Around 300 people, young and old, from as far afield as Bellingen and the Gold Coast came to Lismore on Saturday to rally in support of trans kids impacted by the Queensland government decision to remove care for trans youth.
You can sign the petition to reverse the ban here
The decision might be Queensland based but the impacts are felt here in NSW, and particularly in the Northern Rivers, as many transgender people’s closest access to medical care is across the border in Queensland.
‘Tears were shed as local parents shared how the Queensland decision has impacted their children, as they were using Queensland services and are now having to look as far away as Newcastle,’ explained rally organiser Zoe Xanadu.
‘Meanwhile one mother’s trans daughter’s voice is breaking right as treatment has become inaccessible and this is causing strain on the family as the single mum working full time is trying to navigate moving their buy-back house at last three years after the devastating floods.’
Lismore’s transgender councillor
Speakers included Harper Dalton-Earls, a local Lismore Labor councillor who is one of two of the first ever trans people elected to local council. Dalton-Earls emphasised the importance of the NSW government reference group (email: [email protected]) and how letting them know that transgender health and safety is important to voters.
‘First and foremost, the reason we are here is to demand that Queensland overturn it’s ban on hormone therapy for trans young people, and that gender affirming care needs to be accessible and affordable,’ said singer songwriter trans gay man Pippin Nicholson speaking at the Lismore rally.
‘Thank you all for being here today to show your support for transgender kids and teens and letting the government know that using the wellbeing of young people as a political tool isn’t something we will accept or tolerate.
‘Right now Queensland lawmakers and politicians are ignoring the advice of the many science and health experts who know for a fact that denying essential healthcare to trans youth costs lives. The undeniable fact is that social transition and medical intervention such as puberty blockers save lives. It’s important to remember that is what we are gathering for; for trans kids to get to grow into adults. For trans kids to get to live their lives. This is about the 491 young people and their families who have been kicked off the waiting list in Queensland, many who have been waiting for months, or even years,’ said Nicholson.
Chants, deep breaths and full body shakes punctuated the speeches as kids and big people chalked the pavement, made beaded bracelets and crocheted love hearts in trans flag colours, hula hooping, lounging on rainbow cushions, and enjoying zooper doopers handed out by members of Tropical Fruits.
Speaking out
‘Young trans folk braved public speaking for the first time, saying that the issue was too important to not speak up about, and that they would rather face the fear of speaking in front of a crowd than the loss of their friends to suicide, which they described as an “inevitable outcome” for some if access to gender affirming care was not available,’ said Xanadu.
‘The rally closed with an offering from celebrated Trans Elder Mopoke, who reminded listeners of the importance of “eternal vigilance” that our rights are never guaranteed, and shared a deeply empowering self care practice of harnessing inner love and strength to be able to share with community and beyond.’
Donate to help
You can donate to Project 491 to help cover the cost of medical care for those 491 young people who were cut off from the public healthcare system by Premier Nicholls’ cruel decision.
Project 491 is an initiative led by AusPATH in response to the Queensland Government’s unacceptable restrictions on gender-affirming care (GAC) for trans and gender-diverse (TGD) children.
This includes blocking access to both stage one (puberty blockers) and stage two (hormone therapy) treatments for patients under 18 in Queensland public health system. This decision has left at least 491 children stranded without access to care.
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