The Queensland government’s ban on puberty blockers for new patients seeking treatment for gender issues is “discriminatory”, according to the state’s only dedicated LGBTQI youth service, as the national sex discrimination commissioner warns the decision may harm young people.
Sex discrimination commissioner, Anna Cody, said the decision “has the potential to harm the physical and mental wellbeing of children in Queensland who are currently awaiting care”.
The Australian Human Rights Commission will contact the state government over “our concerns”, she said.
“Our concern is that restricting access will create trauma to young people who will be unable to access treatments in a timely manner,” she said.
The week, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, announced a ban on puberty blockers for all new patients of the state’s only gender clinic, at the Royal Brisbane hospital, and for other patients in the public health system, until the government considers the outcome of an independent review into the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors experiencing gender dysphoria.
Nicholls said the review was sparked by reports that paediatric gender services were being given to children at the far north’s Cairns Sexual Health Service without proper medical support and parental consent.
In response, the Cairns and Hinterland Health and Hospital Service said an internal review had found “process issues” with the clinic, but that there had been no evidence of patient harm.
The service’s chief executive, Leena Singh, welcomed the government’s investigation and “the opportunity it presents to improve delivery of our services”.
But Rachel Hines, CEO of the Open Doors Youth Service, said the government’s ban on hormone treatments was “discriminatory”.
“The fact that it’s only trans young people that can’t access this life-saving medication; I think it goes against the Human Rights Act and I think it’s highly discriminatory.”
Hines said the political debate would have “huge impacts on the trans community”.
“It’s not just the impact of not being able to access gender-affirming care but the discrimination they experience out in the community,” she said.
Under the decision, children will still be able to access puberty blockers to treat other health issues such as precocious puberty.
Children already on a treatment plan for gender dysphoria – nearly 600 in total – can still access puberty blockers and hormones, but the ban will affect the 491 people on the waiting list of the state’s gender clinic.
One of those affected is Chris’s* son Liam*.
Liam has been waiting for more than a year for hormone replacement therapy, and was due to get his first round of treatment in March. They aren’t sure how long that will be delayed as a result of the ban.
Liam saw the news on Tuesday and his father said he had never seen him more distressed. He stayed up all night to be with his son.
“I strongly believe that if he doesn’t receive HRT, I don’t believe he’ll make the end of this year,” Chris said.
The government refused to answer questions about their plans for trans healthcare before last year’s October state election.
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Nicholls also cited the Cass Review, commissioned by the UK’s National Health Service and released in April that year, as one of the reasons for the ban.
In December, the UK Labour government announced an indefinite ban on puberty blockers for under-18s with gender dysphoria except for use in clinical trials.
The Cass review’s findings were not adopted by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and gender-affirming healthcare is endorsed by a number of organisations including the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Endocrine Society of Australia.
Last year, a review of Queensland’s sole dedicated public gender clinic found its clinical practice was “consistent with the current national and international guidelines” and that it should be doubled in size.
The new LNP government rejected the review’s recommendations earlier this month and reversed a decision by the previous government to expand the service.
“There is a very significant amount of concern about children going down that pathway and the long-term effects … without an understanding of those long-term effects,” Nicholls said on Tuesday.
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia CEO, Nicky Bath, said that “no other effective life-saving healthcare provision would be ceased while a review takes place”.
“Accessing gender-affirming care that includes the careful prescribing of hormone therapies must not be treated differently.”
The Queensland health minister has been contacted for comment.
* Names have been changed to protect the identity of a child.
– With additional reporting by Australian Associated Press
