Denying trans kids the care they need isn't protection - it's harm.

What are puberty blockers ? Why are they safe ? How do they help Trans kids ?

The Queensland Government has decided to Halt Puberty Blockers and Hormones for Trans Kids. The state has immediately paused any new patients under 18 accessing paediatric gender therapies through the public system until the government considers the review’s outcome.

This halt on the prescription of puberty blockers and hormones for minors is across the entire State, for all kids, a brand new Review that to follow an exact same review that was carried out in 2024, less than 1 year ago.

I know this is a long read, but I want to explain why this matters, & also address commonly asked questions. For example I often hear people say “they're too young to be able to decide for themselves”, or “I worry that they’re being coerced.” I will answer those & more.

Most people have no first-hand experience with trans people like me, or what we go through in our struggles to simply be ourselves - so this news, already off the front pages & affecting relatively few people, is not likely to get much attention.

But it’s an issue that has real-life consequences for vulnerable, gender-questioning kids.

Without the right information, & with our busy lives, it’s just easier not to take the time to find out the facts & rely instead on how we “feel” about this issue. Many people think that the idea of changing gender is just “wrong”, & especially with kids. It’s just “not how the world is meant to be.” And their distrust, fuelled by ‘right-wing” narratives that we are hearing more & more of, unfortunately gives “well meaning” politicians fertile ground to sow seeds to frame their actions as being ‘for the safety of the kids’ - when in reality, those decisions, rooted in fear, ignorance, and misconceptions, are likely to hurt & harm trans kids.

Let me give an overview about puberty blockers, what they do, & why they are vital for trans kids.

I am not a doctor, or psychologist & this is not intended to be advice for anyone, medical or othewiser, but simply to convey my opinion, to educate & to inform. 

I speak not just as a trans woman, but as someone well informed on these issues. I transitioned in my late 50s, a long long time after I went through puberty, the effects of which I have spent many years and many thousands of dollars trying to undo.

These are the secondary sex characteristics, which for trans women include hair removal, vocal surgery, voice therapy, hair transplants, facial surgery, trachea shaves, and more. For trans men, the struggle includes mastectomies, hormone therapy, and other surgeries. These interventions are expensive, painful, and far less effective than simply allowing a young person to pause puberty until they are ready to make an informed decision.

Trans women in particular, often have a difficult time in “passing”. Much anguish, embarrassment, humiliation, shame, not to mention cost, could be avoided with puberty blockers & hormones at the right time.

No child should have to endure the trauma of being forced through puberty in a body that doesn’t match who they are. We have the ability to make sure this doesn’t happen, & puberty blockers give kids time before the ticking clock of biology kicks in. 

What Are Puberty Blockers and Hormones ?

Puberty is a natural but irreversible process that typically begins between ages 8 and 13 for girls and 9 and 14 for boys, though global studies show it is starting even younger. During puberty, the body undergoes significant changes - voice deepening, facial and body hair growth, breast development, changes in body shape, and hormonal shifts that shape a person’s future physical identity. For trans kids, these changes can be deeply distressing, as they often solidify traits that do not align with their gender identity.

Puberty blockers are medications that pause the onset of puberty allowing time for self-understanding before these permanent changes take place. By & large, they are completely reversible - if a child stops taking them, puberty will resume as normal. They are commonly used for conditions like early onset (precocious) puberty and have been safely prescribed for decades.

Gender-affirming hormones (such as oestrogen and testosterone) are used later, typically in adolescence, to support a trans young person’s transition. They are not given lightly - they require years of psychological and medical evaluation, and they follow strict clinical guidelines.

This is not an experimental treatment. It is established, evidence-based medicine that has been used worldwide. Truly, it saves lives. And I know - my gender transition saved my life. 

Let me address some of the Common Concerns and Questions that I hear :

1. Aren’t kids too young to understand gender ?

Kids express a sense of gender identity very early in life - often by age 3 or 4 - just like cisgender children do. I am personally familiar with stories like this, & have read about many others. Some kids may experiment with gender expression (like clothing or toys), but persistent, insistent, and consistent identification as another gender is not a phase. Research shows that when trans kids are supported, they thrive, and their gender identity remains stable into adulthood.

2. What if they change their minds later ?

This is another worry that people have.Most trans kids who socially transition (using a different name, pronouns, etc.) continue identifying as trans into adulthood. Studies show that regret is rare. For those who do re-identify with their birth-assigned gender, social transition (like a name change) is completely reversible. Medical interventions, like puberty blockers, are also reversible and give kids more time to explore their identity without permanent changes. I am not talking about surgery here – none of my post here is to do with surgery.

3. Why not just wait until they’re adults to transition ?

Because puberty doesn’t wait. If a trans child is forced to go through puberty that doesn’t align with their gender identity, it can cause intense distress, depression, and anxiety. Early social support and puberty blockers can prevent this distress and make adulthood easier. Waiting isn’t a neutral option - it actively harms many trans kids. The kids in Queensland who are on the verge of puberty right now while this “review” takes place are the ones at risk of going through irreversible puberty & consequential onset of secondary sex characteristic changes to rectify later. This is so unjust.

4. Aren’t puberty blockers dangerous or experimental ?

Puberty blockers have been used for decades to treat precocious puberty (kids who start puberty too early). They are safe, reversible, and well-studied. When stopped, puberty resumes as normal. They simply give kids more time to decide if transitioning is right for them before permanent changes occur.

5. Is it better to let their bodies develop naturally ?

For many trans kids, letting puberty happen naturally means developing permanent features that cause extreme distress, like a deeper voice, facial hair, or breast development. These changes can lead to depression and higher suicide risk. Blockers allow trans kids to make informed choices about their bodies when they’re ready.

6. Are doctors and activists pushing kids into this ?

This is another concern I hear – “what if they’re being coerced & unduly influenced to transition ?”.Doctors follow strict guidelines for gender-affirming care, including psychological assessments and years of support before medical interventions happen. No one is “pushing” kids into transition - if anything, it’s often a long, careful process to access care. The idea that trans kids are being “coerced” contradicts the reality that many families struggle to get proper support.

7. Aren’t parents just pushing an agenda or being trendy ?

No parent chooses for their child to be trans - it’s something kids express from within. Most parents of trans kids actually struggle at first, but they listen to their child and learn. Can you imagine what it must be like as a parent, with the child you love struggling deeply with their gender identity. The idea that being trans is trendy ignores the very real struggles and discrimination trans people face. It is hard, this journey, really hard.

8. Why are there more trans kids now than before ?

The same reason we see more left-handed people than 100 years ago - because it’s safer to be open about it now. More trans people are coming out because there’s more awareness and support, not because there are “more” trans people than before. When I transitioned, I didn’t know any other trans people. I had no role models. Now there is a lot more information about, more support, but still, no-one chooses this path for fun, or because they woke up one morning & decided to transition, or because it’s trendy or cool. No-one.

9. What about detransitioners ?

Detransition is very rare, and when it happens, it’s often due to external pressures like discrimination, not regret. Many detransitioners still identify as trans but feel unsafe to live that way. Every medical field has cases of people making choices they later reconsider, but that doesn’t mean care shouldn’t exist. It means we should ensure every trans person gets the support they need to make informed decisions. 

Queenslanders Should Listen to Doctors, Not Politicians

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH) have condemned this decision. An independent review just last year found that Queensland’s gender services were safe, evidence-based, and aligned with international best practices.

Yet, despite their denials, & especially given the change in the social landscape in the US now with the rollbacks of LGBT, Trans & D&I initiatives, it’s hard not to conclude that the government is choosing ideology over science, harming kids in the process. They say this is about “protecting” children but real protection means ensuring that every child gets the medical care they need, free from political interference. 

What Happens Now ?

If there has been impropriety in prescribing, yes there should be a review, but a blanket halting of care to ALL kids across the ENTIRE State seems like a massive overreach, because there are trans kids across Queensland who need these medications right now - kids who are on the verge of puberty & consequent permanent, distressing & irreversible changes to their bodies. 

This is not right.

So please

• Talk to your MPs. To ensure that gender-affirming care remains accessible across all of Queensland.

• Correct misinformation. Share the facts about puberty blockers and trans healthcare.

• Support trans kids and their families. They need to know they are not alone. It is hard enough.

I am a trans woman. I didn’t know until my 50s. The body I have now perfectly aligns with my gender identity, and I could not be happier. 

But if I’d known when I was a child - if I’d had access to puberty blockers and hormones - it would have saved me from years of distress, the pain of trying to undo irreversible changes, and the enormous emotional and financial cost of transitioning later in life. 

Denying me that care would have been cruel. And denying it to trans kids today, pending another “review” is just as cruel. This shouldn’t be about politics. It’s about basic human dignity, about allowing kids to grow up without unnecessary suffering. Every child deserves that chance.

I am available to talk further on this topic.

Love Bobbi ❤️ Wisdom speaker | Transformation Coach | Trans Woman | Model

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