A spirited protest was held outside Queensland Liberal-National Party Premier David Crisafulli's Broadwater electorate office on Kombumerri country/Gold Coast on March 30, to demand the reinstatement of gender affirming and life-saving care for trans kids.
The protest was organised by Trans Liberation Kombumerri, which came together after health minister Tim Nicholls, acting with Crisafulli鈥檚 support, banned hormone treatment for trans kids in the public health system, and withdraw support for gender affirming care clinics.
The protest was part of a national weekend of action to mark Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV).
Kombumerri traditional custodian Justine Dillon opened the rally, welcoming the participants to Country. She was followed by local Palestinian activist Waddah Weld-Ali, Uncle Wayne (Coco) Wharton and Uncle Judulu from Woomera Union.
Local organiser, Ember, told the rally: "Cisgender youth can still access puberty blockers for things like precocious puberty whilst trans kids and their guardians are denied bodily autonomy, and our youth are medically forced to go through a puberty that is not theirs.
鈥淭he decision to ban it in the public system will inevitably fall the hardest on our most marginalised, those who cannot afford to go private ... our lower-class community, our unhoused community, our Black, disabled, refugee and femme community.
鈥淭here were 491 kids on the waiting list who were told they could no longer access care, and there are no doubt more that are not on this list that are currently wanting to seek gender affirming hormone care but can鈥檛.
鈥淭his year will mark the 14th Trans Day of Visibility, and the 54th anniversary of the Stonewall riots聽鈥 and 1 in 5 of us are unhoused at some point in our lives, over 50% of us have been sexually assaulted at least once, over 50% of us have had a negative experience with a medical professional, and 50% of us have experienced anti-trans violence in-person and online.
鈥淭he consistent dehumanisation, systemic oppression, and violence against trans people has to stop. And I truly hope that today we can elevate and hear from those of us who aren鈥檛 often given visibility in discussions around trans liberation.鈥
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More trans activists spoke out and several messages from trans people and parents, who couldn't attend, were read out. They shared moving accounts of trauma and discrimination at the hands of the medical establishment and the fear being felt by parents, desperate for their children to be able to access life-saving gender-affirming care.
The protesters moved onto the footpath on nearby Hope Island Road, waving flags and holding signs, chanting: "We're here, we're queer, we won't disappear!" The response from passing cars was encouraging.
鈥淭his [ban] has real and devastating impacts for our already ostracised community and we will not simply sit here quietly about it. Banning life-changing, life-giving care for our youth is nothing but shameful and I hope we can form connections today to continue this fight long after this event wraps up," Ember said.
鈥淎t the end of the day, I want to be able to say I did more than just talk about this, I want to mobilise our community to create long-lasting change and liberation for all.鈥
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About 200 people joined the Trans Day of Visibility rally in Boorloo/Perth on March 30, reports Blair Vidak. The theme of the rally was showing the strength and solidarity of the trans community.聽
The rally was organised by Queer Liberation Boorloo and included speakers from the Renters and Housing Union, Indymedia, Trans Folk of WA, Socialist Alternative, the Greens and Socialist Alliance.聽
Nova Sobieralski, Queer Liberation Boorloo organiser and Socialist Alliance candidate for the Western Australia Senate, told 麻豆传媒 the rally was an expression of 鈥渜ueer joy鈥.
鈥淚t was a beautiful day where our whole community came together.鈥澛
The march was led by Sobieralski and Peregrin, an Anglican priest, highlighting that 鈥渞eligion is no excuse for bigotry鈥.聽
