Members of Perth’s LGBTIQA+ communities and their allies demonstrated at Northbridge Piazza on December 30, 2023, protesting the Northern Territory government’s recent decision to block access to puberty blockers for individuals under the age of eighteen. The announcement, made by the Country Liberal Party (CLP) government, included a withdrawal of funding for puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones, which Health Minister Steve Edgington described as a stance against “dangerous ideologically driven practices” within the healthcare system.
The protest featured approximately 60 attendees, who peacefully expressed their opposition despite restrictions imposed by the Western Australia Police. Participants held up masks resembling Edgington’s face, drawing a parallel to a well-known poster that critiques Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s treatment of LGBTIQA+ communities. Following speeches from various activists, the group marched to Yagan Square, where an open-mic session provided an opportunity for attendees to share personal experiences and concerns.
A prevailing theme throughout the event was the fear that the erosion of transgender rights would extend to adult medical rights, as well as broader LGBTIQA+ and women’s health rights. This protest in Perth followed the Queensland government’s announcement to extend its ban on puberty blockers until at least 2031. Internationally, the United Kingdom has implemented similar restrictions following the controversial Cass Review, which has faced scrutiny from experts. New Zealand has also signaled intentions to adopt a ban, although this has been challenged in the High Court.
Recent research published in the Journal of Pediatrics indicated a significant reduction in mental distress among young individuals who had access to gender-affirming treatment. Speaking at the rally, activist Maddie shared her positive experience as a patient at WA’s Youth Gender Clinic. “I just want to celebrate every trans person in this country, and in my life, who continues to live openly and fight for the life that we want to live,” she told the crowd.
Maddie emphasized recent political triumphs for transgender rights, including the dismantling of the WA Gender Recognition Board and legislative updates in New South Wales that removed the surgical requirement for legal gender changes. She noted the large turnout at protests against the Queensland ban in early 2025, suggesting that the results of the upcoming federal elections might reflect a rejection of divisive politics targeting transgender people.
Alex Bainbridge, who has shifted his activism from Western Australia to Queensland, recounted his experiences at rallies, sharing heart-wrenching stories of young people and families deprived of affirmative care due to government actions.
Advocate Stacie Mei Laccohee-Duffield from Queer and Diverse Pathways condemned healthcare bans as discriminatory and a violation of human rights. “Australia is a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and has made commitments through many international treaties,” Laccohee-Duffield stated. “These rights are supposed to protect all of us, every Australian.”
Reflecting on their own journey of transitioning later in life, Laccohee-Duffield remarked on the significant progress in awareness and understanding of transgender issues compared to previous decades. “We have the knowledge, we have the expertise, and we have the words. This is bigotry. This is hate. This is an abuse of power,” they asserted.
Laccohee-Duffield highlighted the long-term consequences of denying youth access to appropriate care, stating, “When we try to force our young people into neat little boxes, when we refuse to accept the truth of their experience, we don’t just fail them, we harm them.”
Despite the government labeling puberty blockers as unsafe for treating gender dysphoria, these treatments remain accepted for cases of precocious puberty, which advocates have criticized as a blatant double standard.
Kate Salinger-Hatter from PFLAG WA appreciated the rally’s emphasis on intersectionality, asserting, “The attack on the bodily autonomy of trans youth is a freeway to attacks on the bodily autonomy of women and people assigned female at birth.” Salinger-Hatter warned that allowing politicians to make medical decisions could eventually jeopardize women’s rights as well, highlighting the lack of protections for intersex individuals in the state.
The protest in Perth marks a significant moment for the LGBTIQA+ community, reflecting broader concerns about the future of rights and healthcare access for marginalized groups in Australia.
