Actress, writer and transgender advocate Georgie Stone has issued a defiant statement to Australians in the wake of recent anti-trans rallies across the country.
The 22-year-old on Tuesday become the youngest person — and only the second transgender person — to address the National Press Club in Canberra.
When she was 10, Ms Stone was the youngest Australian to receive hormone blocking treatment.
She successfully advocated for law changes to stop transgender children and their families having to seek Family Court approval to access gender-affirming treatment.
Speaking in Canberra, Ms Stone described the fear faced by the transgender and non-binary community and urged all Australians to call out anti-trans bigotry.
“We are not going anywhere,” she declared.
Ms Stone said the past month had been particularly hard when anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, toured major Australian cities.
“The most nonsensical message in the public sphere right now is that we’re taught to believe … drag queens are dangerous, but Nazis should be protected for their right to free speech,” she said on Tuesday.
“There are no two sides to this debate. These opinions are hate speech.
“Currently there are no national laws in place to protect us from hate speech, vilification and misinformation.”
Ms Stone issued a stirring call to all Australians to become allies for the LGBTQI community.
“You can’t celebrate with us at World Pride and then scatter when the attacks come,” she said.
“If you want the pride and the glitter and the confetti, then you also have to stand with us when it’s uncomfortable and scary.”
She also issued a call to action to political leaders to increase funding for family support organisations, extend legal protections against hate speech to protect LGBTQI communities and protect access to gender affirming health care for young people.
Ms Stone urged politicians to not be silent when it comes to anti-trans rhetoric.
“I believe one of the aims of anti-trans groups is to make us feel isolated and alone,” she said.
“To those who wish to see us disappear, who dedicate their time to bully and target the trans community you must understand that with each act of hatred, our trans communities and supporters are galvanised.
“Hear this; we will always come back stronger.”
