Scenes From the Road of De-Trans Activism, Part 1: The USA
What I’ve learned and why it’s worth it.

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About the Author
Laura Becker | Funk⭐God is an American artist, writer, and speaker who shares her experiences with de-transition and healing through advocacy and activist work. Becker was featured in the documentary “No Way Back,” has been interviewed across media, and traveled internationally speaking on the harms of the “gender-affirming” model of care. Becker can be found on Substack, Twitter, and YouTube (@funkgodartist), and her “De-Trans Awareness” and “Free Thinker’s” collections of apparel and home goods are available in her Etsy store.
Introduction
After my detransition, I felt a pull, an almost magnetic compulsion, to embark on a journey of awareness and advocacy. Those three transformative months in 2023 saw me traveling, reaching out, and speaking candidly about my experiences. It’s baffling to think of how my life shifted from those days of hopelessness to becoming a confident purveyor of unfortunate truths. The power in recounting my journey, from a painful choice made in my youth to the adversities that followed, isn’t just in its catharsis—it’s in the connections it fosters. From tweets to heartfelt conversations, I’ve built bonds with incredible individuals from various walks of life, many of whom I’m honored to call friends and allies. These powerful connections, my tireless advocates, and every soul that resonated with my story, bolstered my resolve to push on.
This essay is the first in a two-part series recounting my travels and the stories of the remarkable experiences and people I’ve encountered. While this installment covers my travels within the USA, the subsequent installment will delve into my travels through Ireland, England, and Scotland. Each stop, each conversation, reinforced the universal truth that our stories, raw and genuine, have the power to evoke profound change. I invite you to join me on this expedition of self-discovery, resilience, and the unwavering pursuit of truth.
March 9, 2023 | 3:30 AM | Milwaukee, WI
I’m sprawled out on the floor of the Milwaukee Mitchell Airport, my luggage nestled between my legs. My camera bag is discreetly tucked under my jacket, and I’m donning a vivid acid-green “De-Trans Awareness” beanie. In this unlikely setting, I’m preparing to snatch 2.5 hours of sleep. My 7 PM flight to Los Angeles was delayed due to a major midwest snowstorm. Now, I have to board a 7 AM bus to Chicago O’Hare Airport to catch another flight to California for De-Trans Awareness Day, 2023.
This trip marks many firsts for me: my first journey in five years, my first visit to California, and my first in-person De-Trans Awareness event. I’ve come to embrace that things seldom go as planned. I know my adventure will be one of a lifetime, and it’s already been sabotaged by Wisconsin. Now, it’s time to ensure my luggage isn’t stolen and try to rest up to catch my rescheduled flight (even though Future Laura knows that Past Laura missed her next flight because the bus got stuck in a snow bank on the way to Chicago).
March 12, 2023 | 10:00 AM | Los Angeles, CA
On an uncharacteristically chilly LA morning—though preferable to Wisconsin’s blizzard—I find myself in the bowels of Skid Row. I’m waiting in a car with fellow detransitioners Chloe Cole and Luka Hein for the host of Soft White Underbelly, Mark Laika, to come out of his studio to interview me. Given the junkie-rich streets, I’d prefer not to linger outside any longer than necessary. Mark eventually emerges from a dilapidated building and escorts me inside to his small, dimly lit, and piss-scented workspace. There, he instructs me to stand on an X to capture my anxious trauma-porn portrait.
This interview is the most significant one I’ve undertaken in to date. What’s even more notable is Mark’s limited knowledge on the subject matter. I seize this opportunity to channel my inner-lecturer and articulate my thoughts and experiences with expertise for a solid 30 minutes.
With his camera in hand, Mark, seated on the floor, began to ask some off-the-wall yet thought-provoking questions such as “did you ever feel like a man without a penis?”
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