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The Queensland government disclosed confidential information about the parent of a transgender teenager – data she claims potentially “outed” her teen – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was accused of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting private medical information from guardians of transgender children who are contemplating a additional court case to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Recent Government Directive on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive banning the prescription of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court determined the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Media has interviewed several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the government made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the state. Legally, the document must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Health Information

All four were asked by the Queensland health department for details of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their date of birth and any supporting documents which confirms your teen having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

The information were sought before the statement of reasons would be released.

The message, which has been reviewed by the media, also asked them to “please also confirm if your child is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can verify the information submitted with the health service,” states the communication, which was sent last Friday.

Mothers Describe Request as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers described the demand as an invasion of privacy.

One parent said she was hesitant to divulge the information because the authorities had accidentally forwarded her information to a another individual.

“It feels like having to ‘out’ your teen to actually get a response; like, it’s frightening,” she said.

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or “out” her teen, was among those who asked for a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

In May, the agency emailed a response meant for her to another parent, disclosing her identity and address – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a department official later said sorry by telephone; the Guardian has obtained an message from the agency admitting the error.

She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a result of the blunder.

“My daughter is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any social setting. She doesn’t like anyone to be aware that she’s trans,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever share is out of necessity for gaining access to supports and only to individuals I deem incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

The parent was particularly concerned about the implication it would be “confirmed” by the hospital.

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

Additional Parent Voices Concerns

Sally* said she was not comfortable revealing the medical history of her seven-year-old gender-diverse child.

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

“To imagine that that information could accidentally be disclosed one day, in any way, you know, even if that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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

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

“It’s such intensely private information. You would not reveal, for instance, your HIV status to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be hesitant and careful to provide any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Legal Service Weighing Second Lawsuit

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the mother in her challenge, was evaluating a second lawsuit, it said recently.

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

Government Position on Prohibition

The government has repeatedly said the prohibition would stay enforced until a examination into trans healthcare had been finished.