The protests came in response to the Queensland Government’s announcement on January 28 of a review into the evidence for stage one and two hormone therapies for children with gender dysphoria.
While the review is being carried out, new patients under the age of 18 will be unable to access hormone therapy through the state’s health system.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls has stated the pause will remain in place until the government considers the review’s findings and decides on any further action.
In Shepparton, local social worker and transwoman Ren Slade organised a gathering at La Trobe University as part of the National Day of Action for Trans Youth.
The event called on politicians to oppose restrictions on transgender health care in Victoria and at a federal level.
“We put it (the National Day of Action for Trans Youth movement) together in under two weeks,” Ms Slade said.
“We put ours (the Shepparton rally) together in eight days.
“The reckless changes made by the Queensland Government are politically motivated, and ignore the advice of doctors, nurses, psychologists and trans people.
“We know that when trans young people can access gender-affirming care, their mental health, their lives, improve.
“We know there is a lot of misinformation out there at the moment about trans people.
“But we know that health care for trans people is safe, evidence-based, rigorous, highly monitored and most importantly, life saving.
“We are scared to see the mental health of trans young people decline if they cannot get access to the medication they need.
“We know that the abuse and hatred we all experience online, and in the community, harms us enough already.
“We are made to feel like monsters.
“Getting the commitment of our state and federal members to stand up for our right to access evidence-based, life-saving treatment, will make life less stressful for us.”
Ms Slade said she was “blown away” by the turnout on Saturday.
“The rally exceeded my expectations,” she said.
“I probably had the most optimistic estimate of about 50 people.
“The rest of the organisers saying about 30 to 40.
“We had 70 people come along.
“I was blown away at just how much support we had.
“Growing up on Yorta Yorta Woka, there’s a lot of people I know, and there was certainly a lot of familiar faces, but probably at least a third to a half of the people there I hadn’t seen before.
“And I think that just shows that people are wanting to support trans young people.
“The fact that we were able to mobilise this so quickly, and the fact that there was just so much joy at this rally that it wasn’t so much like a rally and more of a variety hour.
“We were there singing together, reading books.
“We had local speakers speaking about their experiences.
“It was really quite a beautiful atmosphere and quite a celebratory, powerful environment that we created and that everyone responded to.
“We’re here to live our lives.
“We’re here to live good lives, and I think everyone should have that, and that’s what we were there to try and show.”
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