Elias Heino is a Finnish researcher and anti-transgender activist who has published a number of papers that promote disease models of gender diverse youth.
Background
Heino is affiliated with Tampere University Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and frequently publishes with conservative psychiatrist Riittakerttu Kaltiala-Heino.
Heino’s path to anti-trans activism is explained in this interview:
Why did I start doing psychiatric research?
After the first year of study, I got a summer job as a research assistant. I handled material related to youth psychiatric research. At the same time, my interest in research was awakened. After the research summer, I was offered the opportunity to start doing my own research related to the transgender topic, and I am still on this path.
The subject of my research
Our study compares the adolescent development of trans and cisgender identifying youth in the adolescent normal population. Adolescent development is examined with the help of sexuality, mental health, participation in school bullying and family relationships.
Why does research related to my topic matter?
The research aims to find out to what extent the developmental tasks of adolescence are solved despite the specificity of the identity experience and whether any problems are related to the identity experience itself or to possible external factors, such as a lack of support from family or friends. Based on the research results, the support that gender identity minorities may need can be targeted correctly, and the research data can be used as an aid in planning longitudinal studies, for example.
Anti-trans activism
Heino got âŹ3,000 from the Orion Foundation to study “Transgender identity, mental health and adolescent development in the adolescent population.”
In 2021, Heino got a grant from The Psychiatry Research Foundation for similar work.
Heino has published papers stating that trans youth perpetrate bullying and have high suicidality.
References
Tampere University (4 November 2020). [50,000 euros from the Orion Foundation for Tampere University researchers.] https://www.tuni.fi/fi/ajankohtaista/tampereen-yliopiston-tutkijoille-50-000-euroa-orionin-saatiolta
(9/12/2019). [The Kandi calendar is coming again – Fine art pearls inspire creators.] Mediuutiset https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/kandikalenteri-tulee-taas-kuvataiteen-helmet-inspiroivat-tekijoita/12fb0bf9-88db-49e4-8562-be21f86bb228
[Recipients of the 2021 grants.] Psykiatrian TutkimussÀÀtiö [Psychiatry Research Foundation] https://www.psykiatriantutkimussaatio.fi/index.php/myonnetyt-apurahat/
Resources
ReseachGate (researchgate.net)
- Elias Heino
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elias-Heino
Alex Capo is an American counselor and anti-transgender activist.
Capo was an invited speaker at a 2023 anti-trans conference organized by anti-transgender hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine.
Resources
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
Sallie Baxendale is a British psychologist and anti-transgender activist.
Background
Sallie Ann Baxendale earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Surrey in 1990, followed by a master’s degree there in 1992. Baxendale earned a doctorate from UCL in 1997.
Much of Baxendale’s research involves epilepsy and brain development.
Anti-transgender activism
Baxendale began appearing in anti-trans media in 2021, starting with Transgender Trend.
Baxendale supports the ex-transgender movement and is critical of gender affirming healthcare for minors, especially use of puberty blockade. Baxendale was alarmed that some people describe puberty blockade as “fully reversible.”
Baxendale was an invited speaker at a 2023 anti-trans conference organized by the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM).
Since 2023 Baxendale has contributed to anti-trans publication UnHerd,
In 2024 Baxendale published a summary of the 2024 Acta Paediatrica literature review (described below) on anti-trans site Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender (CAN-SG).
2024 puberty blockade literature review
In 2024 conservative Swedish psychiatrist Mikael LandĂ©n leaked a pre-publication paper by Baxendale to anti-trans activist Bernard Lane. Baxendaleâs academic literature review reflected LandĂ©nâs view that puberty blockade should be strictly controlled because of unknown risks, particularly cognitive effects.
On the day of publication, Baxendale published a piece in UnHerd about how this puberty blockade literature review was rejected by three journals as well as accepted by Acta Paediatrica, which previously promoted more gatekeeping of healthcare for gender diverse youth in Sweden’s healthcare system. Baxendale claimed, “it wasnât the methods they objected to, it was the actual findings.” Of the rejection reasons that Baxendale shared, all were about the obvious bias of the author and the stigmatizing potential from how the material is tendentiously presented.
The obvious and simple answer is to skip puberty blockers and go straight to hormones. Baxendale cites studies about young people who experience central precocious puberty having more robust brain development and cognition, so Baxendale has made a strong case for use of puberty-inducing drugs in all minors who desire improved cognition and IQ.
References
Baxendale, Sallie (February 19, 2024). Why did three journals reject my puberty-blocker study? Trans children deserve to know the facts. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2024/02/why-did-three-journals-reject-my-puberty-blocker-study/
Baxendale, S. (2024). The impact of suppressing puberty on neuropsychological function: A review. Acta Paediatrica. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.17150
- Gender diverse youth studies cited:
- Staphorsius AS, Kreukels BPC, Cohen-Kettenis PT, Veltman DJ, Burke SM, Schagen SEE, Wouters FM, Delemarre-van de Waal HA, Bakker J (2015). Puberty suppression and executive functioning: An fMRI-study in adolescents with gender dysphoria. Psychoneuroendocrinology (Vol. 56, pp. 190â199). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.03.007
- Arnoldussen M, Hooijman EC, Kreukels BP, de Vries AL (2022). Association between pre-treatment IQ and educational achievement after gender-affirming treatment including puberty suppression in transgender adolescents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry (Vol. 27, Issue 4, pp. 1069â1076). SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045221091652
- Schneider MA, Spritzer PM, Soll BMB, Fontanari AMV, Carneiro M, Tovar-Moll F, Costa AB, da Silva DC, Schwarz K. Anes M, Tramontina S, Lobato, MIR (2017). Brain Maturation, Cognition and Voice Pattern in a Gender Dysphoria Case under Pubertal Suppression. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (Vol. 11). Frontiers Media SA. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00528
Baxendale, Sallie (January 21, 2024). Research Raises Concerns About the Impact of Puberty Blockers on the Development of Cognitive Function. CAN-SG https://can-sg.org/2024/01/21/puberty-blockers-and-teenage-brain-development/
Lane, Bernard (January 17, 2024). Evidently correct: New support for brain studies: the WHO steers clear of paediatric transition. Gender Clinic News https://www.genderclinicnews.com/p/evidently-correct
Manning, Sanchez (January 13, 2024). Puberty blockers given to children who say they were born in the wrong body and want to ‘change gender’ may lower their’ IQs. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12960869/Puberty-blockers-given-children-say-born-wrong-body-want-change-gender-lower-IQs.html
Baxendale, Sallie (July 7, 2023). Doctors have failed detransitioners. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2023/07/doctors-have-failed-detransitioners/
Baxendale, Sallie (July 26, 2023). Has Gids learned from its failure? UnHerd https://unherd.com/2023/07/has-gids-learned-from-its-failure/
Baxendale, Sallie (July 1, 2021). The Teenage Brain. Transgender Trend https://www.transgendertrend.com/teenage-brain/
Media
Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (January 16, 2024). SEGM NYC23 – Sallie Baxendale – The Effect of Puberty Blockers on the Teenage Brain. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ZnRKqqByg
Resources
University College London Hospitals (uclh.nhs.uk)
- Sallie Baxendale
- uclh.nhs.uk/our-services/find-consultant/professor-sallie-baxendale
Henrik AnckarsÀter was a Swedish psychologist and anti-transgender activist.
AnckarsÀter was affiliated with anti-trans group Society for Evidence-based Gender Medicine (SEGM) and with the Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health.
Background
PÀr Henrik Georg Söderström was born October 12, 1966 in Göteborg, Sweden.
In 2005 AnckarsÀter was appointed associate professor at Lund University, and in 2008 assumed a professorship in forensic psychiatry at the University of Gothenburg. AnckarsÀter was also a visiting professor at the University of Paris XII from 2006 to 2007 and in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Lund University, Malmö, from 2009 to 2015.
AnckarsĂ€ter’s spouse is Rolf AnckarsĂ€ter. AnckarsĂ€ter died on March 9, 2021 in Askim, Sweden.
References
Staff (May 11, 2021). In memory of Henrik AnckarsÀter. https://akademiliv.se/en/2021/05/74108/
Henrik AnckarsÀter 1, Christopher Gillberg (2020). Methodological Shortcomings Undercut Statement in Support of Gender-Affirming Surgery. Am J Psychiatry. 2020 Aug 1;177(8):764-765. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.19111117
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Facebook (facebook.com)
Twitter (twitter.com)
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
James Caspian is a British therapist and anti-transgender activist in the “ex-transgender” movement.
Caspian was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric & Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.
Background
James Caspian was born in ~1959.
Anti-transgender activism
In 2016, Caspian proposed studying “detransition” while in graduate school, but Bath Spa University rejected the proposal.
Caspian then became a cause célÚbre among anti-trans activists, who showered Caspian with money and attention.
Caspian appeared in the 2018 anti-trans propaganda piece Trans Kids: It’s Time to Talk hosted by Stella O’Malley.
References
Staff report (September 25, 2017). Bath Spa University ‘blocks transgender research.’ BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41384473
Petherick, Sam (). Bath Spa University vetoes ‘politically incorrect’ transgender surgery reversal study -https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/bath-news/bath-spa-university-vetoes-politically-533956
Media
Genspect (June 7, 2022). Trans Kids: It’s Time to Talk | 4: James Caspian. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXH_6CEjnRQ
Oren Amitay (January 27, 2018). Academic Cleansing: Fight for Truth & Free Speech vs Political Correctness and Trans Ideology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQIWoDW63ak
Resources
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
CrowdJustice (crowdjustice.com)
- Free Speech Matters
- https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/free-speech-matters-round2/
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077577183412)
- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077577183412
Alessandra Cavalli was an Italian therapist and anti-transgender activist.
Cavalli was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric & Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.
Background
Alessandra Cavalli was born in Italy on April 27, 1957 and grew up with five siblings in Concordia. Cavalli studied in Munich, then lived in Belgium.
In 1998, Cavalli moved to London to train in Jungian child analysis.
Cavalli died on May 17 2020, possibly from COVID.
References
Wiener, Jan; Bisagni, Francesco (May 27, 2020). Alessandra Cavalli, 1957 â 2020. https://iaap.org/alessandra-cavalli-1957-2020/
Dianna T. Kenny is an Australian psychologist and anti-transgender extremist.
Kenny was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric & Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.
Kenny contributed chapters to two anti-trans books by Heather Brunskell-Evans.
Background
Dianna Theadora Kenny earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Sydney in 1975, followed by training in music and education. Kenny then attended Macquarie University, earning a master’s degree in 1980 and a doctorate in 1988. While in school, Kenny worked in troubled students. Kenny taught at University of Sydney from 1988 to 2019. In 2019 Kenny founded DK Consulting.
Media
TERF Talk Down Under (Sep 15, 2022). TERF Talk #48 Dr Dianna Kenny, the truth about gender dysphoria. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZbEsaJMvRU
Resources
Dianna T. Kenny (diannakenny.com.au)
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
Twitter (twitter.com)
Tania Marshall is an Australian therapist and anti-transgender activist.
Marshall was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric & Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.
Background
Marshall attended University of Calgary, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1998 and an master’s degree in 2002.
Marshall has written frequently about neurodiversity.
Resources
Substack (substack.com)
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
Tania A. Marshall (taniaannmarshall.wpcomstaging.com)
Robert Withers is a British psychologist and anti-transgender activist.
Withers was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric & Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.
Background
Robert “Bob” Withers earned a master’s degree from University of Sussex.
Withers helped establish the Rock Clinic in Kemp Town in 1990.
Anti-trans activism
In 2015, Withers published an article titled “The seventh penis,” which was later withdrawn over patient consent issues:
The above article published online on 19 May 2015 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), and in print and online in issue 60:3 (cover date June 2015) has been withdrawn by agreement between the author, the journal’s Editors-in-Chief, Marcus West and Nora Swan-Foster, and John Wiley & Sons Limited. The withdrawal has been agreed because consent to publish was not obtained. The author and the journal apologize for this oversight.
References
Flourish, Clare (July 26, 2020). Robert Withers. https://clareflourish.wordpress.com/2020/07/26/robert-withers-transgender-professional-standards/
Admin (Sep 13, 2021). The full story: the misconduct of anti-trans psychotherapist Robert Withers. We talk with Ms. A. Transiness https://www.transiness.com/post/the-full-story-the-misconduct-of-anti-trans-psychotherapist-robert-withers-we-talk-with-ms-a
Withers R (2020). Transgender medicalization and the attempt to evade psychological distress. J Anal Psychol. 2020 Nov;65(5):865-889. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5922.12641
Withers R (2015). The seventh penis: towards effective psychoanalytic work with pre-surgical transsexuals. J Anal Psychol. 2015 Jun;60(3):390-412. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5922.12157.
Withdrawal statement: R. Withers, âThe seventh penis: towards effective psychoanalytic work with pre-surgical transsexualsâ, Journal of Analytical Psychology, 2015, 60, 3, 390-412, (https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5922.12157).
Resources
Rock Clinic Association (rockclinic.org.uk)
Jungian Therapy Sussex (jungiantherapysussex.info)
- Bob Withers
- http://www.jungiantherapysussex.info/our-therapists/bob-withers/
Twitter (twitter.com)
Open Therapy Institute (OTI) is an American psychology organization associated with several anti-transgender activists.
Do not go to people associated with Open Therapy Institute for therapy. If you are a minor forced to see an OTI therapist, do everything in your power to end the sessions and find a supportive local therapist.
Background
OTI is based in New York City. It operates on the belief that “political ideologies have become unquestionable orthodoxies,” stating on their site:
As mental health care becomes more political and one-sided, many clinical issues are going unaddressed. As political ideologies have become unquestionable orthodoxies throughout society, more people are struggling but patients are having a harder time finding therapists who are truly open, empathic, and supportive. As more organizations have become ideologically stifling, people are struggling to find innovate ways to keep the workplace free, nuanced, and truly inclusive of all viewpoints. Many people are looking for thoughtful solutions to address new challenges, and tools from clinical psychology are often indispensable.
People
Team
- Andrew Hartz, founder
- Sally Satel, senior advisor
- Warren Procci, senior advisor
- Ira Moses, senior advisor
- Larry Amsel, senior advisor
- Val Thomas, senior advisor
- Pamela Paresky, senior advisor
- Camilo Ortiz, clinical director
- Richard Redding, head of research
- Craig Frisby, head of research
- Michael Strambler
- Chloe Carmichael
- Neil Kressel
- Paul Garcia-Ryan
- Katherine Cullen
People listed as OTI scholars include:
- Chloe Carmichael
- Craig Frisby
- Andrew Hartz
- Camilo Ortiz
- Pamela Pareksy
- Richard Redding
- Sally Satel
- Val Thomas
OTI has been promoted in the media by a number of anti-trans activists, including:
References
Satel, Sally; Redding Richard (February 27, 2023). Are Florida Universities Training Therapists to Be Political Activists? National Review https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/02/are-florida-universities-training-therapists-to-be-political-activists/
Resources
Open Therapy Institute (opentherapyinstitute.org)
Facebook (facebook.com)
Twitter (twitter.com)
LinkedIn (inkedin.com)