On October 30, 2025, two very different corners of the globe found themselves at the heart of the ongoing debate over transgender rights and healthcare. In London, the GLAMOUR Women of the Year Awards spotlighted nine of the UK’s most influential trans voices, honoring their resilience and leadership at a time when the country’s political discourse has grown increasingly charged. Meanwhile, nearly 10,000 miles away in Queensland, Australia, trans health advocates braced for a second legal battle after the state government swiftly reinstated a ban on puberty blockers for trans youth, just hours after the original ban was overturned by the courts.
The GLAMOUR event, held in the bustling center of London, was more than just a glitzy celebration. It was a bold statement—one that sought to counter rising anti-trans legislation and rhetoric sweeping through the UK’s political landscape. The magazine’s cover featured Munroe Bergdorf, Maxine Heron, Taira, Munya, Bel Priestly, Dani St James, Ceval Omar, Mya Mehmi, and Shon Faye—each a formidable advocate in their own right. The tribute was inspired by the viral “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt, a symbol that’s come to represent solidarity and resilience among trans women, especially as they face intensified scrutiny and hostility.
Munroe Bergdorf, an author and model who’s become a household name in the UK’s LGBTQ+ community, spoke candidly to GLAMOUR about the urgency of the moment. “I think that it is time that we have the conversation about protecting the transgender community, especially trans women who are being so heavily targeted,” she said, reflecting on the heightened risks and the need for allies to step up.
Heron, who works as a communications officer at Not A Phase, echoed Bergdorf’s concerns. She described the current political climate as uniquely hostile, admitting, “I’ve had such an increase in hate online as well, in a way that I haven’t really navigated before.” For Heron, the escalation has even led her to question whether coming out as trans was the right decision—a sentiment that underscores just how much is at stake for trans individuals in the UK today.
That sense of emboldened opposition was also highlighted by Bel Priestly, the Heartstopper actress and content creator. “I think the Supreme Court ruling really gave people the justification to just say what they want because the media and the government are basically backing their views,” Priestly told Attitude. The ruling she referred to, handed down by the UK Supreme Court in April 2025, has been cited by critics as a catalyst for a harsher tone in public debate and policy.
The legal and political backdrop in the UK has only grown more complex. In early September, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) submitted a revised draft of guidance interpreting the meaning of ‘sex’ under the Equality Act 2010. The guidance aims to clarify how single-sex spaces—such as bathrooms and shelters—should operate, but it has drawn sharp criticism from politicians, human rights groups, and activists over its wording and potential implications. Lucy Powell, the newly elected deputy leader of the Labour Party, minced no words, telling the press the guidance is “not right” and insisting, “women’s rights and trans rights can coexist.”
The EHRC guidance must now be presented to Parliament for a 40-day review before it can become law. Ministers remain locked in debate over its precise language and the timing of its formal introduction, with many warning that the stakes for both women and trans people are simply too high for hasty decisions.
Kemi Alemoru, GLAMOUR’s new head of editorial content, hosted the Women of the Year Awards with a clear vision for the future. “I’m so excited to invite you all to witness the new vision we’re shaping together – one that is unapologetic in championing collectives,” she said. Alemoru described the event as a tribute to “passing the megaphone to marginalised voices, and, above all, creating a space of hope, unity, and community in a divisive landscape.”
Recognition of trans women’s achievements isn’t new to the UK’s LGBTQ+ community. Dylan Mulvaney, a former Attitude cover star, was named Woman of the Year at the Attitude Awards in 2023. In her cover interview, Mulvaney spoke to the ongoing challenges faced by trans people: “When transphobia is so rampant all over the world, and allies and news organisations aren’t sure how to support us, knowing that my community sees me this way and acknowledges my womanhood is all I need to keep going.”
Yet, if the UK’s trans community was being honored and uplifted in London, the story in Queensland, Australia, told a much different tale. There, trans health advocates are gearing up for a second legal challenge against a ban on puberty blockers for trans youth—a ban that was reinstated mere hours after being overturned by the state’s Supreme Court. The initial ban, which had been in place since January, was struck down due to inadequate consultation with health executives. Justice Peter Callaghan ruled that the 22-minute video call with health director-general David Rosengren, which coincided with the ban’s announcement, was “functionally irrelevant” and did not meet the legal requirements for consultation.
But Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls wasted no time. Relying on powers granted under section 44(1) of the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011, he reissued the ban as a matter of “public interest”—a move that sidestepped the need for further consultation. “I have now had an opportunity to consider this issue further and consider the steps available to the government, given that we were prepared for an adverse finding,” Nicholls told parliament. “Having done so, and in accordance with [section] 44(1) of the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011, I am satisfied it is appropriate and in the public interest that I issue a written ministerial direction.”
For the 491 children who were due for treatment by the Queensland Children’s Gender Service, the new ban means continued uncertainty. Those already receiving care have been allowed to continue, but new cases remain in limbo. The mother of a trans teenager impacted by the ban has vowed to keep fighting. “The fight continues and I’ll do everything I can to see it overturned, including through the courts if my legal team says that’s possible,” she told the press. “I’m appalled by [the health minister’s] decision to issue that ministerial directive.”
Advocacy groups have been quick to respond. Ren Shike, president of LGBTI Legal Service, the organization representing the complainant, said, “We will continue to explore all legal options to support trans and gender-diverse young people to access the life-affirming healthcare they need.” Equality Australia’s legal director, Heather Corkhill, questioned the validity of the new directive and suggested another legal challenge could be on the horizon. “The state government has left itself open to another legal challenge by circumventing the Supreme Court ruling to reinstate care under a different legislative power,” Corkhill told The Medical Republic. She further argued, “Denying a small and already marginalised group of young people from evidence-based, effective healthcare does the opposite [of protecting vulnerable people].”
The Queensland government has promised a review of trans health policies, with a report expected by November 2025. Advocates hope the review will reflect the global body of evidence supporting trans healthcare and help restore access to essential medical care for young people in need.
From the celebratory halls of London’s GLAMOUR Awards to the courtrooms and hospitals of Queensland, the fight for trans rights and healthcare shows no sign of abating. As legal battles continue and political debates rage, the voices of those most affected—trans individuals and their families—remain at the heart of the story, demanding to be heard and protected.
