Summary
An interactive network map of 15 major groups or projects and their known clinical affiliates that have connections to “gender exploratory therapy” theorycrafting, leadership engagement, or promotion.
Click below to view the map (currently desktop only) or star it on GitHub to track updates.
Purpose
This tool serves as the interactive data pair to our report A New Era: Key Actors Behind Anti-Trans Conversion Therapy. It is designed to support journalists, researchers, and trans or gender diverse community organizers in understanding the international spread of “gender exploratory therapy” as a form of conversion practice targeting transgender, detransitioned, and gender diverse individuals. The aim is to identify relationships between emerging leaders in the development of clinical anti-trans conversion therapy, as well as their scope of influence expanding into different regions of the world.
Presently this map does not cover religious-based anti-trans conversion practices, though overlap is emerging and expected to grow (see: IFTCC, ACPeds and ATCSI). It is not designed to identify or be used as a directory of individual practicing clinicians. It is merely meant to highlight the astroturfed and/or highly connected nature of these groups and their growing reach.
As the concept of “gender exploratory therapy” is a rapidly emerging trend, these networks are subject to change over time.
Methodology
Network map developed using Gephi and Sigma.js. Data was gathered from public organization records. Groups or projects were chosen based on their historic and current interest in the clinical adaptation of anti-trans conversion practices, using disinformation surrounding detransition, desistence, and “rapid onset gender dysphoria”, combined with their overlapping founders or affiliates of major influence.
For a full description of the methodology behind this tool, see Methodology in our report of findings.
Group Descriptions and Status
Active
SEGM
In development in late 2019, with first public activity in late 2020. Based in the United States with additional influence in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, and Australia. Primarily works in the background, acting as a leading source of medical disinformation via publications, citations, affidavits or legal briefs, and submissions to government or health organization consultations.
Genspect
Founded in mid-2021 by Stella O’Malley. Based in Ireland with additional influence in the United Kingdom, the United States, Brazil, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, New Zealand, and Australia. Is predominantly involved in advocacy in legal or school board settings, as well as operating as a primary source of medical disinformation in media. Sponsors Stats for Gender, a project dedicated to misleading fact quotes pertaining to trans health care, as well as the podcasts Genspect Unheard and Gender: A Wider Lens (see below). Has a growing relationship with religious-based conversion groups in the United States via Advocates Protecting Children and Child & Parental Rights Campaign, and New Zealand via Family First NZ.
Gender Exploratory Therapy Association (GETA)
Founded in late 2021 by Stella O’Malley, Lisa Marchiano, and Sasha Ayad. A professional therapy association dedicated to the promotion and practice of “gender exploratory” therapy, targeted at transgender, detransitioned, and gender diverse or questioning individuals of all ages. Has influence in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, and Australia.
Gender Dysphoria Alliance (GDA)
Founded in early 2021 as Gender Dysphoria Alliance Canada. Based in Canada with influential members in Canada, Scotland, Africa, and the United States. Primarily involved in patient advocacy with disinformation surrounding anti-trans conversion therapy.
Institute for Comprehensive Gender Dysphoria Research (ICGDR)
Founded in January 2021 by Lisa Littman. Based in the United States with additional influence in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, and Australia. Primarily involved in the development and promotion of scientific research pertaining “rapid onset gender dysphoria”, social contagion, and detransition.
Thoughtful Therapists
Founded in early 2021 by Stella O’Malley, James Esses, and James Caspian to challenge the United Kingdom’s Memorandum of Understanding on conversion therapy. Primary region of influence is the United Kingdom.
Rethink Identity Medicine Ethics (ReIME)
Founded in 2019 by Lisa Marchiano, Jane Wheeler, and Jenny Cyphers. Has influential members in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Primarily involved in promotion or distribution of medical disinformation surrounding desistance, “rapid onset gender dysphoria”, and medical transition for transgender youth.
Gender: A Wider Lens
A podcast project launched in late 2020. Hosted by Stella O’Malley and Sasha Ayad, sponsored by Genspect and ReIME. Has hosted or interviewed influential members from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. A major source of disinformation surrounding “rapid onset gender dysphoria”, social contagion, detransition, and desistance, as well as instructional episodes describing the mechanisms of “gender exploratory” therapy and its goal in suppressing or changing gender identity.
Wider Lens Consulting
Founded in August 2021 and launched January 2022. Founded by Stella O’Malley, Lisa Marchiano, and Sasha Ayad. Has influence in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. A for-profit “consulting” business aimed at parents of trans or gender diverse youth providing webinars, school consultations, and luxury retreats. Recently came under fire for working with Bon Secours, an international nunnery investigated for the mass death and trafficking of children in Tuam, Ireland, to host their Maryland retreat for anti-trans parents.
International Federation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice (IFTCC)
In development starting 2015 and publicly launched in 2018 as an offshoot of the Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity (formerly NARTH) and Core Issues Trust. Based in the United Kingdom with influential members in the United States, Canada, Norway, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Israel, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Primarily involved in international conferences detailing the practice of conversion therapy for gender identity and sexual orientation, including through a “Judeo-Christian” lens.
American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds)
Founded in 2002 by Joseph Zanga and associates as a split in opposition to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Based in the United States and led by Michelle Cretella. A goliath in medical disinformation and promotion of conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ people, with a focus on “Judeo-Christian” frameworks. Reportedly had over 500 members by 2016, with overlapping members or presenters at IFTCC and ATCSI.
Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity (ATCSI)
Originally founded in 1992 as the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) by Joseph Nicolosi Sr., Benjamin Kaufman, and Charles Socarides. Rebranded in 2014 and currently led by David Clarke Pruden. One of the leading proponents of SAFE-T, a rebrand of Nicolosi’s reparative therapy model in attempts to shield clinicians from accusations of practicing conversion therapy. Publisher of the Journal of Human Sexuality, a pseudoscience journal that pollutes the scientific pool of knowledge with pro-SOGICE book reviews, articles, interviews, and research studies proposing to “prove” the efficacy of conversion practices. Based in the United States, with overlapping membership with IFTCC and ACPeds.
The Center for Bioethics & Culture Network (CBCN)
Description pending.
Inactive
Pediatric and Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group (PAGDWG)
Founded in early 2018. Had influential members from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, and Australia. Served as an early form of professional networking. It was the launching point for clinical and academic medical disinformation surrounding trans health, detransition, and social contagion that forms the foundation of “gender exploratory” therapy today. Inactive as of 2020.
International Association of Therapists for Desisters and Detransitioners (IATDD)
Founded in 2020. Had influential members from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. An early attempt at building an international therapy association; officially assimilated into GETA as of March 2022.
Developer/Maintainer
This tool is developed and maintained by Lee Leveille of Health Liberation Now!, a free, survivor- and trans-run resource analyzing the social and political forces acting in opposition to trans health liberation.
Reputable journalists, researchers, and community organizers can contact the developer for more information or data verification. Contact us with a brief description of your request, reason for your interest, and any recent work of note related to trans health, trans liberation, or conversion practices.
To submit changes anonymously, email HLN at hlnaction at protonmail dot com.
If you wish to support our work, you can donate via our Ko-Fi.