Debunking the 80% “Desistance” Myth

Host: Bette (she/they) With Ez away sick, Bette (she/they) flies solo in the studio for the first time, digging deep into the central piece of disinformation used by anti-trans campaigners: the oft-repeated myth that over 80% of trans kids will come to identify as cisgender as they mature. Find out why this statistic is so misleading and what constituted “gender nonconformity” in the 1950s-1980s. And no, there is no “cure” for being transgender. Timestamps and Links: 01:37 - Community Events: Trans Justice Magan-djin/Meanjin 02:10 - Community Events: Kelly Jay Keen Petition 03:39 - 80% “Desistance” Myth 06:20 - Sources: Critical Commentary Study (2018) and Gender Dysphoria in Childhood by Ristori and Steensma (2016) 07:08 - Dr Cal Horton - A plea for better transgender research on the perpetual myth of ‘desistance’ and the ‘harm’ of social transitioning 07:48 - Methodological Concerns: Broad Inclusion Criteria, Scope of Studies, and Very Early Followup. 10:29 - Misclassification of Participants Lost of Followup 11:59 - Theoretical Concerns: Division of children in “persisters and desisters” Julia Serano, Binary understanding of gender Steensma (2016), and Presumption of outcome stability 13:43 - Ethical Concerns: Children testing practices, Clinical biases, and Child’s autonomy of treatment. 17:02 - Dr Cal Horton’s Response Don’t forget to subscribe to 4zzz to support the community radio station we broadcast from - CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 📸 ID:  A person scratches their head looking behind the Tranzmission logo with a trans flag flying in the background. The 4zzz Podcast logo is in the top right corner.  4ZZZ's community lives and creates on Turrbal, Yuggera, and Jagera land. Sovereignty was never ceded.