The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone: An inspiring trans story
Georgie Stone is a young Australian woman that is in the business of changing lives. For most of her adolescence, Georgie and her family focused their efforts challenging the Australian government to change the laws surrounding access to gender affirming hormones for Australian transgender teenagers. Georgie herself is trans, and says she has always known that she was born in the wrong body. The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone is a 29 minute Netflix documentary that follows this brave, young girl’s quest to liberate her trans peers in Australia.
The documentary opens and shares images and videos of Georgie when she was younger. Even as a wee lil chicken, Georgie has always chosen to present as female. Fortunately, her family was on board and supported Georgie’s wishes in this arena. Georgie was essentially raised as a girl at her request.
When she was thirteen, her family petitioned the Australian courts for the change the way families accessed gender affirming care for their teenagers. Prior to Georgie’s petition, anyone with transgender kids in Australia had to go to court and ask a judge for the right to access the necessary gender affirming hormones needed to make it through puberty for transitioning teenagers.
“To have a complete stranger make a decision about my body was really distressing and I felt really powerless,” says the articulate teen.
The family got some of the laws changed successfully, but not all. That meant that Georgie was still not going to be able to access the care she needed easily to continue a safe and healthy transition through adolescence.
In several places throughout The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone, the teen utters the same sentiments that most trans folks do: if I can’t have access to these hormones and this healthcare, then my body won’t develop into the person I am supposed to be, and I won’t be happy (paraphrased and generalized). This is a common narrative that is present in all trans stories. The desperation in trans voices, the tears on their faces, the very clear distress and trauma that withholding this very simple healthcare imposes on these folks is avoidable and unnecessary.
Thankfully, folks like Georgie exist in the world who are willing to fight the hard battles. Georgie’s family continued to petition the Australian courts to change these transphobic and restrictive laws. The courts eventually granted Georgie access to the treatment she needed, but mandated that all other trans kids still access the system in the same old oppressive manner (make it make sense, y’all).
This was not enough for Georgie Stone. Suddenly, this was no longer just a fight about Georgie’s transition and her healthcare. In the documentary (and in Georgie’s life) this becomes a fight for all trans kids in Australia and their right to access healthcare.
Spoiler alert: Georgie wins this huge battle. Because of Georgie Stone and her desire to fight for what is right, trans kids in Australia can now access the care they want and need without involving courts and judges. Their families have the autonomy that is needed to safely care for these young people.
Georgie’s mother talks about how much happier Georgie is after receiving the hormone therapy she needed. Her mental health improved, her physical confidence improved, and everything just got better. This archetype of the trans story is so universal but it’s so important for folks to keep hearing this.
Trans kids are disproportionately more likely to experience mental health issues and are at a much higher risk of suicide than their cisgender peers. Providing healthcare and access to services is one really easy way that governments can join the fight in protecting trans kids and reduce these numbers. Instead, governments around the world are doing the exact opposite and legislating against these very notions, denying these folks what we frankly consider to be basic fundamental human rights.
Fortunately for the trans youth of Australia, Georgie championed this fight for them. The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone is proof that one person can make a difference, and one person can change the world. Not all heroes wear capes, however, we think it’s safe to say that for the trans youth of Australia today and in the future, they found a hero in Georgie Stone.
Georgie has since gone on to star on one of Australia’s most popular shows Neighbors the show’s first openly trans character, she is going to university, and she is living her best, authentic life. She continues to advocate for her community in Australia.
The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone is an impactful, positive trans story that is much needed in a world where the trans narrative is currently undergoing many hardships globally. Stream it, tell your friends about it, and get the word out there: trans rights are human rights, and trans is beautiful.
The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone is available to stream on Netflix globally now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all queer stuff!
