In a nationwide move, AMC canceled showings of the film “No Way Back: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care,” which exposes the dangers of transgender surgery, following backlash from activist group The Queer Trans Project.
The unreleased film, despite not having been viewed by the group, was accused of being “anti-trans” and containing “misleading and harmful” information. The Queer Trans Project implored AMC Theatres to reconsider their decision, stating in a letter, “[We] implore you to reconsider this decision immediately and demonstrate your commitment to supporting a more inclusive and accepting society.”
While accused of promoting anti-trans sentiments, the film actually offers perspectives from members of the LGBTQ+ community who have detransitioned and now regret their previous decision to undergo gender-affirming surgeries. Abel, one of the detransitioners featured in the film, shared his experience with The Daily Wire, saying: “I would tell anyone who wants to transition, especially the young boys … that the transition will not save them. It would actually destroy their lives.”
The film highlights the potential negative effects of transitioning, stating that the surgery can lead to severe body damage, lifelong infections, and pain. The film’s website states: “These young people were harmed—injected with powerful compounds and surgically altered; irrevocably changed and turned into lifelong pharmaceutical customers by the doctors they trusted.”
Joseph Backholm, Family Research Council’s senior fellow for biblical worldview and strategic engagement, sees the film’s opposition as an indication of the unwillingness of many to confront uncomfortable truths. He argued that the film poses a moral quandary for trans activists: “If they’re wrong about transgenderism, then what they’re doing with transgender surgery is no different than ‘Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor who was experimenting on [Jews] just for fun.’”
Backholm argued that though surgeries might be conducted with good intentions, the potential implications of being wrong about transgenderism could make these procedures akin to “medical experiments.” In his view, rather than face this harsh potential truth, many in the transgender community have opted to “plant their flag” and continue to defend their current beliefs and practices.
The filmmakers intended “No Way Back” to be a cautionary tale, shedding light on potential negative consequences of gender-affirming surgeries that, according to them, many medical professionals fail to share with patients. Despite the controversy, the creators of “No Way Back” hope their work can help individuals understand the risks involved and make informed decisions about their health.
