Hosts: Ez (he/him) and Bette (she/her) w/ Special Guest Dr Stuart Aitken (he/him) This week on Tranzmission, Ez and Bette speak with specialist sexual health physician Dr Stuart Aitken, one of Queensland’s most experienced clinicians in gender‑affirming care. Stuart reflects on the origins of the Queensland Children’s Gender Service, how the first multidisciplinary gender clinic for trans youth was built, and what it took to shift a health system that had never been designed with trans young people in mind. Stuart also discusses current research connected to the establishment of the gender clinic, including work from psychologist Olivia Donaghy’s PhD — a series of four studies developed alongside the clinic’s creation GeMS: Gender Mapping Study 2017–2021. Bette & Stuart explore how this research fits into the broader evidence base and why it matters for young people and families seeking care. It’s a thoughtful, in‑depth discussion with one of the country's leading clinicians who helped shape the landscape of trans health in Queensland, and a look at what comes next for young people, families and the community. 🔗 If you'd like to listen back to the unedited episode - with the music - head to our On Demand website. And don't forget to follow our socials at Facebook and Instagram. Timestamps and Links: 00:00 - Acknowledgement of Country 00:20 - Welcome to Tranzmission: Where Trans Voices Are Welcome 02:01 - T.I.T. Together In Transition - There's Prizes! 03:24 - Community News and Events 08:29 - Dr Stuart Aitken: Introduction 11:12 - Dr Stuart Aitken: Origins of the Gender Clinic & Early Landscape 15:51 - Clinician Pathways: AusPath, Gender Affirming Network, GP's Down Under, and Other Local and Supportive Clinicians 17:40 - Dr Stuart Aitken: Career Journey, Motivation & Personal Commitment 21:45 - Dr Stuart Aitken: Ministerial Consent, Puberty Blockers, and Barriers to Care 30:59 - Research w/ Bette: 'Screening adolescent transgender-related distress: Gender preoccupation and stability questionnaire demonstrates excellent criterion validity with multi-disciplinary, pediatric gender specialist assessment' - Donaghy, Cobham, Lin (2024) and ARCTYC 49:47 - Dr Stuart Aitken and Olivia Donaghy's Partnership 52:44 - Dr Stuart Aitken: Activism, Advocacy, & the Future of Gender‑Affirming Care - 'Fostering Gender-IQ: Barriers and Enablers to Gender-affirming Behavior Amongst an Australian General Practitioner Cohort' - Franks, Nia et al. (2024) Clinics Mentioned in Podcast Gender Health Australia Gladstone Road Medical Centre Stonewall Medical Centre and Sexual Health Clinic Holdsworth House Medical Brisbane Closure and future Stonewall Medical Centre in Windsor Community News and Events Links News: Star Observer: Amnesty Removes Anti-Rights Report After Backlash From JK Rowling And Gender-Critical Groups by Patrick Lenton Q News: {Hopes for new Tasmanian ban on conversion practices}(https://qnews.com.au/hopes-for-new-tasmanian-ban-on-conversion-practices/) by Rodney Croome ABC News: Queensland hospital settles dispute with psychiatrist Dr Jillian Spencer over gender care by Janelle Miles and Emma Pollard Q News: Rainbow Families set the record straight, perfectly unpacking online hate by Dean Arcuri Events: Trinket Trove's Instagram in Indropilly Gay Skate Wear It Purple @Skateaway Albany Creek, Thursday 23 August, 5pm Trans Joy Meanjin @New Farm Library Meeting Room, Sunday 26 July, 1:30pm T.I.T. Together In Transition @The Cave Inn, Thursday 23 July, 6 - 10pm INBD: I’m Not Binary Day community celebration @Newmarket Hall Sunday 4 October, 2 - 10pm Support Services QLife - 1800 184 527 QC LGBT Mental Health Services Open Doors Youth Services Inc. LifeLine - 13 11 14 Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 How to Support Transgender & Gender-questioning Youth Transgender Map Get Involved Trans Justice Project Meanjin Peoples Pride Parents of Trans Kids Speak Out Protect Trans Kids QLD 💿 This week's playlist: Baby Mullet (@baby_mullet) - Never Knew LXRP (@lxrpforever) - Pinata The Snouts (@thesnoutsband) - Sunset Pearly Stars (@pearlystarsband) - Sympathy Kitty Of The Valley (@kittyofthevalley_) - Krautrock My Guardian Angel (@myguardianangel333) - Bluebird Spice World (@spiceworld_____) - Connie Laura Jane Grace (@laurajanegrace) - Shelter In Place Rae Spoon (@raespoon) ft. Cassia Hardy (@cassia.hardy )- Can't Fail Me Maddie Morris (@maddiemorrismusic) - Live Off Roses 4ZZZ's community lives and creates on Turrbal, Yuggera, and Jagera land. Sovereignty was never ceded. Produced and recorded by Ez for Tranzmission at 4zzz in Fortitude Valley, Meanjin/Brisbane Australia on Turrabul and Jaggera Country and edited by Tobi for podcast distribution for Creative Broadcasters Limited.
