Women Speak Tasmania (WST) condemns the violent, abusive and intimidating language being promoted by organisers of a planned protest targeting today’s medical forum Youth Gender Distress: Pathways to Holistic Care, held in the Parliament Reception Room.
Today’s forum is fully attended by members of the community, including medical doctors, clinicians, nurses, scientific researchers, academics, Members of Parliament, parents, and grandparents. The discussion is of high public importance, especially in light of last week’s decision by New Zealand to ban puberty blockers.
Internationally, the shift away from the now-discredited “affirmation model” continues to accelerate. Following the UK’s restriction of puberty blockers in 2024, New Zealand’s ban cited a lack of evidence for safety and long-term health outcomes. Many countries are now abandoning medicalised gender pathways for minors in favour of cautious, psychotherapeutic, holistic care.
This Tasmanian forum provides a vital opportunity for citizens, policymakers, and media to engage with impartial, evidence-based information on these critical medico-legal developments — issues directly relevant to practices in Tasmania.
Despite this, protest organisers have circulated material describing WST members as “fake feminists” and “woman-hating trans-exclusionary fools,” while encouraging attendees to bring “noise-making activities” to disrupt the event. Online comments have included references to using drumsticks aggressively, with one participant stating they “know when to use them.”
WST Director Dr Elizabeth Caballero said this behaviour echoes the intimidation seen at the Let Women Speak event in March 2023.
“Women were shouted down, pushed, and physically intimidated while Tasmania Police failed to intervene,” Dr Caballero said.
“Our forum includes MPs, clinicians, nurses, educators, parents, and community members. Every attendee — regardless of their views — has the right to enter Parliament House safely, without threats, harassment, or assault.”
WST calls for peaceful protest only, and condemns the use of violent rhetoric, intimidation, and attempts to silence public dialogue on matters of significant medical and ethical importance.
-ENDS-
For further information contact:
Dr Elizabeth Caballero [email protected]