Laura Edwards-Lieper

So almost as soon as she started, Laura decided to make another adjustment to the protocol.

So almost as soon as she started, Laura decided to make another adjustment to the protocol.

She decided that kids had to see a mental health provider on their own for at least eight months before they could have their appointment with her in Boston.

She decided that kids had to see a mental health provider on their own for at least eight months before they could have their appointment with her in Boston.

In the first four years at the clinic, Laura saw just 70 or so patients and passed nearly all of them on for puberty blockers or hormones.

In the first four years at the clinic, Laura saw just 70 or so patients and passed nearly all of them on for puberty blockers or hormones.

In 2011, Laura and her family moved to the Pacific Northwest. That same year, Analu published her landmark Puberty Blockers paper.

In 2011, Laura and her family moved to the Pacific Northwest. That same year, Analu published her landmark Puberty Blockers paper.

Laura was consulting with doctors and hospitals across the country.

Laura was consulting with doctors and hospitals across the country.

She was also teaching her approach to clinical psychology grad students.

She was also teaching her approach to clinical psychology grad students.

Youth gender programs were opening at major children's hospitals in Chicago, Cincinnati, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. And then around 2014, 2015, while Laura was working with a new clinic in Portland, she noticed a lot more kids were showing up for care.

Youth gender programs were opening at major children's hospitals in Chicago, Cincinnati, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. And then around 2014, 2015, while Laura was working with a new clinic in Portland, she noticed a lot more kids were showing up for care.

What Laura was seeing wasn't just happening in Portland. Around the U.S., in Canada, and across Europe, clinics were reporting a surge in demand. One of the biggest recorded increases was in England, where referrals went from 200 in 2011 to 1,400 in 2015.

What Laura was seeing wasn't just happening in Portland. Around the U.S., in Canada, and across Europe, clinics were reporting a surge in demand. One of the biggest recorded increases was in England, where referrals went from 200 in 2011 to 1,400 in 2015.

Most clinicians agree that part of what was contributing to the increase in demand was growing advocacy and awareness of trans identity. It was Caitlyn Jenner on the cover of Vanity Fair, Laverne Cox on Orange is the New Black. Time magazine called this moment the trans tipping point.

Most clinicians agree that part of what was contributing to the increase in demand was growing advocacy and awareness of trans identity. It was Caitlyn Jenner on the cover of Vanity Fair, Laverne Cox on Orange is the New Black. Time magazine called this moment the trans tipping point.

In Laura's mind, the surge in demand also had to do with the new ways kids were connecting and accessing information online.

In Laura's mind, the surge in demand also had to do with the new ways kids were connecting and accessing information online.