A courageous Queensland Health psychiatrist who was suspended for daring to question the “affirmation model” at the Queensland Children’s Gender Service says she now feels vindicated.
Dr Jillian Spencer should be reinstated immediately, and the new Health Minister Tim Nicholls should offer her a public apology.
So should Shannon Fentiman, who championed transgender rights as health minister and minister for women in the last government.
Spencer believed many young people complaining of gender-related distress or “gender dysphoria” may in fact be suffering from autism spectrum disorder or have hidden traumas or distress due to family breakdowns or bullying and exclusion at school.
In England, a landmark four-year study by Dr Hilary Cass exposed the “shaky foundations” on which the National Health Service allowed the growth in gender identity services.
The NHS has now banned puberty blockers for those under 18.
In the US, the American Society of Pediatricians has called for gender clinics to stop using puberty blockers. And it has called for an end to social affirmation and trans support programs like those still operating in Queensland state schools.
President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to defund gender clinics and ban puberty blockers.
Spencer, 47, who had an unblemished record at Queensland Health for two decades, was suspended on full pay 19 months ago after she drew criticism for not fully accepting the “affirmation model” – well before the Cass report was released.
Spencer refused to drink the Kool-Aid. In response she was directed to use children’s preferred personal pronouns.
In documents filed with the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, psychiatrist Jillian Spencer alleges that her human rights were breached when Queensland Health stood her down for her gender-critical beliefs.
In three other cases she is asking the QIRC to give her whistleblower status.