In a week marked by intense debate and shifting policies, two corners of the world—Queensland, Australia, and Westerly, Rhode Island—found themselves at the center of high-profile decisions affecting transgender and gender-diverse youth. The outcomes, however, could not have been more different, reflecting a global landscape in flux over the rights and care of young trans individuals.
On December 19, 2025, Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls announced that the Australian state would maintain its pause on puberty blockers for trans and gender-diverse young people until the completion of a major clinical trial in the United Kingdom. The so-called PATHWAYS TRIAL, which has not yet begun, is expected to conclude in 2031. According to Minister Nicholls, "This pause will remain in place until the results of the PATHWAYS TRIAL in the United Kingdom are known in 2031." As reported by QNews, the trial will closely examine the use of puberty blockers in the context of gender dysphoria or incongruence.
The Queensland government’s decision follows a January 28, 2025, snap ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapies for new patients under 18. That move was prompted by a call for a thorough review of the evidence base for these medications, led by psychiatrist Professor Ruth Vine. The result: a 530-page Independent Review, now publicly available, which found that the evidence supporting the use of Stage 1 and Stage 2 hormone therapy for young people with gender dysphoria is limited. Minister Nicholls summarized the findings, stating, "The Review has found that the evidence base underlying the use of Stage 1 and Stage 2 hormone therapy for young people with gender dysphoria is limited, and further, there is a paucity of evidence about other long-term risks or benefits of these treatments."
Queensland’s move is not an isolated one. Minister Nicholls noted that similar actions have been taken in the United Kingdom, France, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, where regulations around prescribing hormone therapy to children and adolescents have been tightened. In the UK, new patients are currently unable to access puberty blockers pending the results of the PATHWAYS TRIAL. National guidelines are also in the works in Australia, with Federal Health Minister Mark Butler commissioning the NHMRC to develop new standards for the care of children with gender dysphoria and promising interim advice by mid-2026.
Despite these sweeping changes, existing patients in Queensland will continue to receive treatment from Children’s Health Queensland. Minister Nicholls emphasized that "all children with gender dysphoria will continue to have access to non-medical interventions, including mental health and wellbeing support." Still, the government’s position has drawn sharp criticism from advocacy groups. Parents of Trans Kids Speak Out, a grassroots organization, expressed heartbreak over the extension of the ban to 2031. In a statement, they said, "We know from the experience of families within our community how beneficial gender affirming care is for trans kids." The group warned that the continued pause could force hundreds or thousands of Queensland families into financial distress or leave them to watch their children suffer.
Further complicating the picture, the Queensland Supreme Court had previously overturned the government’s freeze on puberty blockers in October 2025, only for Minister Nicholls to reinstate the ban using ministerial powers a mere six hours later. A fresh legal challenge is now underway, seeking clarification of the ministerial directive, underscoring the ongoing legal and ethical battles over trans healthcare in the state.
Meanwhile, across the Pacific in the United States, the Westerly School Committee in Rhode Island took a decidedly different approach. On December 17, 2025, the committee voted 6 to 1 to reject an Athletic Eligibility Policy that would have required boys to stay on boys’ sports teams and girls on girls’ teams—a proposal widely criticized as discriminatory toward transgender, gender-diverse, and transitioning students.
The policy, requested by Committeemember Lori Wycall, sparked a heated debate among committee members and the broader community. Committeemember Angela Goethels was unequivocal in her opposition, stating, "I believe it’s illegal because it discriminates against student athletes based on gender identity." Committee Chair Leslie Dunn echoed these concerns, warning that the policy would not only deprive students of the opportunity to participate in sports with their peers but could also force teams to forfeit games if transgender students were barred from playing. "Quite frankly, that’s damaging to our students, damaging to our student population, and doesn’t create a welcoming environment for the students of Westerly Public Schools," Dunn said.
The committee’s legal counsel, Attorney William Nardone, provided a detailed analysis of the policy’s legal pitfalls. Referencing a recent Rhode Island Superior Court decision and the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court case Bostock v. Clayton County, Nardone explained that the definition of ‘sex’ in state law now includes gender identity and expression, making the proposed policy illegal. "My advice to you will be, ‘Do not approve this policy.’ Plain and simple. ‘Don’t approve it,’" he advised. Nardone further clarified that federal executive orders on gender identity do not override existing state laws or regulations.
The debate also touched on the importance of respectful language. During the discussion, Committeemember Goethels corrected the use of the term 'transgenderism,' noting, "‘transgenderism’ implies that we’re talking about an ideology rather than an identity, and it’s an important distinction. It’s not a term that should be used by this committee or anyone in this community."
Public comment after the vote highlighted widespread relief and a desire to move beyond divisive debates. Westerly resident Diane Goldsmith thanked the committee for its decision, noting, "This is not about safety… We are talking about a minuscule number of trans athletes." She pointed out that, in Utah, only one transgender girl played high school sports in 2024, and no trans athlete has ever been awarded a Division I scholarship. Westerly Town Councilmember Alex Healy urged the community to focus on broader student needs, such as providing free sanitary products and ensuring access to meals, rather than policies that single out trans youth.
Both Queensland and Westerly are grappling with questions that have no easy answers: What does fairness look like for trans youth? How can societies balance evolving science, legal frameworks, and the lived experiences of families and students? The decisions made this week reflect not only local realities but also a global conversation about evidence, rights, and what it means to support all young people.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear—these issues are far from settled, and the voices of those most affected will remain central to the outcome.
