Kinnon MacKinnon
Assistant Professor
Email: kinnonmk@yorku.ca
Media Requests Welcome
Kinnon Ross MacKinnon is a social scientist who studies transgender medicine, including how sexual and gender minority populations access and experience hormonal/surgical interventions. Drawing from critical theoretical and empirical training, Kinnon's research investigates the social and structural dimensions of care delivery. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed academic papers and book chapters, including within the British Journal of Social Work, the BMJ, Critical Public Health, Social Science and Medicine, and the Journal of the American Medical Association. Kinnon's social work practice background includes support group facilitation in the areas of gender-affirming surgery, queer/trans youth, and eating disorders. In 2023, he was recognized by York University with a Research Leaders award.
Prior to joining YorkU as Assistant Professor, Kinnon completed a BA in gender studies (St. Mary's University), a BSW (York University), an MSW (Toronto Metropolitan University), and a PhD in Public Health Sciences (Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto).
Degrees
PhD, University of TorontoMSW, Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson)
BSW, York University
BA, Saint Mary's University
Research Interests
- American Psychological Association's "Editor's Choice" article (co-authored article with F. Ashley)) - 2024
- LA&PS Research Leaders, YorkU - 2023
- SSHRC Impact, Talent, National Finalist - 2018
- Highest Rated Research Presentation, The Wilson Centre, U of T - 2018
- 2SLGBTQ+ Knowledge Mobilization, Institute of Gender and Health, CIHR - 2018
- Top 25 SSHRC Storytellers - 2016
- SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship - 2015-2019
Current Research Projects
-
Summary:
Funded by a SSHRC Insight grant, this mixed-methods study will examine experiences of detransition in Canada and the United States.
Start Date:
- Month: Sep Year: 2023
End Date:
- Month: Sep Year: 2025
Funders:
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
-
Summary:
Funded by a SSHRC Connection grant, our team objectives are to share recent research, engage in dialogue, and to develop a community-engaged and data-driven support resource on detransition/retransition. This resource will offer information to support care providers, organizations and people with experiences of detransition. Our goal is to translate and mobilize data-driven knowledge to understand and to address this gap in gender care.
To achieve this goal, we held a public symposium and community consultation at York University in November 2022. We disseminated and discussed the results of two discreet studies conducted in 2021-2022—led by different Canadian research teams—the Re/DeTrans Canada study and the Detrans Discourses study. We gathered and analyzed feedback from detrans/retrans, trans, nonbinary, and other gender minority groups, along with other end knowledge users such as care providers and 2SLGBTQ organizations.
As demonstrated by both studies’ results, people need more supports when shifting or reversing a gender transition as they negotiate complex social/community relations, health and/or legal systems, misunderstanding and stigma surrounding detransition. Some detransitioners have complicated feelings such as regret about past medical decisions or medical/surgical complications, grief about their transitioned body, and new forms of gender dysphoria (e.g., “reverse dysphoria”). Individuals may require a mixture of psychological and community-based social supports (e.g., a therapeutic environment to explore and clarify identity), as well as primary healthcare (e.g., support in stopping or changing hormones), together with nuanced appreciation for the experiences of detransition.
Our symposium presentations are available here: https://www.youtube.com/@redetranscanada
Description:Our full project team includes:
Drs. Kinnon R. MacKinnon, Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, June Lam, Lori Ross, Hannah Kia, Melanie Millette, and Olivier Turbide, together with PhD candidates Ariel Gould and Florence Ashley
Start Date:
- Month: Jul Year: 2022
End Date:
- Month: Jul Year: 2023
-
Summary:
The Re/DeTrans Canada study is a qualitative, interview-based study led by Dr. Kinnon MacKinnon (Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, York University). The project seeks to build knowledge and supports for detransitioners, retransitioners, people who stop transitioning, and those who experience shifts in gender identity after initiating a gender transition. The full research team is composed of Drs. Alex Abramovich, Hannah Kia, Travis Salway, Ashley Lacombe-Duncan, Lori Ross, along with PhD candidate, Florence Ashley and research assistant, Gabriel Enxuga
Description:Our study objective is to examine how people experience shifts in gender identity, transition and detransition processes (social, legal, medical), and overall healthcare needs. We also aim to develop better guidance for care providers who work with trans, detransitioned, and other gender diverse populations who change the direction of their gender transitions. This project is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (Insight Development).
Start Date:
- Month: Aug Year: 2021
End Date:
- Month: Aug Year: 2023
-
Summary:
This project responds to care providers' needs for information on detransition. The objectives of this project are as follows:
• To identify the psychosocial support needs of people who detransition;
• To develop recommendations for care providers who work in gender-affirming care (e.g., physicians, psychologists and social workers).
This project is funded by a York University SSHRC Explore grant.
Start Date:
- Month: Jun Year: 2021
End Date:
- Month: Jun Year: 2022
(2017). Contemporalis homo sacer: Barriers to accessing healthcare services for trans
populations. Texto Contexto Enferm 26(3), DOI: 10.1590/0104-07072017003710016
Current Courses
| Term | Course Number | Section | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2025 | GS/SOWK5912 3.0 | M | Transformative Approaches in Mental Heal | SEMR |
| Winter 2025 | AP/SOWK3070 3.0 | N | Foundations of Social Work Research | SEMR |
Kinnon Ross MacKinnon is a social scientist who studies transgender medicine, including how sexual and gender minority populations access and experience hormonal/surgical interventions. Drawing from critical theoretical and empirical training, Kinnon's research investigates the social and structural dimensions of care delivery. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed academic papers and book chapters, including within the British Journal of Social Work, the BMJ, Critical Public Health, Social Science and Medicine, and the Journal of the American Medical Association. Kinnon's social work practice background includes support group facilitation in the areas of gender-affirming surgery, queer/trans youth, and eating disorders. In 2023, he was recognized by York University with a Research Leaders award.
Prior to joining YorkU as Assistant Professor, Kinnon completed a BA in gender studies (St. Mary's University), a BSW (York University), an MSW (Toronto Metropolitan University), and a PhD in Public Health Sciences (Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto).
Degrees
PhD, University of TorontoMSW, Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson)
BSW, York University
BA, Saint Mary's University
Research Interests
Awards
- American Psychological Association's "Editor's Choice" article (co-authored article with F. Ashley)) - 2024
- LA&PS Research Leaders, YorkU - 2023
- SSHRC Impact, Talent, National Finalist - 2018
- Highest Rated Research Presentation, The Wilson Centre, U of T - 2018
- 2SLGBTQ+ Knowledge Mobilization, Institute of Gender and Health, CIHR - 2018
- Top 25 SSHRC Storytellers - 2016
- SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship - 2015-2019
Current Research Projects
-
Summary:
Funded by a SSHRC Insight grant, this mixed-methods study will examine experiences of detransition in Canada and the United States.
Project Type: FundedRole: Principal Investigator
Start Date:
- Month: Sep Year: 2023
End Date:
- Month: Sep Year: 2025
Funders:
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
-
Summary:
Funded by a SSHRC Connection grant, our team objectives are to share recent research, engage in dialogue, and to develop a community-engaged and data-driven support resource on detransition/retransition. This resource will offer information to support care providers, organizations and people with experiences of detransition. Our goal is to translate and mobilize data-driven knowledge to understand and to address this gap in gender care.
To achieve this goal, we held a public symposium and community consultation at York University in November 2022. We disseminated and discussed the results of two discreet studies conducted in 2021-2022—led by different Canadian research teams—the Re/DeTrans Canada study and the Detrans Discourses study. We gathered and analyzed feedback from detrans/retrans, trans, nonbinary, and other gender minority groups, along with other end knowledge users such as care providers and 2SLGBTQ organizations.
As demonstrated by both studies’ results, people need more supports when shifting or reversing a gender transition as they negotiate complex social/community relations, health and/or legal systems, misunderstanding and stigma surrounding detransition. Some detransitioners have complicated feelings such as regret about past medical decisions or medical/surgical complications, grief about their transitioned body, and new forms of gender dysphoria (e.g., “reverse dysphoria”). Individuals may require a mixture of psychological and community-based social supports (e.g., a therapeutic environment to explore and clarify identity), as well as primary healthcare (e.g., support in stopping or changing hormones), together with nuanced appreciation for the experiences of detransition.
Our symposium presentations are available here: https://www.youtube.com/@redetranscanada
Description:Our full project team includes:
Drs. Kinnon R. MacKinnon, Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, June Lam, Lori Ross, Hannah Kia, Melanie Millette, and Olivier Turbide, together with PhD candidates Ariel Gould and Florence Ashley
Project Type: FundedRole: Principal Investigator
Start Date:
- Month: Jul Year: 2022
End Date:
- Month: Jul Year: 2023
-
Summary:
The Re/DeTrans Canada study is a qualitative, interview-based study led by Dr. Kinnon MacKinnon (Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, York University). The project seeks to build knowledge and supports for detransitioners, retransitioners, people who stop transitioning, and those who experience shifts in gender identity after initiating a gender transition. The full research team is composed of Drs. Alex Abramovich, Hannah Kia, Travis Salway, Ashley Lacombe-Duncan, Lori Ross, along with PhD candidate, Florence Ashley and research assistant, Gabriel Enxuga
Description:Our study objective is to examine how people experience shifts in gender identity, transition and detransition processes (social, legal, medical), and overall healthcare needs. We also aim to develop better guidance for care providers who work with trans, detransitioned, and other gender diverse populations who change the direction of their gender transitions. This project is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (Insight Development).
Project Type: FundedRole: Principal investigator
Start Date:
- Month: Aug Year: 2021
End Date:
- Month: Aug Year: 2023
-
Summary:
This project responds to care providers' needs for information on detransition. The objectives of this project are as follows:
• To identify the psychosocial support needs of people who detransition;
• To develop recommendations for care providers who work in gender-affirming care (e.g., physicians, psychologists and social workers).
This project is funded by a York University SSHRC Explore grant.
Project Type: FundedRole: Principal investigator
Start Date:
- Month: Jun Year: 2021
End Date:
- Month: Jun Year: 2022
All Publications
(2017). Contemporalis homo sacer: Barriers to accessing healthcare services for trans
populations. Texto Contexto Enferm 26(3), DOI: 10.1590/0104-07072017003710016
Current Courses
| Term | Course Number | Section | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2025 | GS/SOWK5912 3.0 | M | Transformative Approaches in Mental Heal | SEMR |
| Winter 2025 | AP/SOWK3070 3.0 | N | Foundations of Social Work Research | SEMR |
