In the ninetieth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Aaron Kimberly.
Aaron is a transsexual man (this is the term he prefers) and the Founder of the Gender Dysphoric Alliance Canada (GDAC).
GDAC was formed in 2021 by a small group of community members made up of trans and detransitioned people who say they are concerned about the direction that gender medicine and activism has taken.
GDAC is not formally affiliated with any political party, religious organization or professional association but the one thing all its members have in common is their own lived experience of Gender Dysphoria (GD).
In their mission statement they state: “though there is still a lot unknown about GD, we believe it is a condition with many possible pathways to it and through it, which is supported by peer-reviewed evidence. Some people with GD identify as transsexual or transgender and many do not. Some have chosen to medically transition and are happy to have done so. Others have detransitioned or desisted. Many have lived full lives without the need to ever medically transition. Some are heterosexual and some are gay, lesbian or bisexual.”
In this episode we discuss Aaron’s healthcare background and how and why he came to care about the trans issue, particularly in children and teenagers around gender dysphoria.
He establishes the difference between Early Childhood Gender Dysphoria and Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD), the rise of detransitioners and what this means for the LGBT community going forward and the wider conversation about transitioning through a mental health lens.
We also discuss Aaron’s own transsexual journey, why he wanted to transition from female to male, the significance of leaving behind his former name, why he and other transsexual people have a huge desire to blend into society post-transition and the research that links gender dysphoria to other neurological conditions like ADHD or Autism.
As always, #itsokaytovent
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