‘Identity Crisis’ Documentary Takes Center Stage at AmFest Panel on Radical Gender Ideology
By: Hayden Cunningham
During the third day of TPUSA’s 2024 AmFest, a panel discussing the upcoming documentary Identity Crisis addressed the harmful effects of transgender ideology on children, families, and society. The documentary, in partnership with the Daily Wire and inspired by Matt Walsh’s “What is a Woman?”, examines the growing trend of minors identifying as transgender being pushed toward irreversible medical procedures.
Panelists included Dr. James Lindsay, author Mary Margaret Olahan, detransitioner Chloe Cole, collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, and California father Adam Vena, all of whom shared their perspectives on this societal crisis. Lindsay started the panel by pointing out the self-evident truths that American society must acknowledge, the first being that men and women are biologically different and a person cannot change from one sex to another.
“Gender doesn’t exist. Gender is not real,” Lindsay declared. “Gender is a state of mind, it’s a set of personality beliefs, it is not something you can perform medicine on.”
Lindsay also emphasized the need for both legal and medical change surrounding the issue of minors transitioning, calling it the “greatest child abuse and medical scandal” since Nazi Germany.
“Our duty to stand up to this and to fight this to the very last, everywhere,” Lindsay told the audience.
Mary Margaret, author of Detrans, criticized the media for adopting euphemistic language such as “gender-affirming care” to obscure the consequences of medical interventions on minors. She described such terminology as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, adding, “There is nothing caring about ‘gender-affirming care.’ It’s a euphemism and it’s a lie.”
Chloe Cole, who detransitioned after undergoing transgender treatments as a minor, spoke about the long-term harm caused by such procedures. She reiterated the fact that treatments such as hormone blockers are not reversible, despite medical officials claiming that to be the case. When asked if so-called gender-affirming care actually produces healthy outcomes, Cole responded by saying, “Never.”
“There is no such thing as a ‘healthy transition’ because you cannot actually become the opposite sex,” Cole explained. “No matter what drugs or what surgery you get, it only makes you into a disfigured man or woman. These are distressed boys and girls who deserve better than this.”
Cole also pointed to the need for the medical system to pay retribution to minors who underwent these procedures. Cole pointed out how detransitioners are not acknowledged, and argued that health insurers who cover transition treatments should be required to also cover treatments for detransitoners.
Riley Gaines discussed the implications of transgender athletes in women’s sports, labeling the left’s acceptance of biological males competing against women as “anti-reality.” Gaines highlighted her participation in a lawsuit against the NCAA to bar biological males from women’s sports and noted the progress made with 25 states passing laws to protect women’s sports.
The documentary also includes Adam Vena, a California father who lost custody of his son after refusing to affirm the child’s so-called transgender identity. He described the situation as part of a broader “war” on parents and children, particularly in progressive states like California, where he said federal-level changes could face resistance.
“This documentary really shows in great detail what exactly is going on with our kids and parents in the United States,” he said.
The panelists urged the audience to take action, even if they don’t feel personally affected by the issue. Gaines emphasized the cultural impact the issue of transgenderism has, saying, “None of us expected to be here and I promise you none of us want to be here. But it’s a necessary fight.”
Identity Crisis is set to premiere on X on January 10 and will be available exclusively on DailyWire+ starting January 13. The documentary intends to be a pivotal moment in the culture war battle of transgenderism and shed light on the children and families who fall victim to radical gender ideology.
Watch full speeches from all AmFest speakers on the Turning Point USA YouTube Channel.
