This story is from the comments by /u/SedatedApe61 that are listed below, summarised with AI.
User Authenticity Assessment: Suspicious Account
Based on the provided comments, the account "SedatedApe61" exhibits several serious red flags that suggest it is potentially inauthentic and not a genuine detransitioner or desister.
Red Flags:
Explicit Self-Identification: The user repeatedly and explicitly states they are "an older gay man" who has "never had any thoughts of changing who or what I was born." They position themselves solely as an outside observer offering support, not as someone with personal experience of transition or detransition.
Consistent Agitprop Narrative: The comments are overwhelmingly focused on a single, highly politicized narrative: that being transgender is a "cult," a "fad," and that people are "groomed" or "recruited" via social media. The language is repetitive and aligns with common political talking points rather than reflecting the complex, varied, and personal reasons people detransition.
Lack of Personal Detransition Narrative: There is a complete absence of any personal story related to gender dysphoria, transitioning, or the process of detransitioning. A genuine account from someone in the /r/detrans community would almost certainly include some reference to their own journey.
Focus on Broad Political and Cultural Critique: The user spends significant effort discussing topics like political donations to LGBT organizations, the DSM-5, media narratives, and the actions of specific public figures (e.g., Jessica Yaniv). This is inconsistent with the typical focus of individuals seeking or offering support for a deeply personal and often traumatic life experience.
In short, the account behaves more like a political actor pushing an agenda than an individual sharing a personal experience of detransition. The primary red flag is the user's own stated identity as an outsider with no personal stake in the matter, combined with a highly polished and repetitive political message.
About me
I'm an older gay man who has watched a huge increase in young people transitioning over the last decade. I believe this is often a social trend that convinces kids uncomfortable with puberty or their sexuality that they were born in the wrong body. I'm deeply worried about the lack of long-term research on medical treatments that can cause permanent harm like infertility. I've seen our gay community's spaces and focus shift dramatically, making honest conversation impossible. Now, I support people who are detransitioning, as they are often shunned after realizing they made a life-altering mistake.
My detransition story
My journey with the whole trans issue wasn't about my own transition, but about watching it happen to others and seeing how it changed the community I’ve been a part of for decades. As an older gay man, I’ve seen a lot of trends come and go, but nothing like what's happened in the last ten to fifteen years.
I believe that for a very small number of people, transitioning might be the right path. But from what I've observed, the huge increase in people, especially young people, identifying as trans is more like a social fad or even a cult than a genuine medical phenomenon. I've seen how social media platforms have become grooming grounds. Vulnerable kids who are just uncomfortable with puberty, or who might be gay or lesbian, are being told that their feelings mean they were born in the wrong body. They’re coached on what to say to doctors to get hormones and blockers, and they’re encouraged to cut off friends and family who show any concern. It’s a recipe for isolation and lifelong medicalization.
I’m deeply concerned about the medical side of things. There hasn't been nearly enough long-term research on the effects of puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones. We’re giving these powerful treatments to young people based on a self-diagnosis that’s often encouraged online. I’ve heard about serious health complications, like becoming infertile or having sexual dysfunction, that aren't discussed enough. The fact that so few people who start transition actually get bottom surgery tells me that many have doubts themselves. It’s a permanent solution to what is often a temporary problem, especially for kids who are just navigating the normal confusion of growing up.
My thoughts on gender are pretty straightforward. I think most of us are comfortable being the sex we were born as, even if we don't fit the stereotypes. A guy can be feminine and still be a man. A woman can be masculine and still be a woman. I think a lot of what’s called gender dysphoria today is really just a young person’s discomfort with their changing body during puberty, or internalized homophobia, or other mental health issues like depression or anxiety that aren’t being properly addressed. Instead of getting to the root of those problems with good, non-affirming therapy, they’re being fast-tracked onto a medical pathway.
I don’t have regrets about transitioning personally because I never did. But I have huge regrets about how this movement has impacted the gay community. Our spaces have been taken over. Our history is being rewritten. We fought for rights based on same-sex attraction, which has nothing to do with gender identity. Now, if you speak up about concerns, especially about children transitioning or about men in women's sports or spaces, you’re called a bigot and a transphobe. It’s created a toxic environment where honest conversation is impossible.
I’ve seen the detransitioning community grow, and it breaks my heart. These are brave people who realized they made a mistake, often after irreversible changes to their bodies. They’re often shunned and attacked by the very community that once embraced them, which just proves my point about it being cult-like. They need support, not harassment.
In the end, I believe everyone should have the freedom to live their life as they see fit, as long as it doesn’t harm others. But that freedom has to be based on fully informed consent and a clear understanding of the risks. Right now, I don’t believe that’s happening for far too many people.
Here is a timeline of key events and observations from my comments:
Age | Event |
---|---|
N/A | Began observing a sharp increase in FtM transitions, noting an 800% jump since around 2010. |
N/A | Started noticing the aggressive, cult-like recruitment of young people into transgender identities online. |
N/A | Witnessed the takeover of formerly LGB-focused online spaces and communities by radical trans activists. |
N/A | Became active in detransition support spaces to offer encouragement and learn from others' experiences. |
N/A | Observed the lack of long-term studies on puberty blockers and hormone treatments, and growing concerns about serious health complications like infertility. |
N/A | Noted the political shift where transgender issues became a dominant political wedge, often overshadowing LGB rights. |
Top Reddit Comments by /u/SedatedApe61:
It has become very scary. I'm not sure when, but it is very much like a cult.
Some have argued there's no leadership how can it be a cult? I simply ask, "Then who's spending all the money being donated by corporations?" Someone is receiving the money, depositing it, and writing checks. So there is a leadership.
"Anyone can leave anytime they want!" to which I reply to come visit this sub or other detrans supportive one and read some of the stories.
Finally I invite them to post their true feelings. Many of those that like to argue with me don't agree with the bathroom or locker room stance, or agree with trans treatment for children. I warn them to be ready for the blowback. They obviously don't make the post.
Yes. It's scary when groups of trans people brigade other subs. Or when they stand outside a building screaming for inclusion in an all (biological) lesbian even.
The are indoctrinating the youth ins schools. They are flooding social media with their cries for rights. They want to call me transphobic when I don't want a 40 year old, never op trans "woman" in the changing room at the neighbor pool with my 13 year old niece.
The full population of T+ in the US is 0.6%. How the hell did so few gain so much control over the rest of us?
Would this other sub happen to be a left-leaning, ultra progressive, trans friendly sub? Or one that's been taken over by active trans people?
As a gay male lurker, rare contributor, I can tell you WITHOUT A DOUBT this sub is totally welcoming of those who are, want to, or are thinking about detransitioning.
I find it bad practice to listen what's said in subs about other subs.
I'll second a little therapy too. It can't hurt just to speak with a stranger. You're doing it now 😀
But not with someone who has a history, or even advertises, in the gay community. And I would avoid any that does teaching at colleges or universities. These days those "places of higher learning" are breeding grounds for the lifestyle you're questioning.
Be open and totally honest the first time. Give this person everything they need to help you refocus. Remaining a trans person might be the best option for you, at least at this point.
A first step could be as simple as painting your living room a new color! Just something to freshen your present environment.
Detransing is a huge step. It requires more thought then some people, these days, put into becoming a trans person. If you're thinking about it, it probably is the step you need to take. But don't rush into it. Make it something you are really ready to do.
Understand all that will come with detransitioning.
There are people here who have gone through, are going through it, or are just where you are now. And then there are just lurking, older, gay guys like myself who can only offer some limited support.
You are not alone. Just take comfort in that. And people love you here, just because of who you are..not who you were, or might be. ❤
Maybe they were afraid to see themselves in you? The strength you have to see what you needed to do with your life. And what you wanted to do. Strength they may not have.
Turning that mirror of illusion (or delusion) around is scary. The mirror is only supposed to reflect out, not back at them.
Where were you, with friends, before you began to transition? Were these friends you made after you started? If so you'll just make new friends.
One thing to remember as you travel through life. You may not be able to pick your family, but only YOU can pick your friends. Not an exact quote, but it works this way too.
It's a cult. Plan and simple.
They groom young people then recruit them on social media. Indoctrination into the sub culture is non-stop. Groomers are known to contact minor children by phone after the parents have gone to bed.
Once they have someone in their clutches, they teach them what to say to doctors and to write down on medical forms to get on blockers and hormones. They are taught how to get their parents to agree. Once they are on treatments the baby trans is told that their friends and family are bad and just trying to stop them from being happy. So of course parents and friends need to be alienated.
They receive instructions how to promote and defend the cult, sorry I mean the cause, on socia media and in school. They are told over and over again how much more complete their transition will be after having surgery...told this by people who do not, and never will, have the surgery themselves. They are lied to about outcomes. They are told which doctors to contact about surgery...who will repeat the lies about outcomes.
And if at any time someone wants to leave the cult, damn there I go again, I mean leave the cause....they are hounded, persecuted, harassed, called out, de-friended, and become out cases from the cause and have their histories erased from social media and are never allowed to contact their old trans friends.
Now, of course this is not what all trans people are like. But the loud and radicalized ones are exactly like this. The vast majority of those that transition are quiet and normal acting folks. It's just that tiny minority that spend so much time and energy on promoting the "trans agenda" so hard on social media platforms.
Your friend has fallen under the spell of this cult. There's a good chance she doesn't even consider/call herself a lesbian any more. Being gay, lesbian, bisexual, and even just straight are bad and unacceptable delusions that 99.4% of the US population are suffering from (giving the loud and radicalized trans people .05% of the .6% self IDing as "other than" straight, gay, or bisexual). Even is she still claims to be a lesbian, she's under the cult's power. She's been brain washed.
Get away from the social media voices...and do some research on your own.
I'm afraid that those promoting for people transition are cult recruiters. The loudest voices for surgical options have not gone through it themselves.
Research your own life choices. Don't let someone lead you on that journey.
YouTube has many people explaining how transitioning changed their life: good and bad. There are plenty of pro and con internet articles to be found.
Talk with more than one doctor in each field. Second opinions are covered by insurance companies.
So they parade out 10 people who say they are happy and totally cured!
In ten years how many of those 10 people will still say the same thing, and still be happy being a trans person?
Any of us can pull up a "10 person" example for just about anything from first time dog owners to someone how joins the union at work to someone who is only served steak at dinner time. Come back in ten years and see how's still happy and who ain't.
Parades are all the same. Everyone is happy and dresses nice but at the end there's always someone sweeping the street.
I saw this but had nothing to say.
I am curious as to how a twelve year old would know they are a confirmed trans person. Where the idea came from and who might have encouraged it.
There's parental support... probably unwise, but at least support. That's more then many kids, of all sexes and sexualities, get.
While I might praise the parent. I would also have to question the reasons. Which we know there are probably many.
I don't know if its just social transitioning or if this case includes medical transitioning. I'd probably link a few reports of the harm of medical transitioning, if this was the case, on a young person and the high possibility of permanent body damage.
As I said yesterday in a reply, I'm a lurker and rarely post here. When I do it's only as a supporting person for those that make the difficult decision to detrans. I've never encouraged anyone to do what you brave people do. As an older gay man it's not my place to judge or convince anyone of anything.
But if I entered this discussion in that sub I would urge caution to the parent. And possibly direct her to this sub so she can see what reverting back to one's birth sex really involves.
As a guy who's raised boys, I hear ya!
As a gay man who grew up not understanding what it was or who I was, I can feel where your son might be, socially and emotionally.
As an older guy now, who's had to watch the world that young people are growing up in, just spiral out of control. I hear you and feel that hopelessness too.
Show him this. Have him beside you as he reads. Shit, put your hand on his shoulder. We've lost the ability to touch as a family, but we haven't lost the need.
Don't do the "friend-dad" thing. Be a parent as you talk with, not at. See if he'll open up and at least hear what you're afraid of. Or maybe he'll open up more and it'll be your time to listen.
It seems a weird place, but we can offer you support. I've never wanted or thought about becoming trans person. I just lurk around and offer support and an ear.
It's obvious you love your son. It sounds like he'll have you there, no matter what comes about. Let him know this...out loud. Let him know it's OK to be him, or be gay, or to keep considering about transitioning.
Maybe introduce him to this sub? Let him see for himself some of the issues the people here have had to go through with their journeys.
We're here. We will listen to you and him. Sounds weird but maybe you two might hear each other better, through this sub? Just a thought...
Be there and be strong.
I completely agree. There's too much social media pressure to go ahead and experiment. Any voices of reason are shut down, or shouted down.
Anyone is allowed to make personal life discussions. But they should be allowed to hear the possible positives and the possible negatives.