The last month in Australia has been hard for the LGBTQIA community especially those of us that identify as trans as e have found our existence and rights once again at the centre of political discourse. Of course this has been brought on by the events over in the states and the growing persecution of the trans community by the Trump administration which was not unexpected. However the speed at which things have been happening is very concerning ahead of the election and follows the same patterns we have seen before. So lets get on with it and work to keep people informed.

The Midsumma Pride March Melbourne

Although the March was last week it was in the news regularly for the last month due to groups that pulled out of the event. Firstly, the most notable in terms of community representation was Transgender Victoria (the states leading body of trans and gender diverse people) which sighted a deep concern regarding police involvement due to the often poor treatment we experience. The prevalence of Police and political parties at Midsumma has definitely been frustration and sauce of anger for many within the community so it was great to see a major body take a stand. However, it was something that it seems Victoria Police still failed really understand as neither addressed the need for recognition or reform.

Ultimately, Victoria Police also pulled out of the event after the Midsumma introduce a new ‘trauma-informed” policy which prohibited work place uniforms. This would have meant that LGBTQIA members of the police force would have still been welcome to march however in plain clothes. This was unacceptable for Victoria Police which called the policy a ‘backwards step” for inclusion and pulled out completely. There response shows that they are unwilling to recognise the historic trauma inflicted by police on members of the community or take responsibility for making any form of reform. In fact all they want is the opportunity to march in uniform so the organisation can appear supportive of the LGBTQIA community and gain positive publicity. The fact paramedics also later pulled out over the ban demonstrates a similar lack of responsibility and awareness of the often systemic abuse that LGBTQIA people have faced in dealing with the emergency services. Hopefully, Midsumma continue with this policy but it is clear that more needs to be done to hold these organisations accountable as their first instinct seems to be to play the victim.

Considering this I have spoken to numerous people that attended the March, while I was unfortunately recovering from Covid, an they have all reported great vibes. Perhaps the one recuring observation however is that it was smaller then past years. It seems everyone put this down to the heat of a 38 degree day however last year it was similarly conditions which didn’t seem to deter to many. Whether it was the weather, the groups not marching or potential the current political vibe a decline in crowd is a little concerning especially when we need more support then ever. Hopefully, I am just reading too much into things.

The impact of Trumps Executive orders

The barrage of Anti-Trans executive orders that have been signed by Trump since taking office have been soul destroying for the trans community. In the states it has spread fear, uncertainty and anger as people are being erased by their own government and their rights rapidly stripped away. However, in Australia we have been filled with our own sense of anxiety as we wait to see how much the right wing parties try to import Trump’s politics. At times the last month I have almost felt defeated before we have really began to fight such bigotry and fascist movements over here. It has especially made me concerned for those feeling the US and looking at Australia as a potential refugee as in my more depressed moments I’m not really sure what they are going to find upon arrival.

The fact that Skynews Australia and the rest of the Murdoch press are pumping out an insane amount of pro-trump propaganda is terrifying. As much as we all like too think people are smart enough to see through this bullshit the truth is we know it resonates with a certain group of people. The likes and comments are but a portion of those people these lies influence. The clear message is to adopt similar hard-line policies targeting minorities as presenters applaud every anti trans executive order as an end to ‘woke lunacy” and how apparently ‘DEI’ is a threat to Australian air travel safety. Ultimately they are suggesting to the Australian people that we need to maintain strong ties with the USA and should elect Peter Dutton as he will maintain a better relationship with Trump. The suggestion is terrifying.

David Littleproud wants to wade into the gender debate

Soon after Trumps executive order which defined only two genders the Leader of the National party was calling on the coalition to lean into the gender debate. He especially elaborated by talking about the all too familiar ‘issue’ of women’s sport which remains a complete beat up with no basis in fact yet seemingly an easy win for far right groups. While the potential future deputy Prime Minister was more then ready to jump show his beliefs, It was obviously something that Dutton was definitely hesitant to wade into so quickly as he responded an hour later by stating the coalition has ‘no plans to change their position’ and wants to make decisions that he ‘thinks are in the best interest of all Australians’. It is hardly a very comforting or stead fast reassurance. It strikes me as some want not wanting to voice his thoughts on the issue in case it loses him votes.

Despite this hesitation from Peter Dutton, Littleproud has continued to double down on his comments and push to follow the Trump bandwagon. His comments later in January on a Queensland Radio station 4BC go further as he firmly states that their are only “two genders” and this is “common sense” as after all to his knowledge there has been no scientific brake throughs since he went to school. The reality is that there has been a wealth of research and scientific evidence that disproves his simplistic high school level of biological understanding from the early 90s. Here is a neat summary that should be understandable for someone of his level of basic intelligence. I especially wounder what role he filled at the National Australia Bank or since being in parliament seems to make him qualified to be some export on human biology and gender but this is the world we live in. The more inexpert someone is the more their opinion seems to matter. I like to think of an old quote from Yes Minister as the perfect representation of politicians, “Ministers are chosen precisely because they no nothing.” If Littleproud is relying on high school lessons to guide policy I would say this sums him up pretty perfectly.

Australia Day Fascist

Australia is becoming increasingly synonymous with neo-Nazis and fascist demonstrations over the last few years and Australia Day on the 26th of Jan just proved to be the perfect opportunity to show themselves. Now will I was sitting at a pub in St Kilda having a drink with my parents I was forced to look away in disgust as a handful of black shirts walked past. This was a pitiful display however compared to 40 or more Nazis marching around Adelaide and clashing with police. Events which lead to at least 13 men being charged and condemnation from both sides of politics. It has been the latest public display since that infamous let women’s speak rally and seems they seem to be increasing.

Realistically, it shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone that they were out in force this year as ever since the voice referendum pro-nationalist rhetoric has been on the rise. This sentiment has been actively prompted by Peter Dutton and the Murdoch media as a reaction to the growing push to recognise the date as invasion day and change our national holiday out of respect for indigenous communities. Dutton himself has flagged the possibility of legislating Australia Day as the 26th of January and has spent considerable effort to push a culture war around patriotism by suggesting Australian’s should not feel ‘ashamed’ on the national day and it is a time for celebration. This has continued a clear series of attempts to promote a nationalist message as in December he stated that as Prime Minister he would not speak in front of the Aboriginal flag as it is not the ‘national’ flag. He has since doubled down on this on Skynews saying that “We are united as a country when we gather under one flag” and has received support from national senator Matt Canavan who said “The Australian flag is what represents all Australians.” Obviously, they struggle to comprehend that the Union Jack on the corner actually represents the United Kingdom and therefore is perhaps problematic considering our colonial past. Realistically the immigrants that Dutton continues to talk about often have no connection to the UK as well so it symbolically can’t actually represent all Australians.

Grace Tame has the right idea

Making headlines on Australia Day for different reasons the 2021 Australian of the year attend the official morning tea at The Lodge in Canberra wearing a T-shirt that read “Fuck Murdoch.” It definitely turned heads and outraged conservatives that viewed it as sign of ‘disrespect’ including the Prime Minister. Later on Instagram and in an interview with the ABC Tame elaborated on her decision to wear the T – shirt stating that “One thing that I think unites us is that we want to make progress and a huge roadblock to making progress is the fact … the world, for far too long, has been ruled by disproportionately, morbidly wealthy, corporate oligarchs”. It is a message the especially in the current climate extends far beyond Murdoch but as an Australian whose media conglomerate continues to spread misinformation at home and abroad he was the perfect target. As Tame points out the fact people are offended by a T-shirt rather then people like Murdoch that undermine democracy and influence the lives of billions is the larger concern. Considering the shit coming out of Skynews especially over the last year I definitely getting one as I think a pretty blunt point need to be made, and you can too.

Queensland bans gender affirming care for trans kids

As the Transgender and wider LGBTQIA+ community were reeling from all the news out of the States the attack on Trans rights reached our shores in an all too familiar way. On the 28th of Jan the newly elected Coalition government in Queensland announced an immediate pause for new patients under the age of 18 accessing hormone therapy and an independent review into gender affirming care. This is despite a review carried out last year in Queensland concluded there was no evidence that patients or their families were “hurried or coerced” while in NSW a review concluded that puberty blockers were “safe, effective and reversible”. However, this is never about the evidence it is an opportunity to form a review with their own terms of reference to get the result they desire. The fact that it is backed by the Katter’s Australia Party which also wanted to recriminalize abortion really says enough.

The move immediately effects the 491 patients that have been on waiting list in the public sector and is a crashing blow with terrifying mental health outcomes. That parents need to find money to pursue private treatment or watch their child suffer is a horrifying choice which no one should have to face. Especially in a country with a well developed public health system like Australia. As such the action has been widely condemn by medical professionals including AusPath, advocates like equality Australia, MPs and parents. The Labor MP for Cooper Jonty Bush even highlights the hypocrisy of a government that sees a need to ‘protect’ children but is pushing to lock up 10 year olds for life. However, all has fallen on deaf ears as despite the pressure to reverse the decision that has including the federal government.

There is a clear lesson here ahead of the federal election as the liberals carefully made no policy announcements to attack trans rights in the election and generally obfuscated when asked directly. Yet, within a couple of months one of their first major acts has been to cut off gender affirming care for trans kids. This strategy meant they prevented it from becoming an election issue and drawing impacting their chances at the ballot box, however now that they are in power action is shift. Of course their was evidence to suggest the may pursue an anti-trans agenda as voting habits of MP and their speeches against the births, deaths and marriages reforms showed a clear gender critical ideology present in the liberal party. It is why I take Dutton’s statement that their are ‘no plans’ to be completely worthless since his own history shows that he has voted against Trans rights, in favour of religious institutions being able to discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people and against same-sex marriage. I some how doubt that he will fine a different set of values if he becomes PM, the truth is in his actions.

The call for a national inquiry

Of course the situation in Queensland was just a rallying call and embodied more anti-trans voices to push for national inquiry. So within a couple of days of the Queensland announcement a letter requesting a pause on all gender affirming care for under 18 and an independent inquiry was sent to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton as well as health ministers across the country. The letter cites the discredited Cass review and similarly advocates for ‘suppression practices’ (which apparently is less negative then identifying them as conversion therapy). The letter has over 100 signatures, most of which are people with a history as vocal transphobes, including Katherine Deves whom once claimed that being an anti-trans activist was ‘like standing up against the holocaust’, Kirralie Smith the Director of anti trans lobby group Binary Australia and of course former Liberal PM Tony Abbott. A real representation of non biased voices with a wealth of medical expertise and experience with trans youth. Considering the measures and references made in the letter it is pretty obvious the desired outcome they would like to engineer.

A ‘proper’ review

It had obviously been in development for a little while possibly since before the publication of the National Health plan for the health and Wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ People I mentioned in my last up date but events undoubted force the governments hand. A day after the letter calling for an inquiry the federal government announced a review into gender-affirming healthcare for trans and gender-diverse young people conducted by the NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council). The review is aimed at providing updated evidence based guidelines and has been called for by clinicians. Until the process is completed there is no pause on current practice unlike the Queensland inquiry. Announcing the review Health Minister Mark Butler called on the QLD State Government to abide by national standards and abandon their review a call which has been ignored up north.

Their is a cautious optimism towards the federal review as the process promises to include exports and those with lived experience as well as hopefully remain free of political interference. This is impart because the NHMRC have their own established process for developing guidelines by an export advisory committee with “appointed for their expertise and experience across diverse professions and fields, with consideration given to balancing expertise against the risk of bias.” It means that advocacy groups like LGBTIQ+ Health Australia and AusPATH have welcomed the review although they have emphasised the need for not only maintaining current care but also an proper unbiased evidence based process. In reality the main source of concern is the looming election and the possibility of a liberal government attempting to change the review or abandon it completely in favour of something else.

Maybe he does have plans

Despite Dutton’s earlier statement that there are no plans to enter into the gender debate and follow the USA, he seems happy to dip his toe in. On the 6th of Feb sitting down with Skynews he got his feet wet with a discussion of transwomen in sport after Trump signed yet another executive order. Dutton parroted the regular idea that Trans women were have an unfair advantage and therefore could impact a young girls Olympic dream and concluded “that’s just not in the spirit of sport.” This argument has been at the centre of most anti trans postering and is based on the perception that ‘trans women are men’ and therefore have a physical advantage. It is also a deeply sexist view that holds to the belief that men must be better at everything and women or girls can’t compete which even led to a ban in chess obviously they didn’t watch the Queen’s Gambit. The truth is that the evidence doesn’t support the idea of a physical advantage and several reports are suggesting trans women may have a disadvantage. The think is that this misinformation has certain optics which appeal to long established beliefs about male superiority and is a clear example were perception for these people become reality rather then listening to evidence. At the very least it seems the Dutton is showing more of his true colours, after I am always concerned by anyone trying to protest that they are not ‘discriminating anyone’.

National Day of Action

As the Queensland Government continued to ignore Canberra and advocacy groups last week a national day of action in support of trans kids was organised. The movement, organised by Trans Justice Project simply demanded the Queensland Government reinstate care for trans youth. 20 Rally’s were held across the country with the support of over 150 business from the state capitals to regional centres thousands turned up to protect trans kids. The Queensland government are yet to change their plans so continued action and pressure must be applied. The message needs to be continually sent that large numbers of Australians do not support an Anti-Trans agenda with the real challenge ahead to send this message at the ballot box.

Hanson taking her shot

You would have been mistaken in thinking that the announcement of a national review as well as the protests on the weekend might keep politicians away from gender affirming care for a minute but not Pauline Hanson. This week she put forward a motion for a parliamentary inquiry moved to create a Senate committee to examine “the human cost of experimental child gender treatments” and “the need for a national ban on gender-related medical interventions for individuals under the age of 18.” This was her latest attempt to pass an anti trans motion with the previous attempt in September to amend the Sex Discrimination Act to specify biological sex failing to reach a first reading. This motion was once again defeated much like her attempt in 2023 to launch an inquiry into the raising cases of gender dysphoria amongst children. However the concerning trend isn’t really Hanson’s actions as no one outside Queensland takes her seriously and she has been a long standing joke for us down south but the fact 18 coalitions MPs supported her motion. It is just more evidence that reinforces that the trans community will not be safe under a coalition government as their is a desire to follow other right wing movements around the world.

A departing ally’s message

As the last month has been filled with attacks against the trans community and a large portion stemming from Queensland it was fitting that retiring Labour MP Graham Perret called out the transphobic attacks. A long standing ally Perret used his valedictory speech to highlight the current reality that “Bullies and fascists” are targeting the trans community and deliberately referenced the current situation with gender affirming care, highlighting that “the young trans community needs kindness, courage and champions working for them right here under the big flag.” His voice and efforts will be missed, we must hope his words resonate with others willing to take up the baton as it clear from the start of 2025 we need some passionate allies.