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The Queensland government released private details about the mother of a trans teenager – information she says potentially “outed” her teen – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation came as the state government was accused of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding private medical information from guardians of transgender children who are considering a further court case to its controversial prohibition on puberty blockers.

Recent Government Order on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive prohibiting the prescription of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the state’s supreme court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

Media has spoken to four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the government made a decision to prohibit 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 Queensland health department for details of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their date of birth and any other evidence which confirms your child having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

The details were requested 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 teen is a client of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the information provided with the health service,” reads the email, which was dispatched last Friday.

Parents Label Request as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent characterized the demand as an invasion of privacy.

One parent said she was hesitant to divulge the information because the authorities had accidentally sent her data to a different parent.

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

Situation of Louise*

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or expose her teen, was among those who requested a explanation both times.

Earlier, the department sent a response 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 by telephone; the Guardian has seen an message from the department admitting the error.

She said she felt “sick and unsafe” as a consequence of the blunder.

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being exposed 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 possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever disclose is out of need for obtaining entry to services and only to individuals I consider trustworthy and I know well.”

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

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

Additional Mother Voices Worries

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

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

“To think that that information could inadvertently be leaked someday, in any manner, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to them.”

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

“I wouldn’t provide that data to any other organisation that requested it, particularly in the climate of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private 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, essentially.”

Legal Service Weighing Further Action

The advocacy organization, which assisted the parent in her challenge, was evaluating a second lawsuit, it said recently.

The head, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about hundreds of minors and their families and it was “important to promptly enable the supply of reasons so that minors and their guardians can comprehend the logic behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Position on Ban

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