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The state government released confidential information about the parent of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially exposed her teen – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was accused of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding confidential health records from parents of transgender children who are considering a additional legal challenge to its controversial ban on hormone blockers.

Latest Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the use of hormone blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the state’s supreme court ruled the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Media has spoken to four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the authorities made a decision to ban puberty blockers in the region. Legally, the document must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Health Information

All four were required by the Queensland health department for details of their teen’s health background, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any other evidence which confirms your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

The details were sought before the statement of reasons would be provided.

The message, which has been reviewed by the media, also instructed them to verify if your child is a client of the youth gender service so that we can verify the information provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the email, which was dispatched last Friday.

Parents Label Request as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent described the demand as an violation of confidentiality.

One parent said she was hesitant to divulge the details because the state government had mistakenly sent her information to a another individual.

“It seems like having to reveal your child to obtain a response; like, it’s frightening,” she said.

Case of the Mother

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or “out” her teen, was one of several who asked for a statement of reasons both times.

Earlier, the agency emailed a response intended for her to someone else, disclosing her identity and address – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised over the phone; the media has seen an email from the department admitting the mistake.

She said she felt “sick and unsafe” as a result of the error.

“My daughter is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any public space. She dislikes people to be aware that she’s transgender,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to services and only to individuals I deem incredibly safe and I know well.”

Louise was especially worried about the suggestion it would be “verified” by the medical facility.

She said the request was “threatening” and “seems coercive”.

Other Parent Voices Worries

Sally* said she was unwilling revealing the health background of her young gender-diverse child.

“It’s not my data, it’s a child’s information,” she said.

“To think that that information could accidentally be disclosed one day, in any manner, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

She responded saying the agency had asked for an “extraordinary amount of information”.

“I would not share that information to any other organisation that asked for it, especially in the context of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You would not reveal, for example, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be hesitant and careful to submit such details to a group of officials, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Weighing Second Lawsuit

The advocacy organization, which represented the mother in her case, was considering a new legal action, it said recently.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was crucial to promptly enable the provision of explanations so that children and their guardians can understand the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Position on Prohibition

The authorities has consistently said the ban would stay enforced until a examination into gender-affirming care had been finished.