affirming-care-sex-change-procedure-transgender-f10cd52b

Eappen, Roy; Kingsbury, Ian (June 28, 2023). The Endocrine Society’s Dangerous Transgender Politicization. Members we spoke with take exception to the group’s guidelines on ‘gender-affirming care.’ Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/the-endocrine-societys-dangerous-politicization-endocrinologists-gender-affirming-care-arkansas-dac768bd

Resources

The Wall Street Journal (wsj.com)

  • Transgender
  • wsj.com/search?query=transgender&mod=searchresults_viewallresults

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