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The Queensland government disclosed private details about the parent of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The revelation emerged as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding private health records from guardians of transgender children who are considering a additional court case to its controversial ban on puberty blockers.

Recent Government Order on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order banning the prescription of hormone blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the high court determined the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Media has interviewed several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the authorities made a decision to ban hormone treatments in the state. By law, the document must be provided under the legal statute.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were required by the health authorities for details of their teen’s health background, including “your child’s name, their date of birth and any supporting documents which confirms your child having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

The details were requested before the explanation would be released.

The email, which has been seen by the media, also asked them to verify if your child is a patient of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the information submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the email, which was dispatched last Friday.

Parents Describe Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

All four mothers characterized the request as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was reluctant to share the information because the state government had mistakenly forwarded her data to a another individual.

“It feels like having to reveal your child to actually get 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 child, was among those who requested a explanation both times.

Earlier, the agency sent a reply meant for her to someone else, revealing her name and location – and the fact that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a department official later apologised over the phone; the media has seen an email from the department admitting the error.

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

“My child is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any social setting. She dislikes anyone to be aware that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever share is out of necessity for obtaining entry to supports and only to individuals I deem trustworthy and I trust completely.”

Louise was particularly concerned about the suggestion it would be “verified” by the hospital.

She said the demand was “intimidating” and “feels threatening”.

Other Parent Voices Concerns

Sally* said she was not comfortable disclosing the health background of her young non-binary child.

“It’s not my information, it’s a seven-year-old’s details,” she said.

“To imagine that that information could inadvertently be leaked someday, in any manner, you know, even if that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

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

“I would not share that data to another entity that asked for it, especially in the context of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private information. You would not reveal, for instance, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to provide such details to a group of officials, essentially.”

Legal Service Weighing Second Lawsuit

The advocacy organization, which represented the mother in her challenge, was considering a second lawsuit, it said recently.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about hundreds of minors and their families and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the provision of explanations so that children and their guardians can comprehend the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Authorities Position on Ban

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