Commentary
By 2017, already professionally engaged in transgender politics, I began to focus on the anecdotally observed phenomenon of Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD), that is, a sudden declaration of a need for gender transition in adolescents and young adults (AYA) who had never presented as dysphoric in childhood. I sought research material, but available studies did not separate out AYA onset from childhood onset. So it was left to parents of AYA teens suddenly presenting with dysphoria to drive interest in researchers and even help to produce it.
In July of 2018, I attended a private meeting of such parents in Toronto, sponsored by Parents of ROGD Kids, where I met with attendees from across Canada and as far away as Texas, and heard several deeply troubling stories of their beloved—but often alienated—ROGD children. Also present was Northwestern University professor of psychology J. Michael Bailey, a well-known expert in the domain of gender dysphoria and its taxonomy. The co-organizer of the conference, Suzanna Diaz, presented results of an online survey her group had conducted. Following the meeting, Dr. Bailey was motivated to suggest a collaboration on a peer-reviewed study based on its findings….