Corinna Cohn is a hero. If you haven't already, check out Corinna's podcast, Heterodorx. I found it because I had long used the films of her co-host Nina Paley in my classes (Nina's Ted talk, Copyright Is Brain Damage, is great). I noticed on Twitter that Nina was "canceled," as a then normie I figured she must have lost her mind, but then I checked out the podcast. That's where I "peaked" I guess--listening to guests from a variety of political and ideological perspectives I learned more than I had anywhere else (including BARpod). Corinna is wry and ironic and so thoughtful and fair.
This is a profoundly important and candid statement that reflects a very thoughtful self-evaluation: "I sought to change my sex, and it took me more than a decade to arrive at the understanding that I was trying to do the impossible. I did not live as a woman, but as a man doing my best to blend in to the world as a woman." I'm both surprised and saddened by the fact that so many people have come to believe otherwise.
We have known from over half a century of experimentation (both purposeful and inadvertent), that surgical and hormonal manipulation cannot "change" a person into something they are not, biologically speaking. And, such manipulations are ineffective remediations for psychological distress.
Corinna, I’ve followed your activism , through writing and speaking, for many years. You’re an exemplar of integrity, courage, and self-possession. Your experience with medical transition, which promised you so much yet gave you so little, has broken my heart. But your refusal to be a victim has made you a role model and an inspiration to many people, including me. No shit, it really has.
The trajectory of the trans medicalization of children is still out of control, but your public testimonies carry the gravitas of truth. Keep pumping the brakes, because the reckoning is coming. That many more bodies will be maimed in the interim is awful to contemplate, but as Kara Dansky says, “if we can be heard, we will win.” Every word you speak gets us closer to that goal. Thank you.
Thank you, Corinna. So well expressed. Asking Democrats "to sit at the table with patients, policymakers, and clinicians who are trying to find reasonable solutions" seems like a profoundly modest ask - I will keep trying to do just that. For those who haven't listened to Lisa's interview with Corinna, it's really worth a listen. Thank you both.
Laws like SB480 absolutely must and should be passed everywhere possible. This is not about "winning" a culture war, it is about protecting children from completely unnecessary mutilation and sterilization.
I think Corinna Cohn is a national treasure. I so admire this person and wish for him health and fulfillment. I have heard him (I use "him" because I know he doesn't care about pronouns) interviewed many times and listen to every episode of Heterodorx podcast. Corinna has much wisdom to share, usually delivered concisely and in a mild tone revealing a wicked sharp wit. I don't know what I think about the precedent of banning medical technologies, but I certainly can see how the quality gatekeeping mechanisms traditionally upheld by those professionals in medicine science have fallen to the wayside . . . and so bans are all patients have to protect themselves and their families from quacks when the medical and scientific establishment won't do it. There are too many cowardly and deluded "good" people who will not face up to the horrendous errors that have been made . . . I honestly don't know whether watching thousands more young people get chewed up by this transgender industry is a reasonable price to pay for avoiding bad precedent in law and all the other unintended consequences that generally accompanies prohibition. I know the local doctor that provided legitimacy to my own child's apparent belief that testosterone is the best way to deal with her suffering will probably go on thinking herself a good person, and will continue prescribing it to other young women after a single consultation, unless somehow millions more "good" people are willing to listen to people like Corinna . . . and grow a spine.
To echo others here, I applaud and am so grateful for Corinna’s courage. So hard, and so necessary. I particularly appreciated that, as summarized so well by Lisa: “Much of Corinna’s focus has been on shifting the burden from patient to practitioner; the informed consent model, and statute of limitations on when patients can sue, means those who’ve been hurt by poor practices have little recourse.” This, to me, is a medical malpractice scandal and ought to be treated as such. I also appreciate Lisa’s note of her reason for differing with an outright ban. While I personally support an outright ban on medical/surgical transitioning that extends up to the developmental point where full adulthood lies, I recognize and give precedence over my own view to the intelligence of Lisa’s approach as much more likely to keep the heat down and let in the light.
Very well stated, Corinna. Thank you for your courage. This affects my child and I can only hope that the pendulum swings and some reasonableness returns to the conversation before it’s too late for her. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your efforts in that direction, especially knowing this must come at a great personal cost to you.
I listened to this testimony and then made a donation to Corinna's nonprofit group, GCCAN. I hope many others do the same. Corinna is a hero, and also an incredibly smart, articulate and persuasive spokesperson. Thanks for posting the video, Lisa!
Corinna your honesty reflects on the callousness of those lying purposefully. I now understand that same frustrated glare i received from trans women in various situations.
I appreciate your opinion and knowledge enormously
Thank you, Corinna. From the bottom of my heart. I am the mother of 17 1/2 year old boy, who trans identifies. Change can’t come soon enough. You are so appreciated.
Corinna Cohn is a hero. If you haven't already, check out Corinna's podcast, Heterodorx. I found it because I had long used the films of her co-host Nina Paley in my classes (Nina's Ted talk, Copyright Is Brain Damage, is great). I noticed on Twitter that Nina was "canceled," as a then normie I figured she must have lost her mind, but then I checked out the podcast. That's where I "peaked" I guess--listening to guests from a variety of political and ideological perspectives I learned more than I had anywhere else (including BARpod). Corinna is wry and ironic and so thoughtful and fair.
This is a profoundly important and candid statement that reflects a very thoughtful self-evaluation: "I sought to change my sex, and it took me more than a decade to arrive at the understanding that I was trying to do the impossible. I did not live as a woman, but as a man doing my best to blend in to the world as a woman." I'm both surprised and saddened by the fact that so many people have come to believe otherwise.
We have known from over half a century of experimentation (both purposeful and inadvertent), that surgical and hormonal manipulation cannot "change" a person into something they are not, biologically speaking. And, such manipulations are ineffective remediations for psychological distress.
https://everythingisbiology.substack.com/p/there-is-biological-evidence-for
Thank you for this very thought-provoking post.
Well done, Corinna. Thank you for such a thoughtful, rational, and yet still powerful testimony. You are appreciated and respected for your work.
Corinna, I’ve followed your activism , through writing and speaking, for many years. You’re an exemplar of integrity, courage, and self-possession. Your experience with medical transition, which promised you so much yet gave you so little, has broken my heart. But your refusal to be a victim has made you a role model and an inspiration to many people, including me. No shit, it really has.
The trajectory of the trans medicalization of children is still out of control, but your public testimonies carry the gravitas of truth. Keep pumping the brakes, because the reckoning is coming. That many more bodies will be maimed in the interim is awful to contemplate, but as Kara Dansky says, “if we can be heard, we will win.” Every word you speak gets us closer to that goal. Thank you.
Thank you, Corinna. So well expressed. Asking Democrats "to sit at the table with patients, policymakers, and clinicians who are trying to find reasonable solutions" seems like a profoundly modest ask - I will keep trying to do just that. For those who haven't listened to Lisa's interview with Corinna, it's really worth a listen. Thank you both.
Profile of courage, truth, and integrity, human qualities that have nothing to do with gonads or gametes or hormones. Thank you Corinna!
Powerful statement. Thank you for your intelligent, compassionate advocacy.
Laws like SB480 absolutely must and should be passed everywhere possible. This is not about "winning" a culture war, it is about protecting children from completely unnecessary mutilation and sterilization.
I think Corinna Cohn is a national treasure. I so admire this person and wish for him health and fulfillment. I have heard him (I use "him" because I know he doesn't care about pronouns) interviewed many times and listen to every episode of Heterodorx podcast. Corinna has much wisdom to share, usually delivered concisely and in a mild tone revealing a wicked sharp wit. I don't know what I think about the precedent of banning medical technologies, but I certainly can see how the quality gatekeeping mechanisms traditionally upheld by those professionals in medicine science have fallen to the wayside . . . and so bans are all patients have to protect themselves and their families from quacks when the medical and scientific establishment won't do it. There are too many cowardly and deluded "good" people who will not face up to the horrendous errors that have been made . . . I honestly don't know whether watching thousands more young people get chewed up by this transgender industry is a reasonable price to pay for avoiding bad precedent in law and all the other unintended consequences that generally accompanies prohibition. I know the local doctor that provided legitimacy to my own child's apparent belief that testosterone is the best way to deal with her suffering will probably go on thinking herself a good person, and will continue prescribing it to other young women after a single consultation, unless somehow millions more "good" people are willing to listen to people like Corinna . . . and grow a spine.
To echo others here, I applaud and am so grateful for Corinna’s courage. So hard, and so necessary. I particularly appreciated that, as summarized so well by Lisa: “Much of Corinna’s focus has been on shifting the burden from patient to practitioner; the informed consent model, and statute of limitations on when patients can sue, means those who’ve been hurt by poor practices have little recourse.” This, to me, is a medical malpractice scandal and ought to be treated as such. I also appreciate Lisa’s note of her reason for differing with an outright ban. While I personally support an outright ban on medical/surgical transitioning that extends up to the developmental point where full adulthood lies, I recognize and give precedence over my own view to the intelligence of Lisa’s approach as much more likely to keep the heat down and let in the light.
Very well stated, Corinna. Thank you for your courage. This affects my child and I can only hope that the pendulum swings and some reasonableness returns to the conversation before it’s too late for her. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your efforts in that direction, especially knowing this must come at a great personal cost to you.
I listened to this testimony and then made a donation to Corinna's nonprofit group, GCCAN. I hope many others do the same. Corinna is a hero, and also an incredibly smart, articulate and persuasive spokesperson. Thanks for posting the video, Lisa!
Thank you, Corinna!
Silver tongued words of the manipulative idiots we suffer from the medical system.
Corinna your honesty reflects on the callousness of those lying purposefully. I now understand that same frustrated glare i received from trans women in various situations.
I appreciate your opinion and knowledge enormously
Thank you, Corinna. From the bottom of my heart. I am the mother of 17 1/2 year old boy, who trans identifies. Change can’t come soon enough. You are so appreciated.