EXCLUSIVE: Notorious Org’s Members Tried Pushing ‘Developmentally Delayed’ Young Adult Into Sex-Change Operation

Messages show WPATH members criticizing a single mom for refusing to start her teen son on cross-sex hormones, collaborating on ways to help a “scientist father” understand his teen son’s new female identity and being uncertain of how to help a teen receiving cross-sex hormones preserve sperm after he “changed [his] mind” about having children, documents show.

“From the messages shared, parents are portrayed as resistant, falsely implying that they are the ones jeopardizing their child’s welfare by questioning gender ideology,” Dr. Kurt Miceli, medical director of Do No Harm, told the DCNF.

“This is not sound clinical practice. It’s aiming to proselytize a harmful ideology. It disregards the biological reality of male and female, while overlooking the co-occurring distress these adolescents are facing, such as the loss of a parent in one noted case,” Miceli said. “These are vulnerable children, who thankfully have parents willing to challenge flawed guidance and advocate for their child’s well-being within an ideologically captured system.”

The names of all WPATH members in the forum were redacted in the messages. WPATH did not respond to the DCNF’s requests for comment.

One WPATH member described working with a single mom who was not allowing her gender-confused, 16-year-old son to start cross-sex hormones that had been recommended by a gender clinic. WPATH’s medical guidance recommends giving teenagers dangerous cross-sex hormones which Do No Harm says can cause infertility and increase a patient’s risk of cancer or heart disease.

The WPATH member’s effort to convince the mother hit a speedbump, with the unnamed individual noting that the parent planned to have her teenager read a book critical of sex-changes and asking for advice on how to combat it.

“Finally got parent to read articles/books that seemed to move them closer to an understanding/more openness to transition ‘at some point,’” the WPATH member wrote. “Then this parent sent me link to a book just finished, and telling me they will ask their 16 [year old] to read…” The WPATH member explained that the parent had recommended their teenager read “When Harry Became Sally,” a groundbreaking book by Ryan T. Anderson on the spread of transgender ideology published in 2018.

“As I expected, Amazon shows this to be a conservative, religious view against letting children declare their own gender- with stories of adults regretting their transition as children,” wrote the WPATH member.

“If anyone has some wisdom to share with how to approach this common issue thoughtfully and respectfully, without getting into a debate on the merits of these differing opinions- but rather focusing on the mental health of their child (parent is aware of stats on suicidality, etc.) please share!,” the member continued.

One WPATH member provided a sample response to the mother which gently conveyed that her questioning of child sex-change was “harmful.”

“Thanks for sending me the link to that book. It seems really clear to me that you care so much about (child’s name) and really want the best for (child), and you’re trying to protect (child) from problems and suffering. I’m so glad you care so much, and you’re going to the effort to research and find resources that you think provide important information to help your child,” wrote the WPATH member.

A WPATH forum message obtained through a public records request.

“I can totally understand that you would trust this book and its authors, because it seems to fit with the religious beliefs and community that are so important to you. Unfortunately, this author’s perspective has actually been shown to be not helpful, and even harmful, to the health and well-being of people who identify as transgender. I can imagine that you would feel disillusioned if you realized that what you’d thought was helpful is actually harmful, so you might be skeptical of what I’m saying,” the WPATH member wrote.

Another WPATH member, who called themself an “affirming pastoral therapist serving the transgender community,” commented that they hoped the mother was “sincere” in her actions and not trying to “obstruct her child’s health” for the sake of principles that were “in need of updating.”

“I hope [the mother] is sincere rather than clutching at anything to obstruct her child’s health for the sake of principles that are in my opionion [sic], in need of updating,” wrote the WPATH member.

‘Misguided’ Experts

Miceli told the DCNF this mother exemplified “remarkable bravery” in her stand against “misguided” medical experts.

“It seems shocking to one message board writer that a parent would be ‘loathe’ to starting hormones, ‘despite having received this recommendation from gender clinic.’ The reality is that cross-sex hormones have real risks and cause real harms, such as infertility,” Miceli told the DCNF.

“And while the true rate of regret is not known, it is very real in the setting of life-changing interventions. It cannot and should not be minimized. This parent’s choice to defy prevailing medical advice and protect her child from serious risks exemplifies remarkable bravery against the backdrop of misguided and harmful ‘expert’ recommendations,” said Miceli.

Questions about fertility preservation were raised by a WPATH member overseeing a 15-year-old male taking female hormones. The teen decided he “might want children in the future” and the WPATH member did not know the medical pathway required to preserve his sperm.

Another post described a WPATH member keeping tabs on a former “mildly developmentally delayed” female patient who had wanted sex-change hormones and surgery but had reversed course after seeing a Christian counselor, according to the forum message.

“I need a resource for a young adult who is questioning his gender identity. He has no support in the group home in which he lives. He is mildly developmentally delayed. He told me that he is going to a Christian counselor,” wrote the WPATH member.

“He came to me originally identifying as a male and wanting HRT and top surgery. Due to the influences he is exposed to daily, he now has back-peddled all that and no longer pursuing HRT or top surgery,” the member wrote.

The WPATH member stated they were “unable” to formally work with the young woman because she was no longer a patient at their gender wellness program. However, the WPATH member remained in contact with her, continued referring to her as a male and was looking for ways to offer “support,” such as asking an “LGBTQ friendly” chaplain to contact the young woman.

“I am unable to work with him formally b/c he is no longer a pt at our Gender Wellness Program but I want to provide some support,” wrote the WPATH member.

“I have asked our program chaplain who is LGBTQ friendly and knowledgeable to contact this person. Meanwhile, I would like to send this former pt some resources for support and to also help him work through his questions about his gender identity,” the message states.

A fourth WPATH member’s post asked colleagues for help convincing a “scientist father” who was skeptical of sex-change to “understand” his teen son’s chosen female identity.

“I have a transfemale client who is 17 years old and a senior in high school. She is planning on coming out to her scientist father in the next month so he has time to understand her more fully before her senior prom where she is going to present fully as herself,” the message states.

“I would appreciate anyone sharing articles which come from a scientific perspective for my client to use to help her father understand her better,” the WPATH member asked.

One response sent link to a website created by a group of transgender activists, including current WPATH president Asa Radix, where the father could “find dozens of articles on affirmative care, outcomes, and the fact that family support is one of the most significant predictors of positive outcomes for trans youth and adolescents.”

Another response called family support “essential” to decrease the risk of suicide.

“The myth linking refusal of ‘gender-affirming care’ to suicide is routinely perpetuated, while any parental skepticism is seen as a barrier to affirmation – despite their valid concerns about so-called ‘expert’ recommendations,” Miceli said.