The scientists Ken Pang and Anja Ravine challenge the “social contagion” theory suggesting an overrepresentation of trans boys in gender clinics over at The Conversation.

Using referral data from clinics in Melbourne and Amsterdam between 2016–2019, researchers found adolescents assigned female at birth were more likely to seek care, but this trend reversed in adulthood.

Among adults, especially those in their 50s and older, most referrals were from individuals assigned male at birth. The findings suggest referral patterns align with lifetime gender identity demographics, not social influence.

The study also explores the role of trans misogyny, explaining that trans girls often face heightened discrimination, which may delay their access to care.

Legislative crackdowns in places like the U.S., UK, and Australia have further restricted gender-affirming healthcare for minors, despite evidence showing the adverse mental health effects of such policies.

The study can be found here: Effect of assigned sex on the age at which individuals seek specialist gender affirming care

Chappell Roan gives one dollar of each ticket sold to transgender charities

Pink News reports that Chappell Roan has announced a short fall 2025 U.S. tour titled Visions of Damsels and Other Dangerous Things, with shows in New York, Kansas City, and Los Angeles. One dollar from every ticket sold will be donated to local charities supporting trans youth.

The tour kicks off in Forest Hills, NY (20–24 September), continues in Kansas City (3–4 October), and concludes at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California (10–11 October).

The tour is designed as an intimate pop-up experience and coincides with the lead-up to her next album and the release of her single “The Subway.”

More here.
Announcement on Instagram.

Listen to Alan Cumming’s heartfelt defense of transgender people!

Alan Cumming has been a guest host on Jimmy Kimmel Live. There he delivered a passionate, heartfelt monologue on the rise in hostility toward the transgender community in America.

You really have to listen to what he has to say. Video embedded below.

Speaking as an immigrant from Scotland, he contrasted his outsider perspective with the current sociopolitical climate in the US. He expressed shock and sadness over rising anti-trans sentiment in the states.

Cumming praised trans individuals as “real-life superheroes,” highlighting their vulnerability to violence and systemic discrimination.

He attacked political fear-mongering, referring - for instance - to a proposed Arkansas bill that absurdly targeted gender-nonconforming haircuts for kids.

Cumming called for a return to compassion and empathy, imagining how Jesus—often invoked in political rhetoric—would embrace trans people with love, not judgment.

You can watch the monologue here:

K-Pop idol comes out as trans

K-pos star Cherry has come out as a transgender. Cherry, who rose to fame through the show Boys24 and as a member of Jwiiver, emphasized that being trans is not a fleeting choice: “This isn’t a hobby, it’s my life.”

Her announcement sparked overwhelming support from fans worldwide, with hashtags like #ProudOfCherry trending across social media.

She challenges the rigid gender norms of the K-pop industry and brings much-needed visibility to LGBTQ+ identities in a space known for strict image control.

More here: Fourth Generation Idol Reveals Transgender Identity During Live Broadcast

In protest of Swim England’s new policy mandating trans women compete in an “open” category against cis men, 67-year-old Anne Isabella Coombes swam topless in a men’s swimsuit at a UK competition.

Coombes, who transitioned during the COVID-19 lockdown and had previously competed in the women’s category, was told she could no longer participate alongside cis women.

Her silent protest aimed to highlight how these policies “out” trans athletes and marginalize them, regardless of actual performance.

She stressed that trans competitors aren’t a threat to fairness in sport and cited an earlier race where she placed second—well behind the winner.

The controversy follows a UK Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of “woman” refers to biological sex, fueling backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates.

Coombes says:

“I want to make it clear through this protest that trans people are not a threat when it comes to sport. We aren’t winning everything, and if we started to, then I would be first in line to discuss other options. Right now, it is a non-issue.”

She says she won’t compete again unless rules change.

Sources:
Trans Woman Swims Topless In Competition Against Men To Protest New Rule

Reading woman swims topless in protest against Swim England

The UK government’s newly released relationships, sex, and health education (RSHE) guidance instructs schools not to teach transgender identity as fact, citing “significant public debate.”

Educators are urged to remain neutral on gender identity topics and avoid materials that might encourage students to question their gender or suggest social transition as a simple fix.

The revised guidelines—which take effect September 2026—focus on teaching the law and biological sex, referencing a Supreme Court ruling that affirms sex-related legal definitions as strictly biological.

The word “transgender” appears only briefly, and critics say the guidance erases trans representation and mischaracterizes gender identity as controversial ideology. It is not.

Pink News reports:

Non-binary author and the founder of the Trans Kids Deserve To Grow Up campaign, Dee Whitnell, expressed deep concern in response to the guidance, noting the removal of the word “transgender” was “sadly not shocking, but deeply worrying”.

The activist went on to say: “What’s further worrying is the notion that ‘all people have a gender identity’ is considered a viewpoint that cannot be ‘endorsed’.

Gender dysphoria and gender incongruence are well established medical terms pointing to the overwhelming scientific consensus that transgender identities are real and that trans people need acceptance and support.

The fact that fascists and other haters dispute this, does not mean that their lies are legitimate or that it is OK to open the doors to life threatening harassment. That is not what democracy is about.

The guidelines prove that transphobic TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) together with right wing extremists have managed to poison the British debate on gender variance completely, turning Britain into a hellscape for transgender people.

Jack Molay

California rejects Trumps anti-trans sports policy

California has formally rejected the Trump administration’s demands for sweeping bans on transgender students’ participation in school sports and bathroom access, Erin Reed reports.

The federal government, through the Department of Education, claimed California violated Title IX by allowing trans athletes to compete, despite earlier restrictions imposed by Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration.

The department proposed a series of punitive measures—including barring trans students from sports and facilities, stripping medals retroactively, and enforcing ideological definitions of gender—but California refused to comply.

California’s refusal may signal a potential shift after a period of concessions and mixed messaging on transgender policies.

Erin Reed writes:

The California Department of Education’s response offers a glimmer of hope that the state may finally push back after a string of capitulations and retreats on transgender rights.

• Erin in the Morning: California Rejects Trump’s Demands To Enact Full Trans Sports And Bathroom Bans
• Los Angeles Times: California refuses to comply with Trump administration demand to bar female trans athletes
• Go Mag: California Refuses Trump Admin’s Demand To Bar Trans Girls From School Sports

Photo: A transgender athlete is congratulated after a successful high jump attempt. (Tomas Ovalle for The Los Angeles Times)

Norwegian trans people cancel trips to the US out of fear of harassment

Norwegian politicians, trans people and human rights activists are deeply worried about what transgender travelers may experience when visiting the US.

Under President Donald Trump’s administration, federal agencies are instructed to only recognize gender assigned at birth (referred to as “biological sex”), making trans travelers worry.

Norwegian politician Alexander Papas of The Socialist Left Party (SV) is urging the Norwegian government to provide clearer and more up-to-date travel guidance for trans individuals heading to the United States.

The Norwegian LGBTQ magazine Blikk reports that Norway’s Foreign Ministry has updated its travel advice, but Papas believes it’s not enough. He emphasizes that trans people are left uncertain and fearful about how they’ll be treated at U.S. borders.

Model cancels trip to the US

The issue gained renewed attention following Norwegian model Emma Ellingsen expressing her anxiety about traveling to the U.S.

Photo of Norwegian transgender model Emma Ellingsen, Instagram.

Ellingsen told NRK, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation:

“I am a woman. I live as a woman, have a female passport and a female social security number. But now I have to apply to enter the United States as a man.”

Ellingsen did not go to the US.

Dangerous to go to the US

Sindre Stranden Tollefsen, communication director in the human rights organization Amnesty International Norway, says that it has become more dangerous for queer and transgender people to travel to Norwegians’ favorite vacation destinations.

The LGBTQ organization FRI also asks for clearer official travel advisories. Stephen Adom, the leader of FRI, tells NRK:

“There are many who are concerned, and who are definitely not taking their summer vacation to the United States this year or in the near future.”

He adds that they are also concerned about the spread of this kind of rhetoric and hostility in Norway.

Our advice

Transgender World would urge any trans person who thinks about going to the USA consider the possible repercussions from doing so very carefully.

Keep in mind that even if you are lucky and are able to pass immigration without any harassment, the anxiety that follows from all the uncertainty will cause you a lot of stress. So unless you really have to go to the US, find a more civilized and welcoming destination.

Jack Molay

The Christopher Street Project is a newly launched political action committee (PAC) advocating for transgender rights within the US Democratic Party.

Founded by Tyler Hack, a trans and nonbinary activist, the PAC aims to equip pro-trans lawmakers with strategic tools to combat Republican-led anti-trans attacks ahead of the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential race.

The organization endorsed 16 Democratic politicians known for supporting trans rights, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sarah McBride, and Maxwell Frost.

Hack critiques the Democratic Party’s response during the 2024 election cycle and stresses the importance of confronting anti-trans narratives directly.

More here.

The University of Pennsylvania’s betrayal of trans people will live on in history

The University of Pennsylvania has sacrificed its academic freedom and integrity on the altar of political convenience. University president J. Larry Jameson will always be remembered for this shameful act.

The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) has agreed to revise swimming records previously held by transgender athlete Lia Thomas and issue apology letters to female swimmers who were affected, as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Education.

The department argues that UPenn violated Title IX by allowing Thomas to compete in women’s events during the 2021–22 season. While UPenn had followed NCAA rules at the time, it now says that some athletes experienced disadvantages.

The settlement requires UPenn to adopt pseudo-scientific biology-based definitions of sex and bar trans women from competing in female sports programs.

Updated records now credit other swimmers, and Thomas’s achievements are noted with an asterisk.

Selling the soul of the university to Trump

In other words: J. Larry Jameson and the university is now actively taking part in the systemic harassment and invalidation of trans people.

Moreover, it has also sacrificed its academic reputation and independence by agreeing to follow the anti-trans “gender is biological sex” narrative, which no serious specialist in the field of gender and gender incongruence believes in.

The effect of press coverage

Imagine how all these headlines about UPenn betraying trans athletes will affect transgender people. Then imagine what cis people who have not made up their minds about trans people may think.

This is what the fascists want: To create a constant cacophony of hate and invalidation, so that people stop caring.

By giving in to Trump the University of Pennsylvania has not only betrayed trans people. It has betrayed the very foundation sound, independent and critical research and higher education is built upon.

This name will live in infamy forever: President J. Larry Jameson of the University of Pennsylvania.

The rest of us will keep on fighting.

Jack Molay

See also CNN: UPenn reaches agreement with Trump administration on transgender athletes and erases Lia Thomas’ records