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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

BREAKING: Canada's first detrans lawsuit

39 replies

MeanCanadianLady · 21/02/2023 07:11

The brave Michelle Zacchigna, 34 from Ontario is speaking out about her experience and struggle with her mental health and her long road from transitioning from female to make and eventually transitioning back to female again. She suffered from undiagnosed ADHD, tic disorder, borderline personality disorder, anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and traits of PTSD. She did not know any of this until two years after she was allowed to self diagnose herself with gender dysphoria which fast tracked her to take testosterone, and then eventually have her breasts and uterus removed.

Her mastectomy was paid out of pocket after traveling to Florida but her hysterectomy was paid for by the province of Ontario.

thepostmillennial.com/woman-who-lost-breasts-uterus-to-sex-change-sues-doctors-mental-health-providers-who-facilitated-her-transition

Michelle Zacchigna, 34, of Orillia has filed legal action against a total of eight doctors and mental health professionals who treated her during the years that she identified as transgender. Zacchigna alleges that each failed to address her complex mental health needs and instead allowed her to self-diagnose as transgender and undergo irreversible procedures that she now deeply regrets.

Zacchigna has struggled to come to terms with the permanent changes from her hormone treatments and hysterectomy surgery have caused: a low voice, male-pattern balding, facial hair, an enlarged clitoris, a flat chest, and the inability to ever become pregnant.

It’s been eleven years since my mastectomy. About 99% of the time, I’ve accepted what my chest looks like," Zacchigna wrote in a recent blog post. "But there are still moments where I remove my shirt to change, my breath catches, and my mind leaves my body. And I have no way of predicting when it will happen. This reality will never go away for me. I will still be living in this body long after everyone has moved on to whatever the next big scandal is."

"Acknowledging that I cannot bear my own children has been devastating. Some days, the pain of what I’ve done to myself is overwhelming. I cry and I can’t stop. Other days, I’m angry that I wasn’t screened for the diagnoses I later received before I was prescribed hormones."

This is terrible news but I can't imagine how hard it was for Michelle to open up about something so insanely person and heart breaking. There are many of us already with you. Your story may be tragic but it gives us hope of positive change.

You deserved better Michelle.
We stand with you. 💐🇨🇦💐
You are not alone!

OP posts:
TheBiologyStupid · 21/02/2023 18:05

So sorry to hear that, MissFlitworth. Are you able to send the friend links to stuff from the media elsewhere, perhaps just one of the many positive but worrying reviews of Hannah Barnes' new book Time to Think? www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4742637-the-hannah-barnes-book

TheBiologyStupid · 21/02/2023 18:06

Oops, lost the @MissFlitworth in my post above.

SouthernMagpie · 21/02/2023 18:27

I hope she wins. And if nothing else, I hope it raises awareness of just how little thought and care goes into shuttling people down the trans pathway and the harms that it can do.

Michelle, this should never have been done to you in the first place and I am sorry for what you have been put through. But I am also grateful to people like you for having the courage to stand up and fight back. Thank you. 💐

MissFlitworth · 21/02/2023 18:28

Unfortunately here I really couldn't. Her parents seem to be onboard, so anything from me would be seen as interfering and phobic. My DD is worried as she is GC but she cannot do anything either. Friend knows she doesn't approve of the surgery but is still willing to be there. Our society is very captured, so pushback is rare. There are many young women transitioning to 'men' here, it is seen as normal.

SouthernMagpie · 21/02/2023 18:33

DemiColon · 21/02/2023 17:42

I'm going to be really curious to see how this is reported in the Canadian press.

Judging from past experiences here, it won't be. Or it will be spun that its the doctors we should feel sorry for. They were just doing their jobs after all... /s

CanadianJohn · 23/02/2023 21:29

SouthernMagpie · 21/02/2023 18:33

Judging from past experiences here, it won't be. Or it will be spun that its the doctors we should feel sorry for. They were just doing their jobs after all... /s

Thie story was in the National Post. I read it elsewhere, probably the CBC

nationalpost.com/news/canada/michelle-zacchigna-ontario-de...

CanadianJohn · 23/02/2023 21:33

Interesting, I just searched for "Michelle Zacchigna" on both the CBC and the Globe & Mail, with no luck.

Silverbracken · 23/02/2023 22:29

EdgeOfACoin · 21/02/2023 08:47

This is so sad, yet so predictable.

Unfortunately the lawsuits have to happen in order to turn this juggernaut around. I hope Michelle succeeds - it's going to take a lot of mental strength.

It wasn’t just predictable, it was predicted, on Mumsnet and I’m sure in many other places, by me among others, many years ago. It was obvious from all of the Thai Ladyboy litigation, which occurred way before the Western trans fad.

Those carrying out these horrible procedures on vulnerable patients have no excuse.

This was always going to end with grieving patients bringing litigation and getting huge amounts of compensation but the sad thing is that we told the governments and doctors that exactly this would happen and they went and did it all anyway.

Codlingmoths · 23/02/2023 22:40

I hope there are legal grounds and evidence to support her winning. The law can be very cruel sometimes, it would be great if it started to support these poor people who deserved proper medical care.

DemiColon · 24/02/2023 01:10

CanadianJohn · 23/02/2023 21:29

Thie story was in the National Post. I read it elsewhere, probably the CBC

nationalpost.com/news/canada/michelle-zacchigna-ontario-de...

Unfortunately large sections of the population won't read the NP.

OhcantthInkofaname · 24/02/2023 01:48

I think this is the very reason why we should not let children make these decisions.

Elleo · 20/04/2026 21:57

Does anyone know what lawyer represented her? Nobody is taking my case.

DemiColon · 20/04/2026 23:09

Elleo · 20/04/2026 21:57

Does anyone know what lawyer represented her? Nobody is taking my case.

The ARPA has information about her case on their website. You might be able to find out more from them

Helleofabore · 21/04/2026 02:06

Elleo · 20/04/2026 21:57

Does anyone know what lawyer represented her? Nobody is taking my case.

Will Genspect Canada have either that kind of information or at least a recommendation of where to start? Mia Hughes is a director that and seems to have her finger on the pulse.

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