What is “detransition”?
Transition is a series of steps someone takes to to align with a gender identity. The process usually begins with a shift in identity or a period of questioning. This may include steps such as telling friends and family that you are questioning your gender, exploring your gender identity or experimenting with new names and pronouns. Social transition is typically the next step which involves telling friends and family your new name and pronouns and attempting to be perceived as a specific gender by changing clothes and appearance. Medical transition involves making physical changes including puberty blockers, cross sex hormone treatment, surgery, and other processes.

Detransition is the umbrella term of stopping or reversing that process.

‘Re-identified’ is a term for someone who has gone through a period of identifying as another gender, who now no longer identifies as that gender.  This term can be used to describe someone who only identified as trans and did not socially or medically transition. Sometimes people use the term ‘desisters’ to refer to people who stopped in their trans identification before taking any medical steps, who may or may not have taken steps to socially transition. Although ‘desisters’ did not take medical steps to transition, they have often engaged with mental health professionals for gender therapy. Detransition is a more precise term for people who have medically transitioned and then stopped or reversed that process.  Although the groups have a lot in common, dealing with the physical effects of medical transition creates additional difficulties that need specific support.

Why was your organization created?
To increase awareness. Many people have never heard of detransitioners, unfortunately that even includes people seeking help with issues about their sexuality or gender. Transition advocates minimize the possibility of regretting medical transition, and the ‘affirmation-only’ model of transition care means that few people considering transition have a realistic view about their options and outcomes.

To offer support. Detransitioning and desisting people are often very isolated and there is no institutional support or resources for detransitioning and desisting people in Canada. We created this organization to bridge that divide.

Are you an independent organization?
Yes, we have not received any funding aside from donations, and are community-based group formed by detransitioners and desisters.

Why is support for detransition necessary?
The decision to stop the process is a difficult and often lonely experience. Without any support, surrounded by transition advocates, many people feel alone when their sex or gender dysphoria worsens or they realize that social or medical transition is not lessening their dysphoria. They will also feel mislead when their questions about their sexuality become clarified, or when they realize other mental health issues or trauma have been creating the distress they’ve been experiencing that has, so far, been identified as an issue about their gender.

Do I need to be a Canadian citizen to become a member or access the services you offer? 

Our services and membership are open to anyone living in Canada and to Canadian citizens living anywhere.

Is there research to back up your claims?

Unfortunately, there has been little attention paid to detransitioners, or active deplatforming of anyone critical of any part of the gender transition process. We recognize that promoting our stories, and conducting surveys and research to explore the needs of our community is an ongoing process.

Some articles by detransitioners:


Research about gender transition outcomes: