Id just love to help her out of that and explain to her why shes wrong, but I dont know if she really wants to listen and thats the disappointing part.. s.async = true; Its unfortunately common to see parents struggle or even disown their children due to their lack of understanding of gender dysphoria but Rebekah truly showed what it means to be a parent. Georgie Stone's hobbies are Reading, photography, learning, traveling, internet surfing and to . // ignored They have a great team and are a fantastic support system., The Royal Childrens Hospital Foundation You dont have to agree with the concept of transitioning, but you do need to be tolerant enough not to spew hatred and negativity towards people who are just trying to live their fucking lives. But the surgery storyline felt like an essential inclusion. document.links = document.getElementsByTagName('a'); // console.log('force ' + all_links.href); It was a race against time for Georgie, and her mum, Rebekah credits A/Professor Telfer for helping them through such a difficult period. They were given the same toys, but interpreted them in different ways: Buzz Lightyear became Miranova - the female space ranger; Tonka Truckstook on female characteristics and carried Barbies. The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone follows Georgie's life and path as an activist and documents the intimate moments with her family before her operation. Plays Mackenzie Hargreaves. I was 2-and-a-half.". Heres how it works. // Load And dont even get me started on her mum. This surgery isn't making Mackenzie a girl - she is already a girl.. As a teenager growing up in Australia, Georgie Stone has advocated for transgender youth rights for herself and others. For years, shes battled the bullies and bureaucracy to be herself. The short 29-minute The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone chronicles her life leading up to her time in the hospital receiving her gender affirmation surgery at the age of eighteen. I had to write to an executive producer to create a role for me. I am not objecting to a man who wants to become a woman and vice versa from doing so, but I am just saying that it seems to me so irrelevant to even care what you were born with when the rest of us just accept it, and it seems they put themselves through such misery just because they can't accept they were born with a penis or a vagina. See You on the Red Carpet Instead, Jonah Hill and Lauren London Meet The Parents in You People, Everything You Need to Know About Luther: The Fallen Sun, Prepare to Laugh (and Cry) with Mo for Another Season, The Three Amigos of Cinema Talk Getting Back to Their Roots, The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone: Meet the Trans Activist and Her Supporters, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. An important part of A/Professor Telfers role involves advocating for patients like Georgie. This set a precedent for changing . I have no issue with gay rights, but I do wonder sometimes if the whole transgender thing is a mental illness because why can't they just accept that they were born a certain way that they can't change, just like if you were born Asian you wouldn't make yourself miserable all of your life trying to change it. Please refresh the page and try again. you'd feel like you were not yourself. By Georgie Stone started a petition to help other young transgender Australians Trans woman Georgie Stone's young life has been marked by firsts and achievements. Their profile remains high: Georgie recently made her debut in Neighbours as an actor playing the first transgender character on the show; Robertson is the founder of Transcend, a support group. PART FOUR - 'Gender reassignment surgery saved my life' About A Girlis released on September 3. (Picture: Channel 5/Jackson Finter) Mackenzie Hargreaves (Georgie Stone) made history when she arrived in Neighbours, and has continued . [20][21][22] In 2019, Stone was named an Ambassador for The Pinnacle Foundation. } w[ l ] = w[ l ] || []; If Georgie went through male puberty, that was it. Georgie and her Mum, Rebekah, are now trying to do the same in terms of access to cross-sex hormone therapy. this is an extremely naive and ignorant comment. Georgie Stone hopes the short documentary about her life - The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone, which recently premiered at both Tribeca and Sydney film festivals - will be empowering for other trans people. if(force != '' && all_links.href.search(force) != -1) { Watch Kaleidoscope, That 90s Show, Ginny & Georgia Season 2 and more. It gave me a greater sense of self-belief and that helped me through, said Georgie. I am turning into the young woman Ive always wanted to be.". Since childhood, Georgie has identified as female, and her family has remained supportive of her journey to be herself. It may be triggering for some readers. Freemantle Australian soap opera Neighbours now has its first transgender character, Mackenzie Hargraves. var change_link = false; The teen has been through a lot since arriving in Erinsborough - from coming out as trans to her schoolmates to finding romance with Richie Amblin. external_links_in_new_windows_load(external_links_in_new_windows_loop); 2. Growing up, it was never a question that Georgie was a girl for her fraternal twin brother, Harry. At the age of 10, Stone was the youngest person to receive hormone blockers in Australia, which set a precedent that eventually changed the law that compelled transgender children and their families to apply to the Family Court of Australia to access stage one treatment. All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone follows Georgies life and path as an activist and documents the intimate moments with her family before her operation. Because there are no roles in Australia. function external_links_in_new_windows_loop() { [CDATA[ It's only because of modern medicine that people can actually do anything about this dislike of the sex they were born into anyway. 'I know what it's like to be on the receiving end of attitudes like this. document.links[t].setAttribute('onClick', 'javascript:window.open(\''+all_links.href+'\'); return false;'); She was the only child experiencing gender diversity who was referred to doctors that year, and only the third child to present up to that point. There are glimpses of the struggles Georgie has faced such as hiding in a cubicle at school, to acceptance from her twin brother Harry who, at even 8 years of age, agreed to keep Georgie's identity private. Georgie was forced through the awful court processin 2015, when her testosterone levels suddenly went "through the roof". And she's well on the way towards doing the same for step two of the treatment: cross-sex hormone therapy. When Georgie Stone was a toddler, she knew her body just didnt feel right. She has supported Georgie through much of her journey. For children in early puberty, medical intervention begins with puberty blockers, which stop the production of testosterone or oestrogen and, therefore, puberty. Australia is currently the only country in the world in which transgender children mustapplyfor the therapy - once again through the Family Court. I would have killed myself if my voice had broken, she revealed on ABC's 'Australian Story'Monday night. Not only in the media, but also in the legal system. We werent educated about this stuff in school like our children will be, so its our responsibility to try our hardest to learn about it now. There are so many trans actors looking for these parts, she stresses, although shes also keen to assert her desire to work on strong female non-trans roles when she eventually explores work outside of Neighbours. A quiet moment between Georgie Stone and her mum Rebekah waiting for her gender affirmation surgery. Georgie has been a real trailblazer in this regard and her story is changing peoples opinions and beliefs.. Georgie Stone is an Australian entertainer who is famous for her work in 'Counsel to My 12-Year-Old-Self' and 'The Doll House Secret' among others. gone above and beyond for us, said Rebekah. Adam Bandt Says Trans Rights Are Non-Negotiable & Wants Medicare To Cover Gender Surgery, We Deserve To Be Alive: We Spoke To Trans And Gender Diverse Protestors About #KillTheBill, Georgie Stone Scores Regular Role On Neighbours In A Huge Win For Trans Inclusivity, Georgie Stone Slams Scott Morrison Over Bung Comments About Trans Aussies. Content Warning: This story discusses contemplations of suicide. The part's played by Georgie Stone. The duo have been vocal advocates for addressing gender dysphoria at a young age, with Georgie claiming that she probably wouldve contemplated suicide if she had to develop as a male during puberty. His voice is often heard behind the camera in home videos of Georgie as a child, asking her questions and providing a space for her to express her feelings about her identity. var d = document, About to make a life-changing decision, Georgie Stone raises awareness and wins wide support. abc.net.au. if(document.links[t].hasAttribute('onClick') == false) { If you or your family are experiencing difficulties, pleasecontactLifeline AustraliaorQlife, Australia's firstnationally-oriented counselling and referral service for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or intersex (LGBTI). if (typeof window.onload != 'function'){ Georgie Stone was born to actor parents Greg Stone and Rebekah Robertson, who both appeared on the Australian soap series Neighbors.She was born on 20 May 2000 along with her twin brother Harrison, but there was always something wrong with Georgie growing up.She would look around her school as a little boy and see what see perceived were all these kids being comfortable with who they are. Young Australian of the Year nominee Georgie Stone . function external_links_in_new_windows_load(func) } The response from fans has been amazing and the trans community have been really supportive, she revealed. Visit theofficial website forThe Dreamlife of Georgie Stone. } Assigned male at birth, Stone won a landmark case in the Australian courts at the age of 10 that meant she became the youngest person in Australia to start using puberty blockers - the first. ( function( w, d, s, l, i ) { [33] She also described her as "sweet, compassionate and lovely" when she opens up to other people. Georgie's case made it through the Family Court quickly. if(typeof window.DotMetricsObj != 'undefined') {DotMetricsObj.onAjaxDataUpdate();} Spanning 19 years, it reveals the memories of Georgie Stone, transgender teen and Neighbours star as she helps change laws, affirms her gender, finds her voice and emerges into adulthood. { Given that the supernatural series became the streamers second most, Just weeks after the Harry & Meghan documentary aired on Netflix, Prince Harrys set to reveal more in a new sit-down interview. As she writes on her website, Transcend, "going through court, all three times, were amongst the darkest times in my life. From home videos of Stone as a kid telling her dad she's "frustrated" that people called her a "beautiful boy", to her own webcam-recorded clips in which her teen self speaks of having a crush on a boy, viewers will see the process of Stone finding her voice and emerging into adulthood amidst all of the noise and commentary around her. } In the Neighbours star's own words, the 30-minute film is about "a trans young person finding their voice and gaining control over their life", a narrative she argues isn't seen enough. While for many trans people surgery feels essential, Georgie stresses that it is only physical - having surgery doesnt help trans people overcome any mental health challenges they may be facing. When your consent is required, you can accept, refuse or personalise your choices. That would be a beautiful full circle moment.. w[ l ].push( { difficult period. It also shows Georgie's circle of support, including family, friends and medical professionals. She continues to advocate for transgender children, and is one of the most visible transgender people in Australia. Thats pretty amazing in itself: the courage to openly identify as transgender; the self-assurancein terms of who she really is; and thepersistence in overcoming stereotypes and pre-conceptions shed be faced with on a daily basis. It's not like you have to undergo surgery to do so. "And thank you for giving me agency over my story for the first time in my life.". And then that second was gone and I realised this isnt my problem, this is her problem, actually. Australian Story: About A Girl, with an introduction by the premier of Victoria, Dan Andrews, is oniView. j.src = If my body had developed in a masculine way, I would have wanted to kill myself, she said in the powerful interview. The short film captures Stone's experiences pre- and post-gender affirmation surgery. She and her family have already been in the trenches for years, fighting a battle to reduce onerous government interference in the lives and health decisions of trans youth. [39], Stone lives in Melbourne, Australia. There was a problem. Expecting to be confronted by hateful comments online and in real life is an unfair but inevitable experience for trans people and explains why so many suffer from bad mental health. Robertson has been her daughter Georgies staunchest ally over the years, nurturing her self-determination and pursuing her legal right to access hormone treatments as a minor. if(ignore != '' && all_links.href.search(ignore) != -1) { Going through the courts is a long and painful process for families often racing against time before puberty kicks in. Its weird, because Im proud of who I am and Im proud to be trans, and then sometimes there are these moments that I just really wish that I wasnt, says Georgie. .custom-menu-item a { Notably, the 17-year-old. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. There are some very public and powerful voices who are against the trans and gender diverse community, so its extremely essential to have representation, particularly in our storytelling.. if (!document.links) { It wasn't good enough for transgender Australian children following in her footsteps. by Lane Sainty BuzzFeed News Reporter, Australia Supplied Georgie Stone with her. Trigger warning: This post mentions gender identity disorder and suicide. The film is made in collaboration with Georgie, who . For a while I thought I was a boy because everyone told me I was a boy, but it felt wrong, said Georgie. In addition, the number of clinicians across the health system in Australia who have expertise and experience in providing gender affirming care to trans . 'gtm.start': Home and Away spoilers: Will Felicity Newman make peace with Gary? With a sultry backing track an, Nine years after The Bachelor first aired in Australia, producers are pulling out new stops to keep the dating show fresh and compelling. // console.log('ignore ' + all_links.href); var ignore = 'https://imgix.pedestrian.tv'; While for many trans people surgery feels essential, Georgie stresses that it is only physical - having surgery doesnt help trans people overcome any mental health challenges they may be facing. Game over. She publicly came out in 2015 at just 15-years-old and in doing sobecame an advocate for transgender children. More recently, she took her activism to the small screen, developing the first trans character for Australian soap Neighbours. After finally resolving her estrangement from dad Grant Hargreaves, the now 18-year-olds next big step is gender confirmation surgery. Since 2014, Stone has been public about her gender identity. [16] Stone also featured in the ABC Me television series, Advice to My 12-Year-Old-Self, which aired on 11 October in celebration of the United Nation's International Day of the Girl. [17][18] The show consists of 37 interviews, all lasting two minutes in length, of prominent Australian women. Also, reach out to the Gender Service and get the help you need. She could've taken it and ran. You can also change your preferences at any time by clicking on Cookie Preferences in the footer of each page. Raised to understand the stigma Georgie faced, he became committed to protecting her privacy before she was ready to be open about her identity. Spearheaded by her mum, Georgies story ended up being a landmark case in the fight against the Family Courts input into the decisions of trans children and their families. 3. Though her family was supportive and understanding, many werent. She was brought into the world on May 20, 2000, in Sydney, Australia and she is 20 years of age now. Visible diversity can have such a positive impact #TheProjectTV. After graduating with an art and design degree from Birmingham City University, she found her true calling in all things soap and has been writing about them for magazines and websites for over 20 years. "I hope everyone can get something out of this story but I dedicate, Dreamlife Of Georgie Stone Tells Her Story On Her Terms, Spoilers ahead. Get the latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more! As Georgie matured, she approached puberty. Neighbours star Georgie Stone has revealed to whatsontv.co.uk that theres a big milestone coming up for her character Mackenzie Hargreaves. Tonights segment shed light on exactly how difficult emotionally, physically and legally the transgender journey is. Actress Georgie Stone currently plays the character of Mackenzie Hargreaves on Neighbours. In February 2016, Stone and a number of other families of transgender kids travelled to Canberra to speak with politicians about changing the law. ", "It should have been my choice, whether I needed treatment or not. She has a twin brother. The Gender Service is currently the first and largest multidisciplinary service of its kind in Australia for gender diverse and transgender children and adolescents. I went to a Christian school where I had to pretend to be a boy and spend weeks in conversion therapy. She hopes to still be contracted on Neighbours in a year, but what about further down the line? Watch the official Netflix trailer forThe Dreamlife of Georgie Stone. 9am 5pm Puberty would've forced her to take on a persona that wasn't her own it would've been a life sentence. Georgie featured on an episode ofAustralian Story in August 2016 in which she discusses all aspects of her life: being born with a penis she never wanted; her relationship with twin brother Harry; the startlinglydifferent responses from her Mum and Dad;and her struggle with the legal system to avoid irreversible male puberty. This short documentary features Georgie Stone; her mother, Rebekah Beck Robertson; her father, Greg Stone; her twin brother, Harry Stone and one of her doctors, Michelle Telfer. [40][41] In 2015, she commenced hormone replacement therapy, at age 15. Stephen Johnson For Daily Mail Australia Im a girl and Ive always been a girl. At 15-yearsold, Georgies testosterone levels spiked again. :Spanning 19 years, The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone reveals the memories of Georgie Stone, an Australian transgender teen as she helps change laws, affirms her gender, finds her voice, and emerges into.. dm.AjaxData.push({ et: et,d: d,ssid: ssid,ad: ad}); Now 22 years old, Georgie is a Human Rights. be true to yourself! Georgies father, Greg, joins the family at the hospital in support of his daughter as she prepares for surgery. Ever since she was two and a half, Georgie knew she was a girl. try this: if tomorrow you woke up as the opposite gender to what you are now, but with the same brain, how would you feel about that? Georgie remembers the "enormous distress" of having to go through the Family Court to access hormone treatment. That I wasnt the only person who felt like this. intervention.. [27], In March 2019, Stone joined Australian television soap opera Neighbours in the guest role of Mackenzie Hargreaves. In a few short years, Georgie Stone has made history by blurring the lines between acting and activism. Watch Kaleidoscope, That 90s Show, Ginny & Georgia Season 2 and more. [26] It was released worldwide on Netflix on 22 September 2022. The hormonal surge, and physical changes that come as a result, would be irreversible. Daily Mail Australia sought a response from Mr Morrison, who expressed concern about the surge in the number of children referred to gender dysphoria clinics. Professor Whitehall declined to comment publicly on individual cases for fear of reprisals. She's already removed the legal stepfor trans children and their families seeking out hormone blockers (step one of transgender treatment). 'A male has a bigger amount of white matter in the brain - it's the part of the brain which conducts electrical impulses. EastEnders spoilers: Sam Mitchell has bombshell news! You can listen to Mia Freedman's full interview with Georgie Stone and her Mum, Rebekah here: You can find Transcend, Georgie and Rebekah's website, here. Trans people rarely make the news unless theyre dead or famous, and its appalling to say the least. It would be like me feeling bad all my life because I wish I only had 4 toes instead of 5. They were born happy and healthy and still are. By that point, she defined herself as Georgie. Georgie Robertson Stone OAM (born 20 May 2000 in Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian actress and transgender rights advocate. From the Conjunction of the Spheres to chaos at Kaer Morhen, its all here. Georgie and her mum are regular people, not unlike yourself or your neighbours. 2017 Young Voltaire Award. you'd feel weird, uncomfortable in your skin. Except, she wasnt. people would treat you different to how you saw yourself. First she was a trailblazing child trans activist, becoming the youngest trans child to receive hormone blockers in Australia aged 10. WATCH: Meet The Trans DJ Giving A Platform To Sydneys Trans Community Through Her Cabaret Show, We Asked Uni Students How The Heck They Retain Information Bc Goldfish Memory Is Defs A Thing, A Rundown On The Dutton Family Tree From The Yellowstone Prequel Series 1923, Sign up with your Facebookor Linkedin account, Please select at least one of the following options to continue. /* ]]> */ She also worked with Georgie to help raise awareness about the need for access to hormone treatment for trans youth. The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone is a documentary that reveals the elliptical memories of Georgie Stone, an Australian transgender teen.Spanning 19 years, The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone is a 29-minute documentary that reveals the memories of Georgie Stone, an Australian transgender teen as she helps change laws, affirms her gender, finds her voice and emerges into adulthood. We are available online and over the phone. Trans activist and actress. It was a matter of life or death: "I knew if that happened, I would've killed myself". . Good luck to her and her amazing family. Georgie Stone is a 16 year-old transgender girl. My hope is that sooner rather than later theres going to be an end to this madness having to go the Family Court, he says. I would really love to just sit down with Jo and explain to her why modern day feminism is so important to include trans people. Schooling viewers about transness in the soap opera since her character Mackenzie arrived. She has also campaigned with Georgie against Australias laws that restrict such access and which they say have prevented trans youth from fully being themselves. But Georgie didn't get the part through the. In September last year, Mr Morrison expressed alarm at a report in The Daily Telegraph highlighting how teachers were being trained to spot transsexual students. .Stone lives in Melbourne, Australia. The 19 Scariest Things to Watch Right Now, 15 Essential Gilmore Girls Episodes for When You Need Your Stars Hollow Fix, Slip into Kate Hudson's Caf-tantilizing Wardrobe in Glass Onion, Plunge into the Continents History with the Official Witcher Timeline, All of the Korean Movies and Shows Coming to Netflix in 2023, Your Place or Mine? Its okay to not fully understand it. A year after marrying, Georgies parents Greg and Bec discovered they were pregnant with twins. Georgie says she is privileged not to carry a heavy burden of shame around with her, partly because she had supportive parents, although she describes to HuffPost UK how the process of dealing with shame is ever-present in her life, much like it is in Mackenzies. Part of HuffPost Entertainment. Stone began studying a Bachelor of Arts at The University of Melbourne in 2019. Boers claims that the court just rubber stamps the recommendations of the teenagers treating specialists. Follow trans rights activist Georgie Stone as she makes a life-changing decision. In 2019, Georgie Stone joined the cast of Neighbours as Mackenzie Hargreaves, the first transgender character on the show.