Gender Identity Ideology

April 2026

The political forces  acting through gender ideology against women and lesbians are ramping up in the highest echelons of power. I wonder (with tongue firmly in cheek) if it might have anything to do with the looming verdict due in the Giggle v TIckle appeal to the High Court? There’s a lot at stake in a judicial decision on the question (unfamiliar to many lesbians): ‘what is a woman’? Although the UK example shows that a lot of people can still drag their (high) heels to obey laws that have been clarified but that they don’t like.

Gender Clinic News reports that a letter from Reem Alsalem, the UN Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls, its Causes and Consequences was sent to Australia on 19 February, 2026 through diplomatic channels and she noted on 20 April that she had received no reply. The letter expresses concerns about Dr Jillian Spencer’s suspension and termination from her position at Queensland Children’s Hospital after she had stated her concerns publicly about the harmful effects of gender medicine and its practices. 

CoAL understands the diplomatic channels involved our Governor-General, Sam Mostyn. We note with concern that she has accepted the role of Patron to Equality, the organisation that advocates for trans interests and against lesbians and gays and women (eg, Equality joined with the Australian Human Rights Commission to support the case of trans identified Tickle against Sall Grover and her efforts to initiate an online app for females called Giggle for Girls (see Tickle v Giggle and the appeal Giggle v Tickle). Note also that Reem Alsalem expressed “grave concern” over the decision by the Federal Court of Australia in the Tickle v Giggle case (note also her application to the court to appear for the Giggle case had been rejected).

Ms Alsalem referred the Australian government to the  International Covenant of  Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR); the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child , all ratified by Australia. She outlined how Australia had flouted  these UN Covenants and Conventions  with respect to Dr Spencer in the following ways:

• freedom of opinion and expression;
• exercise of political power and public administration, including policy formulation and implementation at all levels, as well as key aspects of civil society;
• the right to just and favorable conditions of work, without discrimination;
• the right to freedom indispensable for scientific research;
• obligations of Australian parties to follow a policy of eliminating discrimination against women, including in employment;
• obligation of all health services to be consistent with the human rights
  of women, including the rights to autonomy, privacy, confidentiality, informed consent and choice;
• right of the child to have his or her best interests taken as a primary consideration;
• every child has an intrinsic right to life and to full development;
• the right of every individual to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health;
• obligation of States Parties to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of healthcare and to ensure equal access to health services;
• the right of everyone, individually and in association with others, to promote and strive for the protection and realization of human rights and to be protected from retaliation for such activity;
• the labour rights of health workers are respected and that health workers are supported in upholding their legal and ethical responsibilities, including with respect to advancing human rights, and that their role as human rights defenders be protected.
• the unhindered access by women to justice and their ability and empowerment to claim their rights as legal entitlements.

I f this long list of Australia’s breaking with international conventions for human rights, appals you, why not communicate your concerns to our Prime Minister?