‘To be transgender, I truly believe is a gift, an experience only those born with the gift of can truly comprehend. To have a relationship with yourself that is so interpersonal and intimate within, to have such a clear and concise vision in touch with your soul, your own spiritual energy, is a blessing and I feel grateful to the universe for gifting me.’ – Lou Baby.
Over the years that I have been working in and alongside queer and trans folk to rally, to stand up and say ‘we won’t be harmed, we will fight back and ensure our rights are heard’ I have had many a time when I have found myself surrounded by incredible people who quickly join the call and put their hand up to help. This time was no exception.
At the end of January 2025, the Queensland Government banned the use of life saving, evidence-based hormone treatment for transgender young people. Local trans people, their parents and friends come together to protest these changes and call on local politicians to not allow the same to happen in Victoria. The Trans Justice Project called on all of us across Australia to rally on Saturday, 8th of February, the National Day of Action for Trans Youth, and as a leader in queer rights and inclusion, Goulburn Valley locals heard the call and created a family friendly rally to protest these changes.
The event, attended by 70 people at La Trobe University’s Shepparton campus, invited local people, no matter their sexuality or gender, to come along and share the message ‘Protect Trans Youth’. Face painting, singing re-imagined nursery rhymes, speeches, and a performance from local trans pop star Lou Baby were all part of the 90-minute event. Local trans folk and allies showed up, came with their friends, their children and their love and support, and homemade signs – the best kind! Together we raised our voices, celebrated trans lives and collectively came together to make sure any trans or gender diverse young person living on or around Yorta Yorta Woka know they are loved, and supported.
The event took a number of twists and turns along the way, but through the challenges was true and somewhat shockingly remarkable allyship. La Trobe University’s head of campus heard the call and jumped in to ensure the rally had a space within 24 hours of the prior space no longer being ‘viable’. Brad from Corton Audio ensured we not only had sound and audio, but he came along and stayed for the event too, checking in with us and alleviating the stress of us as volunteers having to manage tech. GV Libraries arranged for us to borrow their favourite trans picture books, and made a home drop off post work one evening to ensure we had what we needed. GV Pride offered their social platforms, a pre- and post-briefing space at the Pride Hub and the public liability insurance that all wall managed events need, ours included. Local Rainbow Community Angels helped ensure safety and protection on site and speakers & performers gave their time to share their voice for change.
People heard the call to show up and show up they did!
On the day, the phrase ‘ready, set, rally’ entered my mind, because in the space of 15 minutes we had around 60 people show up and gathered to support and ensure that trans young people knew that they were there because they cared. We shouldn’t be shocked by this thought, but there is a difference when people collectively gather in mass and show you that in a physical way. The collective power of individuals coming together to join forces and chant ‘when I say trans, you say justice, trans, justice! trans, justice!’, is truly something. I think I will remember that moment for a lifetime.
To the incredible three other people who championed the organising, risk management, collective coordination, held the stress and overall made this event possible; Ren Slade, Jacq Kiss and Nicole Wells, you are true local leaders. You have tenacity, grit and sheer determination. I am so proud to have stood alongside you. Thank you for the work you did in creating change for all of us, and for sharing your gift with the rest of us. We know the fight is not over, but events like these truly matter to our community, and I am so proud of what was achieved.
– Georgina Poort –
💙💖🤍 Want to know more? 🤍💖💙
Local podcaster, Robert McLean who runs ‘Climate Conversations’ recorded the event so that anyone who wasn’t there is able to listen and enjoy it.
Find out more on the event through this article written by the Shepparton News.
