Peggy Cohen-Ketnes

And what Peggy realized when she saw him would transform the field of youth gender medicine. He's now in his early 50s, and his role in the history of this care has been closely protected. But he did agree to tell us his story.

And what Peggy realized when she saw him would transform the field of youth gender medicine. He's now in his early 50s, and his role in the history of this care has been closely protected. But he did agree to tell us his story.

And that's how we found ourselves on a quiet street in a European city we've agreed not to name, to meet with the first person ever given puberty blockers to treat gender dysphoria. Dodging the dog, we stepped into a bright upper floor apartment. I love these big windows.

And that's how we found ourselves on a quiet street in a European city we've agreed not to name, to meet with the first person ever given puberty blockers to treat gender dysphoria. Dodging the dog, we stepped into a bright upper floor apartment. I love these big windows.

The walls were covered in bookshelves, the floor was covered in dog toys, and there were cats, too, somewhere, we'd been told.

The walls were covered in bookshelves, the floor was covered in dog toys, and there were cats, too, somewhere, we'd been told.

He brought out some coffee, some pastries, and gestured to us to sit at the dining room table.

He brought out some coffee, some pastries, and gestured to us to sit at the dining room table.

FG is not his real name. It's what he's called in some of the medical and historical literature about him. And it's what we've agreed to call him to protect his identity.

FG is not his real name. It's what he's called in some of the medical and historical literature about him. And it's what we've agreed to call him to protect his identity.

FG asked that we protect many of the identifying details of his life today.

FG asked that we protect many of the identifying details of his life today.

But he was ready to talk about his experience with Peggy, which was documented in two foundational case reports that she authored. In one of them, she wrote that he had gone on to become some kind of doctor.

But he was ready to talk about his experience with Peggy, which was documented in two foundational case reports that she authored. In one of them, she wrote that he had gone on to become some kind of doctor.

In the first case report, Peggy noted that FG, who was born female, quote, wished to be a boy from early on.

In the first case report, Peggy noted that FG, who was born female, quote, wished to be a boy from early on.

The first case report on FG treated this note with significance. Peggy, still using female pronouns to refer to FG in the report, wrote, When she was 12, her mother found a suicidal note telling that she did not want to live any longer if she would enter puberty.

The first case report on FG treated this note with significance. Peggy, still using female pronouns to refer to FG in the report, wrote, When she was 12, her mother found a suicidal note telling that she did not want to live any longer if she would enter puberty.

In that first report, Peggy explained the events that led up to FG showing up at her office. He had been to see a prominent endocrinologist named Henrietta Delamar van der Waal. She specialized in kids with issues relating to puberty. Some of these kids had what's called precocious puberty, where it started too early, like seven or eight years old.

In that first report, Peggy explained the events that led up to FG showing up at her office. He had been to see a prominent endocrinologist named Henrietta Delamar van der Waal. She specialized in kids with issues relating to puberty. Some of these kids had what's called precocious puberty, where it started too early, like seven or eight years old.