LGBTIQ rights activists rallied outside Queensland Liberal National Party health minister Tim Nicholls鈥 office in Clayfield on July 21 to oppose his government鈥檚聽.
Nicholls announced in January an immediate pause and review into hormone therapies for those under 18 years old, prompting聽 and an outcry from聽 and trans rights advocates.聽
Nicholls claimed the review was necessary because the Cairns Sexual Health Clinic had given 鈥渦nauthorised care鈥澛爐o 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.聽
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.聽
_e7a0925.png
Charlie Collins, Trans Justice Project Queensland organiser and member of the Gimuy Queer Collective, who travelled from Gimuy/Cairns, told 一品探花: 鈥淭he ripple effect is that people are really scared, we only have one gender-affirming doctor in town now. People just don鈥檛 know where to turn anymore, particularly our young people.鈥
Activists delivered a cardboard crocodile to Nicholls鈥 office, describing the ban as a 鈥渃roc of shit鈥. Collins said it is a 鈥減olitical attack on the rights of trans youth to grow up happy, healthy, and with the freedom to be themselves鈥.
鈥淭im Nicholls has refused to listen to the families and young people impacted by his decision.鈥
that more than 400 people were on the waitlist for treatment when the pause took effect.聽
Protesters stuck postcards and posters from people affected by the decision on the front window of Nicholls鈥 office. They read: 鈥淩einstate trans youth healthcare: Stop playing political games with the lives of trans youth.鈥澛
Collins said Nicholls鈥櫬爏taff tried to 鈥渞edirect鈥 protesters to his ministerial office, which is not publicly accessible.聽鈥淭he Health Minister needs to immediately reinstate care and scrap this sham review.鈥澛
_e7a0840.png
_e7a0908.png
