FAIR in Medicine Director Nikki Johnson describes her recent experience having her access revoked to the American Academy of Pediatrics national conference
Oct 2·edited Oct 2Liked by Nikki M. Johnson, MD, DNBPAS
Good for you, Dr. Johnson for your courage. Only last night, I was on a Zoom call of 11 women. The facillitator asked that we use the "rename" zoom feature to indicate our pronouns. What, I thought? I added my last name instead while everyone else indicated "she/her." I sensed she wondered why I did not do the same. However, if she had asked, I would have told her that it would only be fitting for a trans person to indicate their pronouns so that we may refer to that person accordingly. Otherwise, it is a complete waste of time to identify that which is clearly obvious to anyone who can see and hear. I will not play silly woke games, and hope that others stand up for themselves,too.
Valencia, It is absurd that a group of women would need to identify themselves as women. I’m willing to bet that if we look at the people who wear their pronouns on a badge or include them in an email signature, the majority would be people who are not trans identifying and obviously appear as women or men. Many of them can’t even articulate why they’re doing it.
100% this part. I actually have asked a few people this and the responses range from "to be nice" to "to help oppressed minorities". At what point do we realize Joe Biden doesn't need to put pronouns on his name badge? I'm sorry. smh.
These days this takes a lot of courage.. and that is kind of sad if you think about it. A part of me wishes you had said all of that to begin with because maybe everyone else is thinking the same but too afraid to speak up… but another part of me is also afraid and would have done the same thing you did. A little courage but not quite enough to make a scene and probably get fired.. thanks again Valencia. You are a hero in my eyes!
I understand but this was the first meeting of a volunteer group to receive online training. We could see each other on Zoom so, you can imagine how surprised I was at the pronoun request. Don't worry, they'll get to know me soon and realize that I don't engage in woke stupidity nor am I fearful - just retired. Thank you for your comment.
Great point. I always say that I'll respect those that want to be referreed to with a specific pronoun but that I will not follow along for myself as I see it as compelled speech. However, I like your approach as well and it makes complete sense.
I'm curious what the topic of the meeting was. I.e. was it a DEI type training or something else entirely? I support people living however they want to live but also find this performative ally ship cringy. I don't want to have to play pretend that you don't know I identify as a woman because of the way I look. And hey- if you're confused and want to refer to me as a man with He pronouns b/c you're unsure --what do I care? Go for it! If the point initially was to show that gender is fluiid-- why is the "progressive" practice so rigid about gender identification. Can't we just be PEOPLE?
Good point. No, it was not a DEI type training. I am volunteering to become a court advocate for children in foster care. You mentioned, "If the point initially was to show that gender is fluid-- why is the "progressive" practice so rigid about gender identification? I agree in that human beings often make a variety of identity mistakes such as the time I once congratulated a woman on her pregnancy only to be politely told that she was not. I apologized and there was no problem. Men and women have inhabited the earth for millions of years, and only now we question identity - geez. Just because there are some who beat the pronoun drum and expect us to follow them, doesn't mean we should.
Just for kicks and giggles (and facts), check this out.
I love Bill Maher. I cannot believe the ACLU's list of people who will be most affected by abortion rights included LGBTQ but not WOMEN. What again? I think the gender affirming care issue is overstated by the right but the left is playing right into their hands. "Gay men aren't hip enough for the pride parade." omg. My gay uncle who died of AIDS in 1998 before the cocktail came out is rolling in his grave. They fought so hard during the AIDS crisis- celebrated in spite of everything to be who they are. See also our foremothers who fought for abortion rights.
Thank you so much for your courage in standing up to these unethical (criminal, honestly) doctors and activists. Hopefully some of your colleagues who are standing by and watching the horrors of "gender affirming care" will be inspired to speak out as you have. So many parents have been praying for doctors to do something like this. You are amazing!
Thank you, Martha. I have always had a difficult time holding my head down and pretending harmful and unethical things aren’t happening. It has come at a cost, but it’s worth it if I can look at myself in the mirror and face my husband and daughters with my integrity intact.
FAIR In Medicine presented an exhibition booth last year. Previous leadership was there with detransitioners. I don’t know the details of what happened, but after that event, the AAP denied FAIR In Medicine registration for a booth at the 2024 conference without an opportunity to appeal. I did try to appeal after I joined, but no chance. We will press on with our mission and continue to expose the AAP’s intolerance for diverse opinions about scientific and medicine.
Time to start filing complaints with AAP, and a lawsuit if they fail to respond. This may have been the result of the pettiness of just the organizer(s), but nevertheless they acted while representing AAP. You have every right to attend your organization's conference, and whoever banned you likely violated AAP bylaws/policy.
Hi Hazel-rah. I am not an AAP member, so they did not violate any bylaws and since they are not a government agency, there is no legal angle for a lawsuit. I just want the AAP to embrace differing scientific opinions but at the very least to be exposed for their lack of integrity as a medical and scientific organization.
Dear Dr. Johnson, I am so sorry. You are clearly comfortable in your own skin. That said, this kind of overt exclusion can really sting. I am sorry that this happened to you, they were wrong. Warmest Regards, Aaron Kindsvatter
Thank you, Aaron. I admit that it does sting, but I am now more determined to work towards restoring medicine to the principles in the Hippocratic Oath.
Thank you for your courage; this is quite concerning. It's hard to describe what's going on without slipping into buzzwords, but it is troublesome that physicians (and more generally those in scientific/engineering fields) are socially restricted from questioning the dogma of the moment. This ethos is antithetical to how the best outcomes were arrived at throughout all of history. On the real, how am I supposed to trust my physician about serious health outcomes when they sincerely profess to believe in a Magical Gendersoul and birthing persons, and chest feeding, and all of the rest of the nonsense? And don't get me started about the ethics of doing this to children with minimal parental awareness/consent.
I have mixed feeling on this, a scientific organization at some point has the right to distance itself from clearly unscientific members...and no it has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Nonsense can be tolerated only so far
I agree that this isn’t a “freedom of speech” issue. They are not a government organization and they have a right to exclude anyone. I also don’t know what happened with the FiM booth during the 2023 conference. There is no violation of the law here.
However, as the largest pediatric medical organization in the US, they have a duty to uphold their mission which is to serve thousands of pediatric health professionals with guidance and education that is based on scientific evidence. That includes evidence that doesn’t support their policies. They should be encouraging debate and dissent. Not excluding it. They should also be accountable to parents and children harmed by their policies. Not only did they revoke my pass, two days into this year’s conference, they kicked out a paid exhibitor booth of health professionals, parents, and detransitioners simply because one of the exhibitors in that group was with FAIR at the 2023 conference. They need to be exposed for their intolerance.
Also, my intent in participating was not to spread “nonsense.” I’m not even sure there was a way to spread information to anyone attending while using a virtual pass. I was attending to obtain CME and network with medical students and other pediatricians.
I am so sorry this happened. It's terrifying. Does the AAP receive any public funding? Are there legal steps you can take for the discrimination you've faced? Sorry again, I can only imagine how enraging this must feel.
Unfortunately, they are a private organization. They do receive federal grants but there is no legal angle I can use right now. I’ve sent a letter to their Board of Directors. If they don’t know what the AAP membership is doing, they should, and they should be forced to address it.
This is incredibly damning of the AAP and should be broadcast to the entire nation! As for the doctor who feels the FAIR is a dangerous organization, what can one say about such lies and overwhelming fragility? This doctor should seek help as I doubt that the adage of “physician heal thyself” is valid. I am infuriated that the health and lives of our children are in such hands — and guided by an organization so seemingly corrupt as the AAP. Such an affiliation should be a stigma.
I guess you shouldn't be too surprised. Disappointed, but hey, it's the AAP and they've stuck hard and fast to their line about sex change operations for kiddies being a Good Thing. I expect they're terrified as the lawsharks circle the school of dimwitted fish waiting for the right moment to attack.
Good for you, Dr. Johnson for your courage. Only last night, I was on a Zoom call of 11 women. The facillitator asked that we use the "rename" zoom feature to indicate our pronouns. What, I thought? I added my last name instead while everyone else indicated "she/her." I sensed she wondered why I did not do the same. However, if she had asked, I would have told her that it would only be fitting for a trans person to indicate their pronouns so that we may refer to that person accordingly. Otherwise, it is a complete waste of time to identify that which is clearly obvious to anyone who can see and hear. I will not play silly woke games, and hope that others stand up for themselves,too.
Valencia, It is absurd that a group of women would need to identify themselves as women. I’m willing to bet that if we look at the people who wear their pronouns on a badge or include them in an email signature, the majority would be people who are not trans identifying and obviously appear as women or men. Many of them can’t even articulate why they’re doing it.
100% this part. I actually have asked a few people this and the responses range from "to be nice" to "to help oppressed minorities". At what point do we realize Joe Biden doesn't need to put pronouns on his name badge? I'm sorry. smh.
So, true.
These days this takes a lot of courage.. and that is kind of sad if you think about it. A part of me wishes you had said all of that to begin with because maybe everyone else is thinking the same but too afraid to speak up… but another part of me is also afraid and would have done the same thing you did. A little courage but not quite enough to make a scene and probably get fired.. thanks again Valencia. You are a hero in my eyes!
I understand but this was the first meeting of a volunteer group to receive online training. We could see each other on Zoom so, you can imagine how surprised I was at the pronoun request. Don't worry, they'll get to know me soon and realize that I don't engage in woke stupidity nor am I fearful - just retired. Thank you for your comment.
Great point. I always say that I'll respect those that want to be referreed to with a specific pronoun but that I will not follow along for myself as I see it as compelled speech. However, I like your approach as well and it makes complete sense.
I'm curious what the topic of the meeting was. I.e. was it a DEI type training or something else entirely? I support people living however they want to live but also find this performative ally ship cringy. I don't want to have to play pretend that you don't know I identify as a woman because of the way I look. And hey- if you're confused and want to refer to me as a man with He pronouns b/c you're unsure --what do I care? Go for it! If the point initially was to show that gender is fluiid-- why is the "progressive" practice so rigid about gender identification. Can't we just be PEOPLE?
Good point. No, it was not a DEI type training. I am volunteering to become a court advocate for children in foster care. You mentioned, "If the point initially was to show that gender is fluid-- why is the "progressive" practice so rigid about gender identification? I agree in that human beings often make a variety of identity mistakes such as the time I once congratulated a woman on her pregnancy only to be politely told that she was not. I apologized and there was no problem. Men and women have inhabited the earth for millions of years, and only now we question identity - geez. Just because there are some who beat the pronoun drum and expect us to follow them, doesn't mean we should.
Just for kicks and giggles (and facts), check this out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMBzfUj5zsg
I love Bill Maher. I cannot believe the ACLU's list of people who will be most affected by abortion rights included LGBTQ but not WOMEN. What again? I think the gender affirming care issue is overstated by the right but the left is playing right into their hands. "Gay men aren't hip enough for the pride parade." omg. My gay uncle who died of AIDS in 1998 before the cocktail came out is rolling in his grave. They fought so hard during the AIDS crisis- celebrated in spite of everything to be who they are. See also our foremothers who fought for abortion rights.
Well put. Very.
Thank you so much for your courage in standing up to these unethical (criminal, honestly) doctors and activists. Hopefully some of your colleagues who are standing by and watching the horrors of "gender affirming care" will be inspired to speak out as you have. So many parents have been praying for doctors to do something like this. You are amazing!
Thank you, Martha. I have always had a difficult time holding my head down and pretending harmful and unethical things aren’t happening. It has come at a cost, but it’s worth it if I can look at myself in the mirror and face my husband and daughters with my integrity intact.
You are amazing. Thank you for standing up for what is right.
Thank you, Adele!
There’s a new part of the Oath. This shall not buck the new power structure.
They keep on doing things like this and it will backfire.
They're pushing people with left leaning politics to Trump (not me! but people I know) because they feel bullied by this bullshit.
Unacceptable
What exactly was the harassment claimed of FAIR?
It is not clear even if you had been in fair that they had done anything inappropriate or that refusing your entrance was justified.
I hope FAIR will shine light on this- this is not how responsible physicians act, is it?
FAIR In Medicine presented an exhibition booth last year. Previous leadership was there with detransitioners. I don’t know the details of what happened, but after that event, the AAP denied FAIR In Medicine registration for a booth at the 2024 conference without an opportunity to appeal. I did try to appeal after I joined, but no chance. We will press on with our mission and continue to expose the AAP’s intolerance for diverse opinions about scientific and medicine.
Time to start filing complaints with AAP, and a lawsuit if they fail to respond. This may have been the result of the pettiness of just the organizer(s), but nevertheless they acted while representing AAP. You have every right to attend your organization's conference, and whoever banned you likely violated AAP bylaws/policy.
Hi Hazel-rah. I am not an AAP member, so they did not violate any bylaws and since they are not a government agency, there is no legal angle for a lawsuit. I just want the AAP to embrace differing scientific opinions but at the very least to be exposed for their lack of integrity as a medical and scientific organization.
Dear Dr. Johnson, I am so sorry. You are clearly comfortable in your own skin. That said, this kind of overt exclusion can really sting. I am sorry that this happened to you, they were wrong. Warmest Regards, Aaron Kindsvatter
Thank you, Aaron. I admit that it does sting, but I am now more determined to work towards restoring medicine to the principles in the Hippocratic Oath.
Thank you for your courage; this is quite concerning. It's hard to describe what's going on without slipping into buzzwords, but it is troublesome that physicians (and more generally those in scientific/engineering fields) are socially restricted from questioning the dogma of the moment. This ethos is antithetical to how the best outcomes were arrived at throughout all of history. On the real, how am I supposed to trust my physician about serious health outcomes when they sincerely profess to believe in a Magical Gendersoul and birthing persons, and chest feeding, and all of the rest of the nonsense? And don't get me started about the ethics of doing this to children with minimal parental awareness/consent.
I have mixed feeling on this, a scientific organization at some point has the right to distance itself from clearly unscientific members...and no it has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Nonsense can be tolerated only so far
I agree that this isn’t a “freedom of speech” issue. They are not a government organization and they have a right to exclude anyone. I also don’t know what happened with the FiM booth during the 2023 conference. There is no violation of the law here.
However, as the largest pediatric medical organization in the US, they have a duty to uphold their mission which is to serve thousands of pediatric health professionals with guidance and education that is based on scientific evidence. That includes evidence that doesn’t support their policies. They should be encouraging debate and dissent. Not excluding it. They should also be accountable to parents and children harmed by their policies. Not only did they revoke my pass, two days into this year’s conference, they kicked out a paid exhibitor booth of health professionals, parents, and detransitioners simply because one of the exhibitors in that group was with FAIR at the 2023 conference. They need to be exposed for their intolerance.
Also, my intent in participating was not to spread “nonsense.” I’m not even sure there was a way to spread information to anyone attending while using a virtual pass. I was attending to obtain CME and network with medical students and other pediatricians.
The member who was refused entrance was a Dr, who would qualify as a scientific member.
Not if they spread nonsense, sorry
Who determines the nonsense?
🚫🤡
Unbelievable. I'm sorry this happened, Nikki.
I am so sorry this happened. It's terrifying. Does the AAP receive any public funding? Are there legal steps you can take for the discrimination you've faced? Sorry again, I can only imagine how enraging this must feel.
Unfortunately, they are a private organization. They do receive federal grants but there is no legal angle I can use right now. I’ve sent a letter to their Board of Directors. If they don’t know what the AAP membership is doing, they should, and they should be forced to address it.
Now you know why my substack’s motto is AAP Delenda Est… these are sinister people
Wow.
This is incredibly damning of the AAP and should be broadcast to the entire nation! As for the doctor who feels the FAIR is a dangerous organization, what can one say about such lies and overwhelming fragility? This doctor should seek help as I doubt that the adage of “physician heal thyself” is valid. I am infuriated that the health and lives of our children are in such hands — and guided by an organization so seemingly corrupt as the AAP. Such an affiliation should be a stigma.
I guess you shouldn't be too surprised. Disappointed, but hey, it's the AAP and they've stuck hard and fast to their line about sex change operations for kiddies being a Good Thing. I expect they're terrified as the lawsharks circle the school of dimwitted fish waiting for the right moment to attack.