Former Trans Kids Warn Others: “Don’t Do It!”

For years, the cultural conversation around gender identity has focused on affirmation, visibility, and access to medical interventions for young people. But now, a new and powerful voice is entering the debate: detransitioners — young men and women who transitioned as children or teens, only to later regret their decision.

Their message is urgent and raw: “Don’t do it.”

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Chloe Cole: From Transition to Testimony

At just 15 years old, Chloe Cole underwent a double mastectomy after years of puberty blockers and hormone treatments. Today, at 18, she describes herself as a “former trans kid” and has become one of the most outspoken voices against childhood gender transitions.

Cole says she was convinced from an early age that she had been “born wrong” and that changing her body would fix everything. Instead, she says, it left her scarred, grieving, and robbed of a normal adolescence.

“We need to stop telling 12-year-olds that they were born wrong,” Chloe says. “My childhood was ruined along with thousands of detransitioners that I know through our networks. This needs to stop.”

Her testimony before Congress has helped shift the political landscape, with half of U.S. states now banning puberty blockers and gender surgeries for minors. For Chloe, speaking out is not about politics but about sparing other kids the trauma she endured.

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The Stories Behind the Silence

Chloe is not alone. Journalist Mary Margaret Olohan, in her book Detrans: True Stories of Escaping the Gender Ideology Cult, documents the experiences of many young people who regret transitioning.

According to Olohan, many were told that their struggles with fitting in, making friends, or feeling special were caused by being in “the wrong body.” Doctors and counselors promised that gender transition would make them happy. Instead, what they found was disappointment — and in some cases, irreversible harm.

“They were told that surgery would fix their lives,” Olohan explains. “But when the scars set in and the mental health issues remained, the truth became undeniable. They had been misled.”

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The Harsh Reality of “Gender-Affirming Care”

The term “gender-affirming care” is often presented as compassionate and life-saving. But detransitioners describe a far darker reality.

Many underwent mastectomies, hormone injections, and procedures while still in their teens — sometimes before they fully understood the permanence of their decisions. Some even believed their removed body parts would “grow back.”

“A lot of these girls thought they’d come out looking just like boys with flat chests,” Olohan said. “Instead, they were left with gruesome scars that will never heal, physically or emotionally.”

Critics argue that doctors failed to properly explain the risks, while others accuse the medical establishment of rushing vulnerable teens into procedures without addressing deeper mental health struggles.

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The Parent Dilemma: A Heartbreaking Choice

Parents, too, describe being pressured by medical professionals. Many recall being asked: “Would you rather have a dead daughter or a living son?”

It’s a terrifying ultimatum no parent wants to face. Wanting to protect their children, many trusted the doctors — only to later discover the promises of happiness and healing were false.

For Olohan, this represents “an incredible betrayal by the medical system.”

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The Cost of Speaking Out

While transitioning is celebrated in much of popular culture, detransitioners often face hostility and rejection when they try to share their stories.

“When detransitioners speak up, they are told they were never really trans, that they’re traitors, even scum,” Olohan said. “The very community that once praised them turns against them.”

Despite the backlash, more young people are coming forward, forming support networks and calling for caution. Their message is not about hate or intolerance but about the reality of their lived experiences — and the consequences that can’t be reversed.

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A Turning Point in the Debate

Chloe Cole and other detransitioners believe the tide is turning. Across the U.S., state legislatures are moving to restrict access to puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender surgeries for minors. Meanwhile, countries like England have already scaled back such treatments, citing a lack of long-term safety data.

For Chloe, the fight is personal — but it’s also about future generations.

“I speak to you in the hope that you will have the courage to bring this scandal to an end,” she told lawmakers. “Enough children have been victimized. Please let me be your final warning.”

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The Bigger Picture

The voices of detransitioners are challenging mainstream narratives and forcing society to grapple with uncomfortable questions:

• How young is too young to make life-altering medical decisions?

• Are doctors properly informing patients and families of the risks?

• What responsibility does culture bear in shaping these choices?

While activists and politicians clash, one thing is clear: the growing number of young people speaking out cannot be ignored. Their scars, both physical and emotional, tell a story that demands to be heard.