Take Action

This page provides information on how to lobby the Queensland Government on their decision to ban gender affirming care in the public system for young people. Below are tips on how to correspond effectively with members of Parliament balancing personal stories with strong evidence-based arguments.

How to succeed when talking to MPs

How to talk to MPs

What is essential for you to know about MPs

1. They are open to discussion about this issue

2. They need information

3. Talk in plain language with clear arguments.

When it gets tough, remember why you are doing this

1.You are doing this for your child—if you don’t, who will?

2. You will not succeed with MPs the first time, so don’t be disappointed when they tell you that nothing will change.

3. You don’t have to make the MP like you; they just need to understand the problem and impact.

4. Always remain calm; never become angry, because once that happens, they will ignore you or if face to face ask you to leave.

5. Some will goad you, so don’t take the bait.

6. Try to understand their stand on the issue. Read up on their logic about the negative debate, and when they start to talk nonsense, you can counter their logic with clear arguments.

7. Sometimes, a good starter for the meeting is first to ask the MP what they think.

8. Don’t be disheartened this issue can take time to be resolved.

9. Remember, dress to keep the MP in their comfort zone. If you think you have the right to dress as you please, you are correct, but ask yourself, “Do you want to win rights for your child, or do you want to be right, it’s your choice?

Puberty Blockers

Puberty blockers

Puberty blockers are medications that temporarily suppress the development of secondary sex characteristics, they can reduce the distress associated with a spontaneous endogenous puberty, and allows a young person to mature emotionally and cognitively to be able to provide informed consent for gender affirming hormone treatment in later adolescence, if sought.

Increasing evidence demonstrates that with supportive, gender affirming care during childhood and adolescence, harms can be minimised and mental health and wellbeing outcomes can be significantly improved (see TransHub).

For many young trans or gender diverse people who want to access hormonal affirmation, puberty blockers are the first step towards that path.

What key messages are out there about Puberty Blockers

Misinformation

They are dangerous
Children may change their mind
It's just a phase
The medication affects their brains
The medication weakens bones

Information about Puberty Blockers

Help young people transitioning by suppressing puberty
Prevent increased Gender Dysphoria associated with endogenous puberty
Prevent potential decline in mental health
Have limited impact on bone health
Are reversible
Are part of a holistic health plan
Save lives

Arguments and evidence for puberty blockers

Are puberty blockers dangerous?

Puberty blockers can be used to delay the changes of puberty in transgender and gender-diverse youth who soon to commence or who have started puberty. The medicines most often used for this purpose are called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues. GnRH analogues don't cause permanent physical changes. Instead, they pause puberty. That offers a chance to explore gender identity. It also gives the young person and their family time to plan for the psychological, medical, developmental, social and legal issues that may lie ahead.

Puberty blocking medications have been used to safely treat precocious (early) puberty in young people for decades, before they were first utilised as a treatment option for trans and gender diverse young people. While any medication can have side effects, the use of puberty blockers prescribed my an appropriate medical team is safe. What's more, this early intervention can reduce more invasive medical treatments in the future. For example:

prevent the need for additional surgical interventions later in life due to their body developing in ways that do not align with their identity
reduce unwanted physical changes during a period that is already emotionally challenging
circumvent potential poorer outcomes and costs from future facial and body surgeries that could have been managed better with puberty blockers.

(Sources: Mayo Clinic, Transcend).

It could just be a phase, what happens if the child changes their mind?

This is often an argument made by those who want to prevent trans people from accessing the services they need to affirm their gender that they 'will change their mind', or that it is 'just a phase'. However, affirming one's gender is not a not a decision people make lightly, nor is it linear process. Gender-affirming health care includes extensive medical and psychological assessments and is not something that happens overnight. Not all elements of gender-affirming care are permanent. Like any big decisions we make in life it's not unreasonable to have doubts. Allowing a young person to have access to appropriate support, being able to ask questions, and work through any challenges is essential.

According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies parents and carers have a key role in reducing some of the health and wellbeing challenges commonly experienced by transgender and gender diverse young people. The health improvements for transgender and gender diverse young people associated with supportive parents include:

reduced anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, disordered eating symptoms, self-harm and suicidal ideation
greater quality of life, life satisfaction and self-esteem
reduced risk of homelessness
improved sexual self-efficacy and consistent condom use
reduced risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

There is no one way for trans people to affirm their gender, no one right path of affirmation, and a range of reasons why someone might want to change the way they’re interacting with their gendered self, presentation and well-being. Often labelled as 'detransitioning' it can have negative connotations and is often framed as regret when in fact it is about individuals mapping a path that is most comfortable for them.

(Source: Trans Hub)

I've heard puberty blockers impact cognitive or brain function and weaken bones, is this correct?

All medications can have side effects and should only be prescribed by an appropriate specialist to manage the individual needs of each person taking these medications. Puberty blockers are generally well-tolerated. But as with any medical intervention, they can also cause unwanted effects. This includes reductions in bone density and fertility, and changes in adult height.
When started beyond early to mid-puberty, they are more likely to cause menopausal-like side effects, such as hot flashes. This is due to a reduction in sex hormone production.
There are also potential long-term effects of puberty blockers that are still being investigated.
Brains mature substantially during adolescence. But it remains unclear what effect puberty blockers may have on cognitive development. While the use of puberty blockers in early-onset puberty has not been shown to affect cognitive functioning, studies in transgender adolescents are ongoing.
Puberty blockers are one part of the care young trans people seek to address gender dysphoria including the mental heath concerns,

(Source: AusPath)

Talking to MPs about Puberty Blockers

Why are puberty blockers essential for children and young people?

Our children want to be their authentic selves.
All children have the right to the appropriate health care and health professionals for their individual circumstances. For trans children and young people this includes access to puberty blockers and gender-affirming care.
Gender-affirming care is safe, evidence-based and saves lives.
Not being able to transition or present as their correct gender identity leads to gender dysphoria. Recognising gender dysphoria as a medical condition is no different to recognising any other medical condition.
Families simply want access to the appropriate health care without Government interference or politics preventing access to health care.
This issue is about how they (the children) see themselves, how they feel about themselves and how the world sees them - and by preventing them from taking PBs makes life more difficult now and later.
Ongoing issues for children without Puberty Blockers include:

breasts growing, periods, unwanted body hair
Adam’s apple, deep voice, testosterone levels
unwanted/ wanted body hair, growing beards, need for electrolysis
Gender dysphoria
Mental health concerns including withdrawn, isolated, depression, suicidal ideation
Staying away from physical activity and other wellness activities due to feelings of shame
Staying away from school - school truancy is an issue, failing exams is an issue, bullying and discrimination at school

Ministers

Who to contact

The Honorable Tim Nicholls MP
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services

1 William Street, BRISBANE QLD 4000

GPO Box 48, BRISBANE QLD 4001

Phone: (07) 3035 6100
Email: health@ministerial.qld.gov.au

Health

Families

The Honorable Amanda Camm

Minister for Families, Seniors &Disability Services & Minister for Child Safety

1 William Street, BRISBANE QLD 4000

GPO Box 48, BRISBANE QLD 4001

Phone: (07) 3719 7360
Email: families.services@ministerial.qld.gov.au

The Honorable Mark Bailey MP

Shadow Minister, Health & Ambulance Services

Yeerongpilly Green Shopping Centre Shop T2

Cnr King Arthur Terrace & Queens Way YEERONGPILLY QLD 4105

Phone: (07) 3414 2120

Email: miller@parliament.qld.gov.au

The Honorable Corrine McMillan

Shadow Minister for Families, Seniors & Disability Services & Minister for Child Safety

12 Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road
UPPER MT GRAVATT QLD 4122

Phone: (07) 3414 3100
Email: Mansfield@parliament.qld.gov.au

Apart from key ministers consider writing to your local member. Visit the Queensland Parliament Minister's List for contact information.

Keep in contact with MPs

Write regularly - keep letters different
Ring the MPs office and ask if he has received the letter and ask for follow-up meetings every few months
Ask MPs if there is any other info they need to make it happen
Ring every few months and ask for a meeting
Check their progress, pointing out that your child is struggling and re-emphasis main talking points and your child's perspective
Write to Premier ask what he is doing to solve the trauma caused by their inaction

What to include in your letter or discussion with MPs

Key messages

Introduce yourself as a parent of a trans child and as a voter
Introduce your child and your concerns for their health and welfare without gender affirming health care - vital health care which is the right of every child
Outline the challenges your child faces without this health care and the impact on them and your family
Flag the current ban on puberty blockers as your key concern that you would like the MP to address
Raise the key talking points about puberty blockers and gender affirming health care as outlined above
Express your concerns about the misinformation that surrounds this issue
Request the MP respond to you, request a meeting with the MP, or take action through their office to reverse the current ban
Thank them for their time and state how you will be following up (give a date).

What should they know about your child?

You may wish to share some information about your child with the MPs to personalise your correspondence or meeting. This is a personal choice for you and your child to decide what to disclose but often helps personalise it for the MP.

What is your child's name and age?
When did your child first tell you about their gender identity?
What has been their gender affirmation journey so far?
What have been some of the challenges for your child in transitioning e.g. acceptance at school, access to health care, access to mental health support, school support, community attitudes etc?
What changes have you seen in your child since they starting transitioning? Have they been more positive, happier, more comfortable, more social, depressed, introverted, stressed etc
What your child's dreams and goals?

Writing letters

Here's one we prepared earlier!

If you prefer to use a form letter and insert only some information use this template. Feel free to make an additions as you need to.

Dear Minister

I am writing to make you aware of the significant impact that the recently introduced ministerial directive, which overturned the Supreme Court’s decision regarding puberty blockers, is having on our family and many others across Queensland.

1. Our child is deeply concerned about how this directive will affect their life. Specifically, they are worried about being denied access to puberty blockers and the profound consequences this will have on their well-being.

As parents, we are also very concerned about the unwanted physical changes our child will experience and the impact these will have on their mental health and stability.

2. Without access to puberty blockers, our child will face three major consequences:

(a) they will require additional surgical interventions later in life due to their body developing in ways that do not align with their identity.

(b) they will have to endure unwanted physical changes during a period that is already emotionally challenging.

(c) even with future facial and body surgeries, the results will be more costly and less effective than early intervention with puberty blockers.

This is not a political matter for our family—it is a matter of life and death. Please help us protect our child’s future.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address]