On the Cusp of a New Era

The vibe shift is well and truly here. In Genderworld, a single year often feels like seven in ordinary life, and 2024 didn’t disappoint.

This past year has been characterised by a noticeable change in attitude among the normies. Indeed there were moments during 2024 that reminded me of the film Awakenings, starring Robin Williams, as people slowly—and almost unbelievably—emerged from what seemed almost like a catatonic state and began to awaken to the realities unfolding within the world of medical transition.

Across Europe, countries are increasingly restricting access to puberty blockers for children. While it was once possible to list these nations from memory, the growing number of countries implementing safeguards makes it harder to keep track. As of now, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the UK, Italy, and France have all taken steps to restrict pediatric access to puberty blockers, thereby significantly reducing the number of children embarking on the medical transition pathway.

As everyone in this field knows, puberty blockers did not function as they were advertised; puberty blockers were never a 'pause button' to allow 'time to think.' In reality, puberty blockers swiftly became the first step toward full medical transition, a pathway that can lead to serious physical complications, including infertility, sexual impairment, osteoporosis, cardiac issues, and (most commonly mentioned among the detransitioners that I meet) chronic pain.

In 2024 Genspect’s Beyond Trans—currently the only service in the world focused on providing therapeutic support to individuals harmed by medical transition—continued to grow in 2024. With increased recognition of the challenges faced by those experiencing gender-related distress, the need for accessible and compassionate support has never been more urgent and we look forward to assisting the upcoming detransition services that are set to open soon.

In the meantime, as we wait for the world to catch up, we are expanding this service to offer crucial support not only to those harmed by medical transition but also to individuals grappling with rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD). Our new initiative will begin in early 2025 and provide a unique opportunity for pre-medical transition individuals to connect with post-medical transition individuals in a therapeutic setting. Dr Az Hakeem already carried out a similar program in the Portman Clinic (as part of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust) between the years 2000 and 2012.

To ensure the Beyond Trans group is meaningful and supportive for all participants, individuals will be carefully matched with a suitable cohort. Participation in the gender-related distress/ROGD group will be strictly limited to over-18s, with numbers capped and a waiting list in place. This program has been thoughtfully designed and evaluated to provide the best possible experience for everyone involved and we continuously review our systems in order to ensure we offer the best service possible. For details or to express interest or comment, please visit the Beyond Trans website and email beyond@genspect.org.

Also in early 2025, we plan to merge the Beyond Trans program with the Gender Dysphoria Support Network (GDSN) to create a comprehensive, one-stop resource for those seeking support. Since 2020, we have offered near-daily parent meetings across the globe. These meetings provide crucial support to many parents, particularly in the early days when they are navigating the complexities of this often challenging and deeply confusing condition.

2025: A New Era

Another change coming in 2025 is that Sasha Ayad and I have decided to refocus our efforts. As a result, our podcast, Gender: A Wider Lens, is evolving into a 'Live and Unfiltered' monthly event on Substack. This new format will allow each of us the time to pursue other projects—Sasha plans to expand her YouTube channel to reach trans-identified young people, while Mia Hughes, Dr Bret Alderman, and I are currently developing a podcast that examines trans issues through both sociological and psychological perspectives.

Ongoing therapeutic meetings continue to highlight key issues, emphasising the need to refine the language we use. The trans phenomenon is fraught with imprecise terms—'gender dysphoria,' for instance, inadequately captures the complexity of this condition. Similarly, 'desistance' alone fails to encompass the diverse ways individuals move 'beyond trans.' At Genspect, we have expanded our lexicon to include terms like 'desistance' and 'social detransition,' recognising that the distress accompanying desistance differs qualitatively from the profound sense of loss often associated with social detransition.

The term 'medical detransition' also warrants further exploration, as distinguishing between ‘hormonal detransition’ and ‘surgical detransition’ seems crucial. Surgical detransition, involving more radical and irreversible interventions, often brings deeper pain and anxiety. Decisions about whether to undergo reverse procedures require significant reflection, particularly in the context of surgical detransition. As one detransitioner poignantly remarked, "I was an experiment on the way into trans, and now I’m an experiment on the way out of it."

As 2024 comes to an end, we are proud to reflect on the progress Genspect has made this year—progress made possible by your invaluable support. As a not-for-profit organisation, Genspect relies on private donations to continue our work. We would greatly appreciate it if you could consider contributing—visit https://genspect.org/donate/. For tax-exempt donations, please contact us at info@genspect.org.

And now, here’s a sneak preview of some—but not all—of our plans for 2025 (we’re keeping a few Very Big Plans under wraps for now):

- Jan 2025: Supporting families navigating gender-related distress remains a key priority for us. As part of our focus on education, we are excited to launch our American College Ratings website. This tool is designed to help families evaluate the impact of trans activism on U.S. universities. As this is an ongoing project, we rely on public input to stay informed about the rapidly changing campus landscape. If you’d like to contribute or provide additional details, please email Amanda at amanda@genspect.org.

- Mar. 2025: Save the date for Detrans Awareness Day on March 12, 2025, at Capitol Hill! This event will feature medical professionals, policymakers, and detransitioners in critical discussions on safeguarding and improving care. Events on Capitol Hill typically cannot be ticketed in the traditional sense as these events are often public or limited-access gatherings meant to serve constituents, advocacy groups, or other stakeholders. You can register your interest in attending this free event here.

- Sept. 2025: We’re thrilled to announce that the next Bigger Picture Conference will take place in New Mexico on Sept. 27–28, 2025. As our international conferences tend to sell out quickly, we recommend registering your interest here to secure your spot.

As the year draws to a close, it feels fitting to pause and reflect on our accomplishments—and 2024 has been a year of remarkable growth and impact for Genspect. Here’s a glimpse of what we’ve achieved:

Some Highlights from 2024:
• The Bigger Picture Conference - Lisbon
This landmark international event brought together attendees from over 20 countries and garnered widespread media attention. The conference fostered vital, evidence-based discussions on gender issues, solidifying Genspect’s role as a global leader in shaping the conversation. Many of these groundbreaking presentations are being released on Genspect’s YouTube, allowing readers to catch up and engage with the essential discussions that took place

• Global Expansion
In 2024, we expanded Genspect’s reach with the launch of Genspect USA, Genspect Canada, Genspect Australia, Genspect New Zealand, and Genspect UK to provide localized support and advocacy. These chapters are working successfully to address regional challenges, foster community engagement, and amplify Genspect's mission on a regional level. Please let us know if you wish to become involved in this work.

• Advocacy in the UK
Keeping a sharp eye on post-Cass complacency, Genspect UK’s director, Carrie Clark, released a detailed report on the practical and ethical challenges for the prospective NHS puberty blockers study and wrote to the Health Secretary, raising serious concerns about the NHS puberty blocker study due to begin in 2025. UK residents are encouraged to write to their MPs using our template letter here. We're thrilled to have Baroness Claire Fox as a Genspect ally in the House of Lords, UK, where she commended Genspect UK's work on the need for accurate health records in November and highlighted our work with detransitioners in December.

• Shifting the Dial in the US Led by Jennifer Lahl, Genspect USA has hit the ground running, already educating and informing policymakers on Capitol Hill and beyond, while working across political and religious divides to ensure that best practices are offered to those struggling with gender-related distress.

Key Initiatives in 2024:

• We helped launch the WPATH Files, influencing media, policy, and legal discussions. The WPATH Files have played a key role in shaping the ongoing dialogue supporting evidence-based approaches to gender dysphoria.

• Our sister group in Italy had an audience with Pope Francis. In a historic moment, a Genspect-affiliated parent groups had the privilege of an audience with Pope Francis, where key issues surrounding gender identity and the importance of thoughtful, cautious and compassionate care for individuals facing gender-related challenges were discussed.

• We released a series of 4 short films: What’s Going On?; The Evidence; What is ROGD? and What is AGP?, to offer insight into the trans phenomenon to the general public. These films aim to educate, raise awareness, and foster informed conversations around complex gender issues and we urge readers to share these films among their normie friends.

• We gained CME accreditation for U.S. medical professionals. Continuing Medical Education (CME) is a credentialing system designed to help healthcare providers stay updated on best practices, emerging research, and specialized knowledge in their field. We made sure to obtain CME accreditation so that we could offer high-quality training and mentoring to clinicians who want to deliver ethical, evidence-based informed care.

• We collaborated on a landmark Amicus Brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, advocating for the protection and safeguarding of same-sex attracted youth within legal frameworks.

• We held a conference in Chicago on ROGD Awareness Day
  On August 16, 2024, we hosted a conference in Chicago on Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria in schools, bringing together researchers, educators, and policymakers. The event sparked dynamic discussions and fostered collaboration, aiming to ensure that schools are better equipped to support students facing these challenges.

• We provided evidence-based resources for schools, equipping educators and administrators with workshops, training, education and policies needed to address gender issues effectively and compassionately. These resources have already begun to make a meaningful impact, helping schools create safer, more inclusive environments while navigating complex topics.

• We developed the Parent Toolkit a comprehensive resource that empowers families with accurate, accessible guidance on navigating gender-related medical data and decisions. Its practical approach ensures that parents feel supported and informed as they advocate for their children’s well-being.

• We submitted 28 global policy recommendations aimed at strengthening youth safeguarding frameworks and promoting evidence-based healthcare practices worldwide. These recommendations were written to address pressing challenges and guide policymakers toward more thoughtful, ethical approaches to supporting vulnerable people.

• Last but not least, we launched the Genspect Substack, creating a platform to share insights, updates, and thought-provoking commentary directly with our community. With its growing readership, the Substack has become an invaluable resource for fostering dialogue and staying connected with those who share our mission to promote a non-medicalized approach to gender dysphoria.

As I reflect on an impactful 2024, I look ahead to 2025 with excitement. In such a challenging field, I’m deeply grateful for the loyal support our community has shown for Genspect’s work. Together, we’ve raised awareness about trans issues and championed thoughtful, compassionate, evidence-based treatment—and somehow managed to keep our sanity intact. Now that the world is finally starting to wake up to these challenges, we’re ready to build on the changes we’ve started and keep the momentum going. With all hands on deck, we’re prepared for this fast-moving landscape. It’s been a challenging, rewarding, and occasionally tumultuous year, and we are profoundly thankful for your unwavering commitment to this vital effort.