In a surprising turn of events, users on X (formerly Twitter) were taken aback on Thursday, November 2, as their timelines were inundated with advertisements for the controversial documentary “Detrans: The Dangers of Gender-Affirming Care.” This aggressive advertising campaign, worth a staggering $1 million, was spearheaded by the conservative advocacy group Prager University Foundation.
The 21-minute documentary focuses on the journeys of two individuals who detransitioned, meaning they had previously identified as transgender but decided to reverse the gender-affirming care they had received. While both subjects transitioned as adults, the film leverages their stories to criticize gender-affirming care for minors, a contentious issue that has seen conservative efforts to restrict access to puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgery in 22 states over the last three years.
This campaign, labeled a “timeline takeover,” represents Elon Musk’s recent push towards a more conservative agenda, following the loosening of X’s LGBTQ+ harassment policies the previous year. PragerU’s Chief Marketing Officer, Craig Strazzeri, justified the choice of advertising on X by citing it as “one of the least censored social media platforms thanks to Elon Musk.” Strazzeri claimed that after watching “Detrans,” viewers would gain a better understanding of how young Americans are influenced by social media and medical professionals to undergo life-altering surgeries that often lead to regret.
However, it’s important to note that despite PragerU’s stance, major medical associations across the country continue to support access to gender-affirming care for minors. These associations advocate for the rights of transgender individuals to access the care they need.
What is the Prager University Foundation?
PragerU, officially known as the Prager University Foundation, is a nonprofit advocacy and media organization dedicated to spreading conservative viewpoints. Despite its name, it is not an actual university and does not offer degrees. The organization faced criticism when materials it produced for children were approved for classroom use by the Florida Department of Education, with many critics deeming these materials as conservative propaganda filled with misinformation.
What is the documentary about?
“Detrans” utilizes the experiences of two transgender individuals who detransitioned to influence opinions about gender-affirming care for minors. However, the documentary has faced criticism for potentially confusing viewers by not specifying the age at which one of the subjects, Daisy Strongin, began gender-affirming care. It also lacks input from medical professionals. It argues that children and teenagers are rushed into the process of medically transitioning without considering alternative perspectives.
Do trans people frequently regret transitioning?
Contrary to the documentary’s claims, a 2021 review of 27 studies found that only 1 percent of people aged 13 and older regretted receiving gender-affirming surgery. Gender-affirming care for minors garners widespread support from the medical community, with studies indicating that it reduces depression and suicidality rates among transgender youth. Furthermore, it’s important to note that receiving gender-affirming surgeries before the age of 18 is exceedingly rare, and even puberty blockers require informed consent from both the patient and one of the patient’s parents.
How did people respond to the advertising campaign on X?
The advertising campaign sparked a wave of outrage among X users, who expressed frustration at being unable to block or mute the #Detrans hashtag while sharing their discontent with Elon Musk’s involvement. Some users chose to flood the #Detrans hashtag with positive trans stories and even adorable photos of cats in an attempt to drown out the controversial ads.
