This story is from the comments listed below, summarised by AI.
Authenticity Assessment: Not Suspicious
Based on the provided comments, the account shows no serious red flags and appears authentic.
The user consistently writes from the perspective of a concerned father ("KnowNothingDad," "I'm a Dad"), expressing personal worry for his child and offering empathetic, nuanced advice to others. The comments show a natural variation in tone, from passionate argument to gentle support, which is consistent with a real, emotionally invested person. The arguments align with common detransitioner/desister perspectives, and the account does not exhibit the repetitive, scripted behavior of a bot.
About me
I watched my daughter get swept up in online communities as a teenager, which convinced her that her normal discomfort with puberty meant she was a boy. I was terrified she would make permanent medical changes, so I tried to explain the serious health risks and the reality of becoming a lifelong patient. I believe she was actually a young lesbian struggling to accept herself, and that transition was presented as an easy fix for her anxiety. Thankfully, she eventually realized it was a mistake and detransitioned, though she felt very embarrassed about it. Now, I see this as a powerful ideology that misleads many vulnerable young people, and I have no regrets about encouraging her to question it.
My detransition story
My journey with all of this didn't start with me, but with my daughter. Watching her go through her transition and then her detransition was one of the hardest things I've ever experienced as a parent. I'm just a dad who was trying to understand and help his kid.
It all began when she was a teenager. She became deeply involved in online communities that convinced her that her normal discomfort with puberty meant she was actually a boy. She started identifying as trans, and it felt like it happened overnight. Everyone was so supportive of her transition, which made it even harder when she later realized it was a mistake. I remember feeling so worried for her, knowing how hard it would be to come back from something you were so publicly sure about.
I saw how the internet and her friends influenced her. She was comparing herself to people on social media and felt she didn't look feminine enough. I tried to tell her that all women look different and that she looked just fine, but the online message was so much louder. It seemed like no one on those forums ever told someone they weren't trans. It was like a social contagion, and teenage girls seemed especially susceptible to it.
She never took hormones or had any surgeries, thank God. I spent a lot of time researching and trying to talk to her about the serious, lifelong health complications that can come from medical transition. I told her about becoming a permanent medical patient, the need for constant blood work, the struggles with insurance, and the reality of infertility from a hysterectomy. I was terrified she would do something irreversible.
A big part of this, I believe, was that she was a young lesbian struggling with internalized homophobia. It was easier for her to think she was a straight boy than to accept being a gay woman. She also dealt with a lot of anxiety and low self-esteem, which made her vulnerable to the idea that transition was a simple fix for all her problems.
When she finally started to detransition, she felt so embarrassed. She thought everyone would be disappointed in her. But I promised her that her real friends would understand and that she didn't need to sacrifice her future health. I encouraged her to take a long break from social media and anything gender-related, and that helped her see things more clearly.
Looking back, I don't think my daughter was ever truly trans. I think she was a young girl going through a very difficult time who was offered a solution that seemed to make sense at the moment. I have no regrets about encouraging her to question things and to slow down. I only regret that this ideology is so powerful and that so many young people are being led down this path without being told about the potential consequences.
I've come to believe that gender ideology is a political movement, and that true transsexualism is still very rare. The sharp rise in young girls identifying as trans is a new phenomenon, and now we're seeing them become young adults who are detransitioning. I hope that by sharing our story, other kids and parents might pause and question before making permanent decisions.
Here is a timeline of our experience:
| My Age | My Daughter's Age | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | 13 | My daughter began spending a lot of time online and started questioning her gender. |
| 46 | 14 | She socially transitioned and started using a new name and male pronouns. |
| 47 | 15 | We had many difficult conversations about the medical realities of hormones and surgery. |
| 48 | 16 | She began to detransition after realizing it was influenced by online trends and internal struggles. |
| 49 | 17 | She was fully detransitioned and working on accepting herself as a female and a lesbian. |
Top Comments by /u/KnowNothingDad:
In the last ten years, the # of young people (ages 13-17) seeking treatment at gender clinics has skyrocketed. Of these, the vast majority are females. Prior to the past ten years, transsexuals were 90% male and presented at a very young age or well into middle age.
It's not odd that the majority of detransitioners are FtMtF. It was predictable. It looks a lot like social contagions or psychic epidemics that have occurred throughout history. Teen girls as a group seem susceptible to these types of events.
Take my thoughts for whatever you think they're worth, I'm a Dad and a "boomer" (GenX actually). How old are you?
You can't diagnose yourself with GD. There is no online test that is worth anything. All of that stuff you see online is bs propaganda.
Do yourself a favor and take 6 month break from social media and anything gender related (online or otherwise) and see how you feel.
No one that goes to that subreddit to ask if they are trans is told that they aren't.
"Or was this just a... psychological safety net to protect myself?"
I think you already know the answers to your questions. It's pretty obvious. Not for nothing, I don't think a history of trauma is a prerequisite to falling prey to this ideology. It's traumatic enough being a teenage girl. Not to mention a lesbian, if that's the case.
You should also be aware that you (as a teen girl when you started) are part of an entirely new cohort of "trans"
The real question is what to do about it now.
At 3 years on cross-sex hormones, a hysterectomy might be in your near future if you continue. There are plenty of other health implications if you continue. Having kids will be the least of your worries.
The sharp rise in "trans identified" youth in the last 10-15 years (some estimates are 2000 to 4000%) are 90% 11-14yo girls. (fun fact, in the whole history transsexualism 90% were male) Those kids are now hitting adulthood and realizing that they were never trans in the first place.
There isn't a woman in this world that didn't hit puberty and felt self-conscious and dissatisfied with their body. Now trans activists on the internet tell these girls they are boys.
I don't know why all the women in your lives aren't saying something. Or maybe they are.
I'm just a Dad, but I *promise you* they will be so happy to learn that you don't need/want to become a life-long medical patient and sacrifice your future health to hide from yourself.
Don't blame yourself. Your generation can't get away from this trend, it's everywhere. Most, if not all of your peers will understand. And you're "desistance" will undoubtedly encourage others to question.
I know you feel embarrassed. I remember what it was like to be a teenager. This is why I'm so worried for my kid. It's so hard to come back publicly when you were so sure. And when everyone was so supportive. They should be just as supportive now. And trust me, there are lots of kids just like you that will be coming around in the next months/years.
Thanks for sharing. Can I ask how old you and your partner are? It's telling that even people involved in the sciences get caught "looking the other way" on this. It's easy and "polite" to do so when it doesn't impact you personally.
Try not to be angry about it, but please continue to speak up (would love to hear from your partner too). Folks that say, "...her that being trans was the cause of all of her emotional unhappiness. ...if she got on hormones, all her problems would be fixed" tell this to pre-teens and teens too. They don't have a chance
Judging solely from what you wrote and your responses below, I think you already know. Transsexualism was extremely rare (still is) before the "Gender Identity" political movement.
Have you heard of The Detransition Advocay Network in the UK? It's founder, Charlie Evans, was just like you - social transition, legal doc changes etc, but no medical intervention. They have a hotline and are offering counseling appointments.
I'm so sorry your mom had that reaction. It's not your fault.
Obviously, I'm just a guy on the internet, but I bet your mom feels guilty or responsible for your predicament. Your step-dad sounds like a superstar.
Bright side - it's all out in the open now. Now you can move forward!
Please, please, please talk to someone before doing the unthinkable.
I'm a Dad, and trust me your parents only want to help you. Sure, they may be scared and confused like you, but in the end they just want you to be happy.
If you can't figure out how to move forward, how about just showing them your post and all the replies?
You aren't offering therapy; you're offering advice.
If you are serious, why don't you tell your detransitioning story. Maybe it will resonate with someone, and they'll reach out to you.
Otherwise, this sounds creepy. I'd advise any young people to stay away.