7News Spotlight is facing growing backlash for a segment about transgender youths and de-transitioners.

Now a petition urging Channel 7 to remove the 'harmful' episode has gained nearly 50,000 signatures.

The petition was started by non-binary musician Olivia Gavranich, also known by her stage name St. South, who claims that a video of her touting the personal benefits of her mastectomy was used in the segment without her consent. 

Ms Gavranich, who uses both female and non-binary pronouns, wrote: 'Within the segment they shared videos and images of transgender and non-binary people without their consent, wrongfully implying that they regret transitioning.

'I was horrified to find one of my post top-surgery videos (expressing how much better my life is because of surgery) included in this segment without my consent.'

She added: 'This is not only unethical but immensely harmful to the trans and gender diverse community.'

Many other transgender creators have come forward to slam the segment, including American TikTok star Levi Ace Day, said in a video, 'I don't regret any part of transitioning.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel 7 for comment.  

Earlier this month, transgender influencer and OnlyFans star Grace Hyland also spoke out.

A photo of Ms Hyland was featured in a promotional video for the Spotlight show investigating 'thousands' of young people who regret changing from male to female or female to male.

The promo's voiceover said 'Children are being told they should change from boy-to-girl, or girl-to-boy, from as young as 12 years old' as pictures of children before and after their transitions are displayed. 

Ms Hyland, 20, used her TikTok account to slam Channel 7 for making it seem she now regretted changing gender.

'I transitioned at 13 and I don't regret it at all,' adding that she'd had breast augmentation surgery two days earlier.

'Gender affirming healthcare in Australia needs more funding, it doesn't need this negativity,' she said.

'And even though my face is in this, I don't agree with it, I don't stand for this story, I don't stand for the sensationalism of this whole thing. Don't get it twisted Channel 7.'

She wondered if her before and after photos were chosen by Spotlight because her father, Mat Stevenson, used to act in Channel 7 show Home and Away.

'Is it because my dad was on Home and Away on Channel 7 back in the day? Is it because I'm a public figure? Is it because I've publicly defended child transitioning?' she said.

'I mean why would you choose my face? My photos? It makes no sense.'

Ms Hyland started documenting her male-to-female transition on social media since she began identifying as a girl at the age of 12.

Ms Hyland said she knew she was meant to be female as early as the age of 'four or five'.

She consulted doctors, psychologists and experts in the field for a year before commencing any physical treatment.

'I came out at 12 and then I went through a gradual transition until I was 14, to grow my hair out, to get my name change sorted, to sort out my blockers,' she said.

'And then by the time I was 14, I was fully presenting as Grace to the public and at school.'

Channel 7 has since apologised and removed Ms Hyland from all adverts for the show.

'We acknowledge the photo might inadvertently imply that the individual in question regretted their transition,' the network said in a statement.

'As soon as we were made aware the image was removed and the promo replaced. We sincerely apologise for any confusion this may have caused.'

The 7News Spotlight episode also featured an interview with de-transitioner Mel Jeffries, who had her breasts removed to become a man - only to regret the decision and revert back to her biological gender. 

Mel Jeffries was born a girl and grew into an unhappy, depressed teenager who, like many teens, was confused about her identity and sexuality.

She thought her life would be better if she transitioned into a male, and lived as a man called Mason from the age of 18. 

With testosterone treatment Ms Jeffries had a deeper voice, facial hair, more muscle and weight, but it wasn't enough.

'All my hatred of being a woman was just focused on my chest,' she told Channel 7's Spotlight program - so, aged 26, she had her breasts removed, something she now considers one of the greatest mistakes of her life, as she transitions back to female.

Spotlight claimed there are 'thousands' of vulnerable young Australians who regret changing from male to female or female to male.

Ms Jeffries describes her life as a 'clusterf***' and said she will always carry the scars, physical and mental, of the choices she now regrets.