It’s been a week since I’ve returned from Genspect’s “The Bigger Picture” conference in Denver and I wanted to share my thoughts and gratitude.
I came home exhausted, but on such a high because the experience was very meaningful to me. It’s hard to describe what it is like to meet so many people I previously only knew virtually. At home, I often feel isolated with my work. I’ve been busy independently providing consultations via zoom, writing a book, recording podcast interviews, and making reels for instagram (@the.truthfultherapist) to educate the public on how captured the mental health field is, especially when it comes to this gender issue. Since Genspect’s launch, I had been admiring it’s work from afar. I watched it grow since 2021. I often recommend its resources to parents and other people looking for an alternative to institutions that are captured by gender ideology. I’ve listened to several episodes of the Gender: A Wider Lens podcast and learned so much from it. However, up until this year, I hadn’t been directly involved.
In August, I decided to reach out to the leaders of Genspect because I wanted to join the only group that is laying groundwork to directly oppose the dangerous guidelines of WPATH. (I don’t know what took me so long) These people are smart, passionate, innovative and can handle the charged arena of gender with skill and compassion. I sent an email to the leaders and met with director, Joe Burgo, and was invited to join their weekly leadership team via zoom. Joe and I had a great 1:1 conversation. It felt like we could have talked for hours. I remember after my first meeting with the team telling my husband how hopeful I felt, as I made connections with the pioneers who built an important alternative to WPATH. I was shy at first, but after a few weeks in the meetings, I felt more comfortable and Genspect was very welcoming.
When I saw this conference coming up, I made an early decision to attend because I believe connecting with other like-minded people is the most powerful way to make a difference. When I booked my plane ticket, I announced it to the group with silly excitement. The speakers were already arranged so I decided to contribute something that no one else in the group could, my photography. I volunteered my professional photography skills so Genspect had great images for social media and marketing. While many people know me for being in front of the camera, I am most comfortable behind the camera. The role was perfect.
At the conference there were so many great moments, but probably the highlight was the first night when everyone arrived and so many people met for the first time IRL. After traveling and getting settled into my hotel room, I came down to ask the front desk a question, but I never went back up until the end of the night. “Are you Ms. Garfield-Jaeger, The Truthful Therapist? I’m trying not to fangirl!”, a fellow like-minded therapist said to me. I shyly said yes and we immediately got into a great conversation. Another therapist from the GETA (Gender Exploratory Therapy Association) directory joined us and we continued to talk. A small group of us sat in the lobby together for hours. Soren, a detransitioner was at the table doing her schoolwork. She and I hadn’t talked before, but she was so warm and friendly, I was quickly comfortable around her. There was a special energy that’s hard to describe. As we sat there, more and more people arrived and the crowd grew. James Lindsay, author of The Marxification of Education, came in and joined the group with ease. He and Genspect leader, Stella O’Malley hit it off. Erin Friday, a lawyer and outspoken mother came in and hugged the many women she worked so closely with virtually, and finally met in person for the first time. “I didn’t realize you would be so tall!”, she said to Stella. Soon after, detransitioners Chloe Cole and Prisha Mosley arrived. The other detransitioners flocked to say hello. These girls have a special bond. Chloe couldn’t conceal her excitement and she was eager to hug her friends.
More and more people came who I have an online relationship with. Gender “power couple” Christina Buttons and Colin Wright said hello and we took a picture together. Christina and I both “left the left” around the same time and had been communicating on social media for about two years.
A crowd grew and the lobby became lively with so many people from across the globe who have stuck their neck out to fight the gender affirmative care model. Many were jet-lagged, but didn’t want to miss the action, so they stayed.
I floated around and documented the evening with photos and videos and met so many people. The party went on past 10:30pm, but I was tired and I knew I had a long weekend ahead of me so I went upstairs to bed.
The next morning had great excitement as there more arrivals. The crowd was big and the space was filled up to capacity. We had to line up to be checked in and go through security. (Genspect went to great lengths to keep the participants safe). The marketing tables were set up and the crowd was buzzing. Laura Becker, otherwise known as the “Funk God Artist” was showing off her stuff. I bought a cool lizard pin from her. (For those that don’t know, lizards are the official symbol for detransitioners because they lose their tails and can regrow them. The lizard represents regrowth)
The very first speaker, and one of the highlights of the weekend was Michael Shellenberger. He talked about the “WPATH files” which he will be revealing soon from an inside whistleblower. We are watching a new tale of David vs Goliath. One of the hashtags Genspect has been using has been #TimesUpWPATH. That’s not a coincidence. Jaimie Reed, the whistleblower from St. Lous Children’s Hospital spoke about how the road to hell is paved with good intentions, referring to most staff in gender clinics. She knows she was previously part of the problem, but since she spoke out, she has been one of the key people to disrupt that road to hell. I relate. The conference schedule was jam-packed with speakers. The speeches were thought-provoking and hopeful.
That evening was another buzzing night in the lobby. It was so loud with excitement, that my throat was sore from talking in the crowd. The detransitioners were trading friendship bracelets and beaded lizards and so many new connections were made. Some highlights for me: Sara Stockton, who you may recognize from Matt Walsh’s documentary, What is a Woman, and I really hit it off. We were in touch via a private facebook group, but as soon as we met IRL, we had that instant connection as if we had known each other forever. Chatting with newlyweds Leslie Elliot and Benjamin Boyce was cool. Benjamin is known for his podcast, “Calmversations”, but he was playful and fun at the conference. Leslie and I felt a connection over feeling displaced from the insanely woke mental health field. I had a great talk with powerhouse lawyer Vernadette Ramirez Broyles and I hope to collaborate with her and her firm. Heritage Foundation director, Jay Richards and I reconnected again after meeting at a few previous events and we discussed how I can be a part of some future projects.
It was a long, very full day, but more to go!
The next morning started with an early meeting for the therapists of GETA. And it was another big day of quality speakers including two moms who pulled their teens out of the gender cult, Erin Friday and January Littlejohn, evolutionary scientist, Heather Heying, biologist Colin Wright, doctor Carrie Mendoza, medical ethics expert, Jennifer Lahl, anti-marxist commentator and author, James Lindsay and more! I had some technical problems with my portable mics, but I recorded a few mini interviews with people, including this expose of Nina Paley and her Gender Wars cards.
There were so many incredible moments that I experienced and I observed so many more happening around me.
This conference was a reminder that I have much to be grateful for. If you aren’t familiar with my story: Before the lockdowns, I was laid up with a terrible disability. After fighting doctors for two years who didn’t believe me, I eventually figured out the rare condition I had (called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) and got a very specialized surgery that brought me back to a functioning level. The surgery was quite intense, and involved the removal of my top rib. There was a time I didn’t think I could do anything again. I could barely sit at the dinner table due to pain. Truth be told, my condition isn’t 100% cured. I pushed my body to its limit last weekend and I crashed once I got home, but it was worth it. I’ve been displaced several times over, once from a disability, then again with the lockdowns and then again from the COVID vaccine mandate. These life experiences are what emboldened me to speak out. This weekend was proof that I’m on the right path.
Thank you Genspect for putting on a great conference.
Pamela Garfield-Jaeger is a licensed clinical social worker in California. She completed her MSW in 1999 from New York University. She has a variety of experience in schools, group homes, hospitals and community-based organizations as a clinician and supervisor. Since getting fired for not getting the C*VID vaccine, she has dedicated herself to educate parents and embolden other mental health professionals to challenge the ideological capture of her profession. www.thetruthfultherapist.org
NEW BOOK COMING SOON:
All true Pamela! I was SO impressed by the conference. I hope to be in Lisbon next year!
Glad you all got to connect in real life, that's so important!