This article was originally published by QNews. You can find the original article here.
Parents of transgender children have spoken about the devastating disruptions caused by the Queensland government’s ban on gender-affirming care at a large rally outside the state Parliament in Brisbane.
In late January, the Queensland LNP government suddenly blocked new patients under 18 who are trans and gender diverse from accessing hormone treatments in the public health system.
Saturday’s rally at state parliament was one of over a dozen Protect Trans Youth rallies in capital cities and regional centres today protesting the government’s ban.
Transgender folk, parents, equality advocates and Labor and Greens MPs gathered outside Parliament House with transgender pride flags and protest signs.
A number of Queensland parents whose children are transgender and receive care from the Queensland Children’s Gender Service spoke out at the rally.
More than 400 young Queenslanders are on lengthy waitlists for public care. Many are now unable to access the medical treatments they need.
Mum Hannah told the rally she’s the proud parent of two gender-diverse children. She said her trans daughter Vee receives care from the Queensland Children’s Gender Service, which the government has now disrupted.
“Our experience with the clinic has been amazing. It has given us a sense of belonging,” she said.
“I can attest firsthand to the thorough and careful approach they take regarding gender-affirming care for children.
“Vee’s journey through the medical system has been thorough and comprehensive, requiring multiple appointments and assessments over several years.
“Medical transition is not a quick or casual decision. The notion that we as parents can simply walk into a clinic and request medication for our children is entirely false.
“It grossly misrepresents the careful, measured approach that healthcare professionals take.”
‘I’m a mama bear defending her cubs’
Hannah said her daughter Vee received puberty blockers after months of “careful evaluation and consideration.”
But she said the timing of Health Minister Tim Nicholls announcing the “devastating” hormone therapy ban “couldn’t have been more cruel”.
“Vee was merely days away from her final assessment for a [hormone replacement therapy] prescription,” she said.
“The dedicated professionals at the gender clinic delivered the heart-wrenching news that Vee can’t progress from puberty blockers to HRT.”
Hannah said not only was the government’s ban “fundamentally dangerous” and “blatantly discriminatory,” staff told her they hadn’t even received “crucial detail about what treatments were permitted or prohibited.”
“I will protest until this decision is reversed. These politicians have awakened something fierce within me, the protective instincts of a mama bear defending her cubs,” she said.
“Everyone needs to understand the importance of gender-affirming care for our young people.
“It’s crucial to understand that you cannot simply ignore or suppress someone’s identity. Attempting to do so only instils a deep-seated feeling in them that something is wrong with them.
“Nothing is wrong with my children. They are exactly who they are meant to be, perfect in their authenticity.”
‘It is discrimination’
Queensland mum Sarah told the rally her daughter came out to her as transgender when she was 12. Sarah said public waiting lists for gender-affirming care are too lengthy.
For her daughter, Sarah said, spending years waiting for public access to treatment was not an option.
“We’re fortunate enough to have had the funds to seek private care. My daughter has been on puberty blockers for the past 10 months,” she explained.
“But we couldn’t continue to access this private care at such great expense. Thankfully, my daughter has really supportive grandparents prepared to help fund her care.
“I am so grateful for this but at the same time I’m so angry.”
Sarah said doctors prescribe puberty blockers to cisgender children for various reasons, including premature puberty.
She said banning transgender children like her daughter from accessing the same medication is discriminatory.
“Treatment at the appropriate age and time should be available and free for everyone. No one should be denied life-saving care because they cannot afford it,” she said.
“I can’t imagine the mental anguish we would face if my daughter is forced to stop treatment.
“It’s discrimination to restrict the use of puberty blockers and allow them for some children but not trans children.”
Denying essential healthcare causes youth ‘immeasurable’ harm
Trans Justice Project organised the rallies across the country on Saturday. Jodie from the Trans Justice Project hosted the Brisbane rally and said the large turnout exceeded their expectations.
Jodie slammed the Queensland government’s ban on gender-affirming care for under 18s is “cruel and abhorrent”.
“We’re all here to demand that the Health Minister ends the ban and reinstates gender-affirming health care for children in Queensland,” Jodie said.
“All children deserve to grow up healthy, happy and free to be themselves. For so many transgender children, gender-affirming care is life-saving and life-changing health care.”
Eloise Brook, CEO of AusPATH (the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health) said medical practitioners followed guidelines established through research and clinical evidence.
“For the small number of young people who need them, hormone treatments are essential,” she said.
“The evidence shows that denying access to this care will cause young people immeasurable trauma, contributing to depression, anxiety and in some cases self-harm.”
After the federal government launched an independent national inquiry into gender-affirming care, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli vowed to push ahead with his state’s own review.
AusPATH’s Eloise Brook said the Queensland government “should restore care immediately and await the findings of the federal government review.”
“The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is appropriately handling that review,” she said.
“[The NHMRC] is widely recognised in Australia and internationally for its rigorous, evidence-based approach in developing clinical guidelines.”
If you need someone to talk to, help is available from QLife on 1800 184 527 or online at QLife.org.au, Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.
