Community speaks out against State Government puberty blocker pause
Young trans people and parents of trans children have shared their moments of joy, heartbreak, fear and freedom as the Far North’s trans community and supporters turned out en masse protesting against the state’s pause on gender affirming care.
Cairns
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Young trans people and parents of trans children have shared their moments of joy, heartbreak, fear and freedom as the Far North’s trans community and supporters turned out en masse protesting against the state’s pause on gender affirming care.
Rallies have been held across the countrya calling on the Queensland Government to reinstate care for trans youth and make gender-affirming care accessible and affordable for everyone who needs it.
The actions are in response to Health Minister Tim Nicholls announcing a pause on prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapy to new public health patients under the age of 18 after a complaint at the Cairns Sexual Health service prompted an investigation.
The Minister’s decision will halt vital, evidence-based healthcare for 491 trans young people and their families – many who have been on the waiting list for months, and even years.
More than 100 people gathered in the Shield St Mall in Cairns City to hear from trans youth, their parents, and supporters.
Cairns doctor Katie Williamson and her 12-year-old trans son spoke about their experiences and said people should “be angry” with the decision from the state government.
“We should be angry, there are current evidence based guidelines that doctors follow to prescribe medication for these youths,” Dr Williamson said.
“They are not handed out without thorough assessment, Brisbane Childens Hospital had an independent review in July that showed an exemplary service that should be doubled, not suspended.
“There is evidence that this has positive outcomes for our children and the decision by the state government is trans hate. it is not about health or protecting anyone, it is about hate.
Ms Williamson told the crowd she had a little girl that she knew was a bit different and started to become “more masculine’.
“As I was tucking her into bed one night she said to me: ‘Can you say goodnight my beautiful boy?’ It was an beautiful moment to see her joy when I said it, big smile.”
She said since then he has been “insistent, consistent, and persistent” about his gender identity.
Dr Williamson said he had been a tough journey for her as a mother.
“When I looked at the rates of youth suicide that arose from living in a world and a body that they don’t identify with, she said.
“I wish it was simpler and by that I mean living in a world where there isn’t prejudice and a risk of violence and he is not here today because he is at risk.”
She said she believed it wasn’t being transgender that heightened the risk of mental health concerns but a history of trauma saying children who feel safe and supported by their family and at schools were not at a higher risk than others.
“I have seen that, I see my bubbly little boy who started on his medical journey and the day that first injection was given was a relief and weight off his shoulders.
“Puberty blockers allow a child to relax and alleviate their distress and start growing up like every other kid does.
“For four years he has been thriving and when that looming threat of puberty came along I started seeing a dark side come along, but when that first injection was given and I saw that true journey that he was allowed to have to be identity he identified with he blossomed again.”
“The Queensland Government is threatening to take that away from children just like him.”
Suz Fewster and her son Felix Fewster-Wehrle, 14, also spoke.
Ms Fewster told the crowd about their experience with gender health services at Cairns Sexual Health.
“My partner and I have been a part of the entire process and we actively collaborate with clinicians and there is nothing that happens without our full knowledge and consent,” she said.
“Every decision made has been an informed choice but these changes will affect our rights as parents to make informed evidence based decisions for our children’s care.”
Felix told the crowds he was a trans boy currently on puberty blockers.
“the process of getting access to treatment involved a lot of work with different doctors and psychologists and both myself and both my parents made sure we were very well informed before we made the decision to take them,” he said.
“I have benefited greatly from gender affirming care, starting puberty blocker has improved my mental health, stopped my dysphoria getting worse, and made me feel more comfortable in myself and my body.
“I am happy and I am myself.”
Another mother spoke about her child’s difficult journey with their gender identity which caused them to make an attempt to take their own life.
She said her child, who is gender nonconforming, withdrew around grade nine.
“They were anxious about school, they started extremely restrictive eating, they became very depressed, spent a lot of time in their room and they stopped doing the things they enjoyed,” she said.
She said after this gradual decline they started self-harming.
“I didn’t know what was going on and I took them to see health professionals and they eventually able to tell me they were trans.
“I tried to do my best to support them as best I could.
“We were referred to the Cairns Sexual Health Clinic and started their process that took over a year.
“There was a crisis that happened during this, because of the self harming I basically lived on suicide watch for over a year and id didn’t go out often.
“On one night I had to go out for about an hour and during that time I had a call from the police telling my young person had taken an overdose and was in the ED in Cairns as a direct result of their gender dysphoria they were living with daily and the fact they were living up to the point without gender affirming care.”
She said they then became an urgent category with the gender clinic in Brisbane.
She refuted the claims that puberty blockers and hormone treatment were easy to access and could be undertaken without parental consent.
“There was a year were my young adult saw psychologists, a psychiatrist, an endocrinologist, a clinical psychologist, a clinical nurse and a fertility expert, more than once.
“It was long, robust, and rigorous.
As a result her child went onto puberty blockers.
“They turned 16 and began a similar process to go onto hormone treatment and now they are turning 18 this year.
She said that same person in crisis has now blossomed.
“They are studying at CQU, they have taken up musical instruments and they are joining the string orchestra.
“They are engaging outside in safe places.”
She said the issue was a global one with a big anti-trans movement in the US.
“Gender is being dangerously weaponized, its bigger than what is happening in Cairns, it is not just happening in Queensland.
“We need to take a stand now otherwise who is next.”
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