This story is from the comments listed below, summarised by AI.
Authenticity Assessment: Suspicious Account
Based on the provided comments, this account is not authentic as a detransitioner or desister. It is the account of journalist Abigail Shrier, who is soliciting stories for a book. The red flags are:
- The user explicitly identifies as a journalist, not a detransitioner.
- The sole purpose of every comment is to solicit contact via a personal email address to share stories for her book.
- There is no personal narrative or experience shared from the perspective of someone who has detransitioned or desisted.
The account is a real person (a journalist), but it is inauthentic in the context of being a member of the detrans community. It is an outsider gathering research.
About me
I came to your forum as a journalist, not as someone who had transitioned, because I wanted to understand the stories of people who felt transition was a mistake. I heard from many, particularly young women, who felt social pressure had rushed them into an identity that wasn't right for them. While I also spoke with transgender people who were happy, my main concern became that we weren't asking enough questions before encouraging permanent changes for young people. I don't have personal regrets about transitioning, but I wanted to share these difficult stories to bring more nuance to the conversation. My goal was always to help others make more informed decisions by listening to your experiences.
My detransition story
My name is Abigail Shrier. I’m a journalist, and I came into your online community a few years ago because I was writing a book and wanted to understand the full picture of transition, especially the stories of people who felt it might have been a mistake for them.
I don't have a personal transition or detransition story to share from my own life. I was there as a reporter, not as someone who had medically or socially transitioned. I was trying to listen and learn from your experiences to tell a story that I felt wasn't being told enough.
From what I saw and the people I spoke with, I came to believe that for some people, particularly adolescent girls, the rush to embrace a transgender identity can be influenced by social pressures and might not always be the right path. I heard from many people who felt they had been influenced by their friends and online communities. At the same time, I also spoke with many transgender people who were happy and secure in their identity, and with parents who were just trying to do the best for their children. I tried to take all of those perspectives into account.
My own thoughts on gender are that it's a complex issue. I don't have any problem with homosexuality or with people who are genuinely transgender. My concern was always that we, as a society, were moving too fast and not asking enough questions before encouraging young people to make permanent changes. I wanted to bring more nuance to the conversation.
Since I didn't transition myself, I don't have personal regrets about it. My role was to listen to those who did and to share their stories with a wider audience, hoping it would help others make more informed decisions.
Here is a timeline of my involvement from the comments I posted:
| Age | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| - | 2019-04-15 | I first posted in the community, introducing myself as a journalist and asking to hear from people who might be willing to share their detransition stories. |
| - | 2019-04-15 | I responded to someone's post, acknowledging their difficult story and again offering a platform for them to share it anonymously. |
| - | 2019-04-16 | I clarified my intentions as a journalist, stating that my goal was not to profit from but to platform these important stories. |
| - | 2019-04-17 | I explained my personal beliefs on the topic, stating that I believed some adolescent girls were being socially pressured into identifying as trans. |
| - | 2019-04-17 | I provided more details about the book I was writing and reiterated my openness to hearing all sides of the issue, including positive transition stories. |
| - | 2019-04-17 | I stated that I wanted to hear every kind of story related to the trans experience. |
| - | 2019-04-17 | I explained the difficulty I had in reaching out to happy transgender individuals because my conservative background often made people in those groups wary of speaking with me. |
Top Comments by /u/AKShrier:
No, not true. Very little profit in telling this story (Do you know how little freelance journalists make?), and I will never steal your story, only share it with a wider platform. If you want to be fully on the record, we can do that too. Check out my bylines. They speak for themselves.
Hi, everyone, a few things:
It *does* suck only conservatives are willing to write about this.
I'm a conservative, but I am not a homophobe - and never have been. Search anything I've written. I have 0 problem with homosexuality - neither moral objection nor any kind of squeamishness.
I do believe some of the adolescent girls are being socially pressured to identify as transgender, but they don't belong in that rubric.
I don't think, as a society, we should rush to embrace gender dysphoria as an identity.
I have talked to a great many transgender people I consider sober and kind and good. I have NO desire to discourage people writ large from being transgender (assuming that were even possible). I just think that some of the adolescent girls who are rushing toward this identity are doing it for social reasons. That's it. Those are my beliefs.
If you want to tell me your story, I'm all ears. abigail [dot] shrier [at] gmail.
Thanks for your time.
Best Wishes,
Abigail
You are so fortunate to have a supportive gf through all of this. Your story is so honest and so raw. If you would be willing to speak to a journalist, please get in touch: abigail [dot] shrier [at] gmail. I would be grateful for your story and your voice. I am happy to keep your true identity & identifying details masked -- no need for them. It's only your story I'd love to communicate to people, never your privacy.
Wow. These are all great points. I'll do my best. Here goes:
This is for a book, not a article, so I have a lot of room for nuance. The book proposal has already been sold, so it will be published with or without your insights - but I'd much prefer the book to have as much nuance and as many great insights as possible.
If you think these issues have been mishandled before, *tell me why* when you speak. This will only add to the conversation.
I do have biases (like everyone), but I am also really open to learning. I'll give you two examples: One, a brilliant and very wonderful transgender person helped me understand that one can live a good, productive life while transgender - that for some people, this choice makes good sense. Two, a friend who transitioned her young child helped me understand that parents who socially transition their young children are sometimes doing what they believe is best for their children. Before I talked to her -- I didn't know that.
I dropped into this community to invite you to with me. I did not want to intrude nor do I want to reproduce the material shared here, among you. If you would like to share your stories with me, come find me. If not - I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND - and will leave you in peace. I've extended the invitation; after I answer your questions, I'll leave you alone.
I have no anti-gay issues. I could offer lame proof, but instead I'll just say: I just don't. Homosexuality doesn't bother me. Doesn't creep me out. Doesn't worry me on a societal level. Just not my issue.
Anything else, please ask.
Best Wishes,
Abigail
I am so sorry you're going through this, but never give up. Everyone has made mistakes and if you feel this is one, you can reverse the surgery. Please do not despair. I believe your voice is important and can help others. I am a journalist writing about these issues, most often for the Wall Street Journal. If you might be willing to share your story to help others, please let me know: abigail . shrier @gmail. com. I promise to keep your identity masked. I would be grateful for your voice and your story. Best Wishes, Abigail
I want to hear every kind of story relating to the trans experience. Some people are thrilled to be transgender, and that's great for them. Of course your story counts! It's yours. And it will help broaden everyone's understanding of this issue (mine included).
I have reached out to a number of transgender platforms where people are not detransitioning. I have talked to many transgender individuals -- but I would love to hear from more. The problem is, very often after I make contact, someone from the group says something like "Hey! She's a conservative. She's not an ally - don't talk to her" and then people won't talk to me. I welcome hearing from all perspectives on this issue -- if you are willing to introduce me to those who can offer a happy, positive transgender experience of FTMs in particular, I'd love to hear from them and share more of their stories as well.