My name is Camille Kiefel, and I am a detransitioner. I suffer physically, emotionally, and psychologically from an irreversible surgery and politicized gender transition efforts from medical professionals. Now, I’m taking legal action to hold the medical professionals accountable.

I grew to hate my female body in response to childhood trauma. Years of counseling with dozens of therapists only seemed to make matters worse. I began identifying as “non-binary” in 2016 while I was seeing a gender-focused therapist. In the Spring of 2020, as the world began to shut down over Covid-19, I was convinced a breast reduction would make me feel more comfortable in my body. The surgical removal of both healthy breasts, also known as “top surgery,” was fully covered by insurance for a person who struggled with gender dysphoria. But I didn’t want to become male; I wanted to become “non-binary.”

In May 2020, I had a “telehealth” visit for less than an hour with a licensed clinical social worker. With no review of my extensive mental health records, the social worker green-lighted me for the irreversible surgery. Normally, one referral was enough, but here, the plastic surgeon asked for a second referral letter. Again, it wasn’t hard to get. In July 2020, I had another Zoom session with a licensed professional counselor for less than an hour. The very same day, I got the second approval for the surgery. Incredibly, the plastic surgeon immediately “misgendered” me as a female identifying as a male, seeking “masculinization surgery”! Though hospitals were turning away patients left and right that summer, I was fast-tracked for surgery in August of 2020.

Recovery was hard. Still, it took two more years before I realized I wasn’t actually “non-binary.” 

The surgery was the biggest mistake of my life. I am permanently disfigured. I will never be able to breastfeed a child. I suffer painful, permanent, lifelong complications that I never expected. 

Eventually, I began addressing my physical health through things like diet/nutrition and bodywork, which finally helped me feel more comfortable in my body. I started putting together resources to help other detransitions through the nonprofit that I founded: Detrans Help. I began speaking with legislators and I've testified in multiple states. Now, I’m taking legal action to make sure that other young women don’t suffer the painful, life-changing consequences of medical malpractice in the so-called “gender-affirming” industry. I am suing the medical professionals who hurt me. 

Help me stand up for myself and future victims of malpractice in court. And help me tell my story. Everyone should know about the regrets and pain that detransitioners will live with for the rest of our lives. Therapists, plastic surgeons, hospitals, and the entire medical industry must know: You will be held accountable for failing to provide basic standards of care to these vulnerable patients.

How Donated Funds Will be Used

Money raised in this campaign will be held in a trust account by Hostetter Law Group, LLP, the law firm representing me in the lawsuit. Donated funds will be used specifically to cover my attorney fees and costs for depositions, court reporters, and expert witnesses. The costs alone can get as high as $50,000-$75,000. 

• Watch my testimony in Oregon on HB 2002; and on Oregon's HB 2458
• See my testimony in South Dakota, in Montana, and in Florida.
• Detrans Help
  

Photo Credit: Dina Avila