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The Queensland government released confidential information about the parent of a trans teenager – data she says potentially “outed” her teen – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The revelation emerged as the government was accused of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting confidential health records from guardians of trans youth who are considering a further legal challenge to its controversial prohibition on hormone blockers.

Latest Government Order on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive banning the use of puberty blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the high court ruled the initial ban was unlawful.

Media has spoken to four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the government made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the region. Legally, the document must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Medical Details

Each were asked by the Queensland health department for details of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any other evidence which supports your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

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

The message, which has been reviewed by the media, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your teen is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the data provided with the health service,” reads the communication, which was sent recently.

Parents Describe Demand as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent described the demand as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was reluctant to divulge the information because the state government had accidentally sent her data to a another individual.

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

Case of the Mother

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

In May, the department emailed a response intended for her to someone else, disclosing her name and address – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the Guardian has obtained an message from the department confirming the error.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any social setting. She doesn’t like people to be aware that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my core as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to supports and only to individuals I deem trustworthy and I trust completely.”

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

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

Other Parent Voices Concerns

Sally* said she was unwilling disclosing the medical history of her seven-year-old gender-diverse child.

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

“To imagine that that information could accidentally be disclosed one day, in any way, you know, although that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

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

“I wouldn’t provide that data to another entity that requested it, especially in the context of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private information. You wouldn’t disclose, for example, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and careful to submit any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Advocacy Group Considering Further Action

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

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the provision of reasons so that children and their guardians can understand 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 ban would remain in place until a examination into gender-affirming care had been finished.