LGBTIQ rights activists rallied outside Queensland Liberal National Party health minister Tim Nicholls’ office in Clayfield on July 21 to oppose his government’s attacks on gender-affirming healthcare.
Nicholls announced in January an immediate pause and review into hormone therapies for under-18-year-olds, prompting nationwide rallies and an outcry from healthcare professionals and trans rights advocates.
Nicholls claimed the review was necessary because the Cairns Sexual Health Clinic had been found to have given “unauthorised care” to 42 patients. However, it was later found that only 17 patients had been given treatment, and only two of those without indication of parental consent.
Since then, the hormone therapy ban has been expanded to all new patients statewide, regardless of age, which advocates say puts the lives of intersex and gender dysphoric patients at risk.
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Charlie Collins, Trans Justice Project Queensland organiser and member of the Gimuy Queer Collective, who travelled from Gimuy/Cairns, told Green Left: “The ripple effect is that people are really scared, we only have one gender-affirming doctor in town now. People just don’t know where to turn anymore, particularly our young people.”
Activists delivered a cardboard crocodile to Nicholls’ office, describing the ban as a “croc of shit”. Collins said it is a “political attack on the rights of trans youth to grow up happy, healthy, and with the freedom to be themselves”.
“Tim Nicholls has refused to listen to the families and young people impacted by his decision.”
QNews reported that more than 400 people were on the waitlist for treatment when the pause took effect.
Protesters stuck postcards and posters from people affected by the decision on the front window of Nicholls’ office. They read: “Reinstate trans youth healthcare: Stop playing political games with the lives of trans youth.”
Collins said Nicholls’ staff tried to “redirect” protesters to his ministerial office, which is not publicly accessible. “The Health Minister needs to immediately reinstate care and scrap this sham review.”
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