Maia Poet
Maia Poet is a writer and speaker who describes herself as a detransitioner. On her Substack, she writes about autism, gender dysphoria, and how parents can support their children through these issues. The blog is in English and has more than two thousand subscribers.
What you’ll find
The blog features personal essays and recordings of livestreams. Recurring topics include the connection she sees between her autism and her past gender dysphoria, difficult conversations between parents and children with questions about gender, and alienation within families. Her pieces are often addressed directly to parents.
Why it’s on this list
The Substack offers a first-hand account of detransition. It reflects the experiences and views of one person, not research. She is critical of gender-affirming care for young people; not everyone shares that criticism.
Recent pieces
On her about page, Poet writes that she is 26 years old, a writer and speaker, and a lover of bow ties. In 2026, she published approximately one piece per month. On May 3, 2026, she described how, in her view, she overcame her gender dysphoria by understanding her autism. Ten days later, she published a conversation with a mother about trans identity and alienation within the family. On May 26, she posted a recording of a livestream about why planting doubt in a child who identifies as trans can backfire. In June, she wrote that there are no quick fixes, and in August she gave parents and professionals tips for difficult conversations with bright teenagers.
Approach
Poet writes explicitly for adults: parents and practitioners dealing with a teenager who has questions about gender. Her advice is practical and focuses on the relationship between parent and child. She cautions against both quick affirmation and a confrontational approach, and describes what she believes would have helped her get through puberty as a teenager. The connection between autism and gender dysphoria is the recurring theme. Background information is available in autism and transgender identity and in the article about a cohort study on autism in gender-diverse children. She uses the term ROGD, short for rapid-onset gender dysphoria, a hypothesis that is scientifically contested.
How to assess this source
Poet has lived experience but is not a doctor or psychologist, and her advice has not been tested in research. What worked for her may not apply to another child. Parents seeking help would do well to read her pieces alongside professional guidance. Other first-hand accounts on this list include those by Michelle Alleva and the newsletter Prude Posting.