‘I Was Part of the Problem’: Megyn Reflects on Her Past Coverage of Trans Kids and What Everyone Can Do Now

Remember that segment I did about my position on preferred pronouns last summer? I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately and especially today after my conversation with detransitioner Isabelle Ayala and her attorney Jordan Campbell

Isabelle shared that she started cross-sex hormones at 14 years old. Even though she stopped treatment, she said she knows she’ll never be the same. Her bone structure is compromised. She is experiencing vaginal atrophy and irregular periods. She is not sure if she is going to be able to have children.

I’ve been thinking about the first part of my pronouns segment (you can watch the entire clip below), where I acknowledged the coverage I gave this topic when I was at NBC. In 2018, I hosted shows on trans people, including ‘trans kids.’ I led the audience in cheering for them, encouraging them to own who they are. 

I used approved terms like ‘gender affirming care’ for medicinal gender manipulations, ‘cis’ to refer to natural born women and men, ‘assigned male at birth’ instead of ‘born male.’ I smiled and listened politely as a guest told me “gender is just a social construct.” I wanted to be supportive of those who were suffering. I would use this more evolved language. I didn’t see the harm.  

I am kind of emotional about it now because I look at Isabelle and what was done to her. I realize I was part of this problem. My heart was in the right place. I wasn’t trying to push anything bad on kids. I thought I was being supportive of them. I thought I was promoting anti-bullying. I am not a regretful person, but I just have such regret about it. 

If you’re not actively fighting against this, you are part of the problem. You are hurting people like Isabelle – people who are vulnerable, who have been hurt. You have to fight whether it is a donation, or using your voice, or retweeting support for people like Isabelle and Jordan. Do it. Do something. 

Please don’t protect yourself, and don’t be lured into thinking it’s empathetic to support this radical experimentation on minors.

You can check out Megyn’s full interview with Ayala and Campbell by tuning in to episode 741 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.