The Faith of The Detransitioners.

The faith of the detransitioners.

Heather Tomlinson  14 January 2025.

Chloe Cole (R) joins NCAA All-American swimmer Riley Gaines (L) on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 3, 2023.(Photo: The Christian Post/Nicole Alcindor)

The astonishing rise of 'gender ideology', which asserts that any individual can choose to be male, female or anything in between, has led to a considerable rise in the number of people identifying as transgender. Unfortunately a growing group now regret this decision, especially any attempts to medically change their bodies.

Although modern supporters of transgenderism assert that it is not necessary to have male or female sexual organs removed, or replaced with those of the opposite sex, many people identifying as transgender do take this route and have their healthy breasts or penis surgically removed. 

A growing community of 'detransitioners' who deeply regret these decisions are warning others and campaigning against the extremes of the gender movement. Many of those speaking publicly have also adopted a deep Christian faith. Here are some of their stories:

Chloe Cole

This young woman is just 20 years old yet has already become one of the best known opponents of extreme transgender ideology, especially the now-common practice of encouraging children to change their gender.

This is not surprising given her own story. She began transitioning at just 12 years old, and by age 15 her breasts had been removed and she was on testosterone and drugs to block her puberty. But at age 17 she began to question these actions, and shortly afterwards started to campaign against government support of biological transitioning.

Chloe became a Christian during this process. In an interview with US non-profit Focus on the Family, Chloe criticised the "hyper-sexualized culture" that contributed to her decisions, and said that growing up in a mostly secular home also contributed to her gender confusion.

"I didn't understand why I was put into this world at the time that I was or why I was even born ... I was always searching for something to believe in," she said.

Jonathan Gass

Jonathan has recently started to tell his story of trying to live as a woman, which he did until a "kind, informative and encouraging" friend gave him a Gospel of Matthew.

"That opened my eyes to Jesus's wisdom, kindness, and immense importance," he wrote in an article for The Gospel Coalition.

Laura Perry Smalts

Laura lived for nine years as a man, and had two biological surgeries. On the website Transgendertotransformed.com she describes her life before Christ: "I hated God, I hated my family, and I hated the person I was. It wouldn't be true, though, to say I hated myself: I loved myself probably to the point of narcissism."

During her period of time identifying as a man, she had a difficult relationship with her parents. But one day her mum asked her to create a website for a Bible study group she was running, and Laura agreed as she needed the money. What was contained within would change her: "As I read the words in the lessons, the ice that encased my heart began to melt. For the first time in my life, I began to see God's love and faithfulness in His Word," the website reveals.

CT.