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  • Trans Man Scott Newgent & Others Fighting To Stop Childhood Medical Transition

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  • TReVoices - SCREAMING In The Media

    < Back Letiltottak egy transznemű Scott Newgent férfit a Twitteren, mert kritizálta a gyermekek nemváltoztatását, és rávilágított arra, hogy a nemváltás és az azzal járó negatív hatások egy életen át tartanak By, Staff Writer Hungary Letiltotta a Twitter a transznemű férfit, mert kritizálta a gyerekek nemváltoztatását ORIGO 2021.08.10. 13:07 Letiltottak egy transznemű férfit a Twitteren, mert kritizálta a gyermekek nemváltoztatását, és rávilágított arra, hogy a nemváltás és az azzal járó negatív hatások egy életen át tartanak, írja a V4NA. Megosztás FacebookonKüldés MessengerenTovábbi lehetőségek A New Yorkban élő 48 éves transzszexuális Scott Newgent egy életre kitiltották a Twitterről, miután figyelmeztetéseket tett közzé a gyerekek nemváltoztatásával kapcsolatban. A férfi kiemelte, hogy a pubertásblokkolók, és a hormonkezelések hatására a gyerekek fokozottan ki vannak téve a depressziónak. Scott két évvel ezelőtt kötelezte el magát amellett, hogy a tájékozatlanabb szülőket megismertesse a gyermekek korai nemváltásával járó problémákkal, emellett kimondta, hogy "a kiskorú gyermekek nem rendelkeznek kellő kompetenciával ahhoz, hogy felmérjék a saját pszichológiai helyzetüket, vagy hogy megértsék mi az az élethosszig tartó függőség, és a nemváltó műtét." "Azokat a mozgalom vezetőket és aktivistákat, akik a nemiséggel kapcsolatos véleményüket folyamatosan közzéteszik a Twitteren és a mainstream médiában, csak "nemi misztikusoknak" nevezem. Támogatják a gyerekek nemi diszfóniáját, annak érdekében, hogy a gyerekek kiválaszthassák a saját nemi identitásukat. A bátorítás, és a transz mozgalom beavatkozásai után viszont a kissé zavart gyermekek fognak megfizetni mindenért", mondta a transznemű aktivista. A Twitter az elmúlt időszakban különösen nagy hangsúlyt fektetett a transzfób megjegyzések eltüntetésére, míg más gyűlöletkeltő bejegyzéseket nem törölt a közösségi média platform algoritmusa. A Digitális Gyűlölet Elleni Központ megállapította, hogy a Twitter és a Facebook csupán minden kilencedik antiszemita bejegyzést távolította el, a vizsgált hat hetes időszakban. A bejegyzések között szerepelt holokauszt tagadás, náci szimbólumok használata, valamint a holohoax és a killthejews hashtagek is. SCOTT MONDANIVALÓJA A KOMMENTELŐK SZERINT NEM TRANSZFÓB MÓDON, HANEM OBJEKTÍVEN TÁRGYALJA A NEMVÁLTOZTATÁSSAL JÁRÓ PROBLÉMÁKAT.A bejegyzéseiben nem tagadja a nemi diszfória létezését és megérti, hogy néhány gyermeknél szükséges a pubertás gátló. Scott emellett rendszeresen üzent a szülőknek, amelynek célja, hogy rájöjjenek minél hamarabb, hogy mit tesznek a gyermekükkel. "Az összes szülőnek azt mondom, hogy nincs joga eldönteni a gyermek nemét, vagy azt, hogy megváltoztassák a nemét. A nemváltoztatás a felnőttekre tartozik, és rengeteg olyan negatív hatással illetve következményekkel jár, amit egész életen át el kellene viselni", teszi hozzá Scott Scott nem az első, aki fel mert szólalni a gyermekek védelmében, és ezért törölték őt a Twitterről. Korábban Graham Linehan ír komikus és író profilját is törölték, miután a transzneműség hátrányairól tweetelt. Azóta a férfi létrehozott egy saját csatornát, aminek segítségével e-mailen keresztül kommunikál a szimpatizánsaival. MAYA FORSTATER KUTATÓT PEDIG AZ ÁLLÍTÓLAGOSAN TRANSZFÓB BEJEGYZÉSE UTÁN ELBOCSÁJTOTTÁK A KUTATÓI ÁLLÁSÁBÓL, ÉS KITILTOTTÁK A TWITTERRŐL,mert azt írta, hogy "a nem megváltoztathatatlan, és nem keverendő össze a nemi identitással". Az eset után a nő beperelte a közösségi média platformot, és másodfokon meg is nyerte a pert, a bíróság pedig kimondta, hogy "kritikus meggyőződése az egyenlőségi törvény hatálya alá tartoznak, mivel az írásával nem támogatta a transznemű személyek jogfosztását". Original Link

  • TReVoices - SCREAMING In The Media

    < Back The Mess We’re In “Trans Day Of Visibility Appearing, Miranda Yardley, Debbie Hayton, Fionne Orlander, Scott Newgent, Aaron Terrell International 111 Original Link

  • TReVoices - Parents/Detrans

    TReVoices Is The Leading Org Fighting To Stop Childhood Medical Transition World Wide! ​ Led by transman/lesbian Scott Newgent, our relentless SCREAMING to 'STOP Medically Transitioning Children' has been and continues to be heard everyday World - Wide! Make sure we can continue - We Need Your Help - Donate Today. Button Lift The Veil. Parents Get Busy & Learn Why 'Medical Transition Is Not Place For a child.' Sincerely, TReVoices & Everyone Else < Back ​ Original Article Reddiit In The Raw - Detrans Reddit Chain - Detrans & Regrets & Questioning - In The Raw In - Copied/Pasted URL - https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/swweab/extrans_people_who_have_detransitioned_or_in_the/ Justweirdout · 2 mo. ago I'm still confused about what I identify as but I've realized it doesn't super matter to me what I call myself as long as I'm happy with myself. I thought I was trans for a good 3 to 4 years, but as I reached 18 and my friends and I started growing further apart I realized I just really wanted to be like my friends and fit in so I convinced myself that I was trans like my best friend at the time is. I'm pretty sure I just associated being gay (despite the fact I'm not gay I'm bi) with femininity, and that combined with the people I surrounded myself with I thought I knew who I was. Sometimes I regret the weird shit I did during that time period, but most of the time I embrace it, I just wouldn't be who I am today without Danielle, and most of the people I know still call me Danny because I couldn't let go of that part of me. 297 Share Report Save Follow 1 more reply level 1 [deleted] · 2 mo. ago Helpful2 Wholesome5 Take My Energy I was a trans man from about 13-19years old. I socially transitioned and took hormones for the 4-6 year period that I was trans. I originally transitioned due to being a GNC kid (presented very masculinely) because I thought that being gnc/masculine and same-sex attracted meant I was trans (due to adults around me talking to me about gender and the possibility I might be trans, 13 at the time of that). I detransitioned because I realized that I didn't legitimately want to be male, I wanted to be able to be masculine. I defiently had social dysphoria and still do. It was the physical part I was confused about. I dont regret all of my transition and appreciate some of the masculinizing effects of the testosterone from when I was on it. I also know that my transition helped me to be able to be masculine/be me...beforehand I was always pressured to wear a dress, bra, etc. When I transitioned, I was given the freedom to just be me and not have to conform to "feminity" which caused me (and still does) great distress. Being trans and my consequent detransition helped me become who I am today. I did legally and medically detransition, but refuse to change how I dress/am. Before my transition I had for a short period of time, identified as butch lesbian. Now I decided that probably is the correct label to describe me.... even masculine woman too. But I only see them as a way to describe how I present/act/see myself...I dont let them define me as a person. A part of me, but not the whole of me. Overall, I think my transition and detransition was a big period of growth. I still deal with alot of dysphoria, but I'm managing it my own way (like lessening it by dressing in men's clothing vs women's). Which does help. I see myself as a woman (due to my sex) but as a masculine woman. I think there outta be more representation of just plain masculine woman, something I didn't have when I was young. 6.0k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 Freshlyhonkedgoose · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago Platinum Gold Helpful (Pro) Wholesome (Pro) & 20 More I began to socially transition at 14 years old. It was 2006, and I had spend the previous 3 years swearing I was a boy, and doing my damnedest to act/talk/look like a boy. I didn't know what "trans" was, or that it existed. I just knew I wanted to not be a girl, I wanted to be a boy because it brought me so much comfort and joy to be seen as male. I met a transman in 2007 named E. He was ten years older than me and had medically transitioned. He took me under his wing and I began to secretly look towards medical transition. I mostly hated my breasts. I wanted them gone, I wanted a flat chest that didn't interfere with my clothes and my happiness. Fast forward to 2017, I am still socially out as male but haven't started hormones because of money, homelessness, and the back of my mind feeling that it wouldn't bring me happiness. I still longed for a complete mastectomy, but had no means of achieving it without fully sinking financially/losing my job to recover. No support system. I realized through therapy in 2018-2020 that my transition goals had all started at twelve years old because kids picked on me for being an ugly girl, so I thought maybe they wouldn't pick on me as a boy. People still picked on me. I wasn't happy. I'm 30 now and don't really even think about gender on a daily basis, I just exist and look for happiness where I can find it. Edit several hours later to answer the question of "Where were Goose's parents?": By the time I was 14 my parents were in the process of getting a divorce and wondering when I'd grow up, get a job, and move out. They had been done and over with parenting by that point. I latched onto that person and fell hook, line, and sinker for their grooming because it was a positive adult influence in my life when at that time I had none. He was an adult who spoke to me like I mattered and that was all it took for me to hang on every word. Thank you for all the awards. And for the person who sent me a crisis line, thanks for that too, but I assure you after two spells of inpatient between end of '21, beginning of '22, I'm doing better than I ever have. I'm still in therapy twice a week + group therapy and I'm working on getting myself out of the shitpit my life became. 19.2k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 superultralost · 2 mo. ago I hope you are doing better now. 2.8k Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Mudwayaushka · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago Helpful2 Ally This is so interesting to read for very personal reasons. I never fully considered myself trans but I am probably a ‘near miss’. Growing up I felt a lot of discomfort being male - I saw men as stupid, ugly, flawed, insert harmful stereotype here, and disliked myself for being one of them. I often found myself wishing I was gay too (which I’m not really either) which I believed would have helped me move away from those stereotypes and my personal discomfort, albeit less completely/drastically. Like you, I went through therapy and self reflection and I came to the conclusion that I was reacting to a lot of the harmful stereotypes about men that are propagated in society, and were also propagated in my family (my sister who is close in age to me being the obvious ‘favourite’ in terms of treatment, among other things). Through my process of personal growth, I tried to stop looking at things through a gender lens - although I am still quite sensitive to gender issues - and tried to work on accepting myself as I am without bearing the weight of the victimhood of others or the blame of society. I still don’t feel strongly masculin or heterosexual, but I no longer feel aversion to myself which is the main thing (and am happy putting those things down to describe myself on forms if I have to). Interestingly my sister (not birth sister but MtF) came out as trans around the same time as I was going through these issues. I tried to speak to her about it but she was not open to it (maybe she saw it as a challenge, particularly as our father was not happy about the whole situation and she may understandably have been in a defensive frame of mind). I have always wondered if an element of her desire to transition came from the same place as mine. It’s too late to speak about it though - she transitioned many years ago now and it wouldn’t be right to re-open the topic, so I guess I will continue to wonder until the grave. I have never shared these feelings outside of therapy, which was some time ago now - thank you for the chance to look again at a chapter from my past in a new light. As others have said, I hope you are doing better too. 1.2k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 somethinganonamous · 2 mo. ago I’m glad you found growth through all of this. People like you, and you are important the way you are. 395 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 redditslim · 2 mo. ago Thanks so much for posting this. Honestly, my heart goes out to you. 10 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 SergeantSixx · 2 mo. ago I hope you have found/will continue to find happiness in who you are. You are beautiful no matter what gender. 41 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Naus1987 · 2 mo. ago Good therapy is incredibly underrated. Hope you’re doing better as well, and thanks for sharing your story! 17 Share Report Save Follow 58 more replies User avatar level 1 coloradyo · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago Platinum Gold4 Starry Eureka! & 79 More TW: sexual abuse Not personally trans, but in working as a counselor, one or two trans people I’ve worked with that had felt less certain of themselves after or while transitioning (as well as a muchhh larger handful of people who were taking baby steps to transition in the first place) had starting experiences that were kinda half and half, so like around 50% generally just not feeling like they fit their gender or assigned sex at birth, while the other 50% somewhat presented as trying to run away from or reject their own bodies and gender identity as a result of trauma - so not that they didn’t feel like they fit their gender anymore, but feeling like they wanted to get far, far away from what that gender meant to them. In these latter cases, these were, sadly, mostly biologically female people that resented their gendered bodies so much as being a factor that allowed or led to them being sexually assaulted or raped (including cases of childhood abuse), ie hating themselves for having breasts, hating themselves for not being able to NOT be seen as female or be perceived in a non-societally-sexualized lens or perspective by outsiders (getting catcalled or harassed or oggled by people on the street, etc). Unfortunately, within these specific cases and examples, these people targeting their experiences of gendered violence and avoiding their (initial/previous) gender as a result of this did not fix the underlying trauma, it didn’t reduce their fear or self-hatred or need for self-forgiveness after being victimized (but also, like, living in a society that treats women like sexualized commodities that people are entitled to also does not help the situation). It’s really hard. Let’s say that your house gets burglarized in a really traumatizing way. A lot of people are going to want to move to a new house, but in this case, you can’t. You’re stuck in this house where you’ve had such painful experiences, and the house itself being associated with that scares you. The house didn’t do anything wrong, and there’s nothing bad about the house itself - it’s actually a really great house. It’s a complicated process of figuring out how to make our house a home again and to live within ourselves. Focusing on making improvements is almost counter-intuitive to the fear response that’s happening in these cases, but hey, maybe we go room to room and start working on loving our house again, making it something less scary and something we don’t need to run away from. Maybe we buy a couple of happy little plants, maybe we repaint the walls, add some art that makes us happy when we look at it... At the same time, though, it’s hard, because we don’t want other people to see this too much and to think of breaking in again because of our house being so nice (and honestly maybe we just don’t want anyone to ever look at or acknowledge our house in the first place, and we wish that more people would mind their own business), BUT also, our house being a nice house isn’t what led to it getting broken into in the first place. It wasn’t our house’s fault - it was the fault of the criminal who decided to be a piece of shit and destroy someone’s ability to feel safe. No house ever deserves to be broken into or invaded, regardless of how lovely it is, even if the doors and windows are unlocked or are left wide open. Maybe we forgive our house for the bad moments that have happened within its walls, and we learn to see it as guiltless, faultless, innocent. It is a simple, neutral container for everything that exists within it, and no negative judgment needs to come with that. One of the biggest things I’ve learned as a counselor is how seriously hard it is for people to be gentle with themselves. It’s hard for me too. Obviously, the above scenario is not the case for all trans people, and even if it was, trauma doesn’t invalidate any of our needs or wants to do things, nor does it make our experiences or reasonings for pursuing transitions as any less valid or less genuine than anyone else’s. My thoughts here are just clips of moments from witnessing people’s lives and seeing them benefit from looking inwards at their gender and their thoughts related to their gender identity, wanting to help them feel safer within their bodies, regardless of how that outwardly presents. For the record, I don’t want any of this to come across as “if trans people process their past trauma, they’ll learn to accept their gender and stop trying to be someone else,” because that’s not the message here - it’s moreso about flexibility, building resilience, building self-forgiveness and acceptance/allowance, understanding our personal needs while granting ourselves permissions to exist beyond labels or judgments or boxes or categories if/as necessary, while also assessing what we want all of these categories to mean to us in the first place. Sorry for writing a book! 9.4k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Chocobean · 2 mo. ago I love your house analogy. I'm not trans but I think it's a beautiful analogy that might potentially be helpful for some who have suffered trauma. 220 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 indian_dirtbag · 2 mo. ago This was really beautifully written, thank you so much for sharing. The house analogy really resonated with me and I’ll definitely be stealing it whole-cloth for personal use. I know in part I moved houses because I was afraid that down the line it would come to resemble my father’s house too much But it’s also a great way to make it so that those who only knew that address can’t find you anymore. New name, new appearance, you can essentially put yourself into witness protection. I don’t hate my old house, I tried it’s best, but I’m much happier here. Even if things can be scary in a new way in this neighbourhood 103 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Mortalytas · 2 mo. ago You just perfectly explained a lot of feelings I had as a child that was SA'd. I used to pray that I would wake up as a boy because in my child mind, boys didn't have that happen to them, only girls. Then my little half-brother was born and I saw how much more my mom loved him than me and thought if I was a boy maybe she'd love me more... I also hated being told I would grow up and have babies, and as a teen my body matured pretty early and I got a lot of unwanted male attention. I did still have serious body dysmorphia about that until last year, when I got a hysterectomy to get rid of endometriosis. Not having to worry about my body betraying me in the deepest sense by just doing what it biologically wants to do is a huge weight off my shoulders. I'm comfortable in my own skin for the most part. 742 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Takilove · 2 mo. ago Silver Thank you for this. I’m a 65 year old married woman and your comment really made me think about some things I struggle with. Nothing to do with gender, but how childhood events and traumas deeply affects my personality. My inner self is so different than what I present to the world. I’m not unhappy with my life, but a little bit sad. That is about to change! Thank you so, so much! 1.2k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 SpicyPoffin · 2 mo. ago As a sexual assault survivor, I really appreciated reading this analogy. Thank you. 1.5k Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Kj539 · 2 mo. ago That’s a good analogy, thank you for sharing. 326 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 pomdecouer · 2 mo. ago This is so beautiful. Thanks for your work. Counselors are so important. 320 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Cornedbeefandwhiskey · 2 mo. ago It’s really hard. Let’s say that your house gets burglarized in a really traumatizing way. A lot of people are going to want to move to a new house, but in this case, you can’t. You’re stuck in this house where you’ve had such painful experiences, and the house itself being associated with that scares you. The house didn’t do anything wrong, and there’s nothing bad about the house itself - it’s actually a really great house. I've had this exact experience, I almost died. It's a very good analogy. 222 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 deane_ec4 · 2 mo. ago Therapist here, I loved reading this. Thank you for your work and analogy here. 37 Share Report Save Follow level 2 [deleted] · 2 mo. ago I hate the shit out of this being unable to escape it is really a horrible experience. I used to ‘joke’ that I couldn’t hide my boobs and ass at the same time no posture worked to hide both and sometimes it would be hard for me to like get up and get water cause I didn’t want to be looked at. 31 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Fatal_S · 2 mo. ago This hits a big personal consideration point for me. I've wanted to "be male" for as long as I can recall, and I dream/think of myself as either male or genderless. But I'm also a survivor of childhood SA, which I don't remember really, so how can I know that's not what makes me not think of myself as female? Currently I can't. Thankfully I don't need to make any big permanent decisions about my body atm, so it doesn't really make a difference. But it does still make me wonder. Did the SA make me this way, or was I always this way? Will I ever know? I do know I'm happier not being gendered or pushed into any specific gender roles, and if I had a button to "switch to a male body" I'd push it. But I don't hate my body or anything, it's a pretty decent body as it is, so I don't know that I need to change it either. So currently I consider myself trans-non-binary, but I still tell people I'm a work in progress and continue to figure myself out. 81 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Shipwrecking_siren · 2 mo. ago I worked in a suicide crisis centre for a few years, and the number of people that came who had experienced childhood abuse and were transitioning/had transitioned made me curious about whether it was correlation or causation. I knew it wasn’t that simple or black and white but also felt there must be link there for some too, I think your post sums up my thinking way better than my own brain ever could. 457 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 speaker4the-dead · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago Counselor as well! I second everything you said here. You are definitely confirming alot of my beliefs! It doesn’t mean we should push these onto a population when we work with them, but be mindful of these potential truths while accepting them through their journey to figuring things out - no matter what they decide. 214 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 sovietsrule · 2 mo. ago Dang that's a really good analogy. Thanks for the background information, really interesting to read 12 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 StarTrippy Cake day · 2 mo. ago In these latter cases, these were, sadly, mostly biologically female people that resented their gendered bodies so much as being a factor that allowed or led to them being sexually assaulted or raped (including cases of childhood abuse), ie hating themselves for having breasts, hating themselves for not being able to NOT be seen as female or be perceived in a non-societally-sexualized lens or perspective by outsiders (getting catcalled or harassed or oggled by people on the street, etc). This hits close to home. I'm nonbinary, and once I started toying with the idea of "hey, maybe I'm not actually a woman", everything came back to me like a brick through my window I couldn't ignore. The way I was treated, the way I was looked at, the trauma. I hated all of it, and I knew it all happened because I was a girl. It solidified the idea that past me and present me are two totally different people. Another big thing that made me realize my gender doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things was medical woes. It was almost like another reason to reject my body. That being said, I do feel a lot happier being nonbinary. I'm still hiding in the closet when it comes to professional things. But I feel a lot better, especially since I have queer friends who accept me without question. Also, thank you for doing what you do! You seem like a very understanding person. 160 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 JoshthePoser · 2 mo. ago Someone I love very much needs to hear this. Thank you. 33 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Thisistradition · 2 mo. ago This sums up so perfectly something I have been struggling to describe to others for years, my fears in relation to "the house." Thanks for sharing this. 12 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 magicsqueezle · 2 mo. ago Very well explained. I hope this gets read by more that need to see this. You’re a wonderful soul. 9 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 yndigocat · 2 mo. ago This is really beautiful it brought me to tears reading, thank you 9 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 theDart · 2 mo. ago If you wrote a book, I would read it. Thank you for sharing :) 31 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Geoffreys_Pants · 2 mo. ago I feel you've really hit the nail on the head. I was proudly NB/Androgynous for last 5/6 years. Was really into the community, went to local prides, all my mates were part of it and me and everyone else were just happily ignoring the obvious fact that I was my most male at my most depressed. That I had bad body dysmophia and dysphoria. I kept my sexaul abuse close to the chest admittedly. But like I went so far into running away that I had DID. I've only really this last few months started to consider that Im probably cis. It's so hard for me, cus it was so ingrainded in me. I have so much to hate about femininity and my past, that being none of it seemed the answer. But like I was so repressed my other personality was super girly. I'm rambling... Your post just hit home. 28 Share Report Save Follow level 2 [deleted] · 2 mo. ago This is a beautiful comment; thank you. Maybe you should write a book. 6 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 unicorn_gangbang · 2 mo. ago I’m a SA survivor and this was so eloquently said. I’ve completely changed my perspective of gender fluidity. I’ve never thought about it through this lense. Thank you for taking the time to write this out. 13 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 BxGyrl416 · 2 mo. ago This has occurred to me to, girls/women who’ve been abused, who feel ashamed of their bodies, and want to escape sexism/misogyny. There’s also that there’s a sharp increase in lesbians and bisexual women who’ve began to identify as non-binary or as trans men. I know and have met several people like this and have even read an article about this phenomenon a year or so ago. 21 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 chilloutm8 · 2 mo. ago Amazing read thank you. I’m doing my masters at the moment and would love to work with you 20 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 smallish_cheese · 2 mo. ago I would read your book. 5 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 thedancinggod · 2 mo. ago Thank you 5 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 SurpriseRedemption · 2 mo. ago Thank you for writing this. 5 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 letsguac2day · 2 mo. ago I found this to be incredibly powerful; thank you for sharing. 4 Share Report Save Follow 20 more replies User avatar level 1 tuesdayadms · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago Gold2 Wholesome (Pro) Helpful4 Wholesome5 & 7 More I lived as a trans man (female to male) for about 5 years. I never started hormones, but i had fully socially transitioned so the shift back was very significant and very awkward. I have a couple mental health diagnoses that i think if they'd been addressed sooner i wouldnt have felt like i had a hole in my soul i was desperate to fill. It was my error to force a bandaid solution over the problem, but the real issue was that the adults around me ignored my mental health up to that point, not that they let me transition socially, even medically had I chosen to do so. I feel strongly that had I been met with more resistance I would have dug my heels in and may have never realized that I wasn't trans. (Edit: to clarify, i mean that had there been more pushback, i would have not realized the truth and would have stayed trans, it was validation that made me eventually realize i was wrong and detransition, not resistance) I don't regret that period of my life, I learned a lot about myself and who I'm not. I had just entered college at the time, and I'm really greatful i had the oppourtinity to figure this out in an environment where most people accepted me either way. There was a lot of pressure not to detransition, but it was almost exclusively from non-trans people trying to be accepting and dissuade what they thought were my inner demons. Its important to me that when I share this part of my personal history that it isnt weaponized against actual trans people. They welcomed me into their community, and were kind to me when I realized it was not the right place for me. I legitimately owe my life to the kindness and good will of the trans community. Edit: spelling Edit again: a few points that I want to clarify: 1: the mental health crisis I refer to happened when I was a child 2: support for being trans was the thing that helped me be grow comfortable to realize I was not, not the pushback. When i was yelled slurs at and ridiculed, that did not make me examine my current situation and try to understand myself better 3: this is all exclusive my personal experiance. I am happy to answer any questions, but I am not trans, and to understand trans people and the trans community you should talk them, not me. 14.9k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 GrouchyMike · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago All-Seeing Upvote I’ve witnessed something like this as someone who has worked in admin for secondary mental health. It was interesting/upsetting to read the full back story of a patient who had been through a lot of abuse and trauma growing up. Their main reason for transitioning was to ‘abandon’ / ‘leave behind’ that identity, that ‘damaged person’ and forge a new identity, believing it was the only option. I obviously don’t know if they will keep to their decision or not, but I have also seen another person switch every time coming in to therapy, changing due to fear of judgement by peers, but also again mentioning wanting to leave behind that identity they were born with due to lived traumas growing up. They eventually transitioned back after completing therapy. It was interesting to get the opportunity to read and see these people coming into clinic, its just such a complex situation and the long waitlists for mental health support, and lack of understanding about transgender issues and identity have a huge impact on people getting the correct support as well as getting the psychological support ASAP instead of being left with such a trauma. Those struggling with Gender Dysphoria need to be supported quickly. My time working in mental health has been so eye opening and understanding of the complexities people face in this life. Be kind. [This is just a small snippet of the info I’ve read/people I had the honour of meeting due to my job and everyones experience is different on this topic.] 2.1k Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 luchthonn · 2 mo. ago This was really nice to read! I'm glad the community was a good place for you when you needed it, even though it wasn't the right fit. The journey to finding out who we are can be a weird one, eh? I hope your mental health is doing better these days. I've struggled a lot with that over the years myself. May those you love listen with open hearts. You deserve to be heard and for your experiences to be respected. 669 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 partofbreakfast · 2 mo. ago If anything, I feel like stories like yours need to be shared more. All ways of living are valid, and if we hide away stories of "I thought I was trans and tried it out, but it didn't feel right to me" then it only does the community a disservice. Self-actualization is the most important part of this, and people need to feel like they can explore their identity and find out who they are. If we tell them "it's okay to be trans but once you transition then that's who you are" then that's harmful to people. ...but that's also quite a bit of nuance to the situation and I know bigots won't pick up on that and instead will weaponize stories like yours against the trans community. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. 465 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 EditRedditGeddit · 2 mo. ago Hugz Thank you so much ❤️ As a trans man who’s been very scared i’ll end up detransitioning, it both comforts me to know that if I do it’ll be okay, and that you share you story while remaining in solidarity with me. Honestly, thank you thank you thank you ❤️❤️ 371 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Nomandate · 2 mo. ago Its important to me that when I share this part of my personal history that it isnt weaponized against actual trans people It’s good you said this because it’s very often what happens in threads like this. 305 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Jackalopee · 2 mo. ago people need to be able to try, I would much rather live in a society where too many try, than too few 88 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread 124 more replies User avatar level 1 SaltyMylk · 2 mo. ago All-Seeing Upvote FtMtF here. I took testosterone for 3 years and got a double mastectomy, changed my name and documents. Basically: I was unable to pass consistently as a cis man. It was very stressful, to sometimes be read as a man and sometimes as a woman. I never knew exactly how to present or introduce myself, and sometimes worried for my safety. Eventually I had to accept that I may never be read as a man. I could've dug deeper into my transition (via surgeries to masculinize my face/body), but they'd be costly, I didn't want them personally, and there was no guarantee that I'd pass afterwards anyway. So I decided my best option was to detransition. After, I began to re-explore my gender and started feeling more comfortable in butch womanhood. Looking back, there were some differences between me and other trans men. For example: most of them viewed their assigned sex as something to overcome, or just irrelevant to their identity as men. But I always felt that being female was part of what formed my identity. I had pushed out all of the parts of myself that conflicted with the narrative I had to uphold to be taken seriously as trans man. Detransitioning allowed me to seriously consider-- and even embrace-- those parts of myself again. I don't regret my transition; in fact, I think it helped a lot with my dysphoria. And I don't view myself as "extrans" (sounds too similar to "ex-gay" for comfort). I'm just someone whose transition didn't work out. I'm still pro-trans, though I think that trans communities do need to work on having a more individualized and realistic approach to identity and transition, as well as address detransition more seriously/support detransitioners. 761 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 healdyy · 2 mo. ago I think your last paragraph is really important. People need to be allowed to explore themselves in a supportive environment, without pressure to conform to societal norms. But likewise if they do explore and find that actually transitioning is not the path that’s best for them, they need to be supported and respected. Dysphoria can come with a lot of other mental health issues, and as this thread shows there’s lots of cases where gender is actually only the surface issue and not the main driver of a person’s discomfort. I’m cis so I can’t pretend to really understand. However as someone who’s been depressed and struggled a lot with self-esteem I can see how someone in my position could feel uncomfortable with themselves and possibly explore their gender identity. They might be trans, they might not be, but how would they know for sure unless they were allowed to explore in a supportive environment? As with a lot of mental health issues, there’s a real lack of widespread understanding and support for gender related issues. Hopefully as we progress that changes more. 135 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 itxdevs · 2 mo. ago Silver Okay so I was SAed when I was around 10 years old, so in my mind I thought that If I were a boy, it wouldn't have happened (Which I know it's not the case, it can happen to anyone but I was just a child). Fast forward to 13 years old me, I was sure I was a trans boy, 100%. I came out and for three years I lived as Cole, I didn't start hormones but I had socially transitioned. There were times when I was doubting myself, I wasn't so sure but I couldn't understand why. The SA part happened again around 16 and it hit me, so I went to my therapist and just told her everything. I spoke to my family and friends, now I'm almost 19 years old and still healing. I hate when people still call me Cole, but hey, I can't do much about it. 2.7k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 luchthonn · 2 mo. ago Compassion, stranger. I had a similiar journey in that I experienced the same as a child, but I'm sure of my identity as a trans man. There were times I doubted though, when I was much younger (in my late teens and early twenties). This is such a difficult experience to live with. I hope no one is giving you grief for the journey you took. It is totally understandable for a girl to think they would have been safer if they were born a boy. Sounds like you've been through a lot. May the days ahead be brighter than the ones behind you. 504 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 MaritimeDisaster · 2 mo. ago What does SAed mean? I tried Google but nothing relevant came up. 160 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 rmorea · 2 mo. ago I am so sorry- I know words are trite but truly- you didnt deserve that. 10 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread 17 more replies User avatar level 1 bpd_bby · 2 mo. ago Multiple things. Social repercussions, self hatred, being unsure of if I‘m trans or just mentally ill… Also I always felt like I could never ever pass (I‘m very small and have a very feminine body type) so it felt like continuing to transition would just make me feel even worse about myself. Trying to live as I am now. 30 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 Softboyty · 2 mo. ago I started transitioning when I was 14 and it was a quick and content process but I was going through a lot mentally. From 14-18 no one could convince me I wasn’t a man or that I shouldn’t continue my transition. I started testosterone at 18 but less than a year into it I started having doubts and stopped. I am 19 now and I’ve been experimenting with more feminine things, I’ve stopped binding and bought a wig and a skirt and some makeup and changed my name to something more gender neutral and I have no idea why- My doubts are more around the fact that I came out during a time where my mother had just kicked me out for dating a trans man and I was in a really really abusive predator relationship with a 22y/o at 14 and he was telling me I was a man and that I was doing the right thing which caused me to make my whole life and personality completely masculine and from that time until 18 I was just floating with it and now that I live on my own and have my shit semi together I have doubts that I never gave myself a chance to embrace feminine aspects of myself from the beginning of puberty to the near end. So I guess my detransition is a reset to the gender crisis to make sure. 971 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Bee_Hummingbird · 2 mo. ago You were abused by a pedophile. I'm sorry your mother abandoned you at that time. Teenagers are so vulnerable. I hope you can heal and figure everything out. 696 Share Report Save Follow 3 more replies User avatar level 1 Mupps5 · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago Gold2 Starry Helpful (Pro) To The Stars & 34 More It's very complex but the biggest factor why I started transitioning in the first place is that heteronormativity was forced on me so aggressively as a kid that I genuinely believed the only way I could fit into society was as a woman. As a man I was too soft (bad), empathetic (bad) and gay (veeery bad). Because of my soft face and voice I also didn't need to change anything except grow out my hair to perfectly pass as a girl so transitioning seemed like "destiny" to me. Started transitioning as soon as I left high school. After a year I started taking hormones and the body changes weirded me the f out. I was unsure of my decision and that gave me anxiety attacks every day. I paused the transition for a bit and then decided to give living as a man one last shot. But this time as my own version of a man and according to my own beliefs instead of what I've been taught by society. It worked and never looked back. That was a decade ago. Edit: One thing I would add is that even though I detransitioned rather quickly, I don't regret trying. If I hadn't tried it, it would have always been a big "what if?" question in my life and I learned a lot from it. Thank you for all the wonderful messages, I read them all and they made me so happy:) 30.3k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 MyNameIsZem · 2 mo. ago I had a similar experience where I didn’t know lesbians existed until I was in middle school, and so for awhile thought it made sense to be a guy, because I knew I liked women (and men) from a very young age. This is quite personal, but I have a difficult time getting off if I don’t imagine myself as a guy, or at least having a dick. I’m very happy with my body otherwise, which is pretty conventional and feminine, even though I have short hair and my favorite clothing has always been more gender-neutral (think joggers and sweaters). I just don’t really understand gender or how I can relate to either being male or female at this point. 1.2k Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 iHasMagyk · 2 mo. ago Gold You Dropped This Helpful3 Wholesome & 4 More Same for me. I now know I’m a cis guy. I was told by my old friend group (an LGBT support group) that everything I did that wasn’t traditionally masculine made me trans. I like wearing skirts and looking at lingerie and dresses and shit, and apparently that made me trans. So I just went with it. Sure I’m trans. I went to a mental hospital for 3 months (unrelated, kind of) and while there I just started questioning myself. I didn’t really feel like a girl. But I was always told that I was so I must be a girl. After getting out I pretty quickly fell out with my friend group, and shortly after realized that I’m very much cis. So even now I think that assuming that everyone who doesn’t exactly conform to gender roles is trans is a harmful notion. Even subs like r/egg_irl I just feel should take a step back and maybe not encourage everyone like me who likes girly things and just automatically say we’re trans. Some of us are guys. In skirts. And we’re proud of that. 9.9k Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 mrsbebe · 2 mo. ago Take My Energy Your story reminds me of a story I heard several years ago, which I'm probably going to butcher. It was a man in his 40s or 50s at the time who said he had very similar experiences to you growing up; he was also abused by his father. And he said for a long time he tried to be more "manly" but just...couldn't. It wasn't sustainable for him, he was miserable. So then he thought that he should be a woman, which at the time would've been quite the controversy. Anyway, he ended up needing to have some kind of blood work done years later for something and through that discovered that he had some kind of genetic disorder where he just never produced enough testosterone...ever. He ended up taking testosterone and getting into therapy and said his entire outlook on life changed. He didn't suddenly become this "manly man" or anything, but he had answers and he had a solution to how crappy he had always felt. As of the telling of this story he was still in intensive weekly therapy for all of the trauma and abuse he incurred but he was living his life again. It was kind of an incredible, and very sad, story. 398 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 username2065 · 2 mo. ago So happy for you! I think a lot of these stories really speak of the harm gender roles and stereotypes forced on people have. 365 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 reallylovesguacamole · 2 mo. ago I wonder how many had this type of experience, where they don’t perfectly follow stupid gender norms and stereotypes, so they’re told and internalize that they’re not a “real” man/woman, as if those things exist. I’m glad you were able to accept yourself as you are and say fuck the cultural stereotypes. 181 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Pyrollusion · 2 mo. ago Wholesome Seal of Approval This right here. This is the thing. Deciding what being a man or a woman means for you and rejecting the role others assigned to that is what I think would've been the right path for many people who instead rejected the entire gender, not realizing that gender and gender roles are not the same thing and then making changes to themselves which are much harder to reverse. I had to get there aswell. From "I don't feel like a man. Maybe I'm not a man." to "Bullshit, I'm not what others told me a man has to be, but what the fuck do they know? It's a spectrum anyway." I am a man. A fairly feminine one which caused family, friends and colleagues to suggest that I was gay or trans or whatever for two decades which led to a lot of inner pressure and intrusive thoughts on top of the trauma and depression I had anyway. But I am starting to figure out my flavor of male and it shows. Wish I could've gotten there sooner but that's the journey I guess. 196 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 MrSquishy_ · 2 mo. ago There’s so little room for nuance. I’m glad you found a way to be more comfortable with yourself When people say “if you’re a more feminine man, you must really be a woman,” they don’t realize that applies to like 15% of guys. Cookie cutter solutions are not solutions 110 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Kasmirque · 2 mo. ago So glad you’ve found a place you are comfortable at. It makes me so sad when gender stereotype roles are forced on children- so harmful. 142 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Acc87 · 2 mo. ago I feel like this may be an understated reason for people feeling the need to transition, just their type of male/female not fitting your whatever local normative male/female is. I knew a man who did drag on dedicated weekends, it was his normal, and he experienced unsupportiveness by his local (university) LGBT help group, who sorta wanted him to decide between either male or female, and felt him doing drag was "masquerading" or "carneval". 80 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 balloon_prototype_14 · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago this is what i fear most when young kids talk about it, my niece is a tomboy. as the name implies it BOY. she has interest for BOYS. it should not matter. why cant girls like soccer or cars of play with mud without being called a tomboy with boy interests ? she also likes makeup but whenever she shows interest her parents are like but u like boy stuff this is girl stuff and i just get mad. she is hella confused because of that. 91 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 ChaosOnion · 2 mo. ago But this time as my own version of a and according to my own beliefs instead of what I've been taught by society. It worked and never looked back. Good gracious, this is the most profound thing I've read on Reddit in a long while. It's so succinctly said. You need tobe you! People, be you! It's so difficult to take a step back and a breath and figure that out, but you owe it so much to yourself to find you amongst the noise. It's a personal investment you will not regret! Louder for everybody in the back! 66 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 JaneFairfaxCult · 2 mo. ago Lovely. 33 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 vulpyx · 2 mo. ago I'm so glad you found your place and have been able to live as you were meant to. 5 Share Report Save Follow 157 more replies User avatar level 1 cranberry_snacks · 2 mo. ago Wholesome I slowly realized that gender was not the actual root of the problem I was dealing with. Gender dysphoria was more of a symptom than the problem, and accepting and loving my body as it is would be easier and healthier than trying to chase after a superficial "fix." The real problem was a complicated mess of deep self-loathing, identity problems, and gender biases. "Self-love" is one of those things that pops up on Instagram as a sort of dismissive heal-all along with take a bath, drink more water, and do yoga, but it's really a lot more important that it seems. Couple that with deep-seated perception biases of the sexes (which we all have), and a transient sense of self and you have a recipe for gender dysphoria. It took decades to unravel some of this stuff. It wasn't at all just like an "ah ha" moment, but a slow unwinding through years of hard work. A lot of false starts and "realizations" that turned out to fizzle, or require years of additional insight to really become anything. Even with a lot of work, these things don't just up and go away. I've been able to change my relationship with my self and I'm finding more and more ways to love myself, but my perceptions of gender are still heavily biased. I still relate and identify more with the opposite sex than with my own. As of right now, I would say there still is a disconnect between the gender of my inner-most self-image and my body, but I've stopped seeing that as a problem. I've started to question whether this matters, and whether having a "gender identity" is even healthy for me. My body is what it is and my mind is what it is, and I'm working on loving and accepting myself exactly as I am. As of so far, this feels healthy, freeing, and authentic. 323 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Questions4Legal · 2 mo. ago Good work being so introspective about your own path. I agree breaking down gender stereotypes is an absolute necessity for societal health. The idea that someone who would not necessarily be trans is compelled to start hormones or have surgery because they feel it is the only way they can fit within the stereotypes is really depressing. The gender stereotypes are so damn pervasive that we barely even notice we are doing it. In my own life I am a man, I have a beard and a (somewhat comically) deep voice, I have been married to a woman for many years and have three children, I do plenty of masculine things and there has never been any question of my male identity but I bought a small flute a few weeks ago while I was sick with covid and the comments from friends and family about me playing and enjoying this dainty little instrument were absolutely fucking insane. I owned a Volkswagen beetle back in college and it was a similar experience. "Why do you have a chick car?!" "What a gay little vehicle" meanwhile as an irrelevant aside that little adorable car got way more positive female attention than any lifted truck on earth lol. But I digress, we should never feel we have to "prove" that we are what we are to anyone and I sincerely feel for people who are pressured to changing themselves just to fit other people's misguided ideas. 28 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 Kirxas · 2 mo. ago Gold Silver2 All-Seeing Upvote Long story short I realized I didn't need to go all in to be comfortable with myself, plus, the crippling self loathing I had over not looking enough like a cis girl was way worse than my dysphoria was beforehand. In the end I settled to just do whatever the fuck felt right and decided to slap the non binary label on myself (demiboy if you wanna get specific) and call it a day. Would I like to magically be born again as a cis girl? Yeah, but that's not how the world works, so I picked the option that in my situation led to the best outcome and I'm now truly happy. Hell, I don't need therapy for my depression anymore and in just two months I'll be off my meds for it, which is something I never imagined possible. While this might not be the best option for most trans people, it was for me 2.8k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 luchthonn · 2 mo. ago Congratulations on kicking depression's arse! I'm weaning of my meds for that right now. Some days are darker than others, but on the other hand some are brighter. I hope those are the ones you see ahead of yourself. It sounds like you've found peace, even if it wasn't how and where you expected it. 287 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Maximellow · 2 mo. ago That's basically what I did. I am not a cis girl, I have dysphoria, but the need to fit in with cis men and the pain of not looking like them hurt me even more. So I can kinda slapped non-binary on myself as a compromise. I wil never be seen as a cis man, no matter how hard I try. So i might aswell stop trying and just live my life by my own rules. 269 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Tecrus · 2 mo. ago Your story is almost like mine. I would love to just magically be a cis man but that's never gonna happen and I never started to medically transition because I knew that no matter what, I'd never look like the kinda man I want to be. I'm 5' 2" so I'd be a very short man and bottom surgery for transmen is not even close to having the genuine part so I thought "Why bother? Why go through all that time and money when I know I'm still not gonna be happy?" So now I just deal with living as a woman. 90 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 International_Slip · 2 mo. ago Hey, just want to say I'm very, very happy for you. Depression and dysphoria are a hell of a thing and being able to get to a place where you can cope with both and feel at ease...I'm just very happy for you. 5 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Sunberrytoldme · 2 mo. ago Would I like to magically be born again as a cis girl? Would you still want to be born again as a woman even if it meant not being conventionally attractive? Genuinely curious because I think people forget that there are all types of women, not just the pretty ones in media. There are plenty of women with the same feelings of wanting to be born again with different physical features. 51 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 EditRedditGeddit · 2 mo. ago This makes a lot of sense, and is honestly kind of similar to me in that in a perfect world I’d identify as nonbinary. I still believe that top surgery and T are intrinsically the best for me, however I’d really prefer to have had the experience of being taken seriously as masculine, as I am, before taking that step. Most of my dysphoria is social and I’m very excited about the impact of T, but also it’d be amazing to see what top surgery + social acceptance alone does before deciding. The thing is, I don’t have that social acceptance. The life of being transmasc and not going on testosterone, is everyone calling me “she”, assuming I am a woman, and projecting femininity onto me constantly. I do think I want T ultimately, but the fact I can’t be seen for me as I currently am is confusing. In my heart I feel nonbinary and genderqueer and would like to move between masculinities and experiment more with my presentation. But the circumstances of the world I live in is absolutely playing a role in how I go about my transition. It’s not just about “who I am”, but what sort of life I can live. I’m really glad you’ve found an identity that works well for you and a life that you enjoy. Wishing you all the best 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈 4 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread 30 more replies User avatar level 1 12086478 · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago Platinum Gold2 Starry2 Helpful (Pro) & 63 More I came out in 2018, trans MTF. I was a really depressed 20 year old, I had always thought I might be trans, I never felt right in myself since around aged 10, I thought coming out and living as a woman would be my cure . So I came out, and for the First 12 months it did, I was happy and I felt less insecure . But after that I went back to feeling depressed, suicidal. Anti depressants didn't really help me, therapy was kinda okay. But it felt like a hole was still there. I ignored it, "once I'm on hormones I'll feel better" 3 years went by, I was on a wait list to get hormones , in the meantime I started gender therapy. My therapist was great. He helped me with confidence and presenting myself but I still felt wrong and depressed and fucked up in a way I couldn't explain. He found me a job, 6 month paid contract in a charity shop, 25h a week. I was very reluctant "fuckin charity shop? Old people shit" but he pushed me to go for it so I did. I needed money. Job is a job. (For the job I still was presenting as cis male) After the interview for the job I was beaming, they were kind and understanding and everything I didn't expect . I started 2 weeks later. A week after working there it started to hit , my mood and overall depression and anxiety was going down , I looked forward to going in every day. A month in, I felt different, I could talk to people and make eye contact , helping customers, having banter with the manager and volunteers After 2 months I just knew, I felt where I belong , I didn't feel trans, my dysphoria went away , I was happy being seen as a male, my depression had mostly disappeared, I haven't thought bout killing myself. I'm currently onto my 4th month of working there and I'm happy as a male, I told my family and friends , and they understand, I'm glad I didn't start hormones or do anything permanent. I'm just glad to be happy again. I love charity shops , and I've found what I want to do long-term. I've got thr chance to manage a new store that's opening and I'm going to grab it with both hands. Not only so I can help the charity but help the community. I'm still bi, and I'm still a lgbtq+ ally , trans rights are human rights and we should do what we can to get trans people whatever they need to succeed. From hormones to therapy, to surgery and safe spaces for them to express themselves without being worried about being hurt. Thanks for reading my dyslexic ass shit 23.5k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 wolfie_angel · 2 mo. ago I’m glad you found your calling, this was lovely to read 2.7k Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Cloberella · 2 mo. ago Silver Take My Energy Sometimes I think a lot of us are sad, humans, in general, I cannot speak for the trans experience as a cis person, because we are so connected we have become disconnected. I can chat with someone on the other side of the planet, consume entertainment from across the globe, and order anything I can imagine delivered directly to my door all from a phone that fits in my pocket. I could never leave my home if I wished. It's convenient, and that's great, but it's come at a sacrifice to the community around us. I don't know most of my neighbors. I live in a very small town and yet I know very few people. When I go to work it's several cities away in a neighboring state. I sit at a desk and I push buttons on a machine. I rarely see the impact my work has on others, or feel I bring any value to those around me. I take my check, go home, catch up with what the rest of the distant world is doing, and go to bed. The next morning, maybe I wave to a nameless face across the street as I get the mail, but we don't speak. I might have seen them post a complaint on the town FB page, but it's hard to match an avatar to the real thing. I feel apart from my community, rather than a part of it. I do not know my people, do I have a people? I'm American, but what does that mean? America is so big. Doing work that has a tangible impact, like working in charity, alleviates this to some degree. I have my current job because it has a pension and health insurance, but I left working in a Nursing Home to take it. I miss the Nursing Home. I couldn't survive and support my family and stay at the Nursing Home, but, I did good work there. Where I am now, I just work. 721 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 asap-the-rapper · 2 mo. ago Thats great and don't worry it was easy to read 54 Share Report Save Follow level 2 Comment deleted by user · 2 mo. ago User avatar level 2 Der_Sauresgeber · 2 mo. ago While supporting transpeople and being an ally of LGBTQ+ myself, I think that what you describe is extremely important. Some of the things that happen happen for a different reason than people actually being trans. Transitioning is an important, life-altering decision that should be made with a clear mind. 327 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 BojanglesDeloria · 2 mo. ago I hope to live in a world where people can freely experiment with whatever they think will make them happier as long as it’s not hurting anyone else. That journey (while I’m sure not easy) seems to have brought you to a wonderful place 385 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Bierculles · 2 mo. ago sometimnes the cause of a depression is really not something you would ever expect. Sometimes finding a purpose in something you do is all that is needed. your brain really fucks you over sometimes and most of the time you really have no fucking idea why or the reason you think it is really isn't it. I'm glad you are doing better now. Once you feel secure in your job i would really recommend to try some new hobbys, something you've never done before, like swordfighting or downhillbiking. work life balance is important even if it looks like your job is all you need atm. 6 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Rounder057 · 2 mo. ago My daughter is 15 (mtf) and everything you said sounds like her. I’m going to support her no matter what, that’s my kid and I love her always but this added a wrinkle in my brain. I’m not going to mention this to her or anything but, hopefully, she will be starting therapy soon! Thanks for the post! 7 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Valthek · 2 mo. ago While anecdotal, this is actually a really good argument for the theory that poor environmental conditions and a lack of support network can exacerbate or even cause all kinds of mental issues. I'm glad you're doing better now, internet stranger. 28 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 doctor_providence · 2 mo. ago Thanks for the insight, wish you well. 41 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 cwesttheperson · 2 mo. ago Purpose and environment are everything. People keep looking for purpose and happiness in all the wrong places. I’m glad you found what you’re looking for, or on the path. If I could tell anyone 16-22ish something, it’s that your late teens and early 20s are hard for a lot of people. You’re supposed to feel lost, you’re having to navigate life as an adult and find your way. Don’t do anything radical. If you keep searching and learning how to be happy you may just find what you need, which isn’t always what you want. 5 Share Report Save Follow 228 more replies User avatar level 1 SparrowsQuest · 2 mo. ago Silver Transitioned at 45 in 2008. Knew in a year or thereabouts I had made a mistake, but by then everyone knew the new name, pronouns, and I had too surgery and a full beard. I figured I was stuck. I also had heard laser hair removal was out of my financial range and painful. I went off male hormones and on estrogen (complete justo long done) six months ago. Tried laser. It was not expensive but was excruciating. It is mostly done on face, and I figure I will have to shave forever. Looking back, I grew up with my mother constantly saying I walked like a man, dressed like one sometimes, I may as well be a man. Tried carrying purse in high school. People actually laughed “look at Butch here with a purse!” I was depressed and alone and I found a meeting for people thinking about transitioning. Once there, I felt pressured to see it through to be FTM. Never really happy that way. It was so easy to get hormones and surgery. I had a fight to get on estrogen, which is just baffling. For me, transitioning was a combination of family and peer pressure and chronic depression. While others need to do it, I never should have. People, be careful what you comment to your kids. It really stuck with me and has taken me literal decades to get over. Also, once off testosterone and on estrogen, my blood pressure and resting pulse dropped out of dangerous range for the first time since I had started T in 2008. Cheers 877 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Questions4Legal · 2 mo. ago So many of these stories involve familes who have been unkind to their own children. It is really a depressing thought. What I am learning from this thread is that while there are some people who benefit from going through with transitioning there are also a lot of people who come to the conclusion they need to change who they are because who they are was reviled by people who should have carred for them, some of the cases even involving abuse. The conclusion to me is that kindness is our only path forward. Kindess for those who are insecure, kindness for those who are unsure, and kindness for those who have resolved to make permanent changes. It is sad to think there are people who are so unhappy with who they are because of the way they have been treated by others. Transitioning, especially as a young person is an endeavor that absolutely must be undertaken with as much information, care, and guidance as can possibly be provided and the real possibility that it is not the best course for many people who feel that way at one point or another must remain a possibility. 108 Share Report Save Follow 3 more replies User avatar level 1 DollChowhall · 2 mo. ago I started HRT to transition from MtF in my mid 30s ... I was on it for about a year and a half, almost two. My experience was great. I had a lot of love and support from my friends and family and I was enjoying all the changes. Then the pandemic happened and my provider team closed and left the state. I had to leave the state as well, and find employment somewhere else. I started a new job, a new health care plan, and I had been off of HRT inadvertently for 6 months by the time everything normalized in my life. I started to dream as male again. I realized I wasn't as hormonal and sensitive. When we started working in person again last year, I was presenting as a male again. My new coworkers have only known me this way, and it was admittedly easier than having to explain transitioning a dozen or so different times to different coworkers. Also, my family is still just as supportive. I don't know if I'll re transition or not 1.1k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Bee_Hummingbird · 2 mo. ago Speaking as a woman, female hormones are fucking crazy. You weren't as hormonal and sensitive bc you no longer took female hormones. I wish men understood this better that we don't want to necessarily be this way but hormones are a hell of a drug. 257 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Roguespiffy · 2 mo. ago Would you mind expounding on the “dream as a male again?” I’m just curious because generally when I dream if I’m present I usually don’t look like myself and it’s just understood, this is me. Sort of like having work anxiety dreams and you’re in a place that’s physically different than your actual office. 15 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 your_actual_life · 2 mo. ago "Dream as male" - I had never considered this aspect of transitioning. Very interesting! 42 Share Report Save Follow 7 more replies User avatar level 1 Faeriekins98 · 2 mo. ago When I was a kid my brother ran away. My grandmother made me wear his boy clothes and cut my hair like a boy's. Kids asked me all the time of I was a boy. When I grew out of my brothers clothes she got me the ugliest female clothes she could find. Made me really feel like masculinity was deeply rooted in me and I felt more comfortable as a boy then as a girl. Years pass and I eventually ran away from there like my brother did. I moved in with my mom and decided to go full dude mode. I wore a binder and a tight sports bra to hide my boobs, cut my hair off, deepened my voice and addressed myself as masculine. Never did hormones but I wanted to badly. Something that convinced me I had to be trans was my sexuality which I had always hidden as a child. I am pansexual and thought this meant I must be trans cause I liked girls boy and all flavors of trans. I remember telling my brother I needed to 'man up' during this misguided period of my life cause I thought that's the only way I could handle the outside world. I thought it was the only way I'd get respect . I'm embarrassed now cause I realize I was lying to myself to make myself feel stronger then I was at the time. I associated strength with masculinity when strength can be found any where in any thing. Im an adult woman now. I wear mostly dresses but fully embrace my moments of masculinity as just a part of myself. I realize now that gender is a fluid thing. Masculinity and femininity are words we have put on characteristics and it doesn't make them concrete. Not sure I can say 100% why I did it but I can say that it was a desperate attempt at getting respect and learning who I am when I'd been a little pansexual child locked up in a house for the first 13-14 years of my life. I detransitioned when I learned that I was okay with being a woman and where I lie on the gender spectrum fluctuates. 104 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 Dastardly_Bee · 2 mo. ago My little sister began a social transition when she was sixteen. She cut her hair, went by a different name, wore men’s clothing, and began binding. I supported her but when I realized that she was just as depressed and insecure as before, I had a long conversation with her where I just let her say anything that she was feeling. It turns out, she was struggling with a sexuality crisis and felt understandably uncomfortable with the male-gaze femininity that’s forced down our throats 24/7. So, she started experimenting with femininity on her own terms and is now extremely happy. I’m extremely happy for her. This doesn’t in any way discredit trans people who are comfortable with their decisions. 587 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 luchthonn · 2 mo. ago Her experience isn't too uncommon! A lot of trans men struggle with wondering if they're actually a guy or if it's a social issue. Some people find out they're trans and others find out the bullshit girls/women are saddled with sucks. And it's totally okay to explore your gender, try out different gender expression's, and then go, "Hmm, not for me!". She went on a journey to discover who she was and found out it was a circle. :p Sounds like she's doing better now. I wish her all the best of luck becoming who she is. 227 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread 3 more replies User avatar level 1 Alazypanda123 Cake day · 2 mo. ago All-Seeing Upvote Reading this thread I see 2 things in common with every story. Mental health and societal expectations. These are both things that world still does not put enough solutions into. Alot of these peoples could have gone through life without having to start transition to realize they just had mental issues. The world needs to overcome these obstacles 807 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 yayoletsgo · 2 mo. ago I'm seeing the exact same things here. 83 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Mentally_Ill_Goblin · 2 mo. ago 21 AMAB, pre-HRT here. My dad doesn't believe transitioning will help me with anything. He's the only voice amongst many that's saying that. I'm trying to take his caution into account, but it's hard to not entirely fixate on that one negative voice. Dysphoria, for me, began before my other half-dozen mental illnesses fully blossomed. And before I was put into social expectations box. It seems to be independent of those two factors. However, I'm still reading through this thread with a little feeling of dread that I'll find a situation exactly like mine and I'll have to change my mind. My other mental conditions are pretty much in check. I have good medication for bipolar and ADHD, I'm not constantly depressed or anxious anymore, I've identified and started managing autism and its associated needs, and I'm ironing out PTSD. I still want to transition, before during and after my long period of trash mental health. But I still have that "you will probably stunt your ability to succeed in life" in my head. I want to do what I've wanted to do for more than half my life. I don't want to change my mind. 58 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 This_iz_fine · 2 mo. ago The societal expectations has caused me to be insecure about how I present myself as a cis-woman. I have felt pressured to wear certain clothes, wear makeup, long painted nails, act a certain way (ie I like swimming in the ocean and playing games on the beach but it seemed like every other teen girl was just sun tanning on the beach). I prefer to wear crew neck t-shirts and pants, I hate wearing makeup, and I enjoy things like video games, snorkeling and SCUBA, rock climbing, camping and hiking. Societal expectations are annoying and stupid. Let girls act masculine, let men act feminine. Then maybe these feelings of insecurity won’t affect as many people to feel like they need to change themselves 100% to do what makes themselves feel right and happy. 24 Share Report Save Follow 1 more reply User avatar level 1 CaptainHindsight92 · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago Starry Helpful3 Wholesome Silver2 & 4 More The number of negative comments based on semantics is crazy, can't we assume a question is well intentioned these days? If we attack everyone who is uninformed on a topic you are close to how do you hope to gain support and acceptance? It seems really counterproductive. 8.9k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Razlyk · 2 mo. ago Silver As someone who's identifying as trans and still in the process of deciding if this is what I want in life, the stories people tell about detransitioning are extremely helpful in making a decision for myself. I ask myself if their story sounds like mine, and the fact that I haven't found one similar yet makes me more sure of my own feelings. The trans community needs to understand that full transparency will help future trans folks down the road, as right now it's difficult to get information about the process. It's currently really difficult to get a report of the full impact of estrogen on a male body, which sucks because all I want is to be able to have a healthy transition and not run into health complications down the road. Tl;dr Transparency on the full scope of gender transition will only serve trans people. 791 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 AnnieAbattoir · 2 mo. ago Helpful2 Silver Take My Energy All-Seeing Upvote This is why the current trend of "It's not my job to educate you" bothers me so much. No, it's not your job but it can help someone take a step out of ignorance. One less ignorant person in the world is always a good thing. 5.5k Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Nicofatpad · 2 mo. ago Wait what would be the proper way to ask this question anyways?? Im confused 86 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread 59 more replies User avatar level 1 Cayshax · 2 mo. ago I've never been stereotypical of a female. Always played with dinos as a kid, masculine interest, never wear makeup. I had some bad sexual trauma experiences. I got some wires crossed believing that my nonconforming to female stereotypes and my trauma equaled out to be gender dysphoria. But I didnt realize I had trauma was the problem. I went to therapy because I wanted to be sure transitioning was for me. I worked through a lot of stuff and when I told my therapist "yeah i dont identify as a man" the absolute confusion she had. I dont want my personal story to be an example of why trans people dont exist. But it is important not to just self diagnose and talk to a healthcare professional. And maybe not take advice from the internet.... Looking up my symptoms thats what it was, and the cure was to take testosterone and have surgery. So I just believed that. 230 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Become_A_Better_Dad · 2 mo. ago > I've never been stereotypical of a female. Always played with dinos as a kid Cis man and uncle here. Am I crazy, or are toys for boys just way cooler than toys for girls? This Christmas I was shopping at a toy store in Mexico. One third of the store, draped in pink, was filled with every possible iteration of doll you might imagine. But as far as "girls toys", that's all there was- dolls, baby dolls, tween dolls, barbie dolls- maybe this is because I am (admittedly) not the target audience, but I didn't see a lot of diversity. Over in the third of the store dedicated to the boys I found all sorts of cool stuff. Dinosaurs, aliens, monsters, fantasy warriors (e.g. elves and wizards), super heroes, assorted weaponry (nerf guns, etc), space ships, race cars- tons of different stuff to cover different interests. The final third, the "gender neutral" part also had more diversity- art supplies, puzzles, board games, etc. I decided it was unfair my nieces should have to get stuck with more dolls, while the boys got more interesting toys. So all the girls also got some dinosaurs, and all shared in a Hot Wheels track kit where the race cars spin around a track and race and crash into each other. One niece loved the cars; the other preferred her dinosaur; the youngest preferred her cabbage patch doll. Speaking as an aging, heteronormative man: I see no problem here. I don't see why ANY of these toys should be restricted or encouraged based on gender. I myself once played with my sister's Barbie dolls as they teamed up with my GI Joes to battle Skeletor's evil forces, and both she and I ended up pretty heteronormative as best I can tell. This rant has nothing to do with the LGBTQ+ community specifically, just our society's warped view on gender vis-a-vis toys. I say let the kids play. Let them enjoy a few precious years where sexuality simply isn't (and shouldn't be) a big part of their life. One ape's opinion. 131 Share Report Save Follow 1 more reply level 1 Comment deleted by user · 2 mo. ago User avatar level 1 ghostfuckbuddy · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago I had a year on hormones. I was in a relationship with a MtF and became convinced that I had a repressed transgender identity like she used to, so that's what I told the psychiatrist. After breaking up several years later it was pretty clear I was only doing it because I was madly in love and didn't want to feel left out of her friendship groups (which were not that welcoming to cis people). 174 Share Report Save Follow 5 more replies User avatar level 1 squidapedoyt · 2 mo. ago I haven’t detransitioned yet because, after nearly ten years of hormones, it would not be an easy thing. But I’ve been questioning myself pretty heavily for the past year and come to the conclusion that I could have been happy, or at least content, if I had lived as a woman. But I internalized my trans “identity” so immediately that I didn’t leave myself room for questioning early on or for addressing other issues of internalized misogyny and body dysmorphia in therapy. I also was not fully prepared for the negative health risks of hormone replacement. As I’ve gotten older, my body has started to betray me. I’m realizing how serious it is and that I’m risking my current and future health. I want to be alive and healthy more than I want to be a man. 172 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 underthesunlight · 2 mo. ago My wife detransitioned. (Born female, transitioned to male, detransitioned back to female.) She was in her 20s when she started on hormones and got top surgery and lived and passed as a man for five years. Everyone was very supportive and encouraging and eventually she realized she was miserable. My wife is very likely more on the androgynous or bigender spectrum. Some people just like to present male one day or female another day. Sometimes she goes through really girly phases and sometimes she goes through more boyish/masculine phases. There was a lot of mental health issues/childhood trauma that we think was also contributing. She also feels she got a little swept up by LGBT movements and LGBT therapists who were quick to get her started on hormones instead of helping talk her through it. She thinks she would've been easily convinced to get a breast reduction and dress more androgynous, but she felt she had to go all the way due to expectations. It took her a ton of time to "come out" again as a woman. She felt horrible like she was letting all these people down. She did a Go Fund Me for her top surgery, and felt horrible for "cheating" people out of money. She marched in pride parades and fought for trans rights at her work and stuff. Lost friends over coming out, etc., but she also said at the time she felt 100% that it was the right course and it wasn't until like a year after her top surgery she started becoming more and more unhappy. She has now detransitioned and lives 100% as a woman. I am prepared for an eventuality where she might identify as a man again, or some other in-between gender, and I am okay with that. I think people are way too rigid about gender and conformity. I 100% believe some people are trans and want/need to transition to be their true self. I also 100% some people get pressured (one way or the other) to conform to a made-up gender norm that is stifling, confusing and dangerous. I can see from other people that have replied that that is potentially the case. It seems to be 1.) (mostly unrelated) untreated mental illnesses, 2.) not conforming to gender norms (wanting to wear clothes or do activities associated with the "opposite" gender), 3.) one or two of the above and being swept up in LGBT+ groups/therapists. But I also think of it like... when I went to college I was 100% sure I wanted to get a degree in Biology and did two years of undergrad for that, and then later I realized that I couldn't do Biology and changed my degree to Education. But I was convinced for two years that I was going to be a Biologist. I spent a ton of money on that theory and went to a more expensive school for it. But then I changed my mind. Some people get married and then divorced, you know? They were convinced 100% at the time that they were marrying The One and would be together forever, but then things changed and they realized it wasn't right anymore. It just happens, sometimes. You do something you think is right or that will make things better and if it doesn't then... you don't stay like that. You keep fixing it. 214 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 littytitty00 · 2 mo. ago You sound like a wonderful partner. 26 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Questions4Legal · 2 mo. ago One of the biggest takeaways from this thread is that having a proper support system is super important for people trying the make these life altering decisions. It sucks that part of the pressure to disregard the importance of making a fully informed and carefully considered choice seems to be coming from within the LGTBQ community itself. In my own experience with a transgender brother-in-law they intentionally saught out medical professionals who did not require any sort of mental health evaluation/screening and although in their case it seems to have been the correct choice and they are happy, the attitude that a doctor trying to help make absolutely sure its the right choice for someone before starting hormones or having surgery is somehow inherently hostile to the trans community is in my opinion a colossal mistake. 22 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 candlebrew · 2 mo. ago Not exactly the same since I'm still trans. The side effects were making me hate my life more than suffering with the wrong body. I'm FTM and already deal with health conditions that make my life pretty miserable (asthma, damaged kidneys, narcolepsy.) The HRT brought a lot of changes I appreciated, but it also brought some really awful ones: cystic acne on my face, neck and back that needed to be lanced (and was full of this nasty nearly black blood); moderate heat intolerance (I wore short sleeves & needed a desk fan even in the winter); losing hair at the sides of my head; rapid weight gain (about 60 pounds within a year); and overall increased my fatigue. I gave it two years, waiting for the "second puberty" to pass with my doctors' guidance on ways to try to alleviate/cope with symptoms, but nothing improved, so I had to make the decision to go off HRT just because I felt so unhealthy. It sucks to hear my voice softening a little, and to have my facial hair getting soft and light, but for now at least I'm not in the mental place to handle it. Maybe again in the future, but for now it is what it is. 631 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 luchthonn · 2 mo. ago Taking hormones is a serious decision. You roll the dice, hope for the best, and sometimes get terrible numbers. I understand your decision. It's not for me, but there have been times when I was shaving my body hair, tearing at my clothes due to the heat intolerance, or struggling to manage my anger (which wasn't an issue pre-T) that I wondered why I did this to my damn self. There was a period of time where I had to stop since the changes were happening too rapidly and it was throwing off my mental health. They were good, but just ... having so much change about you is a lot to adjust to, at least for my autistic ass. I hope things work out for you, whatever your decision is down the road. 241 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread 5 more replies User avatar level 1 AsparagusFiend · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago Silver So, I'm a bit of a weird case... I "transitioned" because I was AFAB, but I'm actually intersex (my chromosomes are XY). I supported my community, but never identified as "trans" even though I checked the boxes technically. I was given a lot of misinformation by doctors and my family before I found out; I'm a scientist and ran my own genome as practice, then low-and-behold, a Y chromosome. I have a lot of very deep regret and pain about having made choices without the full information because how can I truly consent? I made the best decisions possible at the time, but ultimately I wasn't allowed to make educated choices about my own body. I've since accepted my androgyny and identify less with the binary, embracing my intersex reality. So while I don't and never have identified as female, I did "detransition" in a sense. I know a few trans people who did detransition, though it was solely due to their families threatening to disown them if they didn't continue living as the gender the family wanted them to. ::edit:: Check my reply below for info on what AFAB means and what intersex is: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/swweab/extrans_people_who_have_detransitioned_or_in_the/hxp51eh/ 2.5k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 DinoDog95 · 2 mo. ago I’m so sorry this happened to you. When I was doing my undergrad I had the pleasure of writing an assignment about intersex people and it’s awful think babies bodies are permanently changed often without the parents even being fully informed because of the pressure for someone to be male or female. 207 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 jrb825 · 2 mo. ago Follow up... What is afab and what is intersex 355 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 felis_flatus · 2 mo. ago Thanks for posting! This is very interesting. I’ve watched things about others with cases like yours. As a cis-hetero-male who didn’t grow up near LGBTQ+ peoples or communities, obviously a lot of this is unusual to me. My lizard brain wants to reject some concepts, but it’s scientifically undeniable and it’s always great to get more info to try to quell that stupid lizard brain. This is off topic, but… how much do you like asparagus? 12 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 HappyInNature · 2 mo. ago I'm very curious about the specifics of your biology but I don't want to be overly intrusive if you don't want to share. 7 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 where_arm_i · 2 mo. ago Wow, I'm also AFAB intersex and didn't know it until I was 18 and heard the word for the first time, being fed that I was just trans my whole life. Since I was a kid, I knew something was different about me. Taller than all the girls growing up, had a very masculine face even as a baby, male typical hairline. And then when I started going through puberty, it was nothing like my female friends. I had a thick moustache growing, a very noticeable Adams apple, thick body hair, normal weight distribution for men, my voice dropped. I was so confused and didn't know wtf was happening, and the bullying was insane. I used to wear long socks in PE class to cover my legs because even with shaving, the hair would grow back so quick And everyone around me started telling me I was trans. I identified as a boy because everyone around me would always call me he or sir. But because I didn't know intersex people even existed, I thought being trans is what I was. Never identified as it, but I was diagnosed with gender dysphoria. And God, the years of people arguing with me that I'm not a boy, my family disowning me because of something my body literally did on it's own. And like now, no one knows I'm not a cis male. Never called she, everyone assumes I'm just a straight dude. Rather that because I don't want the hate / discrimination. Ironic too because I work at a place that has a lotttt of Uber religious clientele lmao. When I finally heard the word intersex and did research, it just all clicked. And then, finally, information came out about my birth from my parents (being born with very low levels of estrogen and atypical genetalia). I still struggle finding support for being intersex. SO many doctors don't know what I'm talking about and will put me down as trans. Finally found someone familiar with intersex and did tests on me, confirming I am, just don't have a specific diagnosis yet. But it really sucks. Doctors know what being trans is off the bat, but say you're intersex and they'll stare at you like you've got two heads, and still ask questions pertaining to being trans. 9 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 ThePsychoKnot · 2 mo. ago Jesus that last part is so sad. If my family threatened to disown me just for trying to be myself, then they could fuck off. No one needs that kind of attitude in their life, family or not 15 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Procatstinator · 2 mo. ago Had a hunch this might come up in this thread. I have a friend who when I met her introduced herself as a trans woman. But in recent years she's become open about the fact that she is in fact intersex, and that they assigned her male after birth because that "seemed to be the best fit". She eventually transitioned as an adult and finally feels like herself. She's just open about it because she feels it was extremely awful to have a choice forced upon her that didn't suit her, and her environment became very hostile when she didn't conform, even before she knew what that meant. I understand some things are easier when it's a baby, and that sometimes there is a medical need, but when there isn't we don't need to change the person and hope it'll turn out fine. We need to change society to include everyone so that they can make the best choice for themselves once able. And if there is a medical need, the person needs to be informed as soon as they can comprehend things, so that they can receive help, guidance, or simply understanding as they grow older. Puberty is shitty enough as it is. It really helps to know what is happening and why. 5 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Wouter10123 · 2 mo. ago At the risk of being downvoted into oblivion for asking an honest question: if your chromosomes are XY, doesn't that just make you male, and they made a mistake at birth? Or do you have a female fenotype (like breasts/vagina)? Or is it rude to even ask this? I'm sorry, I don't know. I thought intersex meant that you had XXY (or some other not XX or XY combination) chromosomes. Please correct me if I'm wrong! 3 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread 64 more replies User avatar level 1 Gyrovague_Greyling · 2 mo. ago I never actually transitioned, but it turned out that I just don't like my assigned gender, not that I was supposed to be a different one. No errors to fix, just getting used to a body I don't want. 536 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Ninauposkitzipxpe · 2 mo. ago I identify with this. I haaaate having breasts and a vagina. But they’re mine and I certainly don’t want testicles and body hair (a penis seems interesting for like a week though). I like other parts of physically being a woman like my hair and face, but I always thought I’d prefer to be a boy. I lived with a FTM man for three years and watching him go through that experience turned me off to ever transitioning. I honestly just wanted to be a genderless doll. I’m more comfortable now with being a woman, I think mostly because of how much I love other women. Sorry for the word vomit - your comment hit the nail on the head for me! 332 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Radiant_Street_5448 · 2 mo. ago Can you explain this further? Do you mean that there was no hormonal errors? How did you get used to your body even though disliking it? I really just want to learn as I have a sibling who is non-binary and I want to be more informed about their community. 36 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread 14 more replies User avatar level 1 Potential_Farmer_377 · 2 mo. ago I never transitioned fully but i liked to wear women’s clothes and when I ended up in rehab and told my counselor about it I swear he was like basically frothing at the mouth and telling me I was trans and trying to get me to come out and transition and stuff and I was in a really vulnerable state newly sober trying to fill the void in my soul with methods other than alcohol and it really threw me for a loop to be honest. Like I felt like someone’s experiment or something even though I never really transitioned except socially with the counselor. I think my tendency to people please really played a big part too. Idk bro I just like to wear dresses and makeup sometimes it’s dope idk haha doesn’t mean I’m not a man though….I realize that now. 72 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 ladycarpenter · 2 mo. ago Not sure if this counts as I never did hormone therapy. From 5-11 I wanted to be a boy. I told my mom all the time that i wished I was a boy. Played with the boys, dressed like a boy, even peed standing up. My mom just let me do my thing and never made me feel bad about it or that I was doing something wrong but she didn’t start me on hormones. Today at 33 I couldn’t be more happy that she let me go through my journey without doing something as drastic as starting to officially transition me. Today I’m def androgynous and still wear boy clothes but I’m happy and comfortable in the body I have 159 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 rreapr · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago I’m ftm trans and I had a similar experience - I was always “one of the boys” growing up but I never put it in words so blatantly. The closest I ever came to it was when a kid I was playing with asked if I was a boy or a girl and I told him to guess, hoping he’d guess I was a boy, because I felt too bad to “lie” and say I was. My parents never forced any sort of gender presentation on me - they let me get the clothes I wanted, get the toys I wanted, and play how I wanted. I tended to gravitate towards more traditionally masculine things but I didn’t really question my gender as a kid, I was just a girl who did boy things because I didn’t know trans people existed and gender wasn’t such a huge divide in my mind. Like even if I had been a boy, nothing much would’ve changed about my life. I sort of wonder if I would have realized I was trans sooner if I had been pushed into a traditionally feminine role because then I would’ve wanted something different for myself. But the older I got the more issues I started to have with my physical body feeling “wrong,” I eventually decided to transition and I’ve been much happier for it. So I guess my point is that giving your kids the time, freedom, and support to figure themselves out is a healthy way to approach it whether they’re trans or not. 25 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Questions4Legal · 2 mo. ago It sounds like you have a great mother who supported you and helped you make the right decision for yourself. So many of the stories in here point towards a person's support being an absolute necessity no matter what decisions they ultimately make. 6 Share Report Save Follow 3 more replies User avatar level 1 my58vw · 2 mo. ago I am not your "trans-normative" or "cis-normative" person, and have not technically "detransitioned" but my story here will likely help those reading this thread: I was born technically intersexed with a very rare hormonal condition Kallmann's Syndrome, the inability for the body to produce the precursors to male or female hormones with a lack of smell. Many people in this tiny community have issues with gender and sexuality as there is no way to know 100% how people feel gender wise due to having generally underdeveloped or cross developed anatomy. I was born with a partially formed microphallus with female markers in my anatomy. Being XY the doctors labeled me male, and with no real reference I did not really ever think about male or female, all I knew is that I had to go to the doctors 4 times a year and got to have lunch at my favorite restaurant outside the hospital. Being asexual, or maybe just visually attracted to both sexes at times (feel sexually female, but can see attractive quality of both) it was obvious there was an issue when I would sneak into my sisters and mom's clothing and wear them when they were not home. Things went crazy when they started giving me testosterone around 13 --- which I refused to take the injections... I did not like the way it made me feel, I did not want the facial hair, low voice, etc... and those sexual feels were terrible... just intensifying my desire to sexually be female (something that some might call dysphoria). I stopped taking hormones and lives "male" (whatever you call male since I did not fit the mold at all) or maybe androgynous for the next 20 years. Health related issues due to no hormones years later and getting my home lead to a decision... it was time to make a change... I started female HRT. The hormones felt right, and still do... I like the idea of having a more female body, and have considered SRS if it is possible (unusual anatomy), but I still do not socially feel female. I did the "female thing" makeup, etc but quickly realized that was not me either. I went from male to extremely female, to now neither male nor female. I dress like a butch female, wearing typical male clothing in a more female body but also will wear dresses and skirts to more formal functions. I still dream female, and have female desires. Many people who designate trans are just going from one extreme to another, from something that gives them dysphoria to something that also gives them dysphoria. As someone in a high profile education system I have had to chance to tell my story in many ways, a book at some point in the future included, and in the end the story is always the same... we fall on some part of the gender scale. Unless you are like me you will always be anatomically born male or female, and may change that to something else. Transitioning is less about your "cis-normative" body, but how you view yourself and present yourself to the world. I rarely "present female" anymore, and don't always get gendered male or female anymore, but I am very happy... maybe with some more "female leaning" adjustments in the future. 37 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 scoutydouty · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago Wholesome Hm, let's hope this one doesn't get deleted like past similar threads. I was born as a female. My bio mom was a drug addict and all her children have been taken away and sent to foster homes, most of us ended up with some sort of inherited b.s. In my case, I seem to have a predisposition to mental health issues like depression and ADHD. I was adopted out with my younger bio sister at age 3. My parents were older, in their 40s and 50s when we were adopted, and had rather antiquated views on gender roles and society in general. They ended up being abusive when my symptoms progressed in puberty, so I didn't really have a good support system at home. But I did have friends, and a lot of these friends ended up being queer in one way or another. I always knew I was bisexual before I had the term to describe it, and I strongly disliked the female roles forced upon me growing up. Berated for body hair, encouraged to be feminine, told to focus on my appearance and all that shit. Add in a nice mixture of body dysmorphia, disordered eating habits born from an ingrained fear of fatness, the general malaise of experiencing puberty, sexual assault, misogyny, and then the big rise of the internet/social media around 2011... The introduction of the concept of trans clicked snugly into my mind like a Tetris block. I hated my body, my life, I was constantly suicidal as a teen and wished I could be anybody else. How could transitioning not look like the answer to all my problems? I wouldn't be treated like a dreaded girl anymore, no more horrible periods, no more sexism and harassment, no more struggling to attain an unobtainable beauty standard-, it seemed like all my problems were solely based on me being a girl. And I thought being a man would solve everything. I did have dysphoria. And I did fully believe I was trans. I bound my chest every day for 5 years, I took testosterone for a little less than 3 years. I had a voice that was suddenly respected more, I had a community that waged war on anyone who hurt my feelings, I had constant validation and love when it felt like I never had those things before. And then one day, I took LSD. I know, not the direction you thought this was gonna go. Bear with me. LSD took my repressed doubts I had been stuffing down behind "the rate of trans people with regret is so negligable that there is almost a 0% chance you made a mistake" and thrust them to the surface of my mind when I was looking into a mirror. I suddenly realized I did not recognize the person I saw, and not because I was tripping sack. The beard, the thinning hair, the difference in the shape of my body. I even said my new name a few times and realized... This isn't me. It's hard to describe that feeling within the limitations of language. It was a mixture of terror, regret, fury, and strangely- relief. It was like "Oh. You're you. You've always been you. Even now, you're you, but not quite." This feeling did not go away when the drug wore off. For me, I discovered that I personally used transition as a way to escape the unbearable discomfort in my life, in my body, in my mind. It was a trauma coping mechanism. And when it obviously failed, the logical conclusion was to detransition. And this was so unheard of, so rare, I felt so lost. I didn't know where to go or what to do. How do you face something like this? I was told it never happened. But it was happening to me and apparently thousands of others in r/detrans. In that community I was challenged, encouraged, supported, and validated in a million different ways. It was refreshing. I had been hounded with a single track view for years by trans people, one such view including that questioning being trans probably means you're trans, but questioning transition as a mistake was internalized transphobia and anxiety. In the detrans subreddit, I was encouraged to look at things from a variety of perspectives, not just one. Disagreements were mostly respectful and didn't include brigading, shaming, holier-than-thou lectures or bans. It has been an invaluable resource for me and many others to discuss this topic, and I sincerely hope this resource does not get wiped off the face of Reddit. I do believe transition is valid and the only way for some people. I respect trans people and their rights. But I also believe I was failed by therapists and psychiatrists for never exploring the underlying reasons behind my transition, and I resent that it took a spiritual experience with a psychedelic to figure that out for myself. This is long even though it is but a brief glimpse into the 23 years that led me here. Thanks if you read this far. Feel free to read some of my post history for more details. 155 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 mumpledforearm · 2 mo. ago one such view including that questioning being trans probably means you're trans It is so sad to see this happening all the time on reddit. 39 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 julesjade99 · 2 mo. ago was groomed by my partner who was telling people behind me back he was gay. he pushed me into thinking i should transition to male, first it was just teasing me about secretly being a dude as soon as i admitted to liking something unfeminine and it just got worse from there. turns out it wasn’t being supportive it was him wanting me to be his perfect little fuck toy 13 Share Report Save Follow 1 more reply User avatar level 1 Dkoron · 2 mo. ago Helpful Honestly didn't realize the mental health struggles lgbt community endures before reading through some of these replies, you're valued good luck y'all. 326 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 JupiterChan · 2 mo. ago Being trans in my home country almost always meant working as a sex worker, hairstylist or comedian. They're treated as lesser humans that had nothing much to offer society. I'm glad things are improving now, but life is still extremely unfair if you're a trans. 34 Share Report Save Follow 28 more replies User avatar level 1 Nut_Cutlet · 2 mo. ago I found out I was autistic and got trauma therapy for an assault.. I had been out as FTM for 3 years. I've always been an androgynous person but after I was assaulted by someone who wished to 'correct' my androgyny via sexual assault, I wanted to get rid of my female body and become a man so I could one day crush his skull in. I legitimately wanted to murder him, to the point I would day dream about it. It took a long time for me to be honest with myself about my reasoning. I think I started to question myself more after a trip on LSD that completely blew away everything I knew about the world, and then rebuilt me from the madness. It was like a rebirth. By that time I was already doubting my ability to transition successfully and had begun socially de-transitioning, but the autism diagnosis that happened following really was the final nail in the coffin. It explained so much about my thought patterns, my childhood, and even the assault. 59 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 ToastNoodles · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago I've basically involuntarily detransed at this point. My mental health hit such a decline that my transition was always the last thing on my mind. I was overwhelmed, I started forgetting to be regular with meds. I'm under private care so it was my duty to stay on top of it all and I couldn't. My hormone levels were messed up for years and still are because they couldn't get my tests right. Nobody here cares about trans health care so you have to be very self driven and push hard to get treatment but I lost my drive in life, so it all fell apart. All of the changes I did with hormones, laser and other regular treatment have been undone, and now I'm too crippled to stop it all, so I've just resigned to my fate. It made me temporarily happier I guess but now it hurts too much to think about, so I try not to. If I dwell on it I won't be able to function in life, so I try to find happiness elsewhere. In the end it didn't matter, I didn't pass anyway, which is incredibly important and goes a long way to being recognized and treated like a normal human being as a trans person. 113 Share Report Save Follow 5 more replies User avatar level 1 throwaway4u2021 · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago Helpful I am not trans but I have known someone who was AMAB. Transitioned socially in terms of gender expression and began the process of accessing therapy to be allowed hormones. They got a year in, and decided they were non binary rather than a trans woman. That process was really important and highlighted that when we do away with binary gender, far more people would find a place for themselves as they are. Edit: the fact this post has garnered so much anger is really interesting. Why are people so threatened by gender differences or challenges to this as a norm? What difference does it actually make to your life? 1.3k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 j-skaa · 2 mo. ago I think thinking less in binary terms would help so many people - even those who do identify as either gender. I’ve never questioned my gender, but I also never quite felt like I fit in with the more feminine women. I sometimes dress up and enjoy feeling feminine, but mostly I’m just more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt with sneakers. I don’t wear make-up either and don’t have very feminine hobbies. And I do sometimes feel pressure to be more feminine, an insecurity that guys might not find me attractive when I’m myself. And I’m pretty sure that insecurity stems from how society defines the gender roles. I don’t want to be a man, I’m not non-binary, but I don’t like the expectations that come with gender roles. People should feel free to do what they like, regardless of gender :) 163 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 spookyscaryskeletal · 2 mo. ago it's just a longer journey for some people. 128 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread 129 more replies User avatar level 1 FiddlerKillerOfKings · 2 mo. ago I’m trans and the thought of detransitioning scares me but I’m glad that you guys figured out who you were! 10 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 s-m-r-s · 2 mo. ago I just wanna pop in to say thank you to everyone sharing so honestly. This isn’t talked about enough and I think it’s so important, especially for young people to see. 653 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 LogicKennedy · 2 mo. ago Yeah reading through this I'm genuinely positively surprised at how good the discussions are. 63 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Menace2Sobriety · 2 mo. ago Agreed. There's some seriously brave people in here sharing their experiences. 37 Share Report Save Follow 9 more replies User avatar level 1 Balance2BBetter · 2 mo. ago Take My Energy This will be an unpopular, but I want to be honest. I was mtf, 21 years old, and was on HRT for a few weeks. Before that, I had spent several months agonizing over the decision to transition. I had always understood myself to be female without realizing it, and simply imagining myself as a “man” made me uncomfortable. I had bought makeup, some feminine clothes, picked out a new name, and had made plans for years to come. However, all of this was behind my family’s back. I was so scared of them that I wrote a will in case because it was very likely that I’d be excommunicated, and I don’t have the resources or survival skills to survive if suddenly on my own. Well, eventually my mom figured it out. She sat me down and confronted me about it for a long time until I finally revealed what I’d been doing. She cried and felt as though I had died. It was one of the worst experiences she’d ever had. I surrendered my HRT to her. Now, I could have just called the doctor and gotten more. The process would have been delayed by a few months so no big deal. But, I had a lot of opportunity to really think after she found out. I realized that I was in over my head. I had a very deep voice, and if you don’t know, voice training for trans women is really hard. I had been a baritone since freshman year of high school, and it was unlikely that I would ever pass in that regard. I also just don’t think my face would pass either. Not to mention, I’d been growing out my hair (part of what clued my mom in) and I realized that I had literally no idea how to take care of my hair or basically myself at all. Despite what is often said in trans subreddits and other forums, passing really does matter to some of us. Even if it shouldn’t, I can’t shake the need to pass. I also realized that I wasn’t confident enough to regularly present as female. I couldn’t even bring myself to ask anyone to use my new name, let alone wear feminine clothes and makeup in public. Finally, I came to terms with the fact that I would be completely abandoned and forever antagonized by my family, if not worse. This is especially an issue because I was, and still am, partially financially dependent on them. So, if I had transitioned, I would have lost my family, finances, and possibly my life, all so I wouldn’t even pass and would ultimately spend the rest of my life agonizing over my appearance. From a cost-benefit perspective, it just didn’t make sense to continue. I’m 24 now and have been thinking about it again. In reality, I don’t know if I’m really trans at all, or if I just hated my life and myself and was looking for a way to reinvent myself (which seems to be a common theme in the answers here). Either way, I’m still exploring myself and trying to figure out what and who I am. But this time, I’m trying to take the pressure off and be as authentic as possible. 77 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 Shiny_Mega_Rayquaza · 2 mo. ago I just wanted to thank everyone on here for opening up about their most personal experiences, and thank Reddit for even allowing this thread to stay up. Such a topic would be taboo just a year ago. Peace 54 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 Orodreath · 2 mo. ago Thank you for you positivity, it's most welcome, cheers 17 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 Hot_Pomegranate1773 · 2 mo. ago I am trans but I detransitioned for a period of time. I came out when I was 12 and lived as a boy until I was 15. All throughout this time I was bullied, humiliated, recorded in locker rooms, and harassed by other kids for being trans. I thought “if I have to endure one more year of this I’m going to kill myself.” So when I started high school I decided to try to live as a female. My freshmen year of high school was spent as a girl. Over that time I developed an eating disorder and sever depression. I was able to repress the dysphoria but something still felt wrong. During this time I met my best friend. He is a trans guy and he wasn’t bullied. He had friends and was well liked. I realized it was possible to be happy and not get harassed for the pursuit of that happiness. I could live authentically and not be bullied for it. I’m now retransitioned and I’m happier. My quality of life has improved greatly. I’m no longer depressed or have an eating disorder. My feelings of dysphoria got worse but I am on HRT and it’s getting better. TLDR; detransed because of bullying retransed because I realized I wouldn’t get bullied. 51 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 No_Bite_5874 · 2 mo. ago I was sexually objectified as a young girl by older men, kids, boys my age and teenagers. While I was never assaulted, this objectification and the fact girls hated me when I was younger (apparently this was because I developed breasts early, I hit puberty and periods at 9), I felt hate towards my maturing female body. For a long time I cut my hair short, bound my chest, and pretended to be a boy whenever I left the house. I was desperate to like girls instead of boys as boys/men had given me so much grief (I'm 11 at this point in the story). My own sensei at my dojo propositioning me was enough to tip me over the edge as he was my father figure. When I was 11 it was 2005, being trans wasn't widely talked about but I know that if it had been and if transitioning had been an option for me that I knew about I most definitely would have started. The issue with this, is that when I was 15 I started to grow my hair out, forget (but never forgive) the men of my past and love my feminine body. I couldn't force myself to like women, and there was a desire deep down in me to be loved by someone masculine in a way that makes me feel more feminine. I had so many psychological issues back then that had me convinced I was a gay man stuck in a woman's body, or that I was meant to be male - but in reality I was just a young person overcome with trauma to do with my gender and sexuality. I'm glad I never transitioned, that I stopped wearing binders and was true to myself. If I had started hormone transitioning I believe I would have created more unhappiness within myself, because the real me is a feminine straight woman. To my younger self who was convinced she had to be a lesbian, or that she had to be a boy - I'm sorry. I'm sorry you were treated in ways that led you to feeling this way, but it gets better ❤️ Sometimes we are confused, sometimes we know ourselves. I know I never de-transitioned but I thought this would be an interesting perspective. 72 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 pinkyandthegame666 · 2 mo. ago in my early 20s i bought estrogen and spiro off the internet a couple times. it was about that time i was also diagnosed with schizoid/bipolar something or another. lots of delusions. really sucked. the longest period i took the (very high dose of) hormones was about 2 months. i stopped for some reason or another. didn't feel right. now im 32 and i've got man boobs that i'm ashamed of and my schizoid delusions are still there, i just manage them better by not going anywhere. havn't drank or done any drugs in over 5 years. i'd say im still miserable. maybe if i had a way to be independent without being so crazy back then, things would be different now. the last time i went to the beach a couple years ago, these people wanted to take a picture with me for some reason. probably because "haha look at that skinny guy with moobs!". i don't go to the beach anymore. maybe i owe more of the cause of my problems to drugs and alcohol, but being clean this long and still being usually miserable and a hermit is frustrating. i've got my artwork and songwriting and video games to keep me company at least, and my family loves me, but they mostly don't know about this problem. all in all i'm okay these days with my medication and hobbies, but with no relationship (girl or guy) in years, lots of regrets and useless thoughts. so to be blunt, if ur crossdress in secret and are prone to mental illness, don't take hormones bought from the internet or you'll never get to drink beer with your friends at the beach again. 27 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 Cave_Woman_ · 2 mo. ago Thank you for asking the question, and thank you to those who answered. Great insight 82 Share Report Save Follow level 1 [deleted] · 2 mo. ago The discourse around this topic tends to decline into nastiness pretty quickly, but people should be aware that the science & research used to support certain positions is far from settled. The whole of medical and psychiatric research suffers from something known as the replication crisis, but this issue in particular has problems with shoddy research. I think it’s due to how highly politicized it’s become. The truth is that we don’t really know a hell of a lot about gender dysphoria especially in regards to adolescents, yet people make extremely confident claims as if the science is as settled as the theory of gravity. 34 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 flinch85 · 2 mo. ago Some sanity. 14 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 HummingbirdHawkMothx · 2 mo. ago I began my social transition at 14 (2011) among my peers. Noone was really surprised, I always was more with the boys as a child, I hated pink, no interest in make up. I was called an ugly fat giant a lot in school for being a tall girl with broader shoulders. I got bullied, punched, kicked and worse. I honestly thought I wasn't meant to be a girl because I was so bad at it. Today I know I never was ugly and I wished I could tell child and teen me, that it is okay to be yourself. With 17 I started T and I think it saved my life. I turned into a handsome boy and it brought me much joy. And I honestly don't regret it. I hate my facial hair but in the grand picture, transitioning helped me do much with building confidence and finding myself. 3 years on T, I started to realize that something wasn't right. I felt restricted by being a boy. And I finally allowed myself to look into my feminine side. Over time I realized T wasn't needed anymore. So I stopped. I identify as non binary now and I feel like I am finally free to be me. I might haven't figured it all out yet but I am proud of how far I have come. I think even without everything I still would been non binary but I don't know what exactly made me push towards strict boyhood. If it was the bullying, wanting to belong. Or if it was SA I experienced as a child. It's very muddled. There's a lot of trauma. And I still need to have the guts to talk to my therapist about it. She only wants to talk about trans issues with me and it sucks so much. 36 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 SlickWilIyCougar · 2 mo. ago Get a new therapist asap. They shouldn’t be trying to force your discussions. If you have underlying trauma to resolve that takes priority for you to heal. Best wishes for your journey. 33 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread level 1 Comment deleted by user · 2 mo. ago User avatar level 1 clarissaswallowsall · 2 mo. ago I was very close with a friend through her transition, she grew up like me and had experiences that made being female feel too vulnerable and her body feel like it was drawing in attention but not respect. when it came to being in the trans community she felt out of place, she didn't think she wanted to be the kind of man they were all trying to look like. She wasn't the type to care about others opinions like that, she went on T and started looking like a guy and sounding like one so fast..it didn't freak her out and she didn't feel like she was still depressed or anything..the T had some painful side effects for her though and it got unbearable. She stopped and de transitioned and is kind of open that it was important to explore that masculine side of herself but she didn't want to be that. Now gender is being considered more of a spectrum but when I see her she seems happy to just do her own thing..I think she feels more respected since her life had changed a bit more too and the people around her see her as the amazing and capable person she is and not just a sex object. 21 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 sarahmarinara · 2 mo. ago This will get buried but just want to cheer for the stories of self discovery journeys that you’ve all been on. Keep going and keep growing. 45 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 Pseudonymico · 2 mo. ago Gold Helpful2 Ally I convinced myself I wasn’t trans from a mixture of not wanting to put up with all the bullshit and misinformation about how effective transitioning could be. About a decade later I finally came out and finally started medically transitioning when the dysphoria got too bad for me to live in denial any more. It’s worth keeping in mind that the majority of people who detransition do so for similar reasons, and a lot of trans people over the age of 35 are retransitioners, who started over when dysphoria got too bad and/or they ended up in a better position to deal with potentially losing friends and family - they’re even the majority of the trans people I know over that age. 1.6k Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 noorofmyeye24 · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago May I ask what it feels like to have that dysphoria and how do you know your trans? What thoughts do you have? I’m sorry if these are really stupid/offensive questions. Not negatively questioning your experience to make you doubt yourself. I’m just trying to better understand. I feel like there isn’t information out there that’s helpful in understanding the trans community. Edit: I want to thank every one who answered my questions! It gave me a better insight into the trans experience but I know that there’s so much more to learn. Keep voicing your stories :) 259 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread 35 more replies User avatar level 1 ianbat · 2 mo. ago i don't know if this counts, but i came out to my family as ftm early last year and slowly began transitioning, the only reason i detransitioned is because i just felt that i wasnt ready. i currently identify as agender and i feel that this is the closest to how i feel 48 Share Report Save Follow 2 more replies User avatar level 1 SweetDick_Willy · 2 mo. ago I don't know the correct terms. But as a straight non-trans male, this thread is fascinating as fuck. I didn't even know this was a thing. 75 Share Report Save Follow 1 more reply User avatar level 1 ahtomix · 2 mo. ago I was in an abusive relationship. I had also been sexually assaulted multiple times. When I left him, I fell into a severe depression and I felt so much shame. Enough shame that I couldn’t bear to have anyone see I was a woman. I truly believed that I wasn’t a woman because of how wrong it felt to me. I met other trans people, developed great bonds with them and it felt right. I had to move away and once I was in my own, away from the town where all those bad things happened, I started to rebuild. Now, I love being a woman. I am proud of how strong I have become and don’t let anyone think I’m weak because I’m a woman. I am also in a relationship with an actual trans person and I know my experience is not representative of what trans people feel. Their feelings are very different than what I felt and I support them 100%. For her, presenting as a woman is to be who she is. For me, presenting as a man was to hide myself. 58 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 possiblynewme · 2 mo. ago I socially transitioned among my friends irl and online, I did some things, fully committed to it. But my whole family hated me for it, so I just stopped being trans. I never think I actually stopped more just went in to a deep state of denial. Please find people who love you, and stay safe, don’t ruin yourself for the sake of others. 29 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 Zantra3000 · 2 mo. ago A lot of people think that surgery will make them happy, and a lot of the time it actually makes it way worse. Especially for the people that don't pass as the gender that they are transitioning to. My friend went from being a cisgender man that was into women, to a transgender woman that was only into men. And, she had the full surgery and hormones and everything, but still was constantly clocked as a dude. So, she killed herself last year. She thought that surgery would make her feel like a woman, and instead it made her feel like a freak. And, society isn't very kind to transpeople in general, but especially not in the area that she was living in. 25 Share Report Save Follow 3 more replies User avatar level 1 the_owl_syndicate · 2 mo. ago Because it's about me, not others. I don't give a damn how other people see me, because I know who I am and I'm okay with that. I wear what I want, do what I want and go where I want, with the confidence to laugh when people try to put a narrow box around me. Live free, y'all. I see your journey, I've walked your path. Good luck and following seas. 39 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 pertante · 2 mo. ago Had a former roommate that started transitioning ftm. Had challenges finding medical professionals to help, I believe partially because of the costs/health insurance they had. Went as far as getting their breasts reduced and tried taking testosterone. I think he had to stop taking it since it was so exhausting taking it. Not sure if he transitioned back since we lost touch but hope they are doing ok regardless. 5 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 GirlGodd · 2 mo. ago The negative comments and people trying to intimidate and discourage people from sharing their story is fucking insane. What are you afraid of? The culture of silence and sweeping differing experiences under rug is fucked up. 56 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 dessert-er · 2 mo. ago ITT: Rigid gender roles are bad, let people do whatever the fuck they want, support everyone to make their own choices and don’t be a dick. This all fits with my experience as someone who has felt a little all over the map with their gender experiences and I think I’ve finally settled in with being ok being somewhere in the middle. I consider myself nonbinary and honestly I think that label just gives me the permission I need to dress androgynously, wear makeup, not have expectations for myself to act a certain way, and do whatever I need to to feel comfortable. I do get dysphoria for my secondary sex characteristics (the way my body carries fat, body and facial hair, etc) and this label also helps me feel able to cope with those uncomfortable feelings in the way I see fit. Just let people do what they want. 16 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 ConfidentAd9164 · 2 mo. ago I am Trans, i have not detransitioned and honestly dont plan too, so i cant be much help, however i did want to say No question is a stupid question and any Trans people harassing yall for just being curious is a piece of shit. When people talk about gender constructs i dont get all huffy cause im secure in my choice and am happy with myself when i look in the mirror. Ses like those Trans individuals are insecure and not 100 percent confident with the choice they made. People usually lash out when they feel attacked so. Keep being curious keep asking questions. KNOWLEDE IS POWER. 156 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 jjw410 · 2 mo. ago I just want to say thank you for this open response. I grew up in a pretty working/lower-middle class background and do not know anyone who fits into LGBT+ space apart from gay folk growing up, so trans topics really are just another world away from me. My gf grew up in a waaaay more affluent and liberal place, and is in the arts so knows lots of people who are trans. But everytime I bring up questions she seems to think I'm asking questions that I should alreday know the answer to and often it just feels like I'm being treated as some bigot when truthfully I'm just trying to politely understand a group of people that I've naturally never had any interaction with. So thank you for your reassurance, knowledge is indeed power! :) 24 Share Report Save Follow Continue this thread User avatar level 2 Toesmasher · 2 mo. ago Don't worry about stuff like this. While exceptions of course exist, I'm pretty sure most people view trans people as folks who have been dealt a raw hand and are doing what they can to live their lives as well as they can. While I can't say I've known many, the trans people I have interacted with were generally chill people. I'd wage money that the hostile people here are predominantly of the insufferable trans-'allies' and activist ilk, who simultaneously somehow tend to view trans people as impossibly fragile. 16 Share Report Save Follow 6 more replies level 1 Comment deleted by user · 2 mo. ago User avatar level 1 mtjoshington · 2 mo. ago it’s so interesting reading about all the ppl who started HRT and then realized they needed to detransition! i had to stop hrt after 4 years bc I aged off my moms insurance and it’s been truly terrible! I’ve been off t for a year and a half now and have gained a bunch of weight and gotten incredibly incredibly depressed and anxious and dysphoric again, just like I was before I started testosterone. it seems like the line between people seeing me as who I am and people guessing that I’m butch because they can’t tell is drawn by me taking hrt. Since I’ve stopped testosterone, I’ve been questioning my identity because people can’t tell what i am anymore and if gender is a social construct then aren’t I whatever other people think I am? Reading peoples experiences detransitioning really made me realize that Yes I am still trans and a man, I am just not receiving treatment anymore, I’m not feeling this way again because I am trying to force myself to be something I’m not. I feel this way because once again I am someone that my body doesn’t have the chemicals to be. hrt really is a medicine to treat being trans. if u aren’t trans it probably isn’t going to make you feel better to have different gender hormones in ur head I think being trans means that you will always experience doubt that you are what you really are, and even if you aren’t trans anymore you probably still recognize gender that way. 13 Share Report Save Follow 3 more replies User avatar level 1 AM_Kylearan · 2 mo. ago From reading this, I think we can all agree that mental health treatment in this country is a travesty, and we do a terrible job treating it and supporting those that need treatment to get it. Mental health issues should be de-stigmatized and we would all benefit from supporting those suffering from these issues. 41 Share Report Save Follow 2 more replies level 1 [deleted] · 2 mo. ago An ex’s dad transitioned while we were dating. And after about 10 months he transitioned back. He said that living as a woman wasn’t what he thought it would be. 26 Share Report Save Follow 1 more reply User avatar level 1 immacastguidingbolt · 2 mo. ago I don’t consider myself “detransitioned” in any way, I still identify as transgender, but I feel my story may be helpful nonetheless. When I was 11-12 I found a video called “I Am Jazz” and everything just seemed to click. Like I found a solution for all the problems in my life and being a man would be It. I used middle school to transition and cut my hair, bought boy’s clothes, and even got measured for a binder. Everyone knew me as that boy who ALWAYS wore a jacket (to hide his chest) and was super tiny. Dealing with socially transitioning and puberty was really hard. I had to use teacher’s bathrooms while changing out pads because I’d definitely be questioned if I had menstrual products in the boys room. Plus, my hormones were crazy and there was a pressure by my other trans classmates to hop on puberty blockers and testosterone ASAP. And binding + thick jackets during hot summer days was a toll. And my elementary school counselors who interrogated me on why I wanted to transition only made me dig my heels in more. They kept saying: “You can still be a girl and wear pants! You can still be a girl and do this—“ and I’d be like, “No, you don’t get it. I don’t want to be a girl at all.” But the pressure from my peers to get on T and top surgery was rubbing me the wrong way. I wasn’t really comfortable with changing my body like that yet but the pressure was on. Eventually, freshman year I started experimenting with longer hair and they/them pronouns. I realized I was more comfortable being non-binary, and opting out of the stupid gender roles society creates anyway. I didn’t want any part in the pressure I experienced earlier, and I felt a sense of satisfaction knowing I got to experience two lives: one as a girl, and one as a boy. In reality, I think I used transitioning to a man as a shield for the SA I faced as a child. I honestly thought that if I was a man, I would never be sexually assaulted again. But the people who SA’d just saw me as a sex object even though I was A LITERAL CHILD! Also I come from a traditional culture, and the whole sexism baggage was something I wanted to run away from. Realizing that there was, and is nothing I can do to change that made me really reflect on my own gender identity and discover that I am happier as a non-binary person, free from the constraints of gender. I can never be a girl or a boy again, even if society forces the baggage of womanhood onto me because of what I was assigned at birth. I don’t regret transitioning for a second, and not rushing headfirst into hormone treatment and surgery made me experience my life the way I needed to experience it. 21 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 TransKeyboardist · 2 mo. ago · edited 2 mo. ago This thread makes it seem like de-transitioning is commonplace, but in reality, it's very unlikely. "0.4 [%] ... detransitioned after realizing transitioning wasn’t right for them. " source So, roughly, 1 in every 250 trans people. Also, while I do not wish to dismiss or invalidate anyones story, the validity of the anecdotal de-transitioning comments can not be verified. edits: stat, concision, formatting, addendum. 18 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 babyCrossdresser · 2 mo. ago I thought I was trans from an extremely young age because I thought if I wanted to act like a girl in any way shape or form, I needed to be one. You can thank my family for that. I realized extremely quickly that I could be a boy and effeminate, that they weren’t tied to one gender, and got over it. I also never hated my body or genitalia. I think a lot of the people here detransitioned because they found this out unfortunately way later on in life. 20 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 1 fayefaye666 · 2 mo. ago Why is this tagged as nsfw? Lol 4 Share Report Save Follow 1 more reply User avatar level 1 RWBrYan · 2 mo. ago sorts by controversial 189 Share Report Save Follow User avatar level 2 saschahi · 2 mo. ago don't forget your hazmat suit. We're scraping the bottom of the barrel here. 40 Share Report Save Follow 6 more replies 2,931 more replies More posts from the AskReddit community 56.7k Posted by u/kiwipangolin 6 days ago Gold2 Helpful43 Wholesome38 Heartwarming Silver21 All-Seeing Upvote You meet your 13 year old self, but you can only tell them 3 words. What do you say and why? 61.4k Comments Share Save Hide Report 48.3k Posted by u/memereda_vanwolf 4 days ago Helpful (Pro) Gold Helpful24 Wholesome14 Heartwarming Silver23 Hugz Ally Take My Energy2 Wearing is Caring what is the weirdest advice you have heard that is strangely effective?? nsfw 14.5k Comments Share Save Hide Report 43.8k Posted by u/HarryHolmes68 3 days ago Helpful18 Wholesome10 I'll Drink to That Silver17 What something you do in a hotel room you’d never do at home? nsfw 15.4k Comments Share Save Hide Report 43.4k Posted by u/Millennial-Mason 3 days ago Helpful8 Wholesome8 Silver10 With the passing of Stan Lee, and Betty White, who is Americas token "Old Person" now? 13.0k Comments Share Save Hide Report 41.3k Posted by u/Horror-Tap2093 14 hours ago Helpful18 Wholesome18 Silver19 Take My Energy Wearing is Caring All-Seeing Upvote What's the biggest Scam in life that no one wants to admit? 30.2k Comments Share Save Hide Report 38.7k Posted byu/[deleted]5 days ago Helpful16 Wholesome12 Silver10 Seriously, what are you supposed to say right after sex? nsfw 22.9k Comments Share Save Hide Report 33.2k Posted by u/AdAppropriate6975 7 days ago Gold Helpful14 Wholesome17 Silver11 What did your friend do that accidentally turned you on? nsfw 11.0k Comments Share Save Hide Report 32.5k Posted by u/asjkl_lkjsa 6 days ago Helpful11 Wholesome12 Silver9 Take My Energy Whose voice just fucking annoys you? 21.6k Comments Share Save Hide Report 29.5k Posted by u/Belle_Artist_Jade 2 days ago Helpful10 Wholesome13 Silver7 People of reddit, what is one thing your family will never understand about you? nsfw 11.0k Comments Share Save Hide Report 26.7k Posted by u/Left-End9148 5 days ago Helpful (Pro) Helpful7 Wholesome6 Silver10 All-Seeing Upvote Who would you like to see run for President of the United States in 2024? 25.7k Comments Share Save Hide Report 25.5k Posted by u/40oz_2freedom 6 days ago Helpful8 Wholesome7 Silver3 Who is a good comedic actor that ended up being a great dramatic actor? 14.5k Comments Share Save Hide Report 25.3k Posted by u/Bright-Dig-6665 5 days ago Helpful23 Wholesome15 Silver11 Take My Energy2 What is the best response to "Why are you still single" ? 9.9k Comments Share Save Hide Report 24.7k Posted by u/SuggestionBusy7104 4 days ago Helpful5 Wholesome9 Silver2 Take My Energy What movie has a high rating but you think it's average? 22.2k Comments Share Save Hide Report 24.3k Posted by u/Francisco123s 2 days ago Platinum Gold Helpful6 Wholesome13 Silver18 Take My Energy All-Seeing Upvote What's your favorite Simpsons quote? 14.1k Comments Share Save Hide Report 22.6k Posted by u/Superman_IS_OP 4 days ago Helpful16 Wholesome6 Silver4 what is an instant turn off? nsfw 12.6k Comments Share Save Hide Report 22.5k Posted by u/RefrigeratorDry495 4 days ago Helpful8 Wholesome5 Silver10 What are some simple yet incredibly disturbing/scary facts? nsfw 14.2k Comments Share Save Hide Report 22.2k Posted by u/Cold-Mortgage8100 3 days ago Helpful14 Wholesome5 Silver6 Heartwarming What one subject do you absolutely give “zero fucks” about? 14.5k Comments Share Save Hide Report 22.1k Posted by u/Smeggfaffa 4 days ago Helpful7 Wholesome11 Silver6 What totally innocent activity makes you feel like a pervert? nsfw 8.4k Comments Share Save Hide Report 16.1k Posted by u/negan_can_step_on_me 1 day ago Helpful9 Wholesome4 Silver6 which actors were BORN for their role? 13.3k Comments Share Save Hide Report 15.4k Posted by u/JayTrenshard 1 day ago Helpful8 Wholesome4 Silver9 What is the most overrated food? 20.5k Comments Share Save Hide Report 15.2k Posted by u/FlamingoJames 6 days ago Helpful11 Wholesome5 Silver7 Women of Reddit - what is your opinion on ‘ass or tits’? nsfw 4.9k Comments Share Save Hide Report

  • TReVoices - SCREAMING In The Media

    < Back Sex Change Can Destroy's One's Life, Biological Woman Who Transitioned Into A Man Reveals By, Krizzia Paolyn Reyes US Scott" Newgent, a self-described 48-year-old transgender man, warns people of dangers from sex-change surgeries that she encountered first-hand. Six years ago, a hopeful Newgent was told by the medical community that she could turn from a woman into a man. But, Newgent adds, "all the negatives were glossed over." Newgent posted a powerful and moving article in Newsweek entitled "We Need Balance When It Comes To Gender Dysphoric Kids. I Would Know" amidst social media giants' continuous crackdown on those who violate their trans-activist talking points. Newgent explained that as a result of the transition, she "suffered tremendously, including seven surgeries, a pulmonary embolism, an induced stress heart attack, sepsis, a 17-month recurring infection, 16 rounds of antibiotics, three weeks of daily IV antibiotics, arm reconstructive surgery, lung, heart and bladder damage, insomnia, hallucinations, PTSD, $1 million in medical expenses, and loss of home, car, career and marriage. All this, and yet I cannot sue the surgeon responsible - in part because there is no structured, tested or widely accepted baseline for transgender health care." When Newgent, who identifies as a lesbian at that time, is having doubts about the transitioning process, the medical professionals encouraged her to push through the process rather than suggesting to slow it down. As a consequence, the surgeries and drugs took a terrible toll on Newgent who found no real help from the medical world who encouraged her transition in the first place. "During my post-operation 17 months of sheer survival, I discovered that transgender health care is experimental and that large swaths of the medical industry encourage minors to transition due, at least in part, to fat profit margins," Newgent shared. "I was gobsmacked. Each day I researched more and became increasingly appalled. As I jumped from ER to ER desperately seeking help, I realized that nobody knew what to do. Each physician told me to return to the original surgeon. I was trapped like a child with an abusive parent," she continued. These are similar cases that have been long presented by the conservative Christians but have been largely ignored to this day. Maybe this time, people will now heed these urgent warnings, knowing it came from the mouth of a biological female who now identifies as a male, "Line Of Fire" host Michael Brown wrote in an article on LifeSite News. Brown noted how Christian conservatives have been branded as hateful, bigoted, and transphobic when stating these same facts. Not only so, but when Walt Heyer or Laura Perry, former transgenders, told their own stories, they too were called hateful and bigoted. Although, Newgent claimed, that it was love and truth that caused Newgent to write, and not hate. "It is not transphobic or discriminatory to discuss this - we as a society need to fully understand what we are encouraging our children to do to their bodies," she claimed. That is the reason behind Abigail Shrier's book entitled "Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters" which was named 'book of the year' by The Economist and one of the 'best books of 2021' by The Times and The Sunday Times. Original Link

  • TReVoices - Parents/Detrans

    TReVoices Is The Leading Org Fighting To Stop Childhood Medical Transition World Wide! ​ Led by transman/lesbian Scott Newgent, our relentless SCREAMING to 'STOP Medically Transitioning Children' has been and continues to be heard everyday World - Wide! Make sure we can continue - We Need Your Help - Donate Today. Button Lift The Veil. Parents Get Busy & Learn Why 'Medical Transition Is Not Place For a child.' Sincerely, TReVoices & Everyone Else < Back Staff Writer Original Article Gender Health Query ​ Young Detrans Adults Are Among The Highest Part Of Society To Commit Suicide - The Suicide Epidemic Is Here REGRET RATES AND LONG-TERM MENTAL HEALTH: Even though data on trans people post medical transition show continuing high rates of mental health problems, higher suicide risk and physical health problems, dysphoria is mitigated by transition and mental health generally improves for most (not all) trans people according to most studies. A review confirming this was done by Cornell University. All of the abstracts can be found here. A thorough review of these studies and the impact of transition on mental health and suicide is done on this website in this section. The overall message is that transition does seem to improve mental health. Studies with less lost to follow ups, as well as some review studies (Adams 2017, Marshall 2015) don’t seem to show any improvement is suicide risk. This indicates transition is not a fix all. However, the Cornell review does confirm very low regret rates (3.4% at the higher end) in populations of adults who were treated at a time with much more pressure not to transition due to stigma and under a gate keeping model. Regrets following gender transition are extremely rare and have become even rarer as both surgical techniques and social support have improved. Poling data from numerous studies demonstrates a regret rate ranging from .3 percent to 3.8 percent. Regrets are most likely to result from a lack of social support after transition or poor surgical outcomes using older techniques. There is generally a strong desire to paint social support and access to medical transition as sole factors in mental health. However, unfortunately even trans people in very supportive families and communities retain much higher rates of problems than scientific control groups. While evidence suggests regret rates have historically been very low in the past, the research studies often have majors flaws. Here a review highlights some of the problems involving tracking mental health and regret rates in earlier studies. Here’s how the Guardian summarized the results of a review of “more than 100 follow-up studies of post-operative transsexuals” by Birmingham University’s Aggressive Research Intelligence Facility (ARIF): ARIF, which conducts reviews of healthcare treatments for the NHS, concludes that none of the studies provides conclusive evidence that gender reassignment is beneficial for patients. It found that most research was poorly designed, which skewed the results in favor of physically changing sex. There was no evaluation of whether other treatments, such as long-term counselling, might help transsexuals, or whether their gender confusion might lessen over time. Of particular concern are the people these studies “lost track of.” As the Guardian noted, “the results of many gender reassignment studies are unsound because researchers lost track of more than half of the participants.” Indeed, “Dr. Hyde said the high drop out rate could reflect high levels of dissatisfaction or even suicide among post-operative transsexuals.” Dr. Hyde concluded: “The bottom line is that although it’s clear that some people do well with gender reassignment surgery, the available research does little to reassure about how many patients do badly and, if so, how badly.” And a commentary on another review: The final August 2016 “Decision Memo for Gender Dysphoria and Gender Reassignment Surgery” was even more blunt. It pointed out that “Overall, the quality and strength of evidence were low due to mostly observational study designs with no comparison groups, subjective endpoints, potential confounding (a situation where the association between the intervention and outcome is influenced by another factor such as a co-intervention), small sample sizes, lack of validated assessment tools and considerable loss to follow-up.” That “loss to follow-up,” remember, could be pointing to people who committed suicide. And when it comes to the best studies, there is no evidence of “clinically significant changes” after sex reassignment: The majority of studies were non-longitudinal, exploratory type studies (i.e., in a preliminary state of investigation or hypothesis generating), or did not include concurrent controls or testing prior to and after surgery. Several reported positive results but the potential issues noted above reduced strength and confidence. After careful assessment, we identified six studies that could provide useful information. Of these, the four best designed and conducted studies that assessed quality of life before and after surgery using validated (albeit non-specific) psychometric studies did not demonstrate clinically significant changes or differences in psychometric test results after gender reassignment surgery (GRS). A. Despite low regret, rates mental health problems remain high indicating transition is not a fix-all for gender dysphoria Even with very low recorded regret rates in the transgender population, most studies show continuing high rates of comorbid conditions and suicide risk relative to controls. Even the Olson-Kennedys (Johanna and Aydin, a married female/FtM couple and affirmative model activists) acknowledge gender dysphoria is often not actually cured by medical transition, only managed and that problems remain. In this way gender dysphoria does have some similarities to body dysmorphic disorder where things like cosmetic surgery do not actually alleviate distress long-term and mental health problems and anxiety about appearance continue. Cosmetic surgery is a more effective treatment for GD than for BDD. But it may not be the case for all and “shifting dysphoria” remains a problem in both conditions. (Gender Odyssey, 2017): If you are a parent as well, one of the concerns is going to be regret. I think as mental health providers we have a different relationship…But I think that we need to reorganize and think about what does regret mean? And where does it come from? When I think about who is talking about regretting transition or who is detransitioning, or retransitioning, or having a lot of those conversations. When you really whittle down, like what’s happening for that person, their gender identity has not changed. It was never and is not about gender identity, it is about, “I still have gender dysphoria. I didn’t know I was still going to have gender dysphoria. I didn’t know that I would still struggle in these ways and these places. I didn’t know that. I thought that I had gender dysphoria and would have intervention and I would feel better. And I don’t feel better.” And so, people then make decisions to detransition because if, “I feel bad on either side, life is perceived as easier if I’m not seen as a trans person, than if I am seen as a trans person. And so, it is not about, “I was wrong about my gender. It’s about, “I am so surprised that I’m still kind of struggling a little bit and having a hard time but I still have gender dysphoria.” Then if we look at people who detransition or retransition, a lot of those folks transitioned a) in adulthood, b) ten or more years ago. And so, the conversation really was about, you have this problem, we’re going to do this thing and then you won’t have this problem anymore…and so a false paradigm was set up. And so those are the folks that are very loud. And those are the folks who have a lot of opinions. And those are the folks who have a lot of opinions about people transitioning in earlier in life…It’s way harder to be inauthentic than to be authentic and have struggles. The below quote was a response to a mother of a 16-year-old. The youth started to transition at 14 and the young person gets depressed after each transition step following a honeymoon period. It is this idea around, there’s ups and downs. There are these honeymoon experiences. So, someone has a lot of gender dysphoria. They are able to start hormones, for trans masculine people, or testosterone. Testosterone starts impacting and creating changes relatively quickly. And so, there is a decrease in gender dysphoria. “My voice is too high. I don’t have any facial hair.” Like that stuff starts happening relatively quickly. So, gender dysphoria organized around physicality decreases. And so, there is kind of a honeymoon period. But all honeymoons, unfortunately, have an end. And gender dysphoria will increase again. And so, things will be more difficult. Your kids may be struggling again. And then chest dysphoria becomes a real necessity. And not only a desire, but a necessity. And so, they will be struggling a lot because the more they show their body the more obvious it is they have breasts, right? To themselves and other people... So, there is an up and down, And I have a very strong belief that gender dysphoria, in a variety of forms, is a lifelong experience. If your child had chest dysphoria, they will not have chest dysphoria again after they have chest surgery. So, there are pieces that are very addressable. But there are pieces that are just an ongoing life-long experience. (proceeds tell parents that this is likely to keep happening with their child and the youth will continue to dip into depression post each transition step and that GD never fully goes away) genital dysphoria will be next when they negotiate relationships…In my belief it is always there. Is it always present? Is it going to be something that your kids’, boys or girls or non-binary are going to have to navigate for the rest of their lives? I really do believe that. And I’ve had opportunities to talk to people who have transitioned 20 or 30 years ago. And they say that has absolutely been their truth and their experience. Johanna Olson-Kennedy concurs this reality on a Straight Talk MD podcast: (link down) And that being said, I don’t think that we, that I, would not like to promote the idea that social transition is the panacea, and that it’s going eradicate gender dysphoria, because it’s not. Gender dysphoria is the distress that arises from in congruence, and the in congruence is never gone. You can’t go back and unassign your gender or sex at birth. You can’t do that. And so, gender dysphoria shows up in a lot of ways. And we have to be mindful of that because what happens often is parents say “Well, we let you go on hormones, and we let you socially transition, then why are you still depressed?” or “why are you still anxious?” or “Why are you still self-harming?” And, as cisgender people, we can’t understand what it means to have gender dysphoria because we don’t have it, and so we have to be mindful, as clinicians to look for it, and see how it waxes and wanes over time. And I think that we underestimate- so someone could be completely socially transitioned in childhood, they could go onto feminizing hormones at an early age, and they’re going to navigate high school when sexuality is sort of at a premium, with genitals that may or may not be what they resonate with, or what feels right for them. And so that’s going to be a big place of gender dysphoria for people, is, at the end of the day you have different challenges when you are non-disclosed, you’re completely perceived as your authentic self, but you are really restricted from entering into intimate spaces. Both with friends but also with potential partners, and that plays a big role in people’s lives, especially teenagers. When talking about a client who, having gone through transition, still had nagging feelings of being incomplete, Michelle Angello (Gender Odyssey, 2017) said this: And for some it can be the panacea and for others, again its complex. And so there are going to be other things and now we get the opportunity to work on them. This detransitioner also notes that despite low regret rates he observed: I’ve seen the statement made many times that “the rate of regret for gender transition is very low”, generally quoted between 1 -3 % or so. This information is used as evidence that we should not be so concerned with the problem of detransition. People identifying with a certain gender and wanting to transition is enough proof that transition is right for them, and therefore there is no need for any in-depth screening. If someone identifies with a certain gender and wants to transition then clearly that is the right thing, as evidenced by low regret rates. Also, there is no reason to look at different ways to deal with dysphoria, because we have this great treatment that already works. However, there are several problems wit h this which are: -The reported measures of regret rates don’t actually measure regret rates. -Regret rates are not the sole measure of good / bad outcomes. -The demographics of transitioners today are not the same as those in the past. -Gender transition and improving people’s quality of life, doesn’t mean there aren’t less invasive ways to get the same improvement. Because I transitioned 20 years ago, I know many MtF transitioners that were in my cohort 5-10 years before. What I see is concerning. I am the only one out of them that has detransitioned, and most of them would not say that they regret their transition and continue to go by feminine pronouns and feminine names. In terms of life outcomes, I would say economically they are mostly doing well. However, socially they are struggling. Most of them are alone. I see a lot of social anxiety, people being unwilling to leave the house. In addition, they still continue to deal with dysphoria and have emotional difficulties. This is not a good thing, some people would say these difficulties are due to oppression and by reducing this oppression it would reduce or eliminate these difficulties. I definitely believe that oppression is a large factor in some of the things that are awful about being transgender. I oppose those that intend to make the world worse for trans people. However, I do not think it is the sole source of these difficulties. Here an FtM who is on an colostomy bag and has undergone 33 surgeries due to phalloplasty complications admits medical transition is not a panacea. Despite regret rates being low, many serious problems remain for trans people overall post transition. Without a control group it is impossible to know for sure how these individuals would fair if they lived in a world where medical transition was not possible (most of human history). There are some cultures where GNC people are accepted and they seem to do well without medical treatment (In Fiji and among the Zapotec). This professional research and consulting firm found low quality evidence for benefits of SRS and found weak evidence to support giving children Lupron. Over the past two decades, Hayes, Inc., has grown to become an internationally recognized research and consulting firm that evaluates a wide range of medical technologies to determine the impact on patient safety, health outcomes, and resource utilization. This corporation conducted a comprehensive review and evaluation of the scientific literature regarding the treatment of GD in adults and children in 2014. It concluded that the practice of using hormones and sex reassignment surgery to treat GD in adults is based on “very low” quality of evidence: Statistically signifcant improvements have not been consistently demonstrated by multiple studies for most outcomes. Evidence regarding quality of life and function in male-to-female (MtF) adults was very sparse. Evidence for less comprehensive measures of well- being in adult recipients of cross-sex hormone therapy was directly applicable to GD patients but was sparse and/or contradicting. The study designs do not permit conclusions of causality and studies generally had weaknesses associated with study execution as well. There are potentially long-term safety risks associated with hormone therapy but none have been proven or conclusively ruled out. (31,32) Regarding treatment of children with GD using gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and cross- sex hormones, Hayes, Inc. awarded its lowest rating indicating that the literature is “too sparse and the studies [that exist are] too limited to suggest conclusions. (31) B. Are regret rates increasing with more transitions & people transitioning at younger ages? Regret rates appear to be increasing Acknowledging the results of the Cornell review, there is some anecdotal information that regret rates are going up, even among the numbers of adult transitioners who transitioned under the gatekeeping model. It’s difficult to tell as follow up studies have inherent major problems tracking true regret rates. A scientist in Britain says this: He said 40% of people who undergo vaginal reconstruction surgery experience complications as a result, and many need further surgery, and 23% of people who have their breasts removed "feel uncomfortable with what they've done". He added: "What I've been seeing in a fertility clinic are the long-term results of often very unhappy people who now feel quite badly damaged.” "One has to consider when you're doing any kind of medicine where you're trying to do good not harm, and looking at the long-term effects of what you might be doing, and for me that is really a very important warning sign." This transgender healthcare expert doctor is seeing more regretters: Over the next six months, another six people also approached him, similarly wanting to reverse their procedures. They came from countries all over the Western world, united by an acute sense of regret. Professor Miroslav Djordjevic: At present, Djordjevic has a further six prospective people in discussions with his clinic about reversals and two currently undergoing the process itself. Reattaching the male genitalia is a complex procedure and takes several operations over the course of a year to fully complete, at a cost of some R290,000. Those wishing the reversal, Djordjevic says, have spoken to him about crippling levels of depression following their transition. Some have even contemplated suicide. "It can be a real disaster to hear these stories," says the 52-year-old. Also from the same article: Djordjevic, who has 22 years' experience of genital reconstructive surgery, operates under strict guidelines. Before any surgery, patients must undergo psychiatric evaluation for between one and two years, followed by a hormonal evaluation and therapy. He also requests two professional letters of recommendation for each person and attempts to remain in contact for as long as possible following the surgery. Currently, he still speaks with 80% of his former patients. "I'm afraid what will happen five to ten years later with this person," he says. "It is more than about surgery; it's an issue of human rights. I could not accept them as a patient as I'd be afraid what would happen to their mind…" Over the past two decades, the average age of his patients has more than halved, from 45 to 21…As a result of the issues he is seeing the the lowering of ages, he does not support those advocating for medicating children. Djordjevic feels differently, and says he `has deep reservations about treating children with hormonal drugs before they reach puberty - not least because blocking certain hormones before they have sufficiently developed means they may find it difficult to undergo reassignment surgery in the future. "Ethically, we have to help any person in the world starting from three to four years of age, but in the best possible way," he says. "If you change general health with any drug, I'm not a supporter of that theory." These are profoundly life-changing matters around which he - like many in his industry - feels far better debate is required to promote new understanding. But at the moment, it seems, that debate is simply being shut down. Michelle Angello (Gender Odyssey, 2017) had this to say. In response to a story of a young female with a supportive family who was having regrets around transition and regretting she didn’t experience more of a chance to live in a female body unaltered. I suspect that we are all probably going to experience that at least once probably multiple times if you are doing this work for any length of time. I think probably more so now because…people have the opportunity to have the medically necessary surgery that they were often times not able to have. Ireland may have a higher regret rate than other places: The country’s leading doctor who helps transgender people change their sex is now supporting three patients who regret having surgery. Professor Donal O’Shea has told Extra “that their trauma highlights the need for proper support and resources to prevent post-operative remorse. This country has a high rate of adults who regret treatment, he said: While some transgender support groups do not wish to highlight the number of people who suffer from post-operative regret, Prof O’Shea believes it is important that people be made aware. He said three transgender people have died by suicide in the past five years, two had surgery and one was on hormone therapy… ‘The real conflict in this profession is seeing someone who makes a very positive transition, and that’s a humbling and amazing thing to see, and then at the other end, you also see some devastating outcomes. We are trying to come up with a situation where there is the least harm, but we cannot mitigate against all harm unfortunately,’ he said… The experience of those who suffer from post-op regret and those who die by suicide highlights the need for resourcing and ongoing psychological and psychiatric support, and the need for input through each stage,’ he said. This autism expert and therapist, Tania Marshall seems to be witnessing more regretters among people who transitioned very young. (54:09-54-55): So I have seen some clients who did transition and regret it. I’ve seen some clients who transitioned and then retransitioned. So those clients that I have seen who regret their transition or retransitoned said that they felt that they were too young. That they were misdiagnosed as being trans rather than being autistic. For parents, teachers, therapists. School counselors, explore… Serious consequences can result from an inappropriate transition, “I will never be able to have sex again. Ever.” A recent British review found suicide rates of up to 18 per cent among people who had undergone gender reassignment surgery. Doctors from London's Portman Clinic say they see many patients who feel trapped in "no-man's land" after surgery, finding themselves with a body which is no longer recognizable as male or female. Psychotherapy, the experts believe, may have saved them from such a fate but few gender clinics offer it. Reviews of the Monash clinic found psychotherapy was rarely, if ever, offered. While a patient would require a diagnosis as a "true transsexual" from two psychiatrists before being offered surgery, both opinions were from inside the clinic — one that operates under the fundamental ethos that surgery is the only cure. Even if regret rates are low they are often very sad outcomes. Twenty years after surgery that left him feeling like a "desexed dog", the grief can still overwhelm him. Now 42, Andrew tells The Sunday Age the operation he had as a confused 21-year-old has shattered him. …For Andrew, it's the small victories that keep him going. "I will never be able to have sex again. Ever. It's taken a long time to come to terms with that, but now I can say it without crying," he says. She says Andrew's surgeon is now dead. But Dr. Kennedy, who assessed Andrew's mental fitness, admitted to The Sunday Age: "I don't know if he was ready for it (surgery) or not. He said he was ready for it. He'd been hounding us since he was 18." Another example of the difficulties of being a detransitioned lesbian: Below is an example of a famous MtF homosexual male, Alexis Arquette, who became disillusioned with the idea of medical transition: In 2013, amid increasing health complications, Alexis (pictured left in 2006 with Holly Woodlawn, another pioneering trans actress, who died in December 2015) began presenting herself as a man again, telling Ibrahim that "'gender is bull***t.' That 'putting on a dress doesn't biologically change anything. Nor does a sex-change.' She said that 'sex-reassignment is physically impossible. All you can do is adopt these superficial characteristics but the biology will never change.'" That realization,” Ibrahim suspects, “was the likely source of her deep wells of emotional torment.” Here are two accounts of detransitioners lives and how the complications of a difficult past affected their gender dysphoria for some insight into the difficulty of this experience: She says Andrew's surgeon is now dead. But Dr. Kennedy, who assessed Andrew's mental fitness, admitted to The Sunday Age: "I don't know if he was ready for it (surgery) or not. He said he was ready for it. He'd been hounding us since he was 18." It's true that Andrew thought he was a transsexual. However, the broken childhood that preceded his referral to the clinic is a recurring theme among those who feel they were misdiagnosed. Born to teenage parents, his earliest memories are of being hit and spat on by his father. Latching on to his mother, he became distraught when he had to leave her to go to school. Confusion about his sexuality was compounded when he was raped by two men at the age of 16. As he aged and started to resemble his father, he began to hate his male appearance. A chance discovery of a book about a transsexual was a pivotal moment. The story resonated with him. Perhaps this was what he was. Another former patient, Angela*, was also an abused child. Sexually molested by a cousin between the ages of four and nine, she grew up hating her femininity. She recalls punching her breasts and working out obsessively at the gym to "remove anything that reminded me I was female". She was a 22-year-old university student when she was referred to the clinic by her GP, depressed and struggling with her identity. Dr Kennedy diagnosed her as transsexual at the first assessment, prescribing her male hormones and suggesting female-to-male surgery Within months Angela's body was covered in thick hair, her voice deepened and she had a full beard. She had to shave under the covers every morning to hide the truth from her conservative Catholic parents. Two years later she had surgery to remove both breasts and was scheduled to have a full sex change. Angela could no longer conceal the truth from her family and began living as "David". Thankfully, she says, she realised there had been a mistake before undergoing full genital surgery. "I remember at one point looking at myself in the mirror with this beard, my breasts gone and thinking, 'Oh my God, what the hell am I going to do?' … I felt ugly. I was the classic bearded woman, a monster trapped between two worlds." She claims her pleas for help were also ignored by the clinic and her return to life as a woman was a nightmare that involved two years of painful electrolysis to get rid of facial and body hair and surgery to reconstruct her breasts… This study shows that despite reported improved mental health suicide risk and rates did not improve. This indicates that even with self-reported low regret rates and self-reported mental health, serious problems remain for many individuals, ‘Why didn’t surgery improve the mental well-being of the patients?’ We don’t know and we need more research to answer this question. However, here are a few possibilities: Possibility #1 – Return to regular life In their discussion, the authors suggest that there might be an initial euphoria after beginning hormones that wears off later on. In addition, after surgery, people might be “again confronted with stigma and other burdens.” In other words, the improvement after hormone therapy is higher than the improvement will be in the end. There is still an improvement later on, but the initial level of euphoria isn’t going to last. If this is true, it would be important information for people who are transitioning so that they don’t have false expectations of what life will be like after transition is complete. Possibility #2 – Surgery is not the best treatment for everyone The authors also suggest that further studies should look at exploring the idea that some patients might want hormones without surgery. It may be that surgery is not the best treatment for everyone with gender dysphoria. Perhaps some people would have been better off with just hormone therapy. Previous studies have found that about 3% of people who have had genital surgery regret it, so we would expect one or two people out of 50 to regret their surgery. Perhaps they are depressed and this affects the group average. Possibility #3 – Effects of surgery It is also possible that some people had post-surgical depression and that this affected the results. Perhaps some people were still recovering from surgery and did not feel well (the study included people 1 to 12 months after surgery). In particular, this might lead to the increase in sleeping problems found in the study. Perhaps some people were dealing with complications of surgery. Perhaps the hormonal changes after surgery affected people’s moods. Possibility #4 – People were already happy On the other hand, perhaps by the time people get surgery, they are already happy due to counseling, hormones, and social transition. Perhaps if people had been forced to stop with hormone therapy alone, they would have become unhappy. As the authors point out, it may have made a difference that they knew they were going to be able to get surgery. Possibility #5 – Surgery doesn’t affect mental health It may simply be that surgery does not improve mental health. At this point, we do not have proof that it does. In the end, we just don’t know. Due to the reality of the outcomes highlighted above, Polly Charmichael expresses that managing expectations is crucial, It is really important to be checking with people, their expectations of physical interventions as it is obviously true they are not the panacea to all things We don't really know if this is the right treatment for everyone or whether there are long term implications for this treatment but for families and young people if can be very difficult,' she said of those they help change sex. 'They are seeking certainty, but the reality is at the moment, we don't have certainty.’ One doctor, who must remain anonymous, for fear of losing her job, is planning for increasing regret rates: Maybe, I say to Dr. K, you are old-fashioned, wrong. Maybe it is fine for a legion of girls to take testosterone, to trade their capacity to orgasm or bear children for a better outward appearance in our highly visual age. Maybe lifelong hormone regimes, molding the body via surgery, breast binders and stand-to-pee prosthetics are progress? “Yes,” she says. “And I hope I am wrong, for the sake of all these young people. But all my instincts as a clinician say not. I’m thinking of opening a practice in a new field: detransition. I foresee a gap in the market.” This top SRS surgeon admits regret rates are likely to go up with youth transitions: 40% of children who attend GIDS are prescribed puberty blocking drugs. But gender expert Professor Miroslav Djordjevic suggested the rise could be in part a fad among parents who indulge their children. And of course there is a danger children could regret having treatment. Prior studies are not a proper comparison to what is happening now with increases in young people and large increases of females: Adolescent-onset of gender dysphoria is a relatively new phenomenon for natal females. In fact, prior to 2012, there was little to no research studies about adolescent females with gender dysphoria first beginning in adolescence [5]. Thus, far more is known about adolescents with early-onset gender dysphoria than adolescents with adolescent-onset gender dysphoria [1, 8]. Although not all research studies on gender dysphoric adolescents exclude those with adolescent-onset gender dysphoria [5], it is important to note that most of the studies on adolescents, particularly those about gender dysphoria persistence and desistance rates and outcomes for the use of puberty suppression, cross-sex hormones, and surgery only included subjects whose gender dysphoria began in childhood and subjects with adolescent-onset gender dysphoria would not have met inclusion criteria for these studies [9–17]. Therefore, most of the research on adolescents with gender dysphoria to date is not something that can be generalized or specific to adolescents experiencing adolescent-onset gender dysphoria [9–17] and the outcomes for individuals with adolescent-onset gender dysphoria, including persistence and desistence rates and outcomes for treatments, are currently unknown. -Littman (2018) A LCSW expresses the same view and discusses issues with a study used to justify early medical treatment on minors: The overwhelming majority of the evidence about transition was derived from studies done on adult transitioners. There are only a few studies that look at outcomes among those who transitioned prior to age 18. De Vries et al. noted positive outcomes among pediatric transitioners. However, the sample size of 55 was relatively small. In addition, it seems worth pointing out that the original group being studied consisted of 70 young people. One of these was not included in the study because the individual died from postsurgical necrotizing fasciitis after vaginoplasty. In addition, these young people were assessed for the final time at approximately one year post surgery. The below screen cap sums up the risks involved with exploding numbers of tweens (mostly females) identifying as trans (a cohort unlike what has been studied in the past). James Cantor is a PhD sexologist. He also comments about the flaw in comparing past studies on adults to the children, teens, and young adults who are transitioning now. James Caspian speaks to the fact that regret rates seem to be going up with the changing demographics of younger people transitioning: I’ve noticed a change in the patient group over the last few years. And increasingly, younger people coming, younger people with many more mental health problems and who didn’t fit the kind of profiles that we have seen in the past of the patient. Because the median age of people transitioning at gender clinics used to be around forty one/forty two. And now we were seeing three times as many people in their late teens. (10:31-11:05) Increases of female teens with serious mental health problems: There seems to be increasing numbers of female teenagers with very serious comorbid conditions or a history of sexual abuse who have gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoric girls were on average older than the boys and a higher percentage of girls was referred to the clinic at the beginning of adolescence (> 12 years of age). At the same time, more girls reported an early onset age. More girls made statements about their (same-sex) sexual orientation during adolescence and wishes for gender confirming medical interventions. More girls than boys revealed self-mutilation in the past or present as well as suicidal thoughts and/or attempts. Results indicate that the presentation of clinically referred gender dysphoric girls differs from the characteristics boys present in Germany; especially with respect to the most salient age differences. Therefore, these two groups require different awareness and individual treatment approaches. A study from Finland describes the same thing, increasing numbers of females and high rates of comorbid conditions. In Western countries natal male transsexuals exceed natal females transsexuals. A German study demonstrated that the natal male:natal female ratio among transsexual people has changed to more equal towards 2000’s that what it was in earlier decades [16]. However, the over representation of girls on our sample differs still from these more recent trends, and it is similar in both the two Finnish centers. We have so far no explanation for this great over representation of natal girls seen in our material, and equalizing of sex ratio demonstrated by others [13,15,16]. Cultural trends may somehow influence this… More than three quarters of the adolescent SR applicants had needed and/or currently needed specialist level child and adolescent psychiatric services due to psychiatric problems other than gender dysphoria. Specialist level child and adolescent psychiatric services are provided exclusively for severe disorders in Finland [25,26]. The recorded comorbid disorders were thus severe and could seldom be considered secondary to gender dysphoria. Lisa Littman’s research on rapid onset GD confirms the same pattern: The adolescent and young adult (AYA) children described were predominantly female sex at birth (82.8%) with a mean age of 16.4 years. Forty-one percent of the AYAs had expressed a non-heterosexual sexual orientation before identifying as transgender. Many (62.5%) of the AYAs had been diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder or neuro developmental disability prior to the onset of their gender dysphoria (range of the number of pre-existing diagnoses 0–7). In 36.8% of the friendship groups described, the majority of the members became transgender-identified. The most likely outcomes were that AYA mental well-being and parent-child relationships became worse since AYAs “came out”. AYAs expressed a range of behaviors that included: expressing distrust of non-transgender people (22.7%); stopping spending time with non-transgender friends (25.0%); trying to isolate themselves from their families (49.4%), and only trusting information about gender dysphoria from transgender sources (46.6%). The GIDS in Britain acknowledges the difficulty in diagnosing these increasing cases of females with mental health problems: Traditionally, evidence has suggested that those who present to the service after puberty are more likely to continue to request service input for their gender in the long term (Steensma et. al., 2013; GIDS Audit: Retrospective Look at Cases Closed at GIDS, presented at WPATH 2016). However, we see a more diverse profile of young people presenting after puberty (e.g. Kaltiala-Heino et al, 2015), so it is unknown whether this is still the case. A psychologist reiterates this point: Dr. Wren: Let me just continue the point. There is an enormous focus on it and, clearly, that is a huge part of our work, so we are also very focused on it, but a recent study from Finland suggested that the sort of complex young people who are coming forward now are going into physical interventions and still having some of the difficulties they had before they went in. We are just very cautious about treating physical intervention for these young people as the royal road to perfect mental health. I think it really needs saying at this point. This should be concerning, as it appears this WPATH member is seeing more females with regrets. Given the promotion of the affirmation/informed consent model, the removal of any kind of mental health screening for gender exploration in children, teens, and young adults it seems plausible regret rates will increase significantly? The individuals below likely transitioned at younger ages then the previous population. Cari Stella is a detransitioned female, and lesbian identified. She speaks of her experience with detransition here and her survey results can be found on her blog. This is not a peer-reviewed study but allows for some relevant insights into the complexity of gender dysphoria, the fact that it can resolve even in youth who transitioned post puberty, and the fact that more than half of these young people did not received any mental health counseling (some were not minors, but young when they first transitioned). Some take-aways: 59.4% of respondents found alternative ways to cope with their dysphoria. “117 of the individuals surveyed had medically transitioned. Of these, only 41 received therapy beforehand. The average length of counseling for those who did attend was 9 months, with a median and mode of 3, minimum of 1, and a maximum of 60. I’d like to have something cool to say here, but I’m honestly just stunned at the fact that 65% of these women had no therapy at all before transition.” guideonragingstars.tumblr.com Most detransitioners identified as females post transition, not some alternative forma of trans which is a common trans narrative that people don’t truly detransition from a trans identity. Something many detransitioners don’t like. Most of these women were all very young (teens and very young adults when they started transition guideonragingstars.tumblr.com The increase of diagnosed females who are medically transitioned as tweens, teens, and young adults will likely lead to more regret. Max, another detransitioned lesbian speaks of the difficulties of transition and detransition, I transitioned FTM at 16, was on testosterone and had a double mastectomy by 17. I’m 20 now and back to understanding myself as a lesbian, like I was before I found out about transition and latched onto it as a way to “fix” body issues created by the challenges of growing up in a deeply misogynistic and lesbian-hating world. I absolutely am traumatized by what happened to me, and I’m not the only one. I’m a part of support networks for women who stopped transition that have over 100 members, and that’s just the individuals who have gone looking for others with this experience and found us. I’ve met more than a dozen of these ladies in person at different times… we’re definitely real. Plenty of others who transition, whether they continue or not, live with complicated feelings about what happened. Not all of us name those experiences the same way, search for community to process that pain, or ever “go public” to any degree. This is trauma. Hormone therapy really wasn’t that safe, in my experience. I remember being 17 and watching my pediatric endocrinologist literally Google dosing information right in front of me. Didn’t inspire confidence. The doctors controlling my HRT had no idea what they were doing, at least with patients like me. They were all just as confused about how to treat me medically as they were about how to interact with me as a human being. When I was on testosterone and taking Adderal for ADD, I got heart palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath. I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t want to have to choose between a psych med that was making a huge difference in my ability to function in the workplace and hormone therapy, and I didn’t want to acknowledge that what I was doing was dangerous. Early in my transition, I went through menopause. This caused vaginal atrophy and drip incontinence that has persisted for years. I piss myself slowly all day now; it’s really not cute or fun. I refused to acknowledge it was connected to the HRT-caused vaginal atrophy that immediately preceded its onset until months after going off testosterone. Yeah, I signed a paper saying I knew that could happen. I also thought this treatment was my only hope for coping with the intense feelings of alienation/disgust with my femaleness. I was wrong. Transition didn’t help. It did harm, harm that I now have to learn how to live with on top of all the shit I thought transition would fix. James Caspian has been working with transgender clients for years and is becoming very concerned with the numbers of young females transitioning. So, we’re are seeing more and more of young women who had identified as lesbians, identifying as an alternative gender identity, wanting to have double mastectomies without any other treatment. And there have been cases of people in that group who have then regretted it. And some of whom have then taken their doctor to court as well, because they have regretted their treatment and they felt the doctor shouldn’t have let them…in the US and the UK as well. (8:50-9:20) Efforts to deny regret and detransition: With the seemingly increasing rates of detransition there have been many insightful blogs written by detransitioners (see here). On theme that often comes it is the strong desire of trans activists, including activist mental health and medical professionals, to paint all cases of detransition as 1) Regret only because society doesn’t treat trans people well. 2) That despite detransition, they still remain a form of trans. This in contrary to most of the stories of the detransitioners who speak out about their situation online. They have returned to their pre-transition selves and often feel very critical of aspects of trans ideology. In the above detransition survey provided by Cari, the response on the WPATH page was to deny that they were ever trans, something their survey does not show in reality. Here Johanna Olson-Kennedy (on a delinked podcast) pushes the narrative people only detransition due to lack of trans acceptance. Absolutely. [they both laugh]. That’s better than a lot of surgical interventions. And I think that even among the people that have, sort of, regretted that decision, it has to do not with that they have gender instability but that they were doing this whole physical or phenotypic gender transition in adulthood and they had an entire life in one gender role that they then lost. And that would be cause for regret I think for anyone, who lost everything in their life because they were pursuing their authentic self. But the more recent narratives of detransitioners, don’t conform to that model at all. Below is a screen cap of a detransitioner who is actually very upset and retained very negative views of his experience in the trans community and its extremely intense identity politics. C. Conclusion regret rates The fact that people are willing to go through these harsh, risky and often expensive treatments is testament to the reality of gender dysphoria. Most studies indicate the majority of people are happy with these surgeries and hormonal effects and people have rights to body autonomy. But most of these studies have been done on people who transitioned in middle age. Currently tweens, teens, and young adults are medically transitioning and often have non-binary identities, rather than a strong desire to be the opposite sex, which is a newer presentation of gender dysphoria. There are hundreds of thousands of videos supporting medical transition and non-binary identities for young people to turn to. Young people document all of their surgical procedures as a rite of passage. If all of these young people will ultimately be happy, the social networking and online visibility is all a good thing. Since transition rates are increasing for very young individuals it is unknown what the regret rates will be and what the impacts of having very young bodies put on cross-sex hormones for a lifetime will have on health. Past transition statistics on regret will probably not translate to younger people transitioning in larger numbers now with many more females transitioning with mental health problems. Regret rates are very likely going to go up. It’s just a matter of how much. Transition helps but is not a fix all either. For this reason, one MtF (and other trans people) support a mental health model: Through talking to other trans people in my life, it has become apparent to me that transition surgeries are an answer but not the answer to the long-term health and well-being of gender dysphoria patients. Unfortunately, many trans people get so fixated on surgery for so long, that they may forget that there is more to life and transitioning than just surgery and other medical intervention. The fixation is often driven by the fantasy that surgery, and transition in general, will transform them into a new person, and that all the problems in life will go away… The availability of surgery isn’t the issue nor is removing barriers to surgery; the issue is that trans people are being educated and socially encouraged to abandon a holistic and forward-thinking approach to life. A return to medical gatekeeping, albeit modernized, for the treatment of gender dysphoria would be in the best interest of trans people. This just might slow down transgender contagion, the unhealthy and socially-sanctioned fixation with gender. Dr Wren of Tavistock: We have shifted to make the treatment available earlier and earlier. But the earlier you do it, the more you run the risk that it’s an intervention people would say yes to at a young age, but perhaps would not be so happy with when they move into their later adulthood CONTENTS 8) Regret rates & long term mental health A. Despite low regret rates, mental health problems remain high B. Are regret rates increasing with more transitions & people transitioning at younger ages? -Regret rates appear to be increasing -Prior studies are not a proper comparison to what is happening now with increases in young people / females -Increases of female teens with serious mental health problems -Efforts to deny regret & detransition C. Conclusion, regret rates BACK TO OUTLINE MORE 1. Do children outgrow gender dysphoria? 2. Permanent side effects 3. Are children & teens old enough to give consent? 4. Comments safety / desistance unknown 5. Gender dysphoria affirmative model 6. Minors transitioned without any psychological assessments 7. Conversion therapy laws 9. New World Order 10. Nature versus nurture 11. Why are so many females coming out as trans / nonbinary? 12. Cultural ripple effects 13. Why is gender ideology being prioritized in educational settings? 14. Problems with a politicized climate (censorship, etc) 15. Suicide risk reviewed 16. Trans rights / risks of false positives on minors 17. Moral Dilemmas

  • TReVoices - Parents/Detrans

    TReVoices Is The Leading Org Fighting To Stop Childhood Medical Transition World Wide! ​ Led by transman/lesbian Scott Newgent, our relentless SCREAMING to 'STOP Medically Transitioning Children' has been and continues to be heard everyday World - Wide! Make sure we can continue - We Need Your Help - Donate Today. Button Lift The Veil. Parents Get Busy & Learn Why 'Medical Transition Is Not Place For a child.' Sincerely, TReVoices & Everyone Else < Back The Gender Mapping Project Original Article The Gender Mapping Project ​ Meet the Detransitioners Speaking Out ​

  • TReVoices - SCREAMING In The Media

    < Back Forget What Gender Activists Tell You. Here’s What Medical Transition Looks Like By, Scott Newgent US At a recent gathering, a daughter’s friend told us, “I’m probably trans because I don’t like female puberty.” This instantly got my attention, because I have known this child for years, and I never saw any indication of her being trans. I innocently asked her why she would say that. Was it a joke, perhaps? She replied, “I don’t like my boobs growing, and Reddit says I’m probably trans.” That night, I tracked down these Reddit exchanges, and my jaw dropped when I saw how many people and organizations were heavily pushing the possibility of her being trans. But perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised, given the way such attitudes have gone mainstream. This includes the pediatrician mom whose recent opinion piece for the New York Times was titled What I Learned as the Parent of a Transgender Child. For kids Googling this subject, the overall effect is the equivalent of one big glitter bomb going off on their screen. I write all this as a 47-year-old transgender man who transitioned five years ago. I’m also a parent to three teenagers. Though I admire the good intentions of parents who seek to support their children, I have serious concerns about reckless acquiescence to a child’s Internet-mediated self-diagnosis. Many older transgender folks share these concerns, too. In many cases, we are people who have been quietly going about our lives in society for years, anonymously sharing shops, offices, elevators, and sidewalks with everyone else, without making a big deal of our identity or proselytizing to others. We like it that way. But given the current climate, we now need to speak out. That one comment by my daughter’s friend caused me to investigate the organizations that purport to advocate on behalf of the trans community. I found that they typically push an approach based on quickly and enthusiastically affirming any indication of gender dysphoria. As someone who is trans myself, I know that this is the wrong approach. Yes, some children who say they are trans really will need to transition one day, because they have a lifelong condition. But parents who automatically assume that this is the case with their child aren’t necessarily following the child’s best interests. Transgenderism isn’t a vague feeling, or a distaste for stereotypical roles. It’s a serious internal condition that causes you to want to become the opposite sex. Medical transition, such as the kind I went through, can enhance an illusion that helps some gender dysphoric individuals navigate the world with more comfort. It did for me, and it was the right path for me to choose. I wasn’t “born in the wrong body.” I was born female. But I didn’t like it. So I changed my appearance, at significant monetary, psychological, and physical cost, with plastic surgery and hormones. My sex never changed, though. Only my appearance changed. Anyone going through this is in store for a brutal process. Yet we now have thousands of naïve parents walking their children into gender-treatment centers, often based on Internet-peddled narratives that present the transition experience through a gauzy rainbow lens. Many transition therapies are still in an experimental phase—as you will learn if you become sick during or after these treatments. During my own transition, I had seven surgeries. I also had a massive pulmonary embolism, a helicopter life-flight ride, an emergency ambulance ride, a stress-induced heart attack, sepsis, a 17-month recurring infection due to using the wrong skin during a (failed) phalloplasty, 16 rounds of antibiotics, three weeks of daily IV antibiotics, the loss of all my hair, (only partially successful) arm reconstructive surgery, permanent lung and heart damage, a cut bladder, insomnia-induced hallucinations—oh and frequent loss of consciousness due to pain from the hair on the inside of my urethra. All this led to a form of PTSD that made me a prisoner in my apartment for a year. Between me and my insurance company, medical expenses exceeded $900,000. During these 17 months of agony, I couldn’t get a urologist to help me. They didn’t feel comfortable taking me on as a patient—since the phalloplasty, like much of the transition process, is experimental. “Could you go back to the original surgeon?” they suggested. Whenever you question the maximalist activist line on trans affirmation, you are directed to The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (or WPATH) as a reference. But much of what you find there consists of vague phrases such as “up to doctor’s discretion.” Several lawyers suggested I had a slam-dunk medical-malpractice case—until they realized that trans health doesn’t really have a justiciable baseline. As a result, treatment often is subpar, as I have experienced first-hand. Lupron, the hormone blocker some doctors seem intent on giving to kids like Tylenol, isn’t even FDA-approved to treat children with gender dysphoria. (In 2001, the manufacturer pled guilty to fraudulent sales practices with regard to its marketing as a prostate-cancer drug.) We don’t yet know its long-term effects off-label, despite the fact parents have been assured that its effects are safe and even reversible. Here is what we do know: The long-term use of synthetic hormone therapy shortens lives. Specifically, these medications are associated with an increased risk of heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms, bone damage, liver and kidney failure, mental-health complications, and more. Almost a quarter of hormone-therapy patients on high-dose anabolic steroids (such as the testosterone taken by female-to-male transitioners) exhibit major mood-syndrome symptoms. Between three and 12 percent go on to develop symptoms of psychosis. Children who claim to be trans typically are receiving such drugs at a pivotal time in the development of brains and bones. They’ve become a generation of guinea pigs, to answer such questions as: What will happen to a biological boy who takes sex hormones associated with the opposite sex (or vice versa), and grows up without the benefit of natural puberty? What happens to a male body on estrogen over the long term? No one knows. In regard to the emotional effects of transition, many activists will refer you to a 2018 Pediatrics journal article entitled “Transgender Adolescent Suicide Behavior.” But the study reported therein was based on just three years of data—collected between 2012 and 2015. What matters is the long term. And in this regard, the gold standard is a study of 324 medically transitioned adults, based on 30-year longitudinal data. The authors found that completing sex-reassignment surgery was associated with “considerably higher risks for mortality, suicidal behaviour, and psychiatric morbidity” as compared to the general population. Kids who are suicidal before their transition will likely continue to be suicidal, and the most intense ideation often comes years after transitioning. (Transgender folks themselves sometimes speak anecdotally of a seven-to-10-year trans suicide “itch” observed within the community.) Death from any cause as a function of time after sex reassignment among 324 transsexual persons in Sweden. Source: NCBI. None of this is information that radicalized trans activists seek to publicize. In 2019, they trumpeted an article entitled Reduction in Mental Health Treatment Utilization Among Transgender Individuals After Gender-Affirming Surgeries, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, which purported to show the benefits of transition. When the same authors came back in August 2020 to admit that their data actually didn’t show any significant benefit from transition, few bothered to report the correction. I have observed that when any argument is raised against a policy of no-questions-asked affirmation, activists seek to pre-empt discussion of the actual data by instead summoning up the specter of suicide—some version of “I would rather have a live daughter than a dead son.” Terrified parents are made to feel as if any expression of concern or skepticism is a gateway to the grave. It’s a passive aggressive form of emotional terrorism. From my own experience, and from countless conversations with my transgender friends, I can report that most of us regret at least some—though maybe not all—parts of our transition. Even for those who transition successfully, finding peace has stages and takes time. At first, everything is new and exciting. Then, as the years go on, reality sets in, and you have to face up to the reality of biological sex, not to mention the health issues. This is not a life of glitter bombs. The UK seems to be further ahead than North America in coming to understand that treatment decisions are happening too fast. The National Health Service (NHS) recently changed its stance on medically transitioning children, from presumed approval to a more cautious approach, even warning parents (accurately) that it is “not known whether hormone blockers affect the development of the teenage brain or children’s bones.” The NHS also notes that “most treatments offered at this stage are psychological rather than medical. This is because in many cases gender variant behaviour or feelings disappear as children reach puberty.” Perhaps the law suits are causing people to wake up. “I should have been challenged on the proposals or the claims that I was making for myself,” reports one British plaintiff. “And I think that would have made a big difference as well. If I was just challenged.” As someone who has experienced medical transition first-hand, I am convinced that it’s better to err on the side on discretion, and leave life-altering decisions to adults who have the benefit of a fully developed brain. The next time my daughter’s friend, or any child, comes to me for advice on their gender dysphoria, here’s what I’d tell them: “There are people who need to medically transition to walk peacefully through their lives, and you, kiddo, might be that person. But, right now, you are a child, and your body is developing everything you need to be a healthy, happy, strong adult. When you grow up, you get to decide about your life.” For parents, I would say this: It is simply not your right or duty to decide to medically transition your child. Remove that burden from your mind. Medical transition is for adults. The negatives associated with medical transition are vast, and you won’t be the one who lives with the consequences. It will be your child. If your child tells you they will kill themselves if you do not allow them to medically transition (perhaps following a script he or she is provided on Reddit or Tumblr), take them to the hospital so they can be treated for suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation and seeking transition are separate issues, so separate them. We talk a lot about oppression and marginalization. Well, I’m one of the people who’s been oppressed and marginalized—more so now that I have outed myself so that I can try to help others. The least you can do is pay attention to my message. Original Link

  • TReVoices - SCREAMING In The Media

    < Back J. K. Rowling vs. Woke Supremacy By Madeleine Kearns US Much ado has been made of J. K. Rowling’s essay explaining her “reasons for speaking out on sex and gender issues.” She has been accused of transphobia far and wide. A school in West Sussex has dropped plans to name one of its houses after her as it does “not wish to be associated with these views.” An adviser for the Elizabeth Warren campaign has called her “complete scum.” A writer for the New York Times has implied that she is responsible for increasing suicidality in gender-dysphoric people. Sanctimonious younger cast members of the Harry Potter movie series (actors of mediocre talent who would not be where they are were it not for Rowling) have tweeted out woke platitudes. Almost all of her critics have ignored what she actually wrote. And next to none have engaged with her verified claims of being a domestic-abuse survivor. In her essay, Rowling provides “five reasons” for being “worried about the new trans activism, and deciding I need to speak up.” The first is her philanthropic activity, which “supports projects for female prisoners and for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse” as well as funding medical research into MS, “a disease that behaves very differently in men and women.” The second is that she is an ex-teacher and head of a children’s charity, with an interest in education and safeguarding. The third is that, as a “much-banned author,” she is interested in freedom of speech. The fourth is a concern “about the huge explosion in young women wishing to transition,” especially since she herself was once unhappy with her body. And the fifth reason is that, as a domestic- and sexual-abuse survivor, she stands in “solidarity with the huge numbers of women who have histories like mine, who’ve been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces.” What becomes clear from reading her essay is that she has done her homework and has been closely following this debate for the past two years. She has collected testimony from trans people, specialists, researchers, and women worried about “the way a socio-political concept is influencing politics, medical practice and safeguarding” and above all, “a climate of fear that serves nobody — least of all trans youth — well.” Since the mainstream media is intent on reporting only one side of the reaction to Rowling’s essay, I have collected testimonies from those who have similar concerns and who are grateful to her for taking a stand. First, trans people. Debbie Hayton, a trans woman, told me of the “need to listen” to Rowling. “Trans activism has overreached with endless demands, always taking and never giving,” Hayton said. “The time has come for us to stop and start thinking about others as well as ourselves.” Scott Newgent, a trans man, told me of his agreement as well. “Medical transition creates an illusion of the opposite sex and some find comfort in that. What it does not do is change biology. We cannot get to a place in our society where feelings trump facts, and that is currently what is happening within the transgender debate,” Newgent said. Second, women and feminists. In her essay, J. K. Rowling reiterated her support for Maya Forstater, a tax expert, who lost her job for tweeting her belief in biological sex. Forstater told me, “I am immensely grateful to J. K. Rowling for her courage and her voice. . . . It is lonely and scary to stand up on your own.” In her essay, Rowling mentions Magdalen Berns, a lesbian feminist based in Scotland who sadly died last year, and who co-founded the grassroots movement For Women Scotland, which fights to hold the Scottish government accountable for relentlessly attempting to erode women’s sex-based rights and protections. A spokesperson for the organization told me their work is often “exhausting and demoralizing” and cited the draft “Hate Crimes bill” introduced in April which “could see women imprisoned for speaking biological truths if someone claims to find it offensive.” (Yes, you read that correctly.) The women at For Women Scotland were “so grateful” and “a little tearful” reading her contribution as well as “incredibly touched that she mentioned [Magdalen] in such a personal essay.” Third, researchers. Rowling mentions Lisa Littman, a medical doctor and researcher, whose research at Brown University suggesting that the uptick in gender dysphoria among teenage girls was possible “social and peer contagion” became the subject of activist ire. “I applaud J. K. Rowling’s courage to speak out, despite the pushback, to defend the rights of vulnerable people including lesbian and gay youth, survivors of sexual and domestic violence, youth with autism, and detransitioners,” Littman told me. Ken Zucker, the Canadian psychologist and world-renowned expert in gender dysphoria in children, who was unfairly fired after activists launched a smear campaign against him for trying to help some of his young patients through treatments other than “gender affirmation” (e.g. talk therapy and watchful waiting), told me “It is sad that a brilliant writer of fantasy has had to confront the reality of transgender politics. Transgender politics often have little to do with science, unless it is convenient to rely on it to make a political point.” A transgender activist/columnist for the New York Times implied that Rowling’s essay might cause an increase in suicidality among trans youth, but Zucker, whose research spans four decades, told me “although gender-dysphoric teenagers have a higher rate of suicidality, so do other youth who are referred for various mental-health issues. Moreover, there is certainly no convincing evidence that they will actually commit suicide. In this regard, the suicide ‘trope’ can be used to evoke unwarranted anxiety in their parents.” Abigail Shrier, a writer for the Wall Street Journal, and author of the exhaustively researched book, Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters (to be released later this month), also backed Rowling. She told me: “The phenomenon of girls with no history of gender dysphoria suddenly deciding they are trans in friend groups is no laughing matter. It’s connected to misogyny, pubescent angst, and the most ancient teenage desire for belonging. People who cheer on the social and medical transition of adolescent girls are making an enormous mistake, encouraging a vulnerable population in self-harm.” “J. K. Rowling has said what everyone is thinking but are too frightened to say,” a spokesperson for Fair Play for Women told me. “She speaks for the silent majority and a huge number of women will be grateful to her.” Natasha Chart, Board Chair of the Women’s Liberation Front, expressed her gratitude for Rowling’s “solidarity with all of the other women who have suffered this same, unfair monstering for speaking the truth.” Rowling even manages to find a place for humor in her essay, something her attackers are completely deficient in. “Speaking as a biological woman, a lot of people in positions of power really need to grow a pair (which is doubtless literally possible, according to the kind of people who argue that clownfish prove humans aren’t a dimorphic species).” Well, speaking as someone who has spent a great deal of time on this issue, Rowling’s voice in this debate is — as evidenced — welcome. Editor’s Note: This piece has been amended since its initial publication. By Madeleine Kearns Read More On Madeleine Here: https://madeleinekearns.com/ Original Link

  • TReVoices - Media

    SCREAMING In The Media This page is full of media from around the world collected to educate, help others learn how SCREAM to S.T.O.P. Childhood Medical Transition. ...The power of one voice? One Voice....Well...One Voice Can Change Everything... Please start using yours today to top the medical industry from butchering children under the guise of, love and human rights. Reach out anytime...I will never say no to help a child -Scott Newgent J. K. Rowling vs. Woke Supremacy National Review Much ado has been made of J. K. Rowling’s essay explaining her “reasons for speaking out on sex and gender issues.” She has been accused of transphobia far and wide. A school in West Sussex has dropped plans to name one of its houses after her as it does “not wish to be associated with these views.” Read More Children's Rights, Trans Realities | with Scott Newgent Boyce Of Reason Scott Newgent Is His Own Fire Brand Of Truth! Read More We Need Balance When It Comes To Gender Dysphoric Kids. I Would Know Newsweek This Newsweek article was one of the first published in the mainstream media and referred to people often. During my post-operation 17 months of sheer survival, I discovered that transgender health care is experimental and that large swaths of the medical industry encourage minors to transition due, at least in part, to fat profit margins. I was gobsmacked. Each day I researched more and became increasingly appalled. Read More Changer de genre, ce n'est pas une mince affaire Le Point Changer de genre, ce n'est pas une mince affaire Un homme transgenre témoigne des problèmes de santé liés à la transition de genre, et s'inquiète des effets à long terme des traitements hormonaux.... Read More 미 트랜스젠더 남성, 성전환 수술 이후 후유증 폭로…다음세대 보호해야 U.S. transgender man reveals sequelae after sex reassignment surgery... protect the next generation 조제 - GPM 뉴스위크(Newsweek)에 따르면 자신을 48세의 트랜스젠더 남성이라고 설명한 스콧 뉴젠트(Scott Newgent)는 6년 전, 자신이 여자에서 남자로 변할 수 있다는 말을 들었을 때 매우 기뻤다며, 그러나 (의료진은) 의학적 전환으로 인해 일어날 모든 멋진 일들에 대한 정보는 제공했지만, 부정적인 것들은 얼버무렸다고 설명했다. Read More Daily Surge Daily Surge In a surprising editorial published in the Washington Post, two transgender activists and psychologists, Laura Edwards-Leeper and Erica Anderson, are now advocating for “gender-exploratory therapy” for trans-identified youth before rushing into puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and sex-change surgery. Shades of what we conservatives have been saying for years! Read More “Blasphemous ideas and the silence dissent: A Review of Abigail Shrier's "Irreversible Damage" Feminist Current This review grew out of a discussion with a dear friend who, at the time, supported gender identity ideology. I, on the other hand, had become increasingly frustrated with the loss of women’s rights to female-only spaces and laws protecting us from sex discrimination, as well as with the silencing of dissent to transgender dogma, and had urged her to examine the available information for herself. Read More OPPOSING OPINIONS AROUND PEDIATRIC MEDICAL TRANSITION AND GENDER IDEOLOGY ​Genderhq Trans Opposition to Pediatric Medical Transition and Gender Activism Not all trans people believe in pediatric medical transition as the medical side effects can be intense, and surgeries and hormones have risks. Scott Newgent, an FtM trans person, has circulated a petition, “Adult Transgender & Non-Transgender People Against Medically Transitioning Children opposing medical treatment on minors.” Read More The Cowardly Republicans Of South Dakota National Review For proof that Republicans can be just as lazy, self-serving, and cowardly as Democrats, look no farther than the South Dakota Senate. As reported by my colleague Tobias Hoonhout, this week Republican senators Duhamel, Rusch, Steinhauer, and Soholt of the Health and Human Services Committee all joined the 5–2 majority that effectively killed a bill designed to make it easier for gender-confused minors to attain financial compensation later in life — should they realize, before age 38... Read More Statement on Buck Angel and “Trans Men Fight Back” Kitty Stryker On July 23rd, a letter was posted titled “Trans Men Fight Back”. Hosted by the Gender Dysphoria Alliance Canada and cosigned by TRans Educational Voices, it was signed by GDAC founder Aaron Kimberly, alongside TReVoices founder Scott Newgent, Buck Angel, Ken Pirie, Aaron Terell, and “those who don’t wish to be named”. In the letter, a series of wild, vague accusations were leveled at unnamed trans women, who the signatories claim they have been silenced by. Read More Bill C-6 needs more nuance: ​"Conversion therapy is wrong, but pushing kids to transition medically is worse​ - Published Brief Entered Into Evidence​ Canadian Parliament Read TReVoices Official Brief On File With The Canadian Parlament. Once again, transing kids hide right behind the 'actual bigotry' gays and lesbians teens have been dealing with for years. Read More Forget What Gender Activists Tell You. Here’s What Medical Transition Looks Like Quilette At a recent gathering, a daughter’s friend told us, “I’m probably trans because I don’t like female puberty.” This instantly got my attention, because I have known this child for years, and I never saw any indication of her being trans. I innocently asked her why she would say that. Was it a joke, perhaps? She replied, “I don’t like my boobs growing, and Reddit says I’m probably trans.” Read More Sex Change Can Destroy's One's Life, Biological Woman Who Transitioned Into A Man Reveals Christianity Daily "Scott" Newgent, a self-described 48-year-old transgender man, warns people of dangers from sex-change surgeries that she encountered first-hand. Six years ago, a hopeful Newgent was told by the medical community that she could turn from a woman into a man. But, Newgent adds, "all the negatives were glossed over." Read More Is the Left endorsing conversion therapy for trans children? The Christain Post In a surprising editorial published in TheWashington Post, transgender activists and psychologists Laura Edwards-Leeper and Erica Anderson are now advocating for “gender-exploratory therapy” for trans-identified youth before rushing into puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and sex-change surgery. Shades of what we conservatives have been saying for years! Read More Ativista trans se manifesta contra as políticas de gênero de Joe Biden Leia mais em: Trans activist speaks out against Joe Biden's gender policies Gazeta Do Povo Ativista trans se manifesta contra as políticas de gênero de Joe Biden Leia mais em: https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/ideias/ativista-trans-joe-biden/ Copyright © 2021, Gazeta do Povo. Todos os direitos reservados. Read More Documentary 'TRANSMISSION' - What's the rush to reassign gender? CBC The Center For Bio-Ethics and Culture Network New Documentary "Trans Mission" Explores How Kids and Parents Are Caught in the Maw of Child Gender Medicine Programs Share now: #DeTransMission Read More #880 - A TRANSMAN’S UNEXPECTED THOUGHTS ON TRANS* RELATED ISSUES: SCOTT NEWGENT Theology in the Raw #880 Read More ​Twitter Bans Transman For Telling The Horrific Truth ​Freedom Updates This is what happens when you go against the liberal narrative, even when you are part of a group they put on a pedestal. Scott Newgent was originally Kelly King, a woman who underwent numerous surgeries to look like a man. But unlike other trans, Newgent has been warning others not to make the change. Newgent took to Twitter to warn others and was banned for it. You'd think that Newgent would be ok on the liberal platform but apparently, they don't want people to hear a voice of reason. Newgent explained the horrors associated with the sex-change surgeries and other treatments that Liberals don't want the public to know about. Read More Trans Get Twitter-Banned For Trying To Save Troubled Youth The Patriot Chronicles As the social media giants continue to crack down on those who violate their trans-activist talking points (see here and here), another perspective has been raised from an unexpected source. I'm talking about a powerful, deeply moving article posted in Newsweek and titled, "We Need Balance When It Comes To Gender Dysphoric Kids. I Would Know." The author of the op-ed is Scott Newgent, self-described as "a 48-year-old transgender man." What Newgent has written is courageous, deeply revealing, poignant and accurate. Read More ‘Gender transition’ regret deserves a voice, says former patient​” ​Catholic News Agency​ New York woman Grace Lidinsky-Smith said she regrets going through “gender transition” surgery, in a June 25 essay. Lidinsky-Smith wrote that she’s not the only person who feels wrongly prescribed hormone therapy and surgery by medical providers who operate under no commonly agreed standard of care. Her June 25 essay, “There's No Standard for Care When it Comes to Trans Medicine,” was published by Newsweek. Read More Why a Generation of Girls Is Fleeing Womanhood THE JOURNAL OF THE WITHERSPOON INSTITUTE Abigail Shrier’s new book is an outstanding investigative report on the diagnostic craze of rapid onset gender dysphoria that has swept over adolescent girls in the past decade. It is an invaluable resource for parents, educators, church and community leaders, and anyone else who cares about the well-being of young women.Abigail Shrier’s new book is an outstanding investigative report on the diagnostic craze of rapid onset gender dysphoria that has swept over adolescent girls in the past decade. It is an invaluable resource for parents, educators, church and community leaders, and anyone else who cares about the well-being of young women. Read More Interview with Trans Man & Leading International Phycologist On Childhood Gender Dysphoria Genspect Leading Psychologist Stella O'Malley & Our Founder Talk About Gender -Dysphoria Stop By Stella's Organization GenSpect Read More Interview with Scott Newgent Feminist Legal Clinic [T]ransgender health is the gravitative new revenue channel that is drawing in the horrible surgeons and physicians and mental health professionals. You can be dangerously terrible at what you do, jump into this arena, and you have a line of people wanting to see you, you have LGBT organisations protecting you from lawsuits and politicians that don’t have the guts to stand up and say this is wrong. Read More TReVoices Founder Stands Behind the Green Party "No, they are not transphobic; they just decided to plug in a few brain cells to analyze the situation and what's happening to kiddos...Let's hope ya'll will feel the same way after my speech." Georgia Green Party Testimony Legal Testimony Read More Letiltottak egy transznemű Scott Newgent férfit a Twitteren, mert kritizálta a gyermekek nemváltoztatását, és rávilágított arra, hogy a nemváltás és az azzal járó negatív hatások egy életen át tartanak V4 Agency Letiltottak egy transznemű férfit a Twitteren, mert kritizálta a gyermekek nemváltoztatását, és rávilágított arra, hogy a nemváltás és az azzal járó negatív hatások egy életen át tartanak, írja a V4NA. A New Yorkban élő 48 éves transzszexuális Scott Newgent egy életre kitiltották a Twitterről, miután figyelmeztetéseket tett közzé a gyerekek nemváltoztatásával kapcsolatban. A férfi kiemelte, hogy a pubertásblokkolók, és a hormonkezelések hatására a gyerekek fokozottan ki vannak téve a depressziónak... Read More Is The Washington Post Now Endorsing Conversion Therapy for Trans-Identified Children? Town Hall In a surprising editorial published in the Washington Post, two transgender activists and psychologists, Laura Edwards-Leeper and Erica Anderson, are now advocating for “gender-exploratory therapy” for trans-identified youth before rushing into puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and sex-change surgery. Shades of what we conservatives have been saying for years! Read More The case for deep-sixing Bill C-6 National Post Barbara Kay: The case for deep-sixing Bill C-6 Despite broad support in the House, the proposed law to ban conversion therapy reaches too far Author of the article: Barbara Kay Late last month, 306 members of Parliament gave approval in principle to “conversion therapy” Bill C-6, with only seven Conservative party votes opposed (leader Erin O’Toole supported it, but permitted his MPs a free vote). The House of Commons justice committee is reviewing public responses to it......... Read More Testosterone Prescribed-A Body Destroyed, But A Mind Awoken To Save Others TReVoices A true story that will help parents understand why so many gay and lesbian children gravitate to becoming trans. Not acknowledging the truth leads to a generation of gay and lesbians butchering bodies and minds that do not need to be fixed. Love and Acceptance is a must and only prescription required. Read More With Congressman Dan Crenshaw & trans Man Scott Newgent "Let's Talk About Transgenderism...Debate" Hold These Truth Hold These Truths | Episode 128 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2dUj... Scott Newgent is a transgender man and the founder of TReVoices, an organization working with governments around the world to develop laws and guidelines which inform and protect individuals who are considering gender reassignment surgery. We talk about Scott's near-death experience with medically transitioning, the industry and ideology that is influencing LGBT adults and children to medically transition, and the how that ideology is attempting to radically change our politics, sports, military, and culture. Learn more about Scott's work at https://www.trevoices.com and follow him on Twitter at @ScottNewgent. Read More A Trans Campaigner Speaks Out against Biden’s Transgender Activism​ ​National Review Biden’s trans policies are ‘doing nobody any favors,’ says Scott Newgent. Scott Newgent is a 47-year-old transgender man and parent living in Texas. Newgent is the founder of TReVoices, a group of trans campaigners who oppose radical gender activism and seek to educate politicians and families about the reality of gender dysphoria. Here, he talks to Madeleine Kearns about the Biden administration’s transgender policies. Read More The Mess We’re In “Trans Day Of Visibility Graham Linehan Podcast The Mess We're In Ep. #44: Trans Day of Visibility! Read More Dysphoric (2021) - a four-part documentary series Lime Soda Films IN — Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Vaishnavi Sundar is an independent filmmaker, writer, and radical feminist from Chennai, India, whose filmmaking is unapologetically female-centered, despite men’s utterly entitled demands upon her. Her previous work includes direction of But What Was She Wearing?, shot by an all-woman crew, as India’s first feature-length documentary on the sexual harassment of working women. Contrasting first-world consumable narratives of white saviorism and poverty porn, Sundar’s film takes into account differences across caste, class, and religion among Indian women, focusing on women speaking collectively as women for women about women. However, the response to her radically feminist filmmaking has revealed the failures of a fundamentally superficial liberal feminism positioned on the politics of platitudes. “Our fight for rights today – despite the many lives that were lost in the process – remains toothless and cosmetic at best,” Sundar reflects. Currently, Sundar’s upcoming film titled Not My Cup of T will explore the unprecedented increase in young women in the Western world coming to clinics with ‘gender dysphoria’ and, in their desperation, seeking drugs and surgeries as ‘solutions’ to their distress. Drawing on the work of Dr Lisa Littman, Sundar considers what has been described as rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD). From a feminist point of view, then, Sundar will take a critical look at this psychological and sociological phenomenon and the profitable, global medicalization of gender nonconformity, notably as it pertains to female youth. Continue reading ‘Not My Cup of T’: Interview with Vaishnavi Sundar, Filmmaker Exploring Rise in Girls Treated for ‘Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria’ | Women Are Human. Read more at: https://www.womenarehuman.com/not-my-cup-of-t-interview-with-vaishnavi-sundar-filmmaker-exploring-rise-in-girls-treated-for-rapid-onset-gender-dysphoria/ Read More Let's Focus On Stopping the Transition of Children' Uncommon Ground Scott Newgent responds to assertions made in a recent article published on Uncommon Ground Media with a call to focus on the issue at hand. This statement will also be published on Scott Newgent’s website, TReVoices.org Read More Wild West Of Transgender Surgery - It's All Experimental - Yee Haw! TReVoices Deciding to get a Phalloplasty is a personal journey. The surgery itself is a hot button in the transgender community, and, I believe it will continue to be for quite some time. I'm not a Doctor just a patient, so these explanations, experiences as well as opinions will be with my limited knowledge from a clinical perspective. Some incidents are mine, some I have read in medical malpractices cases, and others are ones I listened to over coffee with friends. Excuse the explicit account, but I want to put the complexities and expectations into a realistic viewpoint, it would have benefited me when I started this journey. Read More From a Christian Conservative to a Transgender Man: Love Calls Me to Action CHARISMA As the social media giants continue to crack down on those who violate their trans-activist talking points (see here and here), another perspective has been raised from an unexpected source. I'm talking about a powerful, deeply moving article posted in Newsweek and titled, "We Need Balance When It Comes To Gender Dysphoric Kids. I Would Know." The author of the op-ed is Scott Newgent, self-described as "a 48-year-old transgender man." What Newgent has written is courageous, deeply revealing, poignant and accurate. Read More Trans Man is Twitter-banned after speaking against gender transition of children ​The Post Millennial The gender mystics are winning social media battles, but the war will be won by the heroes who refuse to yield to their tyranny, who refuse to be silenced, and who find other pathways to make their case. Read More You need to know what the 12 leading complications of childhood medical Transition TReVoices 12 Leading Complications-Medical Transing Kids-USA Estimate Of Money Generated-312 Million A Year! The blog is essential to the transing kid's debate because it breaks down the finances and what it means for every child that is convinced they are trans....What does that mean from a profit perspective? This article is also frightening—the top 12 complications of medical transitioning and why it's no place for a child. Read More Trans activist: Serious concern over child reassignment surgery​ ​Catholic Weekly The Australian Catholic director for "Catholic Weekly" reached out to Scott and asked to publish an article. The director was surprised when Mr Newgent agreed. "To stop the travesty of medically transitioning children, we have to pull apart the protection they receive for people believing this issue is about human rights; it is not! It is not about money. I will work with anything that helps stop one of the catastrophic travesties histories will write about, the time when "People butchered children for profit. When all communities come together, it sheds light on the reality, light bulbs click on, and people instantly turn white when they understand what is being done to children. So yes, I work with all communities; we don't have to agree on everything; we can fight later. Right now, grab my hand. Children of the world need us to SCREAM in unity and Adult Better." -Scott Newgent Read More TRANS MAN PULLS BACK THE VEIL ON TRANS TREATMENTS​ ​BiNARY Scott Newgent was born a female 48 years ago. Today Scott has undergone radical, invasive, and destructive transitioning treatments. Scott now has some important warnings for anyone else, especially children, considering the same pathway. Read More France - Journal d'investigation - Tendance transgenre MISE AU POINT A showed compared to 60 minutes here in the US covering the medically transitioning children debate with Abigail Sheir and Scott Newgent in the segment. Watch Read More Scott Newgent, un trans contra el lobby LGBTI: «Eres lo que eres biológicamente. Eso no cambia» Scott Newgent, a trans person against the LGBTI lobby: “You are what you are biologically. I don't change Religionenlibertad AGS:TransexualidadCiencia e ideología de género “¡Has sido un héroe para mí durante tanto tiempo, Scott!”, le dijo J.K. Rowling el pasado 20 de julio en Twitter. A la creadora de Harry Potter, bestia negra del lobby LGBTI desde que se solidarizó con una mujer despedida de su trabajo por afirmar que el sexo es biología, ya no le importaba si ese tuit era pretexto para una nueva campaña de hostigamiento. Read More Abigail Shrier - Scott Newgent Chapter "Blake" Irreversible Damage Scott Newgent As "Blake" NAMED A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE ECONOMIST AND ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2021 BY THE TIMES AND THE SUNDAY TIMES "Irreversible Damage . . . has caused a storm. Abigail Shrier, a Wall Street Journal writer, does something simple yet devastating: she rigorously lays out the facts." —Janice Turner Until just a few years ago, gender dysphoria—severe discomfort in one’s biological sex—was vanishingly rare. Read More

  • Trans Man Scott Newgent & Others Fighting To Stop Childhood Medical Transition

    Time Out This page isn’t available right now. But we’re working on a fix, ASAP. Try again soon. Go Back

  • Buck AngelTReVoices.org - A Trans Activist Making Waves With Reason An Logic.Trans Man

    Get to know trans people, the real trans living day to day, what they believe, and how they feel. You will find that most older trans people believe what is happening to kids, and transgender ideology is hurtful. The media leaders you currently see do not represent most trans people. Reality Is Not Bigotry < Back Trans Man Buck Angel TReVoices.org - A Trans Activist Making Waves With Reason An Logic. Follow Buck On Twitter Buck Angel was born a biological female and conquered a lifetime of adversity to undergo his transformation and become the healthy, happy, self-confident man he is today. Buck created the first FTM adult website in 2003 and became the first FTM adult entertainer and film producer. In 2007, Buck made history again as the first transsexual man to ever win the AVN Transsexual Performer of the Year award (the academy awards of the adult industry). In the 1980s, Buck got his first break in the entertainment world as a high-fashion female model, under contract with two of the world’s most prestigious modeling agencies, Elite Model Management and Z in London. Not surprisingly, Buck pushed the envelope in the high-fashion world, as well. His look as a professional female model was progressive, beautiful, and almost androgynous, which opened the doors for some of today’s most successful models. Many girls dream of becoming models, but this career was painfully difficult for Buck. He turned to drugs and alcohol to deal with the unbearable distress between his inner and outer selves. He ended up living on the streets, homeless and hopeless. Buck even attempted suicide on more than one occasion. Buck sought professional help from a number of therapists, most of whom did not know how to deal with his problems, which stemmed from his gender identity issues. One suggested he was simply a ‘male identified female’. Life for Buck finally took a turn for the better when he came across a documentary about a female-to-male transsexual. This film changed the course of his life forever. Not long after, Buck finally found a therapist who understood the nature of his problem. He then began taking the necessary hormones and later underwent breast-removal surgery. His transformation was a dream come true, and for the first time in his life, Buck was able to live comfortably in his own skin. After becoming the man he had always perceived himself to be, he began to live a productive and fulfilling life with peace and self-acceptance. Following gender reassignment, Buck began working in the adult entertainment industry as a fetish filmmaker and website developer for the male-to-female (MTF) on-line market. After a few years, he came to realize that there were no female-to-male (FTM) adult entertainment sites on the internet. As an icon of popular culture, Buck has appeared on the Howard Stern Show , Spike TV, Much Music, OUT TV, the Tyra Banks Show and has been featured in every media outlet: television, radio, web, and print. Recently, Buck has devoted himself to informing and enlightening the world. As he demonstrated in his speaking engagements at Yale University and IdeaCity 2010, Buck is not only inspiring people to think outside the box, he is redefining gender and educating an entire generation on the fluidity of sexuality and identity politics. In 2012 Buck was appointed to the board of directors of the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance. Buck produced a documentary, Sexing The Transman , in 2012, which went on to win awards and has become a film festival favorite. This very important documentary has opened up much needed dialogue about the sexuality and the effects of hormone on trans men during their transition from female to male. 2013 a documentary about Buck’s life was released, Mr. Angel . The film has become a Netflix favorite and has also won numerous awards including a Telly Award. 2014 Buck now travels the world speaking and educating using his own transition to help change the world. Reference: The Wheeler Centre Listen to a podcast with Buck Angel & Scott Newgent Tearing Up The Idea That It's OK For Kids To Medically Transition

  • Aaron TerrellTReVoices.org - A Trans Activist Making Waves With Reason An Logic.Trans Man

    Get to know trans people, the real trans living day to day, what they believe, and how they feel. You will find that most older trans people believe what is happening to kids, and transgender ideology is hurtful. The media leaders you currently see do not represent most trans people. Reality Is Not Bigotry < Back Trans Man Aaron Terrell TReVoices.org - A Trans Activist Making Waves With Reason An Logic. Aaron Terrell is an American transman interested in the causes of gender dysphoria as well as the sociopolitical trends that facilitate medical transition. Twitter

  • TReVoices - SCREAMING In The Media

    < Back ‘Gender transition’ regret deserves a voice, says former patient​” By, Kevin J. Jones​ US “Activists may not want to admit it, but I am not alone in my regret,” she said. Lidinsky-Smith said her self-examination led her to discover other “detransitioners” with similar stories. Some people stopped a gender-transition procedure quickly, she said, while “others were on cross-sex hormones for years and had multiple surgeries before deciding the path wasn't right for them.” She emphasized the need to show more concern “for the people who had been hurt by transgender medical treatment, which is increasingly being administered to patients in their teens.” Lidinsky-Smith also spoke about her life in a May 2021 television interview for CBS News’ 60 Minutes - an episode that proved controversial even before airing as transgender activists called for it to be censored or cancelled. “I went on ‘60 Minutes’ because I wanted people to understand that trans medicine is not always being administered responsibly and safely,” Lidinsky-Smith said in her Newsweek essay. “I knew I had been badly hurt by my transition, and I wasn't the only one.” In her early 20s, Lidinsky-Smith said, she became “depressed and gender dysphoric after years of obsessing over identity issues.” “Finally, I thought I saw my route forward: the total transformation of medical transition, to live as a man,” she continued. “I started my transformation with cross-sex hormones injections. Four months later, I had my breasts removed in the masculinizing surgical procedure known as ‘top surgery’.” “One year later, I would be curled in my bed, clutching my double-mastectomy scars and sobbing with regret,” Lidinsky-Smith said. She believed other factors motivated her decision to seek a gender transition. “I had the most supportive possible environment for transitioning: easy access to hormones, an affirming community and insurance coverage,” she said. “What I didn't have was a therapist who could help me scrutinize the underlying issues I had before I undertook serious medical decisions. Instead, I was diagnosed with gender dysphoria and given the green light to start transition by my doctor on the first visit.” According to Lidinsky-Smith, “detransitioners” see various root causes that in retrospect contributed to their decision to “transition” genders: untreated mental health issues, a major life crisis, sexual abuse trauma, undiagnosed autism, or a struggle to accept a sexual orientation. “For many, the regret and pain was intense, as it was for me,” she continued. “In a lot of ways, there is no ‘going back’. Many of us are left wondering, ‘Why didn't my therapist help me figure out my underlying problems beforehand?’” She cited commentator Scott Newgent, who said “here is no structured, tested, or widely accepted baseline for transgender health care.” Lidinsky-Smith is president of the Gender Care Consumer Advocacy Network. The organization lobbies against efforts to legally prohibit “trans care,” arguing instead for best practices and accountability for medical providers. It advocates for competent medical care, including the right to reparative treatment for surgeries or hormones that have caused “physical or emotional trauma.” It advocates for accurate medical information and for access to legal professionals to hold care providers accountable. She backs the standards of WPATH, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Though “trans care” is a newer field, she said, Lidinsky-Smith called the association’s standards “generally accepted,” but also lamented that there is no requirement that these standards be followed. Read article “In my own medical odyssey, I did not receive most of the therapeutic exploration recommended by the WPATH standards of care,” she said. “As such, I was left to my own self-diagnosis.” However, Paul McHugh, psychiatry professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has himself challenged the WPATH standards. He provided testimony in an amicus brief for the U.S. Supreme Court Case of Harris Funeral Homes v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, decided in 2020. “Without firm scientific evidence, the medical and psychiatric community should not follow the WPATH protocol to progress from social transition, to medical interventions, and ultimately to surgery,” he said in his amicus brief. The pro-transgender association itself has said that “no controlled clinical trials of any feminizing/masculinizing hormone regimen have been conducted to evaluate safety or efficacy in producing physical transition,” McHugh wrote. The fact that some patients undergoing medical and surgical sex reassignment may wish to return to a gender identity consistent with their biological sex suggests that this reassignment “carries considerable psychological and physical risk,” he said, and their beliefs about post-treatment life “may sometimes go unrealized.” Even in fully supportive environments, many who undergo such surgery “remain traumatized, often to the point of committing suicide.” Though the American Medical Association is favorable to a pro-“gender reassignment” protocol, McHugh said that not following such protocol might show more positive results. Given the harms of the WPATH protocol, he said, “social transition should not be encouraged.” At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news. As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time. “Not only does it not address the root issues causing clinical distress, it also makes it more likely for patients to forge ahead into hormone therapy and physical alteration of their body,” he said. Hayes Inc., a company focused on assessing health technology and clinical programs, has given the quality of evidence for hormone therapy its lowest rating, according to McHugh. Further, the prevalence of suicide attempts among patients was not ameliorated by hormone therapy. “Additionally, hormone therapy increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular and thromboembolic events, osteoporosis, and cancer,” he continued. “No proof of improved mortality, suicide rates, or death from illicit drug use was observed.” “Scientific support for sex reassignment surgery is equally lacking,” said McHugh, who noted that Johns Hopkins Medical Center discontinued surgical intervention after a 1979 study on the efficacy of surgical transition. Other studies have shown negative consequences of surgical intervention, including a significant increase in suicide attempts and successful attempts. As for children and teens, children encouraged to live as the opposite sex “may increasingly be unable to live as their own sex” because of how repetitive actions affect the brain. Some children who would otherwise overcome gender dysphoria may be unable to do so. Puberty blockers have health risks including impaired bone growth, interference with brain development, and impaired fertility. TRENDING For her part, Lidinsky-Smith cited new scrutiny of the medical field prompted by the Kiera Bell case, a woman who said medical care staff wrongly encouraged her gender transition. In response, a U.K. high court ruled in 2020 that prospective patients under age 16 might lack the ability to consent to puberty blockers. She called for “a nuanced public conversation about how we can improve medical transition,” but objected that GLAAD had denounced her and others who voiced regret. She asked, “why the resistance to hearing complicated, and even negative, stories about transgender healthcare?” “(W)hen activists push stories like mine under the rug and try to shut down stories of medical negligence, they are only protecting doctors, not patients,” Lidinsky-Smith said in Newsweek. Without seeking to tell the truth, she said, “more people—especially young people—will be sold one-size-fits-all trans care that may cause them lifelong scars and regret.” Original Link

  • Miranda YardleyTReVoices.org - A Trans Activist Making Waves With Reason An Logic.Trans Woman

    Get to know trans people, the real trans living day to day, what they believe, and how they feel. You will find that most older trans people believe what is happening to kids, and transgender ideology is hurtful. The media leaders you currently see do not represent most trans people. Reality Is Not Bigotry < Back Trans Woman Miranda Yardley TReVoices.org - A Trans Activist Making Waves With Reason An Logic. Miranda Yardley (born 1967) is a British accountant, publisher, and activist. Yardley is a prominent transgender voice in the “gender critical” movement and an “autogynephilia” activist. Yardley earned a degree in accounting from Bangor University in 1990. Yardley started an accounting firm in 2000 and took over publishing music magazine Terrorizer in 2002 under the auspices of Dark Arts, Ltd. Yardley later added the titles Dominion and Sick Sounds . In 2008, Yardley made a gender transition. In 2014, Yardley became heavily involved in online fights about transgender politics, specifically rejecting the idea that trans women are women. In 2018, Yardley was suspended from Twitter for saying Green Party spokesperson Aimee Challenor is a man. In April 2018 cisgender woman Helen Islan brought a “transgender hate crime” complaint against Yardley that led to police involvement and a drawn out investigation. The case was dropped in Yardley’s favor in March 2019. Since that time, Yardley has been embraced by gender critical people, appearing on their platforms and writing about trans community controversies. Website Facebook Contact TReVoices Contributions: What Makes A Transgender Child? Cliches, it seems…Brave Trans Steps Up To Protect Kids!

  • Kelly Parker

    < Back Kelly Parker HR Representative This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own content or import it from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, and videos. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. info@mysite.com 123-456-7890

  • TReVoices - Parents/Detrans

    TReVoices Is The Leading Org Fighting To Stop Childhood Medical Transition World Wide! ​ Led by transman/lesbian Scott Newgent, our relentless SCREAMING to 'STOP Medically Transitioning Children' has been and continues to be heard everyday World - Wide! Make sure we can continue - We Need Your Help - Donate Today. Button Lift The Veil. Parents Get Busy & Learn Why 'Medical Transition Is Not Place For a child.' Sincerely, TReVoices & Everyone Else < Back See Attached Report Original Article UCLA Williams Institute Findings from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey September 2019 Suicide Is More Likely If You Allow Your Child To Medically Transition In Childhood - They Got It Backwards Executive Summary Over the past 20 years, a growing body of research has focused on suicidality among transgender individuals, including prevalence estimates and risk factors associated with suicide thoughts and attempts. Studies of the transgender population demonstrate that the prevalence of suicide thoughts and attempts among transgender adults is significantly higher than that of the U.S. general population. For example, transgender adults have a prevalence of past-year suicide ideation that is nearly twelve times higher, and a prevalence of past-year suicide attempts that is about eighteen times higher, than the U.S. general population. The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS), which is the largest survey of transgender people in the U.S. to date, found that 81.7 percent of respondents reported ever seriously thinking about suicide in their lifetimes, while 48.3 percent had done so in the past year. In regard to suicide attempts, 40.4 percent reported attempting suicide at some point in their lifetimes, and 7.3 percent reported attempting suicide in the past year. Although the research literature to date agrees that transgender people are at an elevated risk of suicide thoughts and attempts, there is still much to learn about why transgender people are particularly at risk. In this report, we utilize data from the 2015 USTS to examine the key risk factors associated with lifetime and past-year suicide thoughts and attempts among a large and diverse sample of transgender people. Demographics. Demographic trends related to suicide thoughts and attempts among USTS respondents reflected trends found in prior research of suicidality in the U.S. general population and among transgender people. Among USTS respondents, suicide thoughts and attempts were more likely to be reported among those of younger ages, Alaskan Native/American Indian or Biracial/Multiracial respondents, transgender men, pansexual respondents, and non-binary respondents assigned female at birth. Similar to trends in the U.S. population, we found a higher prevalence across all suicide-related measures among respondents who had lower educational attainment, were unemployed, or had lower annual household income. In terms of relationship status, respondents who were partnered and living together with their partners had the lowest prevalence of suicide thoughts and attempts. General Risk Factors Transgender people have many of the same risk factors for suicidality as found in the U.S. general population, such as depression, substance use, and housing instability. Similar to these trends in the U.S. general population, we found an elevated prevalence of suicide thoughts and attempts among USTS respondents who: Experienced serious psychological distress and reported heavy alcohol or illicit drug use (excluding marijuana); Reported poor general health compared to those who reported excellent health (19.9% versus 3.6% past-year suicide attempts); Reported having a disability, experienced homelessness in the past year, or had ever been arrested for any reason. Unique Risk Factors In addition to general risk factors, transgender people have additional risk factors, such as experiences of discrimination, stigma, family rejection, and lack of access to gender-affirming health care. Findings regarding these unique factors include the following: Experiencing discrimination or mistreatment in education, employment, housing, health care, in places of public accommodations, or from law enforcement is associated with a higher prevalence of suicide thoughts and attempts. For example, the prevalence of past-year suicide attempts by those who reported that they had been denied equal treatment in the past year because they are transgender was more than double that of those who had not experienced such treatment (13.4% compared to 6.3%). Those who reported that their spouses, partners, or children rejected them because they are transgender reported a higher prevalence of lifetime and past-year suicide attempts. Those who reported rejection by their family of origin, for example, reported twice the prevalence of past-year suicide attempts compared to those who had not experienced such rejection (10.5%compared to 5.1%). Respondents who had been rejected by their religious communities or had undergone conversion therapy were more likely to report suicide thoughts and attempts. For instance, 13.1 percent of those who had experienced religious rejection in the past year had attempted suicide in the past year; by contrast, 6.3 percent of respondents who had experienced religious acceptance in the past year attempted suicide in the past year. Experiences of violence, including intimate partner violence (IPV) are associated with higher prevalence of suicide thoughts and attempts. Over 30 percent of those who were physically attacked in a place of public accommodation reported attempting suicide in the past year, which is over four times the prevalence among respondents who were not similarly attacked. Those who had “de-transitioned” at some point, meaning having gone back to living according to their sex assigned at birth, were significantly more likely to report suicide thoughts and attempts, both past-year and lifetime, than those who had never “de-transitioned.” Nearly 12 percent of those who “de-transitioned” attempted suicide in the past year compared to 6.7 percent of those who have not “de-transitioned.” People who are not viewed by others as transgender and those who do not disclose to others that they are transgender reported a lower prevalence of suicide thoughts and attempts. For instance, 6.3 percent of those who reported that others can never tell they are transgender attempted suicide in the past year compared to 12.2 percent of those who reported that others can always tell they are transgender. The cumulative effect of minority stress is associated with a higher prevalence of suicidality. For instance, 97.7 percent of those who had experienced four discriminatory or violence experiences in the past year (being fired or forced to resign from a job, eviction, experiencing homelessness, and physical attack) reported seriously thinking about suicide in the past year and 51.2 percent made a suicide attempt in the past year. We also found that there are some factors that are associated with lower risk of suicide thoughts and attempts for USTS respondents: Respondents with supportive families reported lower prevalence of past-year and lifetime suicide thoughts and attempts. Those who wanted, and subsequently received, hormone therapy and/or surgical care had a substantially lower prevalence of past-year suicide thoughts and attempts than those who wanted hormone therapy and surgical care and did not receive them. A lower proportion of respondents who lived in a state with a gender identity nondiscrimination statute reported past-year suicide thoughts and attempts than those who lived in states without such a statute. Our findings underscore the urgency of research to identify promising intervention and prevention strategies to address suicidality in this population. USTS respondents have the elevated risk of suicide thoughts and attempts that one would expect based on general risk factors that affect the U.S. population, such as substance use and serious psychological distress. Yet, it’s clear that minority stress experiences, such as family rejection, discrimination experiences, and lack of access to gender-affirming health care, create added risks for transgender people. Furthermore, the cumulative effect of experiencing multiple minority stressors is associated with dramatically higher prevalence of suicidality. Future research that supports the design and evaluation of suicide intervention and prevention strategies for the transgender population is urgently needed.

  • TReVoices - Parents/Detrans

    TReVoices Is The Leading Org Fighting To Stop Childhood Medical Transition World Wide! ​ Led by transman/lesbian Scott Newgent, our relentless SCREAMING to 'STOP Medically Transitioning Children' has been and continues to be heard everyday World - Wide! Make sure we can continue - We Need Your Help - Donate Today. Button Lift The Veil. Parents Get Busy & Learn Why 'Medical Transition Is Not Place For a child.' Sincerely, TReVoices & Everyone Else < Back Keira Bell Original Article ​ 24 year old British activist Keira Bell's story From the earliest days, my home life was unhappy. My parents—a white Englishwoman and a black American who got together while he was in Britain with the U.S. Air Force—divorced when I was about 5. My mother, who was on welfare, descended into alcoholism and mental illness. Although my father remained in England, he was emotionally distant to me and my younger sister. I was a classic tomboy, which was one of the healthier parts of my early life in Letchworth, a town of about 30,000 people, an hour outside London. Early in childhood, I was accepted by the boys—I dressed in typically boy clothing and was athletic. I never had an issue with my gender; it wasn’t on my mind. Then puberty hit, and everything changed for the worse. A lot of teenagers, especially girls, have a hard time with puberty, but I didn’t know this. I thought I was the only one who hated how my hips and breasts were growing. Then my periods started, and they were disabling. I was often in pain and drained of energy. Also, I could no longer pass as “one of the boys,” so lost my community of male friends. But I didn’t feel I really belonged with the girls either. My mother’s alcoholism had gotten so bad that I didn’t want to bring friends home. Eventually, I had no friends to invite. I became more alienated and solitary. I had been moving a lot too, and I had to start over at different schools, which compounded my problems. By the time I was 14, I was severely depressed and had given up: I stopped going to school; I stopped going outside. I just stayed in my room, avoiding my mother, playing video games, getting lost in my favorite music, and surfing the internet. Something else was happening: I became attracted to girls. I had never had a positive association with the term “lesbian” or the idea that two girls could be in a relationship. This made me wonder if there was something inherently wrong with me. Around this time, out of the blue, my mother asked if I wanted to be a boy, something that hadn’t even crossed my mind. I then found some websites about females transitioning to male. Shortly after, I moved in with my father and his then-partner. She asked me the same question my mother had. I told her that I thought I was a boy and that I wanted to become one. As I look back, I see how everything led me to conclude it would be best if I stopped becoming a woman. My thinking was that, if I took hormones, I’d grow taller and wouldn’t look much different from biological men. I began seeing a psychologist through the National Health Service, or NHS. When I was 15—because I kept insisting that I wanted to be a boy—I was referred to the Gender Identity Development Service, at the Tavistock and Portman clinic in London. There, I was diagnosed with gender dysphoria, which is psychological distress because of a mismatch between your biological sex and your perceived gender identity. By the time I got to the Tavistock, I was adamant that I needed to transition. It was the kind of brash assertion that’s typical of teenagers. What was really going on was that I was a girl insecure in my body who had experienced parental abandonment, felt alienated from my peers, suffered from anxiety and depression, and struggled with my sexual orientation. After a series of superficial conversations with social workers, I was put on puberty blockers at age 16. A year later, I was receiving testosterone shots. When 20, I had a double mastectomy. By then, I appeared to have a more masculine build, as well as a man’s voice, a man’s beard, and a man’s name: Quincy, after Quincy Jones. But the further my transition went, the more I realized that I wasn’t a man, and never would be. We are told these days that when someone presents with gender dysphoria, this reflects a person’s “real” or “true” self, that the desire to change genders is set. But this was not the case for me. As I matured, I recognized that gender dysphoria was a symptom of my overall misery, not its cause. Five years after beginning my medical transition to becoming male, I began the process of detransitioning. A lot of trans men talk about how you can’t cry with a high dose of testosterone in your body, and this affected me too: I couldn’t release my emotions. One of the first signs that I was becoming Keira again was that—thankfully, at last—I was able to cry. And I had a lot to cry about. The consequences of what happened to me have been profound: possible infertility, loss of my breasts and inability to breastfeed, atrophied genitals, a permanently changed voice, facial hair. When I was seen at the Tavistock clinic, I had so many issues that it was comforting to think I really had only one that needed solving: I was a male in a female body. But it was the job of the professionals to consider all my co-morbidities, not just to affirm my naïve hope that everything could be solved with hormones and surgery. Last year, I became a claimant against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in a judicial-review case, which allows petitioners in Britain to bring action against a public body they deem to have violated its legal duties. Few judicial reviews get anywhere; only a fraction obtain a full hearing. But ours did, with a panel of three High Court judges considering whether youths under treatment at the clinic could meaningfully consent to such medical interventions. Bell in January 2020, after she brought legal action against the clinic. My team argued that the Tavistock had failed to protect young patients who sought its services, and that—instead of careful, individualized treatment—the clinic had conducted what amounted to uncontrolled experiments on us. Last December, we won a unanimous verdict. The judges expressed serious doubts that the clinic’s youngest patients could understand the implications of what amounted to experimental treatment with life-altering outcomes. In their ruling, the judges repeatedly expressed surprise at what had been going on at the Tavistock, particularly its failure to gather basic data on its patients. They noted the lack of evidence for putting children as young as 10 years old on drugs to block puberty, a treatment that is almost universally followed by cross-sex hormones, which must be taken for life to maintain the transition. They also had concerns about the lack of follow-up data, given “the experimental nature of the treatment and the profound impact that it has.” Notably, a growing wave of girls has been seeking treatment for gender dysphoria. In 2009-10, 77 children were referred to the Gender Identity Development Service, 52% of whom were boys. That ratio started to reverse a few years later as the overall number of referrals soared. In England in 2018-19, 624 boys were referred and 1,740 girls, or 74% of the total. Over half of referrals were for those aged 14 or under; some were as young as 3 years old. The court noted the practitioners at the Tavistock did not put forward “any clinical explanation” for the dramatic rise in girls, and expressed surprise at its failure to collate data on the age of patients when they began puberty blockers. The ruling does not completely prevent a minor from beginning a medical transition. But the judges recommended that doctors consider getting court permission before starting such treatment for those 16 to 17; they concluded it was “very doubtful” that patients aged 14 and 15 could have sufficient understanding of the consequences of the treatment to give consent; and that it was “highly unlikely” for those aged 13 and under. In response, the NHS said that the Tavistock had “immediately suspended new referrals for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for the under-16s, which in future will only be permitted where a court specifically authorizes it.” The Tavistock appealed the ruling, and the court will hear its appeal in June. The puberty blockers that I received at 16 were designed to stop my sexual maturation: The idea was that this would give me a “pause” to think about whether I wanted to continue to a further gender transition. This so-called “pause” put me into what felt like menopause, with hot flushes, night sweats, and brain fog. All this made it more difficult to think clearly about what I should do. By the end of a year of this treatment, when I was presented with the option of moving on to testosterone, I jumped at it—I wanted to feel like a young man, not an old woman. I was eager for the shots to start, and the changes this would bring. At first, the testosterone gave me a big boost in confidence. One of the earliest effects was that my voice dropped, which made me feel more commanding. Over the next couple of years, my voice deepened further, my beard came in, and my fat redistributed. I continued to wear my breast binder every day, especially now that I was completely passing as male, but it was painful and obstructed my breathing. By the time I was 20, I was being treated at the adult clinic. The testosterone and the binder affected the appearance of my breasts, and I hated them even more. I also wanted to align my face and my body, so got a referral for a double mastectomy. My relationship with my parents continued to be difficult. I was no longer speaking to my mother. My father had kicked me out of his apartment shortly after I turned 17, and I went to live in a youth hostel. He and I were still in touch, though he was adamantly opposed to my transition. Reluctantly, he took me for the surgery. I was a legal adult when it took place, and I don’t relieve myself of responsibility. But I had been put on a pathway—puberty blockers to testosterone to surgery—when I was a troubled teen. As a result of the surgery, there’s nerve damage to my chest, and I don’t have sensation the way I used to. If I am able to have children, I will never breastfeed them. Around the end of that first year post-surgery, something started happening: My brain was maturing. I thought about how I’d gotten where I was, and gave myself questions to contemplate. A big one was: “What makes me a man?” I started realizing how many flaws there had been in my thought process, and how they had interacted with claims about gender that are increasingly found in the larger culture and that have been adopted at the Tavistock. I remembered my idea as a 14-year-old, that hormones and surgery would turn me into someone who appeared to be a man. Now, I was that person. But I recognized that I was very physically different from men. Living as a trans man helped me acknowledge that I was still a woman. I also started to see what I was living out was based on stereotypes, that I was trying to assume the narrow identity of “masculine guy.” It was all making less and less sense. I was also concerned about the effect my transition would have on my ability to find a sexual partner. Then there was the fact that no one really knew the long-term effects of the treatment. For instance, the puberty blockers and testosterone caused me to have to deal with vaginal atrophy, a thinning and fragility of the vaginal walls that normally occurs after menopause. I started feeling really bad about myself again. I decided to stop, cold turkey. When I was due for my next testosterone shot, I canceled the appointment. After I came to this decision, I found a subreddit for detransitioners. The number of people on it started rising, as if all these young women had come to a collective realization of the medical scandal we had been a part of. It was a place we could talk about our experiences and support each other. I felt liberated. What happened to me is happening across the Western world. Little of my case was a surprise to those paying attention to the Tavistock whistle-blowers who in recent years have spoken out in alarm to the media, sometimes anonymously. Some have left the service because of these concerns. But the transgender issue is now highly political and wrapped up in questions of identity politics. It can be perilous to raise questions or doubts about young people’s medical gender transitions. Some who have done so have been vilified and had their careers threatened. At the Tavistock, practitioners provide “gender affirmative care”—in practice, this means that when children and teens declare a desire to transition, their assertions are typically accepted as conclusive. Affirmative care is being adopted as a model in many places. In 2018, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement on the treatment of young people who identify as transgender and gender diverse that advocated for “gender-affirmative care.” But former Tavistock practitioners have cited varied problems suffered by the kids who sought help, such as sexual abuse, trauma, parental abandonment, homophobia in the family or at school, depression, anxiety, being on the autism spectrum, having ADHD. These profound issues, and how they might be tied up with feelings of dysphoria, have often been ignored in favor of making transition the all-purpose solution. As the High Court found, much of the clinic’s treatment is not even based on solid evidence. At the time our case was accepted, the NHS was asserting that the effects of puberty blockers are “fully reversible.” But recently, the NHS reversed itself, acknowledging “that ‘little is known about the long-term side-effects’ on a teenager’s body or brain.” That didn’t stop them from prescribing these drugs to people like me. Dr. Christopher Gillberg, a professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at Gothenburg University in Sweden and a specialist in autism, was an expert witness for our case. Gillberg said in his court statement that over his 45 years of treating children with autism, it was rare to have patients with gender dysphoria—but their numbers started exploding in 2013, and most were biological girls. Gillberg told the court that what was happening at the Tavistock was a “live experiment” on children and adolescents. Parents who are reluctant or even alarmed about starting their children on a medical transition may be warned, “Would you rather have a dead daughter or a live son?” (Or vice versa.) I had suicidal thoughts as a teen. Suicidal thoughts indicate serious mental health problems that need assessment and proper care. When I told them at the Tavistock about these thoughts, that became another reason to put me on hormones quickly to improve my well-being. But after the court ruling, the Tavistock released an internal study of a group of 44 patients who had started taking puberty blockers at ages 12 to 15. It said that this treatment had failed to improve the mental state of patients, having “no significant effect on their psychological function, thoughts of self-harm, or body image.” Additionally, of those 44 patients, 43 went on to cross-sex hormones. This suggests blocking puberty isn’t providing a pause. It is giving a push. Before beginning on testosterone, I was asked if I wanted children, or if I wanted to consider freezing my eggs because of the possibility that transition would make me infertile. As a teenager, I couldn’t imagine having kids, and the procedure wouldn’t have been covered by the NHS. I said I was fine if I couldn’t, and I didn’t need to freeze my eggs. But now as a young adult, I see that I didn’t truly understand back then the implications of infertility. Having children is a basic right, and I don’t know if that has been taken from me. As part of its defense, the Tavistock put forth statements from a few young trans people who are happy with their care. One is S, a 13-year-old trans boy who got puberty blockers from a private provider because the waiting list at the Gender Identity Development Service was so long. S told the court that he had “no idea what me in the future is going to think” about being able to have children and that since he has never been in “a romantic relationship,” the idea of one is not “on my radar at the moment.” Lots of teenagers, when contemplating future sexual relationships, feel baffled and even disturbed at the thought. Those same people, when adults, often feel very differently. I know, because this happened to me. I’d never been in a sexual relationship at the time of my transition, so I didn’t truly understand what the transition would mean sexually. S’s statement demonstrates how difficult it is for minors to give consent for procedures they can’t yet understand. As the judges wrote, “There is no age-appropriate way to explain to many of these children what losing their fertility or full sexual function may mean to them in later years.” Bell speaking to the media after the court ruling last December. (Photo: Sam Tobin/PA Wire) Today, at 24, I’m in my first serious relationship. My partner is very supportive of everything I do, and I am the same for her. She has a large group of female friends who accept me; it’s been very healing. For now, I don’t speak to either of my parents or have a relationship with them. I still get taken for male sometimes. I expect that, and I’m not angry about it. I know that I will live with that for the rest of my life. What I am angry about is how my body was changed at such a young age. People want to know if I’m going to have reconstructive surgery of my breasts or do other things to make me look more female. But I haven’t fully processed the surgery I had to remove my breasts. For now, I want to avoid more such surgical procedures. When I joined the case, I didn’t realize how big it would become. What has happened since the ruling has been a rollercoaster. Many people have thanked me. I have also been attacked online. If you’re someone who regrets transitioning and decides to speak out about your experiences, you’re considered a bigot. You may be told that you’re trying to take away trans rights, that children know what’s best for themselves and their bodies, and that you’re ruining kids’ lives. But I am focused on what is best for distressed young people. A lot of girls are transitioning because they’re in pain, whether it’s from mental-health disorders, or life trauma, or other reasons. I know what it’s like to get caught up in dreaming that transitioning will fix all of this. Although sharing my story has been cathartic, I still struggle, and have yet to receive appropriate therapy. As I go on with my life, I plan to continue to be an activist on behalf of this cause. I want the message of cases like mine to help protect other kids from taking a mistaken path. This year, I helped create the first Detrans Awareness Day, on March 12. I hope that, in years to come, this day can be a beacon to empower others. I do not believe in rigid gender expression. People should be comfortable and feel accepted if they explore different ways of presenting themselves. As I said in my statement after the ruling, this means stopping the homophobia, the misogyny, and the bullying of those who are different. I also call on professionals and clinicians to create better mental health services and models to help those dealing with gender dysphoria. I do not want any other young person who is distressed, confused, and lonely as I was to be driven to conclude transition is the only possible answer. I was an unhappy girl who needed help. Instead, I was treated like an experiment.

  • Trans Man Scott Newgent & Others Fighting To Stop Childhood Medical Transition

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