The Family Court of Australia today ruled that transgender children and teenagers will no longer require the court’s approval to access gender-affirming hormone therapies, removing a massive barrier facing many young Australians.
The move means that doctors, psychiatrists, and endocrinologists will be more readily able to administer Stage 2 therapies to minors found to have gender dysphoria, without families first going through the arduous and costly process of pleading their case before the legal system.
The decision has manifold benefits to transgender youth.
Switching from Stage 1 treatments, which consist of puberty blockers, to more permanent gender-affirming Stage 2 treatments, has been shown to have profound positive physiological and psychological outcomes. That switch has been slowed by the need to go through the courts, a process which today’s ruling notes took an average of eight months.
An earlier study also found filing a successful claim can cost between $8,000 to $30,000, placing immense financial stress on families who need to apply for court approval.
Anna Brown of the Human Rights Law Centre praised the decision, saying “doctors and parents are able make decisions about every other kind of medical treatment for young people – including ethically complex decisions that weigh up risks and the consequences of not undergoing treatment – and gender dysphoria should be no different.”
The broader trans community and their allies have welcomed the massive decision and praised the bravery of Kelvin, the 16-year-old whose case spearheaded the change.
It’s over! No more Family Court. Thank you Kelvin! 💕 Beyond happy. Relieved for trans and gender diverse adolescents all over Australia. Common sense, decency and compassion has prevailed.
— Transcend Australia (@transcend_aust) November 30, 2017
It has finally happened! Families no longer have to apply to the Family Court of Australia for stage two treatment. It is COMPLETELY out of the courts. Congratulations to everyone who have fought for this. We’ve done it. Thank you for your hard work ❤️🏳️🌈
— Georgie Stone OAM (@georgiestone16) November 30, 2017
This is truly epic. Such an incredibly important decision that will substantially improve the lives of so many #transgender young people and their families.
Huge congrats to @georgiestone16 @LeeHRLC @AnnaHRLC @GenderHelpAus & others who have worked away at this. https://t.co/x7LMHATEaS
— Aram 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 (@AramHosie) November 30, 2017
so ridiculously happy about the family court ruling :’) our beautiful trans kids do NOT a courtroom to tell them whether they can be exactly who they are! incredible result, congrats to all who worked so hard 🌈💞
— chloe sargeant (@chlosarge) November 30, 2017