transgender
Australian bookstore refuses to stock JK Rowling’s books
An Australian bookstore has said it will remove JK Rowling’s books from shelves as a show of support for the transgender community. The Harry Potter author has faced backlash for much of the year over her transphobic Twitter commentary on gender and trans people’s access to identification and healthcare. This week, Rowling faced more criticism …
Harry Potter star Robbie Coltrane defends JK Rowling
Harry Potter actor Robbie Coltrane has defended JK Rowling in her ongoing trans rights stoush, suggesting the author’s critics are “waiting to be offended”. JK Rowling has faced backlash all year for comments to her 14 million followers on gender identity and trans people’s access to identification and healthcare. Now Harry Potter star Coltrane, who …
Court approves trans teen’s treatment after parental dispute
A 16-year-old transgender girl whose mother opposed her transition can access gender-affirming hormone treatment after a win in the Family Court of Australia. The girl’s father had consented to the treatment, but her mother refused, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Family Court Justice Garry Watts last week granted access to oestrogen treatment for the girl, …
Beth Rep ordered to compensate trans activist Bridget Clinch
The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal last week ordered Canberra newsreader Beth Rep to pay $10,000 compensation to transgender activist Bridget Clinch. The order resulted from Rep ‘liking’ offensive Facebook comments on an apology she previously made to Bridget Clinch. Former Army captain Bridget Clinch complained to the tribunal about comments Rep made about her …
Petition launched to fight Mark Latham’s bid to ‘erase trans students’
The Gender Centre in New South Wales has launched a new campaign urging state leaders to defend trans and gender diverse young people and reject a damaging bill from One Nation’s Mark Latham. They warn Latham’s education bill, if passed, would ban all recognition of trans and gender diverse school students in NSW. Teachers, counsellors …
Queer senator claps back at Pauline Hanson’s anti-trans speech
Pauline Hanson’s Senate colleagues have slammed the One Nation leader after she called for the “rolling back” of transgender law reform. Senator Hanson put forward legislation earlier this year she claimed is necessary to “balance” the curriculum and “prohibit the indoctrination of children” in schools. She claims “biased” teachers are teaching students “skewed versions of …
Nominations open for Queensland’s Trans Community Awards 2020
Nominations are open for this year’s Trans Community Awards, the Queensland trans, gender diverse and non-binary community’s night of nights. Each year, the awards recognise the achievements of activists, groups, events and allies in the local trans, gender diverse, non-binary, Brotherboy and Sistergirl communities. Since 2016, Many Genders, One Voice (MGOV) has held the awards, …
ACT passes ban on harmful ‘conversion therapy’
The Australian Capital Territory has passed a bill to ban harmful LGBT “conversion therapy” across the territory. The bill defines sexuality or gender identity conversion practices as “a treatment or other practice… the purported purpose of which is to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity”. From early next year, anyone using the practices would …
Proud aunt Jennifer Lopez introduces trans relative in moving film
Jennifer Lopez has thrown her support behind a transgender and non-binary relative who’s sharing their story in a powerful film. The star took to her Instagram to introduce 19-year-old Brendon Scholl, her “nibling”. Brendon is the child of Jennifer’s sister, Leslie Lopez. Nibling is a gender-neutral, non-binary equivalent for “niece” or “nephew”. The singer posted …
Govt appeals ruling on pronouns for transgender women inmates
The Queensland government and prison operator Serco will appeal a ruling by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCATA) that prison staff must refer to transgender women inmates by female pronouns. The tribunal found that Serco and a prison director discriminated against inmate Leilani Tafao. Tafao brought an action for compensation because of guards referring …