Episode 19 - Dr Kinnon MacKinnon - The Many Faces of Detransition

Dr. Kinnon MacKinnon is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at York University in Toronto, and is one of the world's leading researchers on the phenomenon of decisional regret around gender transition, desistance from trans identification and detransition from medicalization . Dr MacKinnon''s research seeks to better characterize and understand the different factors that lead to regret and detransition, and how this is influences by the changing nature of identity and the stigma associated with being transgender. His work is especially crucial, given how concerns about the rising rates of regret and detransition have provided a compelling rationale for restricting access to medical transition, especially for adults and other vulnerable adults. In this episode, we discuss the history of detransition, the reasons why it might be increasing, and how we can be providing better care and support of people who have detransitioned, or who may be considering not following through with an ongoing transition. Dr. MacKinnon also discusses his concerns about the encroachment of politics into medial care, and on how this may not best serve the needs of people exploring their gender identity