Content warning: This article discusses of transphobia and mentions of non-consensual surgery on intersex kids.
While pretty much no-one was watching, a bunch of conservative federal senators tabled a bill that seeks to ban children from accessing any kind of trans health care.
The Childhood Gender Transition Prohibition Bill 2023 was presented to the senate on Wednesday October 17 by Liberal Senator Alex Antic.
The proposed bill was drafted by Antic alongside United Australia Party senator Ralph Babet, One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts, and Nationals senator Matt Canavan.
The bill seeks to ban people aged under 18 from receiving any kind of gender affirming surgery and also seeks to ban children from accessing hormone replacement therapy or puberty blockers.
Notably the bill includes an explicit exception for surgery that alters sexual organs for intersex children.
This is despite repeated calls from members of the intersex community to ban non-consensual and non-medically necessary surgeries on intersex babies and children.
In a speech to the senate while presenting the bill, Antic denied the validity of gender dysphoria as a psychological condition.
“Nobody is born in ‘the wrong body’,” he said.
“These young people are confused boys and girls growing up in a confusing world.
“Gender dysphoria is a social phenomenon, a trend, and the Australian government should be investigating the causes of this trend and shutting down these so-called treatment options.”
Equality Australia chief executive Anna Brown slammed the bill describing it as a “dangerous” and “absurd” attack on the rights of trans young people to access the healthcare they “desperately” need.
“All the evidence shows that denying young people access to gender affirming care would cause them immeasurable trauma and harm and, in some cases, cost them their lives,” she said.
“We have some of the world’s leading clinicians and experts in transgender healthcare in Australia.
“In hearing over 60 cases regarding gender affirming care, the Family Court has never made a finding that gender affirming care is inappropriate or denied treatment to a young person.”
Dr Clara Tuck Meng Soo is a renowned GP who has served the LGBTQIA+ community and other marginalised groups for much of her practice.
Speaking to PEDESTRIAN.TV, she described the proposed bill as an “extraordinary intervention” which does not apply to “almost any other kind of medical treatment.”
Dr Soo also said the bill would disregard the consent of parents and the child’s ability to consent to medical care.
“There is no evidence that gender affirming treatment is so dangerous that it needs to be prohibited in this way,” Dr Soo said.
“I think it is important that young people and their parents and guardians are able to work together with their trusted medical professionals and make decisions about their own healthcare without this kind of political interference.”
Dr Soo said research into trans health care has found being in a supportive environment and having access to medical interventions leads to better mental health and social wellbeing outcomes among trans youth.
“From the medical perspective, giving access to the medical interventions that younger trans people need gives them the best opportunities to grow up well,” she said.
“There is also the human rights aspect that everyone should get access to the healthcare that they need irrespective of their gender identity.”
Dr Soo said the culture war surrounding access to trans care means gender diverse people are “constantly exposed to material that undermines their sense of self-worth and identity.”
“They are constantly exposed to the fact that significant sections of society don’t approve of their choices and are made to justify their decisions to themselves and society all the time,” she said.
“This kind of minority stress is very debilitating – especially for young people who are exploring their identity and trying to understand what they feel.”
The bill will be debated in the senate at a later date.
