The brave people who stood up against transgender ideology when it was exceptional to do so. This is a “Who’s Who” of those who were standing up for the rights of children to grow up healthy in body and mind before the end of 2020.
This list is presented in alphabetical order.
Any exercise of this nature is going to omit important contributors, please feel free to suggest other notable pioneers in the comments.
Ryan T. Anderson
As an author and researcher at the Heritage Foundation, Anderson wrote When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment (2018). His book provided an early, conservative critique of transgender ideology, examining the medical, psychological, and societal impacts of gender transition and arguing for a reality-based understanding of sex.
Dr Michael Bailey
A psychologist who has conducted research on sexuality and gender dysphoria, Bailey raised early concerns about the lack of scientific rigor in transgender ideology and its potential harms, particularly with respect to adolescent transitions.
Hannah Barnes
Hannah Barnes is an investigative journalist with the BBC who began raising questions about the practices of the Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) and the increasing number of young people being referred for gender-related treatments. Her work, including documentaries and reports, exposed concerning trends within GIDS, such as inadequate safeguards, lack of robust clinical assessments, and the growing numbers of young people being put on puberty blockers. Her investigations helped bring about greater scrutiny, leading to an official review of GIDS and, ultimately, the decision to close the clinic.
Dr David Bell
Dr David Bell, a senior psychiatrist and former staff governor at Tavistock, conducted an internal review of GIDS in 2018. His report outlined numerous concerns raised by staff, who felt pressured to affirm young patients’ gender identities quickly without adequate psychological evaluation. Bell’s report highlighted the ethical and medical risks of the affirmative model and eventually became public, increasing scrutiny of Tavistock’s practices and contributing to the review by the NHS. Dr. Bell’s work underscored the need for a more cautious and scientifically grounded approach to treating gender dysphoria, especially in vulnerable youth.
Keira Bell
Keira Bell became widely known for her legal case against the Tavistock Clinic. As a young adult, Bell detransitioned after undergoing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones during her teenage years. She argued that she had not been properly informed about the risks and long-term consequences of these treatments, leading her to challenge the clinic’s practices in court. In 2020, the High Court ruled in her favour, concluding that minors under 16 were unlikely to be able to provide informed consent for puberty blockers. This landmark ruling brought significant attention to the need for rigorous assessment and consent standards in treating young people with gender dysphoria.
Dr Michael Biggs
A sociologist at the University of Oxford, Dr Biggs conducted and published research on the effects of puberty blockers, questioning their safety and effectiveness. His research highlighted the absence of sufficient long-term studies, providing early critical analysis that influenced the debate around gender-affirming treatments for minors.
Jennifer Bilek
Bilek is known for her work investigating the funding and corporate influence behind transgender ideology. Her articles, including in The Federalist and UnHerd, critically examined the financial and ideological structures supporting gender identity movements, focusing on how influential elites and corporations shape transgender advocacy.
Julie Bindel
A long-time feminist journalist, Bindel has written extensively on the conflicts between transgender ideology and women’s rights. She highlighted these issues early on, particularly in terms of safeguarding and the encroachment of gender ideology on women’s spaces and rights.
Dr Ray Blanchard
A clinical psychologist known for his research on gender dysphoria and autogynephilia, Blanchard has been critical of gender identity theory from a clinical and scientific perspective, challenging the mainstream medical approaches to gender dysphoria treatment.
Heather Brunskell-Evans
A British feminist scholar and former spokesperson for the Women’s Equality Party, Brunskell-Evans has spoken critically about the medicalization of children and the concept of “gender identity.” Her writings and public statements underscore the risks of transgender ideology for children and women.
Denise C. (Founder of 4th Wave Now)
Denise C. started 4th Wave Now in 2015 as a space for parents concerned about the medicalization of gender-questioning children. Her platform became a critical resource for parents, professionals, and detransitioners, providing early analysis and support challenging the affirmative model of care for minors with gender dysphoria.
Dr James Cantor
A clinical psychologist and sexologist, Cantor has questioned the affirmation model, especially in cases of youth transitions. His work focuses on data-driven approaches to gender dysphoria and critiques the lack of empirical support for transitioning children and adolescents.
Malcolm Clark
A British documentary filmmaker and co-founder of the LGB Alliance, Clark has been critical of the influence of gender identity theory on society. His work, including advocacy through the LGB Alliance, focuses on protecting same-sex-attracted people’s rights and ensuring that LGB issues are not conflated with gender identity matters.
Stephanie Davies-Arai
Founder of Transgender Trend, a UK-based organization, Davies-Arai began raising concerns about the growing prevalence of transgender ideology in schools and the implications for children’s mental and physical health. She has written extensively on the risks of promoting medical transitions for young people.
Fred Deutsch
A South Dakota legislator, Deutsch introduced a bill seeking to restrict access to medical and surgical interventions for minors with gender dysphoria. His efforts drew national attention to the potential dangers of paediatric transition, emphasizing the importance of protecting young people from irreversible medical treatments.
Chris Elston (“Billboard Chris”)
Chris Elston, known as “Billboard Chris,” is a Canadian activist who took to the streets wearing billboards and handing out leaflets to raise awareness about the medicalization of gender-questioning children. He focuses particularly on the dangers of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for young people. His grassroots, one-man campaign, conducted on sidewalks and through social media, drew significant attention to gender ideology’s impact on children and sparked a wider conversation in Canada and beyond.
Sue Evans
Sue Evans, a former psychiatric nurse at Tavistock, was one of the earliest whistleblowers about the clinic’s approach to treating gender dysphoric youth. She expressed concerns that GIDS was too quick to affirm young patients’ gender identity without sufficient psychological assessment. Evans was pivotal in initiating the legal case that Keira Bell later joined, helping to expose flaws in the clinic’s treatment protocols and emphasizing the need for caution in handling cases of adolescent gender dysphoria.
Marcus Evans
Marcus Evans, a psychoanalyst and former governor of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, is known for his critiques of GIDS. As Sue Evans’ husband, he supported her initial concerns and later resigned from his position in protest over what he saw as the clinic’s failure to uphold safe and rigorous standards in treating gender dysphoria. Marcus Evans has since advocated for a psychotherapeutic approach, cautioning against the medicalization of young people and the potential for harm without thorough mental health assessments.
Maya Forstater
Known for her legal case in the UK, Forstater’s stance on the immutability of biological sex sparked a landmark legal ruling that affirmed gender-critical beliefs as protected under the Equality Act. Her early advocacy for women’s rights and free speech against gender ideology made her a key figure in the movement.
Erin Friday
An attorney and mother, Friday has become a vocal critic of gender ideology in schools. She advocates for parents’ rights and opposes the inclusion of gender identity materials in educational settings, arguing that these concepts can confuse young minds and encourage premature medical decisions.
Germaine Greer
An early critic of transgender ideology, Greer, a prominent feminist, raised questions about the concept of “gender identity” as far back as the 1990s and continued to express scepticism, focusing on the implications for women’s rights.
Sian Griffiths
As an investigative journalist and education editor at The Sunday Times, Griffiths has extensively covered issues related to transgender ideology in schools and healthcare, particularly focusing on safeguarding and the wellbeing of children. Her investigative reporting shed light on how schools and medical institutions were approaching gender identity, sparking public debate and increasing awareness around the potential harms of early medical intervention and ideologically driven education.
Dr Az Hakeem
A psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Hakeem has raised concerns about the affirmation model and the potential overmedicalization of gender-questioning youth. His clinical experience emphasizes the importance of exploring underlying psychological issues rather than immediately affirming a gender identity, advocating a psychotherapeutic approach to gender dysphoria.
Walt Heyer
A former transgender person and detransitioner, Heyer began speaking out against early medical transitions and the lack of psychological assessment in cases of gender dysphoria. Through his writing and advocacy, Heyer has raised awareness of the challenges and potential harms of transitioning, particularly for young people.
Keith Jordan
A parent and advocate, Jordan established peer-support in UK for parents of children identifying as transgender. He is a co-founder of Our Duty, Bayswater Support, and Gender Dysphoria Network—organisations dedicated to providing support, resources, and advocacy for parents navigating issues related to transgender ideation in their children. His work for Our Duty has emphasised the development of peer-support networks and has contributed to discussions on best practices for non-clinical, supportive interventions, particularly for parents seeking alternatives to the affirmation model.
Helen Joyce
The British journalist and author of Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality (published in 2021 but based on years of research), Joyce was an early critic who extensively researched transgender ideology’s impact on society, women’s rights, and language. Her investigative work in journalism raised public awareness and provided a detailed critique of the ideology.
Kellie-Jay Keen (Posie Parker)
A British activist, Parker was one of the first outspoken advocates for women’s rights against gender ideology, famously challenging the idea that “trans women are women.” Her public events, campaigns, and direct action approach have drawn attention to the conflicts between gender identity policies and women’s sex-based rights.
“Gigi Larue”
Writing under a pseudonym, Gigi Larue is a parent advocate who critically examined and spoke out about transgender ideology, particularly as it relates to children. Her blog posts and public commentary explore the social, psychological, and ideological aspects of gender identity, often providing a perspective grounded in safeguarding children. Her work has helped other parents question and resist the pressures to affirm or medicalize gender-questioning children.
Graham Linehan
A well-known British-Irish writer and comedian, Linehan became an outspoken critic of transgender ideology, particularly its effects on women’s rights and children. Linehan’s vocal opposition through social media and public commentary, despite substantial backlash, brought wider attention to the potential harms of gender ideology, especially regarding safeguarding and freedom of speech.
Dr Lisa Littman
Littman published a pioneering study on rapid-onset gender dysphoria in 2018, introducing the concept of social contagion in the context of gender identity. Her work provided early academic analysis challenging the prevailing medical narrative on adolescent gender dysphoria.
Dr William Malone
An American endocrinologist, Malone became active in discussions on social media and medical publications, raising concerns about the health risks associated with puberty blockers and hormones. His critiques focused on the lack of solid evidence supporting these treatments for youth and called for a re-evaluation of clinical guidelines in light of emerging data.
Dr Julia Mason
A paediatrician and member of the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), Mason has raised concerns about puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in young people. She has written articles and spoken publicly about the lack of solid evidence for these treatments and advocated for a more cautious, evidence-driven approach.
Dr Paul McHugh
A psychiatrist and professor at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. McHugh was an early and prominent critic of gender reassignment procedures, especially for minors. His research and writings have questioned the long-term benefits of gender-affirming treatments, particularly surgery, and he has argued that such procedures often fail to address underlying mental health conditions.
Michele Moore
A commentator and advocate for critical thinking around gender issues, Moore has challenged the rapid acceptance of gender identity ideology, focusing on its impact on children and families. Her writing underscores the need for a scientifically grounded approach to gender dysphoria.
Meghan Murphy
A Canadian feminist and founder of Feminist Current, Murphy has been outspoken in her critique of gender identity ideology, particularly concerning its impact on women’s spaces, rights, and language. She faced significant backlash but continued to publish and speak on the subject.
Martina Navratilova
The tennis champion and LGB activist took a public stand in 2019 against male athletes competing in women’s sports, raising concerns about fairness and the impact on women’s rights. Her stance contributed to the early resistance against gender identity policies in sports.
Scott Newgent
A detransitioned female who advocates for transparency around gender transition risks, Newgent has spoken out about the dangers of medicalizing gender dysphoria in youth. Newgent’s advocacy focuses on educating parents, challenging the mainstream narrative on gender transitions, and emphasizing the lifelong impacts of such medical treatments.
Stella O’Malley
A psychotherapist and author, O’Malley is known for her nuanced approach to gender issues in children and teens. She co-founded Genspect, an organization that provides resources for parents and clinicians concerned about the rapid medicalization of gender-questioning youth. Her work has emphasized the importance of a cautious, exploratory approach to treating gender dysphoria.
Jordan Peterson
A Canadian psychologist and professor, Peterson gained prominence for his opposition to compelled speech on gender pronouns, arguing that legislating language is a threat to freedom of expression. He has expressed concerns about gender ideology, particularly the psychological and social ramifications of enforcing gender identity beliefs.
J.K. Rowling
The British author took a public stance on gender ideology in 2020, writing a lengthy essay outlining her concerns about its impact on women’s rights, safeguarding, and the medicalization of children. Rowling’s stance drew widespread media attention and brought the discussion to a global audience.
Fred Sargeant
An early gay rights activist, Sargeant has criticized transgender ideology for co-opting and overshadowing LGB rights. His activism underscores the distinct needs of same-sex-attracted individuals and challenges the mainstream LGBTQ movement’s focus on gender identity.
Brandon Showalter
As a journalist for The Christian Post, Showalter has been one of the early voices in the media calling attention to the potential dangers of transgender ideology, particularly its impact on children and the influence of ideological bias in healthcare and education.
Abigail Shrier
Author of Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters (2020), Shrier drew attention to the rapid rise in adolescent girls identifying as transgender and the influence of social and peer contagion. Her book became a major work of resistance against medical interventions for young people.
Dr. Debra Soh
A neuroscientist and former sex researcher, Soh has been critical of gender ideology, particularly the medicalization of children. Her book, The End of Gender (2020), argued against concepts like gender fluidity and highlighted the scientific basis for biological sex differences, providing a science-backed critique of gender identity ideology.
Kathleen Stock
A philosopher and academic, Stock wrote and spoke openly about the conflict between transgender ideology and women’s rights, especially concerning sex-based rights. Her early essays and public statements called attention to the logical and ethical issues in disregarding biological sex.
Selina Todd
An Oxford historian, Todd has been a public critic of transgender ideology, particularly around the erasure of women’s history and rights. She has spoken openly about the pressure on academic institutions to conform to ideological stances on gender and has advocated for academic freedom on the subject.
Janice Turner
As a columnist for The Times, Turner wrote early, critical pieces about the impact of gender ideology on children and women’s rights. Her articles drew attention to issues around transgender policy in the UK, helping bring mainstream media focus to gender-critical concerns.
Dr Quentin Van Meter
A paediatric endocrinologist and president of the American College of Pediatricians, Van Meter was an early critic of medical transition for minors. He has raised concerns about the long-term impact of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on children, arguing that the affirmative approach lacks sufficient scientific backing.
Colin Wright
An evolutionary biologist, Wright has written extensively about the science of biological sex, challenging the notion that sex is a spectrum or merely a social construct. Through publications, articles, and his platform Reality’s Last Stand, Wright has been a leading voice in defending the biological reality of sex and questioning the influence of gender ideology in science and education.
Miranda Yardley
A transsexual activist and writer, Yardley has criticized transgender ideology for its disregard of biological reality and impact on women’s rights. Yardley’s voice was unique, offering criticism from within the community.
Dr Kenneth Zucker
Zucker, a psychologist and former head of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Gender Identity Clinic in Toronto, advocated for careful assessment and caution in treating children with gender dysphoria, pushing back against affirmation-only approaches.