The reaction to the Queensland Government’s ban on the initiation of both puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children and adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria was as swift as the announcement was sudden.

“Hormone treatments for the small number of young people who need them are essential healthcare,” says Eloise Brook, CEO of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health.

“The evidence shows that denying access to this care will cause young people immeasurable trauma, contributing to depression, anxiety and in some cases self-harm,” she adds. 

Just to be clear, the ban is meant to be a temporary measure while the Queensland Government conducts an independent review of the evidence on the efficacy and harms of the treatments.