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The WPATH Files: 2024 anti-transgender propaganda

The WPATH Files is a 2024 propaganda piece created by American anti-trans extremist group Environmental Progress.

It is a collection of non-public communication by WPATH members compiled with editorialized distortions by Canadian anti-trans extremist Mia Hughes (aka “Mia Ashton”).

Background

In a keynote at a 2023 anti-trans conference held by Genspect in Denver, anti-trans extremist Michael Shellenberger announced plans to release a collection of documents called “The WPATH Files.” Shellenberger had been involved in a similar smear campaign bankrolled by Elon Musk against former Twitter employees dubbed “The Twitter Files.”

Anti-trans activist Jennifer Lahl reported on the conference in conservative publication The Federalist:

Michael Shellenberger opened the conference with a bold claim that time is up for WPATH and that soon he would release his “WPATH files” on his Substack, where he will show the receipts he has on the pseudoscientific standards of care and practices of WPATH. Amid robust applauses, attendees were encouraged to post on X using #TimesUpWPATH. 

Lahl (2023)

Genspect posted about Shellenberger’s presentation on X, then later deleted it.

2024 coordinated release

The WPATH Files were disseminated on March 4, 2024 in a coordinated effort by a number of activists in conservative and anti-trans media, including:

On its release, lead author Mia Hughes stated on X:

Just so we’re all clear on a few things: I’ve spent the last six months working on this report, and I’m the sole author. But the whole project wouldn’t have been possible without the steadfast and unwavering support of Michael @Shellenberger [Michael Shellenberger], who saw something in me that I didn’t know was there. Also, my editor, @galexybrane [Alex Gutentag], made the report so much more than I could ever have done alone. At a later stage, @stellaomalley3 [Stella O’Malley] and Carrie Mendoza @FAIRinMedicine [Carrie Mendoza at FAIR in Medicine] joined the project, helped with the launch, and provided me with much-needed support. And the brilliant people at @SexMattersOrg [Sex Matters] helped with the UK launch. This was a massive team effort, and many people deserve the credit.

Hughes (2024)

WPATH response

WPATH sent a message to members:

March 5, 2024

Dear WPATH members

As many of you know, a report was released last night, entitled The WPATH Files, in response, our President, Dr. Marci Bowers, has issued the following statement:

Statement from Marci Bowers, M. D., President of WPATH:

“WPATH is and always has been a science- and evidence-based organization whose recommendations are widely endorsed by major medical organizations around the world. We are the professionals who best know the medical needs of trans and gender diverse individuals–and stand opposed to individuals who misrepresent and de-legitimize the diverse identities and complex needs of this population through scare tactics. The world is not flat. Gender, like genitalia, is represented by diversity. The small percentage of the population that is trans or gender diverse deserves healthcare, and will never be a threat to the global gender binary.“

This is and will continue to be our response to any media outreach.

If any of you receive inquiries from the media, we request that you do not respond, send the request to us at greenjay@wpath.org [Jamison Green], and our media partners will respond with the statement above.

Blaine Vella

WPATH Executive Director

WPATH (2004)

References

Reed, Erin (March 6, 2024). Fact Check: 216 Instances Of Factual Errors Found In Right-Wing “WPATH Files” Document. Erin in the Morning https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/fact-check-216-instances-of-factual

Reed, Erin (March 9, 2024). “WPATH Files” Authors Upset Over How “Suspiciously” Happy Trans People Are. Erin in the Morning https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/wpath-files-authors-upset-over-how

Urquhart, Evan (March 5, 2024). Actually Nothing: The Non-Starter Non-Story of the WPATH Files. Assigned https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/wpath-nothingburger-waste-of-time

Lahl, Jennifer (November 10, 2023). Victims Of Erasing Sex Distinctions Lead Growing Coalition Against Trans Mutilation. The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2023/11/10/victims-of-erasing-sex-distinctions-lead-growing-coalition-against-trans-mutilation/

Hughes, Mia (March 4, 2024) The WPATH Files. Environmental Progress https://environmentalprogress.org/big-news/wpath-files

Martin, Daniel (March 5, 2024). Doctors admit link between transgender hormone therapy and cancer in leaked emails. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/05/wpath-tansgender-hormone-therapy-cancer-links-leaked-emails/

Posner, Gerald (March 4, 2024). Secret files show how international group pushes shocking experimental gender surgery for minors. New York Post https://nypost.com/2024/03/04/opinion/secret-files-show-how-international-group-pushes-shocking-experimental-gender-surgery-for-minors/

Payne, Daniel (Mar 5, 2024). Leaked files reveal transgender group’s ‘pseudoscientific’ crusade, ethical abuse. Catholic News Agency https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256996/leaked-files-reveal-pseudoscientific-crusade-abuses-at-leading-transgender-group

O’Neill, Tyler (March 5, 2024). Florida Health Agency Responds to WPATH Files Exposing ‘Gender-Affirming Care.’ The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/03/05/exclusive-florida-health-agency-responds-wpath-files-exposing-gender-affirming-care/

O’Neill, Tyler (March 5, 2024). Liver Cancer in Teens, Reduced Sexual Function, Lack of Consent: Internal Docs Reveal Experimental Nature of ‘Gender-Affirming Care.’ The Daily Signal https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/03/05/liver-cancer-teens-reduced-sexual-function-lack-consent-internal-docs-reveal-experimental-nature-gender-affirming-care/

McHugh, Rich (March 5, 2024). Released files show debate by transgender health authority. NewsNation https://www.newsnationnow.com/lgbtq/files-debate-transgender-health-authority/

Martin Beckford and Alex Ward (March 4, 2024). Trans healthcare doctors are exposed admitting that some patients are too young or mentally ill to understand the consequences of their treatment. The Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13156695/Trans-healthcare-doctors-exposed-admitting-patients-young-mentally-ill-understand-consequences-treatment.html

Rooke, Mary (March 5, 2024). Leaked Docs Reveal The Trans Cult Is Going Even Further Than We Ever Knew. The Daily Caller https://dailycaller.com/2024/03/05/rooke-leaked-docs-reveal-the-trans-cult-is-going-even-further-than-we-ever-knew/

Ryan, Benjamin (March 5, 2024). The WPATH Files: Report Slams Influential Trans-Medicine Group As ‘Unethical.’ Benjamin’s Substack https://benryan.substack.com/p/the-wpath-files-report-slams-influential

Editors (March 5, 2024). Leaked discussions reveal uncertainty about transgender care. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/03/05/leaked-discussions-reveal-uncertainty-about-transgender-care

Staff (March 5, 2024). WPATH: The truth about “gender-affirming healthcare.” Sex Matters https://sex-matters.org/posts/updates/wpath-the-truth-about-gender-affirming-healthcare/

Bell, David (March 5, 2024). Down the primrose WPATH. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/the-primrose-wpath/

Lewis, Ray (March 5, 2024). Transgender health group supported ‘unethical’ operations on minors, report claims. The National Desk https://wjla.com/news/nation-world/transgender-health-group-supported-unethical-operations-on-minors-report-claims-the-world-professional-association-for-transgender-health-wpath-lgbt-trans-gender-affirming-care-michael-shellenberger

Phillips, Aleks (March 5, 2024). Transgender Hormone Drugs Linked to Cancer. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/transgender-hormone-drug-liver-cancer-linked-1876037

Snow, McKenna (March 5, 2024). Leaked Files Expose Global Transgender Health Association for ‘Widespread Medical Malpractice on Children and Vulnerable Adults.’ Catholic Vote https://catholicvote.org/leaked-files-expose-wpath-widespread-medical-malpractice-on-children-and-vulnerable-adults/

Whiteside, Stephanie (March 5, 2024). WPATH files show ‘breach of ethics’: Journalist. NewsNation https://www.newsnationnow.com/lgbtq/wpath-files-breach-ethics-journalist/

Smith, Kirralee (March 6, 2024). The WPATH Files contain damaging revelations. Binary https://www.binary.org.au/the_wpath_files_contain_damaging_revelations

Ojoko, Israel (March 5, 2024). Leaked WPATH Emails Reveal Concerns Over Informed Consent in Transgender Healthcare. BNN Bloomberg https://bnnbreaking.com/breaking-news/health/leaked-wpath-emails-reveal-concerns-over-informed-consent-in-transgender-healthcare

Stock, Kathleen (March 6, 2024). The trans activist house of cards ought to be collapsing. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/06/trans-activist-house-of-cards-ought-to-be-collapsing/

Blake, Nathaniel (March 6, 2024). Science Keeps Obliterating The Left’s Favorite Transgender Narratives. The Federalist https://thefederalist.com/2024/03/06/science-keeps-obliterating-the-lefts-favorite-transgender-narratives/

Musk, Elon (March 6, 2024). WPATH is pure evil [embeds Matt Walsh propaganda] https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1765607191816585291

Walsh, Matt (March 6, 2024). Ep. 1322 – The Secret History Of The Evil Organization That Pushed Gender Madness Into The Mainstream. Daily Wire https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1322-the-secret-history-of-the-evil-organization-that-pushed-gender-madness-into-the-mainstream

Jewell, Zach (March 6, 2024). Matt Walsh Drops ExposĂ© On ‘Sordid’ History Of WPATH, The Widely Accepted Trans Medical Org. Daily Wire https://www.dailywire.com/news/matt-walsh-drops-expose-on-sordid-history-of-wpath-the-widely-accepted-trans-medical-org?utm_source=ground.news&utm_medium=referral