ROGD Awareness Day – Share Your Story

Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD) is a term first described by Dr. Lisa Littman in research published on August 16, 2018. It refers to situations where a child or teen—often with no prior history of gender distress—develops sudden, intense discomfort with their sex during or after puberty, sometimes alongside changes in friend groups or increased social media use.

ROGD can turn a family’s world upside down—bringing confusion, fractured relationships, anxiety, and urgent questions about how best to help your child. To mark this day, Genspect will be sharing personal stories to show the real impact of ROGD and to highlight lessons learned by those who have faced it.

If this has touched your life, you might share:

• When and how your child’s gender distress began
• Sudden changes you noticed in their behavior, friendships, or online activity
• How others reacted—at home, at school, or in the community
• What has helped your child, and what hasn’t
• What you wish had been understood from the start

Your story can be short or detailed, in writing, audio, or video—and can be anonymous. Every voice helps another parent feel less alone and builds public understanding of ROGD.

📧 Send to: amanda@genspect.org