I Spoke About Detransition On Campus... Are Woke College Students A Lost Cause?

From My Speech At The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

“Your music sucks! Nazi collaborator!…” -College Students At My Alma Mater

I recently had the privilege of giving a speech at my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, organized by Turning Point USA, focusing on the often-controversial topic of detransition. The event was not without its share of excitement, as a group of college protestors gathered, armed with face masks and cardboard signs bearing slogans like "trans healthcare saves lives." The protestors had organized a publictied event created by the campus club, Students for a Democratic Society, or SDS_UWM.

As I delved into my speech discussing the complexities of detransition and influence of the ideological propaganda I was exposed to by professors, students, clubs when I was a student, I hoped to inspire seeds of reflection in the group of college-aged detractors. I spoke directly to them at times, comparing my previous thought-process to their current beliefs, discussing how my perspective expanded as I grew older and wiser.

When it was time for the Q&A session, an event where I always allow completely open questions and answer as transparently as possible, a young man passionately defended trans healthcare, citing a personal anecdote of a friend who had transitioned and, according to him, found unparalleled “happiness.” I responded, first pointing out the irony of using anecdotal evidence to challenge my stance, before explaining that we should ultimately err on the side of caution instead of affirming-only.

The climax came when the protestors, who had been patiently holding their signs, erupted into a synchronized chant of "TRANS HEALTHCARE SAVES LIVES." It was a dramatic display, reminiscent of scenes from larger events, but the UWM Security swiftly escorted them out.

As the protestors left, a few parting shots were fired, ranging from critiques of my music (it apparently “sucks”) to accusations of “Nazi collaboration.” They left behind notes with questions like "what is wrong with you?" and "why are you so obsessed with people's genitals? Especially children's?" The entire episode left me pondering the emotional immaturity and cult dynamics that seemed to be at play.

Reflecting on the incident, I couldn't help but draw parallels with my own past. I realized that, once upon a time, I might have been among those protestors. In my days of being trans-identified, my perspective was limited, my social awareness stunted, and my interactions confined to far-left social media platforms like Tumblr. Back then, I perceived conservative groups as evil, backwards, and ignorant, and I wore my self-righteousness like a badge of honor.

I lived through this fad and cult and it is not healthy, normal, or good. Whatever trans was in the 80s does not matter. Trans is absolutely a teenage fad and drug-sex cult today. You can quote that. You can call me a bigoted transphobe, I do not care. It is a callous medical model that harms the mentally ill. It is a myth and lie that teachers and employers spread to their captive audiences to gain progressive points, to keep up appearances, to continue their cash flow. It is a gotcha non-argument that bitter, controlling, and confused people throw around to shame others with, under the guise of “kindness” which perverts leftist values of “tolerance” into authoritarianism. It is a coping mechanism for all manner of sickness in western culture.

Queer Theory is a swamp college students get stuck in. If you sink into the trans cult, you’ll be stuck for a long time in a bad religion. The only difference between me and a TikTok trans boy or indignant college protestor is that I shower and am not nihilistic. The autism, the eccentricity, the creativity, the humor, the clothes, etc is all the same. All it takes is acceptance of biological evolutionary meaning, and some self care.

Being trans and non-binary was the right decision for me *based on the knowledge* I had at the time. The knowledge I had at the time was limited.

Healing and maturation only came to me once I got sick of the pain that extended adolescence and wilful blindness brought.

You don’t need to pretend to be the opposite sex, or fantasize about being the opposite sex, in order to cope with reality. You can even be ugly and sad without being non-binary. Kids want boundaries, not endless choices, and being told by professors to deconstruct meaning until it’s so far removed from tangible experience that it becomes irrelevant and valueless is negatively affecting young students on the left’s sense of reality and human nature.

College students need to develop values, not be simultaneously lied to that “anything is possible”, while also told that subjective feelings dictate “truth.” Is truth only relative to the emotions of the individual?

When I posted about the event on Twitter, I made this remark:

As expected, I received a response from a run of the mill gender critical account making a blanket statement arguing against my statement about the mental state of college students:

While many of us may agree with this at times given the amount of severe antisocial behavior coming from the radical trans activists, it is important to not lose sight of the psychosocial and spiritual crisis many young people are experiencing, the same that I endured for many years.

Unfortunately, my observation about post-detransition growth is not shared by many gender critical adults who are understandably frustrated and disgusted by the increase of immaturity from Gen Z:

This premise is limiting in understanding the gender cult. Claiming that group dynamics are the only influence on gender issues is false, and this user reveals a lack of understanding about how trauma or autism affect development. According to many gender critical accounts, society has no use for these cringey 20-somethings, even those who detransitioned and realized that they made poorly-informed decisions in the past. This is not the way to create a better world for our children’s future. If we want more informed citizens in the economy and in our neighborhoods, merely dismissing and mocking them will not suffice. It will not model a path towards developing values and boundaries.

Maybe it’s because I’m a little older than the average undergraduate (26), but when I was giving my talk at UW-Milwaukee, I felt like the teacher, and the protestors the students. It had a similar energy to when I was substitute teaching high schoolers. I felt like an adult among children, even though they were in college. Being developmentally immature is by no means healthy, and the behavior of radical activists and protestors is unacceptable in adulthood, but it also doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. There are very few 21 year old’s who have it all together, and almost none who don’t grow out of inappropriate habits from adolescence.

Detransitioners show that growth, healing, maturation, and change, even under extreme circumstances, can amount to more. While I fault no one for having strict boundaries around unhealthy individuals, within the gender debates, wisdom that many young activists may one day become detransitioners, one day regret their conduct and aim to improve, and may even work to teach future generations better values due to their experiences, is a hopeful necessity.

Me as a Young Trans-Identified College Student Partaking in Bad Self Care

Me in My Mid-20s, Post Graduation, Becoming a Professional Adult

I don’t respect or like these college protestors. I don’t associate with them. I also don’t hate them, or view them with single minded political shaming. I feel bad for them, and wish them well in their evolution of human growth and potential. Just as my destiny is not determined solely by my ignorant and mentally unhealthy past in my teens and early 20s, neither is their’s.

The UWM event was a reminder that the journey from ideological certainty to a nuanced understanding of complex issues is often fraught with resistance. The protestors, in their passionate chants and confrontations, reflected a snapshot of my former self. It underscored the importance of fostering open dialogue, even in the face of vehement disagreement, and acknowledging the developmental journey that leads individuals to their convictions.

In conclusion, the detransition speech at UWM was a compelling exploration of perspectives, highlighting the challenges and rewards that come with engaging in conversations on contentious issues. It left me with a renewed commitment to promoting understanding and empathy, even when faced with the storm of dissent.