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Dwight Panozzo vs. transgender people

Dwight Panozzo is an American social worker and anti-transgender activist:

Background

Dwight David Panozzo was born in November of 1963. Panozzo earned a bachelor’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College in 1987, a master’s degree from Hunter College in 1990. earned a doctorate from New York University in 2011. Panozzo’s dissertation dedication states:

It was a June day in 1990 when my partner and I were navigating the hills of San Francisco in our rental car on vacation. Suddenly before us was a convertible with the license plate TWO DADS. We read it, looked at each other simultaneously, and the wheels began to turn in our heads. From that moment
until the day our son was born in 1999, the dream of parenthood slowly began to percolate and the many challenges along the road were met and resolved.
I dedicate this work to my husband and my son who are the two greatest loves of my life.

Panozzo has been an adjunct faculty member at New York University since 2011. Panozzo’s bio there states:

Dr. Panozzo is a clinical social worker in private practice. He continues to be involved in gun violence prevention with a focus on the roadblocks to systemic change at the federal level. At the community level, Dr. Panozzo volunteers with the Bergen County LGBTQ+ Alliance, the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, and serves on the National Board of the American Ethical Union.

Panozzo has published research on gay parenting. In 2016 Panozzo showed support for Pascack Valley Regional High School District’s Policy 5756, a pro transgender policy. A report described Panozzo as a parent from Woodcliff Lake. Panozzo argued that opponents were guilty of demonstrating fear mongering, paranoia, transphobia and of being misinformed.

Anti-trans activism

Panozzo’s practice description states:

In keeping with the treatment strategy of Lisa Marchiano, I utilize a psychological approach to treat a challenge rooted in psychological distress. Many people have not taken a deep dive into the issues related to gender roles, gender conformity and nonconformity, transgenderism, transsexualism, and more nuanced and less well-known areas, such as AGP. I have done and continue to do my homework in these areas and am ready to serve my clients with a thorough and compassionate understanding of them.

In 2022, Panozzo announced that the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County would “explore issues related to transgenderism. We might eventually begin reading “Trans,” by Helen Joyce, as well as an additional book from a pro-transgender stance (Joyce’s book raises a number of scientific, cultural, and philosophical concerns about transgenderism).”

In 2024 Panozzo and Peter Jenkins published a paper based on responses from about one-third of the 89 members of Therapy First, described as “an international online survey of nonaffirmative therapists working with gender-questioning clients.” That 2024 paper thanks Marchiano and Leonore Tiefer.

In 2024 Panozzo was an invited panelist at the conference for anti-trans hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine. Panozzo’s panel was titled Desisiant, Detransition and Medical Harm and was moderated by Alison Clayton. Other panelists were Patricia Constantinian, Paul Garcia-Ryan, and Sophie Frost. Panozzo’s bio stated

Clinical social worker in private practice, an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Research at the SSSW at NYU, a member of the Board of Directors of Therapy First, the Chair of Therapy First’s Research Committee, and co-author of Ethical Care in Secret, which presents the qualitative findings of the Therapy First Clinician Study. For more information, visit www.dwightpanozzophd.com

References

Panozzo, Dwight (Dec 19, 2022). Accountability Circle Continues Racism Discussion and Will Expand to Transgender Issues. Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County https://ethicalfocus.org/accountability-circle-racism-transgender/

Keenan, Ania; Lovett, Raea (February 24, 2025). At least 2 NYU affiliates involved in organizations that promote anti-trans practices. Washington Square News https://nyunews.com/features/news/2025/02/24/affiliates-tied-to-anti-trans-practices/

Bulzomi, Olivia (April 13, 2016). Tensions run high at second reading of the transgender policy. Pasack Hills Trailblazer https://phhstrailblazer.org/featured/news/2016/04/13/tensions-run-high-at-second-reading-of-the-transgender-policy/

Selected publications by Panozzo

Jenkins P, Panozzo D (2024). “Ethical Care in Secret”: Qualitative Data from an International Survey of Exploratory Therapists Working with Gender-Questioning Clients. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy (Vol. 50, Issue 5, pp. 557–582). https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623x.2024.2329761

Panozzo D (2013). Advocating for an End to Reparative Therapy: Methodological Grounding and Blueprint for Change, 25 J. Gay & Lesbian Soc. Servs. 362 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1080/10538720.2013.807214

Panozzo D (2010). Gay Male Couples Who Decide to Parent: Motivations, Division of Child Care Responsibilities, and Impact on Relationship and Life Satisfaction. [doctoral dissertation] https://www.proquest.com/openview/04bec575ba523693e860d25484fdc480/1?cbl=18750

Resources

Dwight Panozzo, PhD, LCSW (dwightpanozzophd.com)

  • NPI Number: 1558383851
  • CV
  • dwightpanozzophd.com/app/download/769489277/CV+Dwight+Panozzo+2024.pdf

X/Twitter (x.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/)

New York University School of Social Work (https://socialwork.nyu.edu/)

  • Dwight Panozzo
  • socialwork.nyu.edu/faculty-and-research/our-faculty/adjuncts/dwight-panozzo.html

Therapy First (therapyfirst.org)