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

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was accused of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding private health records from parents of trans youth who are considering a additional legal challenge to its disputed prohibition on hormone blockers.

Latest Official Order on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order prohibiting the prescription of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court determined the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Media has interviewed four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the government made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the state. By law, the document must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Health Information

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

The details were requested before the statement of reasons would be released.

The email, which has been seen by the Guardian, also asked them to verify if your teen is a patient of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the data provided with the health service,” reads the email, which was sent last Friday.

Parents Label Request as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent characterized the request as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was reluctant to share the details because the authorities had mistakenly forwarded her data to a different parent.

“It seems like having to reveal your teen to actually get a response; like, it’s terrifying,” she said.

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or “out” her child, was one of several who asked for a explanation on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the department emailed a reply intended for her to someone else, disclosing her identity and address – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the media has seen an email from the agency admitting the mistake.

She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a consequence of the error.

“My child is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any social setting. She dislikes anyone to know that she’s trans,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my core as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever disclose is out of need for gaining access to services and exclusively to individuals I consider incredibly safe and I know well.”

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

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

Other Parent Voices Worries

Another mother said she was unwilling revealing the medical history of her young non-binary child.

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

“To imagine that that information could accidentally be disclosed someday, in any manner, you know, although that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

She wrote back saying the agency had requested 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 highly confidential information. You would not reveal, for instance, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to provide such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Legal Service Weighing Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the parent in her case, was considering a new legal action, it said recently.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was crucial to promptly enable the provision of reasons so that children and their guardians can comprehend the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Government Position on Prohibition

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