How do we keep therapists like this from harming people?

[suzifrommd]

Another site member posted an article about Kenneth Zucker on his facebook page:

http://www.bilerico.com/2015/01/meet_the_last_respectable_reparative_therapist.php?utm_content=buffer66ba2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Don't read it unless you want to see red. Basically he encourages parents of gender-variant kids to get them to accept their birth sex and stop trying to live as a different gender. Lots of parents are taking his advice. Who knows how many kids this is hurting?

What can we do about this? Are we basically powerless while this guy dooms children to being invalidated and denied the basic right that all cisgender people take for granted - the right to live as the gender they identify with?

Or is there some legal way we can provide a counter point to his message?

[Elis]

Just ban this kind of so called 'therapy', end off. Simple and effective. We should also end the laws in certain states in america which allows religion to be used so that parents can prohibit the right therapy for their trans child. More baby books about how your child may be non binary, trans or/and gay would also be wonderful.

[jeni]

Yuck.

[mrs izzy]

It had to start at the local then state before federal seems to want to come on board.

But a single federal act can change the whole outcome and help for every gender variant.

Sigh! Not easy being accepted as a birth defect/medical condition.

[Elsa Delyth]

What a lying manipulative sociopath. His clinic has diagnosed more childhood "gender identity disorder" than any other, and he claims to have cured some? Sounds like he stacks the deck, and "cures" some that never were transgender. He also claims to not believe in changing sexual orientation, yet pushed a study on gay "reparative therapy" through publication without peer review, that was later disowned by the author.

He is also of the opinion that transgender people are just extreme homosexuals, yet claims to not be changing sexual orientations, just their behavior to act straight, and be happy... and privately tells parents that he can in fact prevent homosexuality as well.

He lies about his methods and aims, he engages in confirmation bias, and uses a "diagnosis" that is intuitive to the most ignorant on the subject. He enjoys an influential position, only because he lies about his true opinions, motives, and practices. 

[jeni]

I guess I'm an "extreme homosexual." Huh. I figured that'd come along with, you know, an attraction to people of my own (assigned-at-birth) gender. What would we ever do without experts like this guy to tell us who we really are?

[Elsa Delyth]

I guess I'm an "extreme homosexual." Huh. I figured that'd come along with, you know, an attraction to people of my own (assigned-at-birth) gender. What would we ever do without experts like this guy to tell us who we really are?

Yes, which clearly, in my view, accounts for the high number of diagnoses from his clinic, because he conflates the two, and works with children that do not clearly express a sexuality yet. His mentor wrote about "sissy boys".

So basically after diagnosing a child he thinks is too feminine, or masculine for their birth sex, he attempts to prevent them from becoming transgender, and then thinks when they grow up to be gay "well, didn't prevent the gayness, but at least they aren't super gay!"

[Elsa Delyth]

Although, since he has co-authored works with Bailey, he probably subscribes to Blachard's topology with regard to "heterosexual transwomen", and believes that we're all just self-obsessed narcissists that are in love with ourselves. Paraphilics.

He would deny this about transmen though, because they can't exist, because natal women can't be perverts.

[jeni]

but at least they aren't super gay!"

This sounds like a great superhero concept.

[Elsa Delyth]

This sounds like a great superhero concept.

It's taken...

[Pigleto]

So evil! I have people who have tried to change me in so many ways. It is the worst feeling, it is hard! A punch to the gut.
As transfolk it is already hard enough to live knowing we go through such an exhausting process dealing with so many accusations as to why we transition and majority of it is pointed to how we are nurtured or a mental disease.
As if either is true. I grew up following this small town mentality and being big and buff literally feeling like a zombie and I was able to enjoy life at times but simply because it is life. We are blessed to forget troubles and be. People would blame my sweet tooth, not having a true support system from my family.. Hinting I was a "mommas boy" but we actually did not communicate much growing up. We bonded at times but not over nurturing in any way. I followed the boys and disliked it, minus actually enjoying dominantly male activities. Then to say we have a mental handicap.. Ugh.. It really is.. But how can this willingly ignorant planet tell people who have only two goals.. Transition which is one and which transfers to being a productive person. There can be many reasons as to why people identify transgender. Maybe what a mother consumes alters the growth of a fetus. Being the brain develops first, and an increase in estrogen foods.. Too much creates T.. Not valid in the scientific field but this world points fingers but there can be many causes. Pollution from touch, air etc.. And maybe it is a magnificent being od life. Metaphysical in all it is. Really see what a transformation this is! No one can say they have altered there gentic codes etc.. We were respected in indigenous cultures.. Seen to build a bridge between the both solid genders. Hmm.. Makes sense.

Got heated.. But yea.. Umm.. It is hard enough, and this world is still stuck on simple ideas. Maybe not let the children transition, I am all for that.. But let them explore their gender expression at minimum. If possible in public.. But ouch this society.. Or own up and let them inside the safe haven of a home. Easy observation to see where any child is headed or feeling. To each their own