It would probably be illegal for Victorian families to do what their British counterparts are doing, and sue LGBTQ+ child gender clinics for harming their children.

News broke last week that up to 1,000 families are considering joining a class action against London’s Tavistock child gender clinic after it was shut down by authorities following a review.

Australian experts have warned similar action against our child gender clinics might follow, although it is uncertain if this would be possible in Victoria.

Premier Daniel Andrews’ so-called anti-conversion therapy laws make it illegal for anyone, including parents of a gender-confused child, to do anything other than ‘affirm’ the child’s gender confusion. Previously, it was considered correct medical practice to challenge a child’s position to ensure they are consistent and serious.

Labor’s Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act, not opposed by the Liberals and supported by several in the Upper House, almost certainly means Victoria’s child gender clinics would be protected from the type of action victims’ families are taking against Tavistock.

As stated by Victoria’s Human Rights Commission:

Change or suppression practices are deeply harmful practices which seek to change or hide an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. They are sometimes referred to as ‘gay conversion’ practices or ‘conversion therapy’.

These practices are not supported by medical research. There is no evidence that sexual orientation or gender identity can be changed or suppressed.

Practices can include teachings, counselling, spiritual care activities, or other psychological or medical interventions based on the ideology that there is something wrong or broken about people with diverse sexualities or gender identities.

The following chilling warning also appears on their website:

‘It is against the law for someone to try to change or suppress – or make you change or suppress – your sexual orientation or gender identity, even if you ask for help to do so.’

Decoded, this means that if a child wants help to feel comfortable in their biological body, they are not allowed to receive it even from their parents.

It doesn’t matter how much damage a gender clinic does to a child who later regrets taking puberty blockers that have led to life-long sterility or potential loss of sexual function, help that doesn’t ‘affirm’ the original gender confusion is verboten.

Jail terms apply to anyone, including parents, who respond to such a cry for help.

This means a child who regrets the chemical and surgical alternation of his or her body and wants to join the growing number of de-transitioners must remain trapped for life, cut off from all alternative help.

Child gender clinics around the world chemically and sometimes physically castrate children and offer double mastectomies to girls.

The head of the Royal Children’s Hospital Gender Service in Melbourne, Dr Michelle Telfer, is on the record saying she would like to see taxpayer money used to fund the surgical removal of breasts for confused girls under the age of 18.

Don’t take my word for it, here’s what Telfer told a Victorian Royal Commission in 2019 (paragraph 51, page 10):

‘Of the 269 new patient referrals in 2018, approximately two thirds were post-pubertal trans males, many of whom were requesting gender affirming surgical services in the form of chest reconstructive surgery. The RCHGS does not currently have the resources to support chest reconstructive surgery although it does have the surgical expertise to carry out this procedure. There are also no private surgical services available for TGD adolescents under the age of 18 years in Victoria, leaving them with no option but to seek chest reconstructive surgery interstate or overseas should they be unable to manage their distress until they turn 18 years of age.’

‘Reconstructive surgery’ here is a euphemism for removing girls’ healthy breasts.

When will our politicians act?

Family First has launched a petition calling on the Albanese government to shut the gender clinics.

Family First will be running candidates at the Victorian election who will be courageous voices for children harmed by rainbow ideology.

The draconian ‘conversion therapy’ law in Victoria means the parliamentary privilege of an elected member will be one of the few avenues left to a shine light on the secretive gender clinics.

Given Labor, Liberal, and Greens support of rainbow politics, Family First members of Parliament will be needed to protect parents’ rights and children from harm.

Lyle Shelton is National Director of Family First.

 

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