In this moving episode of Beyond Gender, the thoughtful Keira Bell speaks with Stella O'Malley and Bret Alderman about her journey through transition and detransition. With honesty and courage, she reflects on her experiences and how her landmark legal case reshaped the global approach to treating gender-questioning youth.
Who Is Keira Bell?
Keira Bell ignited a watershed moment with her 2020 landmark legal challenge against the UK’s Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), then the world's largest pediatric gender clinic. Prescribed puberty blockers at 16 and testosterone at 18, she later detransitioned at 22 and took the clinic to the High Court, exposing its reckless treatment of minors.
"I didn't know that the case would be this big when I took it. I thought that it was just kind of going to be an under the rug sort of case."
Though her initial victory was later overturned on appeal, the Tavistock clinic closed in March 2024 following the damning Cass Review, which exposed serious failings in safeguarding. Her case was a turning point in policy changes across the world, with Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the UK, Italy, France, and the US all now restricting youth medical transitions.
📖 Read more in her own words:
A Tomboy Turns to Transition
As a gender-nonconforming child facing intense homophobia as a teenage lesbian in 2011-2012, Keira found herself increasingly isolated:
"I became more and more kind of recluse at that age and thought that transition would be the best way to go about things."
After discovering transgender content online, she was referred to Tavistock Clinic and eventually prescribed medical interventions. Most alarmingly, she reveals she was "technically homeless" when receiving testosterone:
"I didn't have any support at the time. I wasn't receiving any sort of therapy. Nothing completely out to sea."
Keira’s story reflects a broader pattern seen at the Tavistock Clinic - more than 90 percent of female and 80 percent of male adolescents referred to the service identified as same-sex attracted or bisexual.
Medical Complications Overlooked
During her treatment, doctors discovered Keira had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which naturally elevated her testosterone levels:
"I had elevated testosterone levels and had polycystic ovaries... I do think that that definitely had an effect because I think it kind of masculinized me slightly during puberty."
Recent research confirms PCOS may be significantly more prevalent in females seeking gender transition.
Her experience with puberty blockers was devastating:
"It was horrible... I was struggling to sleep... My depression was made 10 times worse. Having night sweats... It also affected my bone density."
Learn more about documented adverse impacts of puberty blockers.
The Case That Changed Everything
Stella notes in the interview:
"It was a line of the sand when you took your case, Keira... Everything came after that."
The ripple effects of Keira’s case were far-reaching. It sparked greater scrutiny of the Tavistock Clinic, laying the groundwork for the 2023 Time to Think, where journalist Hannah Barnes exposed deeper systemic failings. Keira reflects:
"It seemed to kind of travel internationally and change legislation in that way. So, yeah, it's more than we expected to happen."
Life After Detransition
Keira candidly discusses how her body has gradually changed since stopping testosterone:
"My face is softened a lot now... the body hair definitely lightened on my body... the fat redistributes again to a more female typical pattern."
She addresses complex social realities with remarkable strength:
"I'm not going to be read as a woman again. And that's okay. And I'm proud to kind of exist in this world as a masculine woman and a masculinized lesbian."
Beyond Political Pawns
After gaining public attention, Keira found herself caught between political movements:
"I was hanging with a lot of radical feminist groups that kind of tried to label me as a radical feminist... I felt pretty used in a lot of situations."
Her advice to other detransitioners considering speaking out is grounded in her experience:
"Think about whether you want to sacrifice your privacy... It's about having support around you... You're going to be dragging all of that up and reliving all of that for a while."
A Message of Hope
Despite her challenges, Keira remains optimistic:
"I'm just trying to remain hopeful and positive about everything because I have no other option... I'm feeling good about the future. Things are up."
More from Keira
Follow Keira on X ➡️ @KLBfax
Ongoing Advocacy
In January 2025, Keira and other campaigners launched a legal challenge urging the UK Health Secretary to ban cross-sex hormones for minors, arguing that these treatments pose irreversible risks. [Read more]
In February 2025, she and fellow campaigners threatened legal action against the NHS over its proposed clinical trial of puberty blockers, calling it "unethical and unlawful" due to the known harms and lack of proven benefits. [Read more]
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