Georgie Stone: Youngest Australian to receive puberty blockers speaks out

The youngest trans woman to receive puberty blockers in Australia has spoken of her life transitioning in the spotlight in a new documentary. 

Georgie Stone, 22, the subject of The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone, which is available to stream of Netflix, said of her experience being a trans teen: ‘It can be lonely and difficult but it’s often euphoric, too.’

‘I want people to see the trans experience not as black and white, but nuanced and multi-faceted,’ she added to TV Week.

Georgie Stone, the youngest trans woman to receive puberty blockers in Australia, has spoken of her life transitioning in the spotlight in a new documentary 

Georgie was born a boy, but in 2011 won a landmark court case at the age of 10 that saw her gain access to puberty blockers.

She later started a national campaign so that other Aussie children who say they are trans no longer have to go to court in order to access hormone suppressants.

Puberty blockers are the first step in what trans advocates call ‘gender-affirming care’. 

Georgie Stone, 22, the subject of The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone, which is available to stream of Netflix, said: ‘It can be lonely and difficult but it’s often euphoric, too’ 

The medication suppresses puberty in adolescents, which doctors say gives children more time to consider their gender identity, but is also highly controversial. 

A British citizen, Keira Bell, sued the Tavistock gender clinic in London, arguing that children under the age of 16 are too young to provide ‘informed consent’ about using puberty blockers.

The Tavistock Clinic was later shut down after authorities said young patients were being steered towards gender-changing paths too quickly. 

Puberty blockers suppress puberty in adolescents, which doctors say gives children more time to consider their gender identity, but is also highly controversial (stock image)

Keira, now 25, complained she had mental health issues which were not properly explored prior to her medical transition.

A number of other countries, including Sweden and Finland, have said they will closely look at the use of puberty blockers in children.

Georgie, who starred in Neighbours and won the Young People’s Human Rights Medal in 2017, said Dreamlife was an opportunity to tell her story. 

London’s Tavistock Clinic (pictured) was recently shut down after authorities said young patients were being steered towards gender-changing paths too quickly 

‘Until this point it’s been rare I’ve had the opportunity to be in control of the telling of my story,’ Georgie told TV Week. 

‘Filming Dreamlife… I’m grateful for this process and the time we had as I was so young,’ she added.  

‘I was 14 when we started filming and I needed time to decide how I wanted to be represented and how much of my life to share.’ 

Georgie, who starred in Neighbours and won the Young People’s Human Rights Medal in 2017, said Dreamlife was an opportunity to tell her story 

What is gender dysphoria?

Gender dysphoria is a feeling of unease or dissatisfaction a person feels over a mismatch between their biological sex and what sex they want to be.

It can lead to depression and anxiety and have a harmful impact on daily life.

They can change the way they look and behave to match the gender they wish they were. 

If children display this behaviour or desire it does not necessarily mean they  have gender dysphoria or other gender identity issues. It can just be a part of growing up

A small number of children may feel lasting and severe distress, which gets worse as they get older. 

This often happens around puberty, when young people might feel that their physical appearance does not match their gender identity.

This feeling can continue into adulthood with some people having a strong desire to change parts of their physical appearance, such as facial hair or breasts.

How Puberty Blockers Work 

Using puberty blockers is like hitting a pause button.

By blocking the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen, puberty blockers delay changes in the body.

It includes changes to breast growth, facial hair, voice deepening, hip widening and periods.

Puberty blockers don’t stop acne, body odor, or underarm and pubic hair development, because these changes are not controlled only by estrogen or testosterone.

Source: NHS UK, St Louis Children in the U.S.

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