Who's Who ⋆ LGB Courage Coalition

Researchers

Harry Benjamin

Location: United States, New York
Training/Credentials: MD
Years Active: 1910s–1980s
Major Contributions:

1910s–1920s: Pioneered endocrinological research on sexual and gender identity.
1966: Authored The Transsexual Phenomenon.
1960s–1970s: Created treatment guidelines that eventually lead to WPATH SOC.

Additional Information: His binary approach to gender and his belief that transsexualism was a disorder needing treatment has changed due to advocacy by TRAs over time. Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association which later became WPATH was named in his honor in 1979. His patient cohort, which included over 1,500 individuals by the 1970s, primarily consisted of adults, such as high-profile cases like Christine Jorgensen.

Louis Gooren

Location: Netherlands
Training/Credentials: MD, PhD
Years Active: 1970s–2000s
Major Contributions:

1970s–1980s: Researched hormone therapy for transgender individuals.
1990s: Established gender clinics in the Netherlands.
2000s: Published studies on long-term hormone therapy effects.

Additional Information: Gooren advanced adult hormone therapy, but his findings’ application to youth is contentious. Skeptics argue the lack of long-term pediatric data raises concerns, urging more rigorous evidence before widespread use in younger populations.

Peggy Cohen-Kettenis

Location: Netherlands
Training/Credentials: PhD (Psychology)
Years Active: 1980s–2020s
Major Contributions:

1987: Established the first European pediatric gender clinic at VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, pioneering specialized care for gender-dysphoric youth.
1990s: Co-developed the Dutch Protocol with Louis Gooren, introducing puberty suppression with GnRH agonists to delay secondary sex traits (e.g., breast development in females, deepened voice in males) for prepubertal gender-dysphoric children, followed by cross-sex hormones like testosterone (“T”) for trans-identified females to induce male secondary sex traits (e.g., facial hair, male-pattern balding).
2000s–2010s: Contributed to WPATH Standards of Care (SoC) versions 6 and 7, shaping global GAC guidelines; published extensively on psychological outcomes of early intervention.
2023: Received the Research.com Psychology Award for contributions to gender dysphoria research.

Additional Information: The influence of Cohen-Kettenis’ Dutch Protocol quickly spread to Europe and North America prompting the opening of the first pediatric gender clinic in the US in 2007. Blind spots include inadequate consideration of homophobia, same-sex attracted youth, potential misdiagnosis, and irreversible effects of testosterone and surgeries, prompting calls for cautious, evidence-based approaches to protect vulnerable populations.

Henriette Delemarre-van de Waal

Location: Netherlands
Training/Credentials: MD, PhD
Years Active: 1990s–2000s (deceased 2008)
Major Contributions:

1990s: Collaborated on the Dutch Protocol for puberty suppression.
2000s: Published on safety and efficacy of early interventions.

Additional Information: Delemarre-van de Waal’s work on the Dutch Protocol was foundational, but her early death limited further scrutiny. Critics argue the protocol’s rapid adoption lacks robust evidence, particularly for long-term effects, urging more cautious application in youth.

Ken Zucker

Location: Canada, Ontario
Training/Credentials: PhD (Psychology)
Years Active: 1980s–2020s
Major Contributions:

1980s–1990s: Led gender dysphoria research at CAMH.
2000s: Published on youth gender identity trajectories.
2010s: Contributed to DSM-5 gender dysphoria criteria.

Additional Information: Zucker’s research on desistance is valued for its rigor. His work supports a cautious approach, emphasizing psychological exploration over hasty medical interventions. His early recognition of the link between gender dysphoria and sexual orientation put him at odds with the growing advocacy for an immutable gender identity and may have led to his ousting.

Thomas Steensma

Location: Netherlands
Training/Credentials: PhD (Psychology)
Years Active: 2000s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2000s: Researched gender dysphoria persistence.
2010s: Co-authored studies on puberty suppression outcomes.
2020s: Studied long-term transgender youth outcomes.

Additional Information: Steensma’s data on persistence informs cautious clinical decisions, but his Dutch Protocol ties are debated. Critics argue his findings highlight the need for psychological support over irreversible interventions, given uncertain long-term effects.

Annelou DeVries

Location: Netherlands
Training/Credentials: MD, PhD (Psychiatry)
Years Active: 2000s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2000s: Studied puberty suppression outcomes.
2010s: Published on Dutch Protocol’s mental health impact.
2020s: Contributed to international guidelines.

Additional Information: DeVries’ Dutch Protocol research is influential but criticized for weak methodology. In 2024 she critiqued the focus on “effective” outcomes of GAC such as improved mental health and physical wellbeing as overly simplistic, advocating for a more autonomy-focused approach to evaluating its impact.

Lisa Littman

Location: United States, Rhode Island
Training/Credentials: MD, MPH
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2018: Proposed “rapid-onset gender dysphoria” (ROGD).
2020s: Researched detransition and social influences.

Additional Information: Littman’s ROGD hypothesis has come under heavy attack by TRAs and GAC ideologues.

Michael Bailey

Location: United States, Illinois
Training/Credentials: PhD (Psychology)
Years Active: 1990s–2020s
Major Contributions:

1990s: Researched sexual orientation and gender.
2003: Published The Man Who Would Be Queen.
2010s–2020s: Debated gender identity issues.

Additional Information: Bailey’s autogynephilia theory, though controversial since 2003, challenges affirming care narratives. Critics decry it as reductive, but supporters value its scrutiny of ideological trends, emphasizing the need for evidence-based discussions.

Evgenia Abbruzzese

Location: United States
Training/Credentials: Researcher
Years Active: 2020s
Major Contributions:

2021 Co-founded SEGM
2022–2023: Co-authored papers critiquing youth gender care (Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, Current Sexual Health Reports).

Additional Information: Abbruzzese’s critiques of pediatric gender care evidence are crucial for questioning rapid interventions. Her work with SEGM underscores the need for rigorous data, though some argue it selectively focuses on risks.

Gordon Guyatt

Location: Canada, Ontario
Training/Credentials: MD, MSc
Years Active: 1990s–2020s
Major Contributions:

1990s: Pioneered evidence-based medicine, developed GRADE system.
2010s–2020s: Critiqued transgender healthcare research quality.

Additional Information: Guyatt’s evidence-based medicine framework is vital for scrutinizing transgender care research. His critiques highlight data gaps, supporting calls for cautious, rigorous approaches to youth interventions.

Clinicians

Norman Spack

Location: United States, Massachusetts
Training/Credentials: MD
Years Active: 2000s–2010s
Major Contributions:

2000s: Founded GeMS at Boston Children’s Hospital.
2010s: Advocated for early gender-affirming interventions.

Additional Information: Spack is infamous for having stated on more than one occasion that he “was salivating” to bring puberty blockers to the United States for the purpose of creating better looking transgender adults.

Laura Edwards-Leeper

Location: United States, Oregon
Training/Credentials: PhD (Psychology), BA (Lewis & Clark College, 1997)
Years Active: 2000s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2000s: Developed GeMS psychological assessments.
2010–2012: Published and presented on transgender youth.
2010s–2020s: Advocated mental health evaluations; WPATH committee.

Additional Information: Edwards-Leeper’s balanced approach, emphasizing mental health, is praised, but her GeMS role ties her to GAC critiques. Although she admits that GAC as currently practiced is deeply flawed and not improving she submitted an amicus brief along with Erica Anderson in Skrmetti against age restrictions.

Erica Anderson

Location: United States, California
Training/Credentials: PhD (Clinical Psychology), Licensed Psychologist, Former WPATH Board Member
Years Active: 2010s–present
Major Contributions:

2010s–2020s: Critiqued rapid GAC for youth, advocating comprehensive psychological assessments to address underlying mental health and social factors.
2021–2023: Published articles and op-eds (e.g., The New York Times, The Washington Post) urging caution in pediatric GAC, emphasizing informed consent and long-term outcomes.
2025: Appeared on NPR show Here&Now speaking frankly about GAC

Additional Information: As a transgender psychologist, Anderson’s nuanced stance bridges GAC advocacy and skepticism, earning credibility among reformers seeking evidence-based approaches. Anderson does not, however, support age restrictions on treatment. Anderson has argued that some adolescents seeking GAC may be influenced by social pressures or mental health issues, implying a distinction between those with authentic, persistent transgender identities and others with transient or situational gender concerns.

Amy C. Tishelman

Location: United States, Massachusetts
Training/Credentials: PhD (Psychology)
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Supported transgender youth at Boston Children’s.
2010s–2020s: Published on youth mental health (114 papers).
2020s: Co-led Gender Journey Project; expert witness.

Additional Information: Tishelman’s civil lawsuit brought to light that Boston Children’s had reduced assessment time from 20 hours to 2 which she and other clinicians described as “shocking.”

Robert Garofalo

Location: United States, Illinois
Training/Credentials: MD, MPH
Years Active: 2000s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2000s: Founded Lurie Children’s Gender Program.
2010s–2020s: Researched health disparities, affirming care.

Additional Information: Garofalo’s quotes in the HHS Report reveal his commitment to the ideas that youth can self-identify their gender without extensive assessment and that parents’ fears about medicalization are something to be managed.

Jason Rafferty

Location: United States, Rhode Island
Training/Credentials: MD, MPH
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Contributed to AAP gender-affirming guidelines.
2020s: Advocated pediatric affirming care.

Additional Information: Rafferty’s 2018 AAP guidelines advocating GAC, unique in that they were attributed to a single author, have been heavily criticized for weak evidence, errors, and minimizing medical risks for youth. Despite the AAP’s reaffirmation of these guidelines in 2023, these criticisms remain unremarked and uncorrected, raising concerns about ideological bias.

Michael Laidlaw

Location: United States, California
Training/Credentials: MD
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s–2020s: Critiqued puberty suppression.
2020s: Testified in transgender healthcare cases.

Additional Information: Laidlaw’s critiques of pediatric gender care highlight medical risks, valued for evidence-based caution and its influence on policy debates.

Paul Hruz

Location: United States (Missouri)
Training/Credentials: MD (Medical College of Wisconsin), PhD in Biochemistry, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Endocrinology at Washington University in St. Louis
Years Active: 2004–present
Major Contributions:

2010s: Emerged as a vocal critic of pediatric gender-affirming care (GAC), publishing peer-reviewed articles and reviews questioning the safety of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.
2020s: Contributed expert testimony in legal and policy discussions, including amicus briefs in cases like Dekker v. Weida (Florida, 2023) and state-level bans on pediatric GAC (e.g., Missouri’s SAFE Act, 2023), emphasizing insufficient long-term evidence for interventions; co-authored a 2021 paper with SEGM’s Michael Laidlaw critiquing WPATH’s Standards of Care for weak evidence.
2023–2024: Spoke at conferences, including the Do No Harm Symposium (Houston, 2023) and SEGM’s Evidence-Based Medicine Conference (Athens, Greece, 2024), advocating for exploratory therapy over rapid medicalization, particularly for same-sex attracted or neurodivergent youth at risk of misdiagnosis.

Additional Information: Hruz, a pediatric endocrinologist, is affiliated with conservative groups like the Catholic Medical Association and Alliance Defending Freedom. His work focuses on medical risks and evidence gaps in pediatric GAC, raising valid concerns about premature interventions, especially for youth who may be gay or lesbian.

Quentin Van Meter

Location: United States, Georgia
Training/Credentials: MD
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Critiqued pediatric gender-affirming care.
2020s: Testified in healthcare restriction debates.

Additional Information: Van Meter is a leader of the American College of Pediatrics, a conservative splinter group from the AAP founded in opposition to parental rights for gay couples. His testimony highlights risks, influencing restrictive policies.

Johanna Olson-Kennedy

Location: United States, California
Training/Credentials: MD
Years Active: 2000s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2000s: Founded Transyouth Health Center.
2010s–2020s: Researched and advocated early interventions.

Additional Information: Olson-Kennedy told the NYT that she withheld results of an NIH study on puberty blockers because the results were not what she wanted. She was recorded telling a group of students that adolescents are more than able to give informed consent for gender-affirming mastectomy and, speaking to the idea of later regret, said that if they “want breasts at a later point” they can “go and get them.”

Stephen Rosenthal

Location: United States, California
Training/Credentials: MD
Years Active: 2000s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2000s: Established UCSF gender clinics.
2010s–2020s: Published on hormone therapy outcomes.

Additional Information: Rosenthal’s work advances affirming care, but critics highlight evidence gaps in pediatric hormone use, urging more psychological exploration before irreversible steps.

Diane Ehrensaft

Location: United States, California
Training/Credentials: PhD (Psychology)
Years Active: 2000s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2000s: Developed affirming approaches for children.
2016: Published The Gender Creative Child.
2020s: Advocated transgender youth care.

Additional Information: Ehrensaft claims that female toddlers that tear barrettes out of their hair are sending a “gender message” that they are really boys. Her 1992 Presidio article, tying child trauma to occult ritual claims, mirrors her GAC work by heavily relying on unverified child narratives to justify interventions.

David Bell

Location: United Kingdom
Training/Credentials: MBBS (Medicine)
Years Active: 2000s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2000s–2010s: Psychiatrist at Tavistock GIDS.
2018: Reported concerns about rapid treatments.
2020s: Advocated cautious youth care.

Additional Information: Bell’s 2018 Tavistock report is praised for exposing rushed interventions, supporting evidence-based caution. He noted that clinicians reported cases where parents seemed to prefer their child to be transgender and straight rather than gay, pushing them toward transition.

Marcus Evans

Location: United Kingdom
Training/Credentials: Psychoanalyst
Years Active: 2000s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2000s–2010s: Psychotherapist at Tavistock GIDS.
2019: Resigned, critiqued rapid interventions.
2020s: Advocated psychotherapeutic approaches.

Additional Information: Evans’ resignation and critiques of Tavistock’s practices are valued for prioritizing psychological care, challenging hasty medicalization with evidence-based concerns.

Sue Evans

Location: United Kingdom
Training/Credentials: Nurse, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Psychotherapy
Years Active: 2000s–2020s
Major Contributions:

Early 2000s: Worked at Tavistock GIDS, raised early concerns about rapid puberty blocker prescriptions.
2005: Whistleblower on GIDS’s inadequate assessments, highlighting influence of advocacy groups.
2020s: Advocated for exploratory therapy, emphasizing psychological roots of gender dysphoria, including potential misdiagnosis of gay youth.

Additional Information: Evans’ early warnings about GIDS’s practices, alongside her push for thorough psychological evaluation over hasty medicalization, have been pivotal in critiques of “gender-affirming care,” influencing debates on protecting potentially gay or autistic children from irreversible treatments.

Stephen B. Levine

Location: United States, Ohio
Training/Credentials: MD
Years Active: 1970s–2020s
Major Contributions:

1970s–1980s: Worked on gender identity.
2000s–2010s: Published on gender dysphoria.
2022–2023: Critiqued youth care evidence.

Additional Information: Levine’s recent critiques (2022–2023) highlight weak evidence for youth gender care, supporting cautious, evidence-based approaches. His work challenges the “affirmation-only model”’s rapid adoption.

Julia W. Mason

Location: United States, Oregon
Training/Credentials: MD
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Practiced pediatric care; Expressed concerns about the AAP’s gender statement at the 2019 AAP National Conference
2020s: Co-founded SEGM; Submitted her first resolution to the AAP leadership meeting in 2020, asking for the AAP to do a systematic review of the evidence; Continued to submit resolutions to the AAP, with increasing numbers of co-authors, asking for them to do a systematic review of the evidence. (2022–2023).

Additional Information: Mason’s SEGM work and critiques (2022–2023) have been vital for questioning pediatric GAC evidence. She has led efforts to challenge the AAP’s 2018 gender-affirming care policy among the organization’s dissenting rank and file.

Jack Turban

Location: United States, California
Training/Credentials: MD
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Researched transgender youth mental health.
2020s: Advocated affirming care publicly.

Additional Information: Jack Turban, a gay man, has shaped GAC policy and public perception by falsely promoting affirmation as reducing suicidality. Critics argue he seamlessly crosses over from evidence-based science to advocacy, overstating GAC’s benefits with flawed, short-term data and dismissing high desistance rates. Critics question how a gay man could advocate for what many same-sex attracted people consider a form of gay conversion therapy.

Journalists

Lisa Selin Davis

Location: United States (New York)
Training/Credentials: BA in English (Oberlin College, 1991), Journalist, Author, Essayist
Years Active: 2000s–present
Major Contributions:

2010s–2020s: Wrote on gender identity for The New York Times, Atlantic, Time, questioning binary gender and rapid youth transitions; published Tomboy (2020), critiquing medicalization of gender-nonconforming girls with interventions like testosterone (“T”) (NYT, 2022; The Free Press, 2024).
2020s: Authored articles on social pressures, desistance, and evidence gaps in youth gender transitions; spoke at 2023 Genspect Conference (Denver, CO, virtual) for cautious approaches (Quillette, 2023).
*Key Articles: “My Daughter Is Not Transgender. She’s a Tomboy” (NYT, 2017) argued against labeling kids; “What’s Behind the Surge in Transgender Teens?” (NYT, 2022) cited social influences; “The Parents Who Regret Letting Their Kids Transition” (The Free Press, 2024) advocated psychological assessments.

Additional Information: Davis’ work critiques rapid gender-affirming care, balancing empathy and skepticism of GAC’s evidence, emphasizing caution. She highlights social pressures, high desistance rates, and risks of misdiagnosing same-sex attracted or neurodivergent youth

Bari Weiss

Location: United States, New York
Training/Credentials: BA (Columbia University, 2007)
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Wrote for WSJ, NYT.
2020: Founded The Free Press.
2020s: Published on gender debates.

Additional Information: Weiss’ Free Press amplifies critiques of transgender healthcare, valued for challenging ideology. Her 2020 NYT exit reflects resistance to dogmatic narratives, supporting evidence-based discourse.

Azeen Ghorayshi

Location: United States, New York
Training/Credentials: BA
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Reported for BuzzFeed News.
2020s: Covered transgender healthcare for NYT.

Additional Information: Ghorayshi’s reporting offers balanced insights, but critics argue it sometimes leans toward affirming care narratives, potentially underemphasizing evidence gaps in youth interventions.

Pamela Paul

Location: United States, New York
Training/Credentials: BA (Brown University, 1993)
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Edited NYT Book Review.
2020s: Wrote columns on gender issues.

Additional Information: Paul’s columns critique youth gender transitions, praised for questioning medicalization. Her position on GAC may have resulted in her termination by the NYT.

Hannah Barnes

Location: United Kingdom
Training/Credentials: BA (assumed)
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Reported for BBC Newsnight.
2023: Published Time to Think on Tavistock.

Additional Information: Barnes’ Time to Think exposes Tavistock’s rushed practices, crucial for evidence-based reform. Her investigative work supports cautious approaches to youth gender care.

Jennifer Block

Location: United States, New York
Training/Credentials: BA (assumed)
Years Active: 2000s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2000s: Wrote on medical ethics.
2020s: Critiqued pediatric gender care.

Additional Information: Block’s critiques of pediatric gender care highlight evidence gaps, valued for questioning medicalization. Her work supports cautious, data-driven approaches to youth healthcare.

Benjamin Ryan

Location: United States (New York)
Training/Credentials: BA (Columbia University, 2000), Independent Health and Science Journalist, Editor at Large for POZ Magazine
Years Active: 2002–present
Major Contributions:

2010s–2020s: Covered health (HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C) for NYT, Guardian, Washington Post; shifted to pediatric GAC, publishing critical articles in NY Sun (2025), Washington Post (2024), and Substack (Hazard Ratio), questioning puberty blockers and testosterone (“T”) (NYT, 2024; The Free Press, 2024).
2023–2025: Debated GAC on X (@benryanwriter), critiquing advocates like Jack Turban; leaked APA and Boston Children’s documents showing rushed assessments; discussed Cass Review (2023) on The Unspeakable podcast (2024).
Key Articles/Statements: “American Psychiatrists Turn a Blind Eye to Science on Trans Kids” (Washington Post, 2024) cited GAC risks; “New Research Raises Doubts…” (NY Sun, 2025) questioned evidence; X post (2024) challenged suicidality claims; Substack (2025) exposed Olson-Kennedy’s videos.

Additional Information: Ryan’s gender-critical reporting critiques GAC’s evidence gaps, risks to same-sex attracted youth, aligning with Davis, Bewley, and Hruz. Critics (Transgender Map, 2023; X users) call him “anti-trans”; supporters (SEGM, X users) praise his rigor (NYT, 2024).

Jo Yurcaba

Location: United States
Training/Credentials: BA (assumed)
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Covered LGBTQ+ issues for NBC.
2020s: Reported on transgender rights.

Additional Information: Yurcaba’s reporting focuses on transgender rights, but critics argue it prioritizes advocacy over evidence, potentially overlooking risks in youth gender-affirming care.

Katie Sosin

Location: United States
Training/Credentials: BA (assumed)
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Covered LGBTQ+ issues for The 19th.
2020s: Reported on transgender healthcare.

Additional Information: Sosin’s work supports transgender rights, but critics argue it underemphasizes evidence gaps in youth care, potentially promoting affirming narratives without sufficient scrutiny.

Maggie Astor

Location: United States, New York
Training/Credentials: BA (assumed)
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Reported for NYT on social issues.
2020s: Covered gender identity policies.

Additional Information: Astor’s reporting on gender policies is detailed, but critics argue it leans toward affirming care, potentially downplaying risks and evidence gaps in youth interventions.

Melissa Gira Grant

Location: United States, New York
Training/Credentials: BA (assumed)
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Wrote on social justice for The Nation.
2020s: Covered transgender issues.

Additional Information: Grant’s focus on transgender justice is advocacy-driven, but critics argue it overlooks evidence gaps, potentially prioritizing ideology over cautious youth healthcare.

Social Influencers

Stephanie Davies-Arai

Location: United Kingdom
Training/Credentials: Unknown (teacher training assumed)
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Founded Transgender Trend.
2020s: Published on gender identity in schools.

Additional Information: Davies-Arai’s Transgender Trend critiques rapid youth transitions, valued for evidence-based caution. Her work challenges ideological influences in education and healthcare.

Katie Herzog

Location: United States, Washington
Training/Credentials: BA (University of Wisconsin, 2009)
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Wrote for The Stranger.
2020: Co-founded Blocked and Reported podcast.
2020s: Critiqued youth gender transitions.

Additional Information: Herzog’s podcast critiques transgender healthcare trends, praised for questioning dogma. Her work supports evidence-based caution, highlighting social pressures on youth.

Jesse Singal

Location: United States, New York
Training/Credentials: BA (assumed)
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Wrote for New York Magazine.
2020: Co-founded Blocked and Reported podcast.
2020s: Critiqued youth gender transitions.

Additional Information: Singal’s 2018 Atlantic article and podcast scrutinize affirming care, valued for evidence-based critique despite controversy. His work highlights risks of rapid interventions.

Abigail Shrier

Location: United States, California
Training/Credentials: BA (Yale University, 2000), JD (Columbia Law School)
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Wrote for WSJ.
2020: Published Irreversible Damage.
2020s: Advocated caution in pediatric care.

Additional Information: Shrier’s Irreversible Damage critiques youth transitions, influential despite 2020 backlash. Her work is praised for questioning medicalization, urging evidence-based caution.

Jamie Reed

Location: United States, Missouri
Training/Credentials: BA Cultural Anthropology, MS Clinical Research Management (Washington University St Louis)
Years Active: 2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s–2020s: Worked at pediatric gender clinic.
2023: Whistleblower account on Washington University.
2020s: Advocated pediatric care reform.

Additional Information: Reed’s 2023 whistleblower account exposed clinic practices, crucial for reform. Her critique supports cautious, evidence-based approaches to youth gender care.

Chloe Cole

Location: United States, California
Training/Credentials: Detransitioner, advocate
Years Active: 2020s
Major Contributions:

2020s: Shared detransition story.
2022–2023: Testified in healthcare debates.

Additional Information: Cole’s detransition narrative highlights risks of youth transitions, valued for personal insight. Her testimony supports evidence-based caution in policy discussions.

Additional Individuals

Hillary Cass

Location: United Kingdom
Training/Credentials: MBBS
Years Active: 2010s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2010s: Led Royal College of Paediatrics.
2020–2024: Conducted Cass Review.
2024: Published review recommending caution.

Additional Information: Cass’ 2024 review exposed weak evidence in youth gender care, pivotal for reform. Her cautious recommendations are widely praised for prioritizing rigorous data.

Magnus Hirschfeld

Location: Germany (later exiled to France)
Training/Credentials: MD, Sexologist
Years Active: 1890s–1935 (deceased May 14, 1935)
Major Contributions:

1897–1910s: Founded the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee, the first organization to advocate for homosexual and transgender rights, campaigning against anti-sodomy laws like Germany’s Paragraph 175.
1919: Established the Institute for Sexual Science in Berlin, a pioneering center for research, counseling, and early gender-affirming surgeries.
1920s–1930s: Published seminal works on gender and sexual diversity, including Die Transvestiten and Sexualpathologie, coining terms like “transvestite” and “transsexual.”

Additional Information: Hirschfeld is known for his role in the sex change of Einar Wegener—later known as Lili Elbe (The Danish Girl)—through diagnosis and surgical coordination at his institute. While he did not perform Elbe’s surgeries, he referred him to specialists for experimental procedures, including a “uterine transplant,” which led to his grisly death in 1931. Critics have called the transplant a “ruse” due to its medical implausibility, arguing Hirschfeld’s enthusiasm for experimental procedures was reckless.

Sonia Appleby

Location: United Kingdom
Training/Credentials: Unknown (clinician)
Years Active: 2000s–2020s
Major Contributions:

2000s–2010s: Worked at Tavistock GIDS.
2020s: Whistleblower on youth care practices.

Additional Information: Appleby’s whistleblowing exposed Tavistock’s rushed interventions, valued for evidence-based reform. Her critiques highlight systemic issues, supporting cautious youth care.

Rachel Levine

Location: United States, Washington, D.C.
Training/Credentials: MD (Pediatrics), HHS Assistant Secretary
Years Active: 2010s–present
Major Contributions:

2021–2025: Promoted GAC as HHS Assistant Secretary, citing AAP and AMA endorsements (NPR, 2022).
2022: Called for Big Tech to censor GAC “misinformation,” raising free speech concerns.
2021–2022: Pressured WPATH to remove age limits from GAC guidelines, influencing SOC8.

Additional Information: Court documents from Boe v. Marshall (2024) reveal Levine, via her chief of staff Sarah Boateng, pressured WPATH to eliminate age minimums from its 2021 draft guidelines. The Johns Hopkins WPATH scandal further ties Levine’s HHS influence to relaxed standards.

Whistleblowers

Tamara Pietzke

Location: Washington, United States
Training/Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Master’s in Social Work (University of Washington)
Years Active: 2010s–present
Major Contributions:

2018–2024: Worked at MultiCare, a major Washington hospital system, providing outpatient mental health therapy; raised concerns about rapid gender-affirming care (GAC) for youth, including testosterone (“T”) prescriptions for trans-identified females to induce secondary male sex traits like deeper voices and facial hair.
February 2024: Published a whistleblower account in The Free Press, detailing cases of mentally ill youth (e.g., a 13-year-old with depression, PTSD, and autism) being fast-tracked for GAC despite complex histories; faced accusations of transphobia and job loss after questioning protocols.
2020s: Advocated for evidence-based mental health care over automatic affirmation, speaking at events like the 2023 Genspect Conference (Online, hosted from Denver, USA) to highlight risks of irreversible interventions like testosterone-induced male-pattern balding.

Additional Information: Pietzke’s whistleblowing exposed pressures to affirm gender dysphoria without addressing underlying issues, such as potential homosexuality, aligning with concerns about misdiagnosing gay youth. Supported by the LGBT Courage Coalition, which raised $20,000 for her after her firing, she has emphasized the harm of medicalizing gender non-conformity, particularly for youth with complex mental health needs. Critics argue her public disclosure of patient details was unethical, but her supporters, including Jamie Reed, praise her for prioritizing patient welfare over ideology.

Eithan Haim

Location: Texas, United States
Training/Credentials: General Surgeon, MD
Years Active: 2020s–present
Major Contributions:

2023: Exposed Texas Children’s Hospital’s secret continuation of gender-affirming care for minors, including testosterone (“T”) for trans-identified females to induce secondary male sex traits like muscle growth, despite a Texas law banning such procedures.
2024: Testified before Congress, detailing complications from GAC, such as urethral stenosis and fistulas in trans genital surgeries; faced four felony HIPAA violation charges from the Biden-Harris DOJ, prompting accusations of politically motivated prosecution.
2024: Spoke at the Do No Harm Conference (Houston, USA), highlighting the prioritization of GAC over patient safety and the misdiagnosis of potentially gay youth as transgender.

Additional Information: Haim’s whistleblowing, initially anonymous via journalist Chris Rufo, revealed Texas Children’s Hospital’s covert transgender program, corroborated by nurse Vanessa Sivadge. His testimony emphasized irreversible effects of testosterone and surgeries, sparking national debate. Facing DOJ attempts to impose a gag order, Haim remains a vocal critic of pediatric GAC, arguing it harms youth who may otherwise identify as gay. Critics claim his HIPAA violations endangered patients, while supporters view him as a courageous defender of free speech and evidence-based medicine.

Vanessa Sivadge

Location: Texas, United States
Training/Credentials: Registered Nurse
Years Active: 2020s–present
Major Contributions:

2023: Anonymously corroborated Dr. Eithan Haim’s exposé of Texas Children’s Hospital’s transgender program, revealing fraudulent miscategorization of testosterone (“T”) prescriptions for trans-identified females to bypass Texas Medicaid bans.
2024: Testified to Congress alongside Haim, describing emotional blackmail by doctors claiming non-affirmation would lead to self-harm; spoke at the 2024 SEGM Evidence-Based Medicine Conference (Athens, Greece) on GAC’s risks to vulnerable youth.
2024: Faced FBI intimidation after coming forward, prompting her to launch a GiveSendGo fundraiser for legal defense; highlighted cases of sexually abused girls being prescribed hormones to “resolve” gender confusion.

Additional Information: Sivadge, motivated by her Christian faith, exposed the hospital’s prioritization of GAC, including testosterone to induce male secondary sex traits like facial hair, often for girls with mental health struggles or trauma. Her testimony highlighted the potential misdiagnosis of gay or lesbian youth as transgender, aligning with concerns raised by Tavistock whistleblowers. Critics question her motives due to her religious stance, but supporters, including the LGBT Courage Coalition, praise her for risking her safety to protect vulnerable youth.

Anna Hutchinson

Location: United Kingdom
Training/Credentials: Clinical Psychologist
Years Active: 2010s–present
Major Contributions:

2010s: Worked at Tavistock GIDS, observing rapid referrals for gender-affirming care, including testosterone (“T”) for trans-identified females to induce secondary male sex traits like deeper voices.
2018: Contributed to Dr. David Bell’s internal report, raising concerns about GIDS’s failure to explore underlying issues like homosexuality, noting that over 90% of female referrals were same-sex attracted.
2022: Spoke at the Genspect “Bigger Picture” Conference (Online, hosted from Helsinki, Finland), advocating for exploratory therapy to prevent misdiagnosis of gay youth as transgender.

Additional Information: Hutchinson’s whistleblowing highlighted GIDS’s inadequate assessments, particularly for youth who might be grappling with same-sex attraction rather than gender dysphoria. Her concerns, echoed in the 2024 Cass Review, emphasized the risk of irreversible interventions like testosterone causing male-pattern balding in potentially lesbian youth. Critics of her stance argue it undermines trans identities, while supporters commend her for prioritizing psychological exploration over medicalization.

Anastassis Spiliadis

Location: United Kingdom (originally Greece)
Training/Credentials: Psychotherapist
Years Active: 2010s–present
Major Contributions:

2015–2019: Worked at Tavistock GIDS, raising concerns about homophobic culture and inadequate exploration of sexual orientation in gender-dysphoric youth, many of whom were same-sex attracted.
2019: Publicly criticized GIDS’s affirmation-only approach, stating it risked functioning as “reparative therapy against gay individuals” by pushing potentially gay youth toward testosterone (“T”) or other interventions to align with heterosexual norms.
2023: Presented at the SEGM International Symposium on Gender Dysphoria (Helsinki, Finland), advocating for nuanced care that considers sexual orientation before medicalizing youth.

Additional Information: Spiliadis, identifying as gay, warned that GIDS’s practices could erase LGB identities by misdiagnosing homosexual youth as transgender, potentially leading to irreversible changes like testosterone-induced facial hair. His critiques, supported by the LGBT Courage Coalition, contributed to the Cass Review’s findings on GIDS’s shortcomings. Critics argue his views reflect internalized bias, but supporters praise his courage in addressing homophobia within gender medicine.

Susan Bewley

Location: United Kingdom
Training/Credentials: MD (London, 1990), MA (Medical Law and Ethics, King’s College London, 1991), FRCOG, Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Women’s Health at King’s College London, and Consultant to NICE
Years Active: 1990s–present
Major Contributions:

2019–2020s: Co-authored the 2021 Dahlen et al. paper in BMJ Open, which exposed WPATH’s Standards of Care 7 (SoC7) as lacking evidence-based rigor, a critique ignored by WPATH and unaddressed in SoC8.
2022: Contributed to the Cass Review’s interim findings, emphasizing rigorous evidence over ideology; spoke at the 2022 SEGM International Symposium on Gender Dysphoria (Helsinki, Finland) on gaps in GAC evidence, including risks to potentially same-sex attracted youth.
2023–2025: Presented at the 2023 IACAPAP Symposium (Athens, Greece) on cautious, evidence-based policies

Additional Information: No academic or professional body has published a peer-reviewed rebuttal disputing the Dahlen paper’s methodology or conclusions since its release in April 2021. The study underwent rigorous scrutiny by seven BMJ Open peer reviewers, ensuring its robustness, yet no formal counterarguments have emerged in academic journals or conferences.

Patrick Hunter

Location: Florida, United States
Training/Credentials: Pediatrician, Member of Florida Board of Medicine
Years Active: 2000s–present
Major Contributions:

2022: Contributed to Florida’s review of gender-affirming care, analyzing evidence for testosterone (“T”) and puberty blockers, concluding insufficient data supported their use in minors; influenced Florida’s ban on pediatric GAC.
2023: Spoke at the Do No Harm Conference (Orlando, USA), highlighting risks of irreversible secondary sex traits like deepened voices in trans-identified females, especially for potentially gay youth misdiagnosed as transgender.
2024: Testified in Florida legislative hearings, advocating for psychological exploration over medicalization to protect LGB youth from premature interventions.

Additional Information: Hunter’s role in Florida’s review drew on data showing high rates of same-sex attraction among gender-dysphoric youth, echoing concerns about GAC as a form of “conversion therapy” for gay individuals. His work with Do No Harm has been praised for prioritizing patient safety, though critics argue it restricts access to necessary care. His evidence-based stance has influenced restrictive policies in Florida, aligning with broader calls for caution in gender medicine.

Organizations

Do No Harm

Location: International (based in United States)
Training/Credentials: Nonprofit organization of medical professionals and researchers
Years Active: 2022–present
Major Contributions:

2022: Founded to promote evidence-based medicine and challenge unproven gender-affirming care (GAC); launched a database documenting pediatric GAC cases, including testosterone (“T”) use for trans-identified females to induce secondary male sex traits like facial hair.
2023: Hosted the Do No Harm Conference (Orlando, USA), featuring whistleblowers like Eithan Haim and Patrick Hunter to discuss risks of GAC, including misdiagnosis of gay youth.
2024: Published reports on complications from testosterone and surgeries, influencing policy debates in states like Florida; organized a symposium (Houston, USA) to advocate for psychological care over medicalization.

Additional Information: Do No Harm’s database and advocacy highlight the risks of irreversible interventions, such as testosterone-induced male-pattern balding, particularly for youth who may later identify as gay or lesbian. The organization has been instrumental in supporting whistleblowers like Haim and Sivadge, though critics argue it pushes an anti-trans agenda. Its work has informed policy shifts toward caution, notably in Florida’s GAC restrictions.

Gays Against Groomers

Location: United States
Training/Credentials: Grassroots advocacy group of gay, lesbian, and allied activists
Years Active: 2022–present
Major Contributions:

2022: Founded to oppose what it sees as the overreach of gender ideology, particularly gender-affirming care (GAC) for minors, including testosterone (“T”) for trans-identified females to induce secondary male sex traits like deeper voices.
2023: Organized rallies and spoke at the 2023 Do No Harm Conference (Orlando, USA), arguing that GAC risks misdiagnosing gay youth as transgender, potentially erasing LGB identities.
2024: Amplified whistleblower voices like Vanessa Sivadge via social media campaigns, advocating for policies to protect homosexual youth from irreversible interventions.

Additional Information: Gays Against Groomers focuses on preserving LGB identities, arguing that rapid GAC, such as testosterone causing male-pattern balding, may function as “conversion therapy” for gay youth. Their provocative rhetoric has sparked controversy, with critics labeling them transphobic, while supporters, including some LGB activists, praise their focus on safeguarding homosexual rights. Their campaigns have gained traction on platforms like X, influencing public discourse.

LGB Alliance UK

Location: United Kingdom
Training/Credentials: Nonprofit advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, and bisexual rights
Years Active: 2019–present
Major Contributions:

2019: Founded to advocate for LGB rights separate from transgender issues, opposing gender-affirming care (GAC) for minors that may misdiagnose same-sex attracted youth, such as testosterone (“T”) for trans-identified females to induce secondary male sex traits like facial hair.
2021: Supported Tavistock whistleblowers like Anna Hutchinson at the 2021 Genspect Conference (Online, hosted from Denver, USA), highlighting GIDS’s failure to explore homosexuality in gender-dysphoric youth.
2024: Contributed to the Cass Review’s public consultations, advocating for psychological care over medicalization; spoke at the 2024 SEGM Conference (Athens, Greece) on protecting LGB identities.

Additional Information: LGB Alliance UK emphasizes the distinct needs of LGB individuals, arguing that GAC risks subsuming homosexual identities by pushing potentially gay youth toward interventions like testosterone, which can cause irreversible changes like deepened voices. Their work has supported whistleblowers like Spiliadis and influenced UK policy shifts, though they face criticism from trans-inclusive groups for allegedly marginalizing trans identities. Their advocacy aligns with the Cass Review’s call for cautious, evidence-based care.

Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM)

Location: International (based in United States)
Training/Credentials: Multidisciplinary organization of clinicians, researchers, and academics
Years Active: 2020–present
Major Contributions:

2020: Founded to promote evidence-based gender care; hosted Virtual Conference (Online, New York, USA) discussing evidence gaps in pediatric gender-affirming care with speakers like Sue Evans.
2020s: Published critiques of pediatric gender care, including systematic reviews highlighting weak evidence for puberty blockers and hormones; organized 2022 International Symposium on Gender Dysphoria (Helsinki, Finland) to challenge affirmation-only models.
2024: Hosted Evidence-Based Medicine in Gender Care Conference (Athens, Greece), emphasizing global policy shifts and need for long-term outcome studies, influencing cautious approaches in UK and Sweden.

Additional Information: SEGM’s work questioning weak evidence in youth gender care has been vital for policy reform, amplifying whistleblower voices like Sue Evans and informing the UK’s Cass Review. Critics allege bias, but its three conferences in New York (virtual), Finland, and Greece have significantly shaped global discussions on evidence-based gender medicine.

ReIME

Location: International
Training/Credentials: None
Years Active: ~2020–present
Major Contributions:

2020s: Focused on ethical concerns in gender care.
2020s: Published position papers.

Additional Information: ReIME’s ethical critiques highlight risks in youth gender care, valued for evidence-based caution. Its work supports policy ReMis, discussions challenging rapid medicalization.

Gender: A Wider Lens

Location: International (based in United States)
Training/Credentials: None
Years Active: 2020–2025
Major Contributions:

2020: Launched podcast by Stella O’Malley and Sasha Ayad.
2020s: Critiqued rapid youth transitions.

Additional Information: The podcast questions affirming care trends, praised for nuanced critique. It supports evidence-based caution, highlighting psychological alternatives for youth.

Heterodorx

Location: International (based in United States)
Training/Credentials: None
Years Active: 2020–present
Major Contributions:

2020: Launched by Nina Paley and Cori Cohn, creating a platform for critical discussions on gender, featuring snappy dialogue and diverse perspectives.
2020s: Hosted notable guests like pediatrician Julia Mason, therapist Stephanie Winn, and detransitioner Ray Alex Williams to critique transgender healthcare narratives, particularly rapid youth interventions, with sharp, witty exchanges.
2020s: Gained recognition for tackling controversial topics like Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD) and the misdiagnosis of potentially gay youth, fostering open debate with humor and intellectual rigor.

Additional Information: Heterodorx is valued for its engaging, sardonic style and eclectic guest roster, including legal scholars, clinicians, and activists, who challenge mainstream gender-affirming care narratives. Its emphasis on evidence-based caution, especially regarding youth interventions, has sparked significant discussion, though critics argue it leans heavily gender-critical. The podcast’s blend of warmth, sarcasm, and disarming honesty creates a unique space for questioning rapid medicalization.

Genspect

Location: International (based in Ireland)
Training/Credentials: Stella O’Malley (Founder), Psychotherapist
Years Active: 2021–present
Major Contributions:

2021: Founded to advocate cautious, evidence-based care; organized virtual conference on rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD) with Lisa Littman, David Bell, and Stella O’Malley challenging affirming care norms.
2023: Held “Bigger Picture” Conference (Killarney, Ireland, April 2023), featuring clinicians and parents, critiquing gender-affirming care’s risks for youth, influencing Irish policy shifts.
2024–2025: Hosted “Bigger Picture” Conferences (Lisbon, September 2024; Albuquerque, September 2025), with speakers like Julia Mason and Steven Levine advocating non-medical approaches,.

Additional Information: Genspect’s cautious approach to gender care is praised for evidence-based focus, influencing policy. It challenges affirming care’s rapid adoption in youth.