That's the message from thousands of Australians across the nation who gathered to protest a ban on gender-affirming care in some parts of the country.
Puberty blockers and hormone therapies are no long accessible to new patients aged under 18 in Queensland as the government awaits the result of a probe into the care.
But thousands of transgender young people, their parents, loved ones, friends and allies at demonstrations on Saturday demanded the services be reinstated, insisting lives were at stake.
Rallies were held in most capital cities and a number of regional centres. Organisers estimate more than 2000 people turned out in Sydney, where they held signs saying "protect trans lives" and "trans kids are not political pawns".
Trans Justice Project Director Jackie Turner vowed to ramp up the pressure, describing Saturday's demonstrations as just the first step in a series of actions.
"There are some politicians who've taken a lot of inspiration from seeing the hateful US-style politics play out under Trump in the States," Ms Turner told AAP.
"Today's rallies really show that that's not going to work here, that our community is organised, we are powerful, we are connected in our communities and we're ready to stand up."
She said 491 young people and their families have had their health care paused in Queensland, many of whom have been on waiting lists for months and years.
"Trans people deserve to thrive, we deserve to feel safe in our communities," she said.
"We deserve to have the freedom to be ourselves but most of all, we deserve to be included in decisions that affect our health care".
The Queensland ban came after reports that gender-affirming hormones had been given to minors as young as 12 years of age without authorised care in the state's far north.
Ms Turner said there are fears the decision in Queensland could be replicated elsewhere in Australia if it goes unchallenged.
Two days after the Queensland decision, the federal government announced that Australia's peak medical body would review the health care provided to transgender and gender-diverse children.
The National Health and Medical Research Council will review aspects of children's gender-affirming care including the use of puberty blockers, Health Minister Mark Butler said.
Mr Butler has asked new LNP health minister Tim Nicholls to abide by national standards.
"I've indicated to Minister Nicholls that I don't think it would be appropriate for Queensland to continue with their stated intention to undertake an evidence review in this area of care," he said.
"These issues should be nationally consistent."
The issue has come under global scrutiny with the UK's controversial Cass review ultimately leading to its National Health Service restricting the use of puberty blockers in children.
In the United States, President Donald Trump has also vowed to end federal funding for gender-affirming care for children.
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