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The state government released confidential information about the mother of a transgender teenager – information she says potentially “outed” her child – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation emerged as the government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding private medical information from guardians of transgender children who are contemplating a additional legal challenge to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Recent Government Order on Hormone Treatments

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

Media has interviewed four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the government decided to ban hormone treatments in the state. By law, the document must be supplied under the legal statute.

Requested Health Information

All four were required by the Queensland health department for details of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their date of birth and any supporting documents which confirms your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

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

The email, which has been seen by the media, also instructed them to verify if your teen is a client of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the data submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the email, which was dispatched recently.

Parents Describe Demand as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers characterized the request as an violation of confidentiality.

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

“It seems like having to reveal your child to obtain 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 child, was one of several who asked for a explanation both times.

Earlier, the department emailed a reply intended for her to someone else, revealing her name and location – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a government employee later said sorry by telephone; the media has obtained an message from the agency admitting the mistake.

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

“My daughter is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any public space. She doesn’t like anyone to be aware that she’s trans,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my core as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to supports and only to people I consider trustworthy and I trust completely.”

The parent was particularly concerned about the suggestion it would be “confirmed” by the medical facility.

She said the demand was “threatening” and “seems coercive”.

Other Mother Voices Concerns

Another mother said she was unwilling disclosing the health background of her young non-binary child.

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

“To imagine that that data could accidentally be disclosed someday, in any way, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to them.”

She wrote back saying the department had asked for an “excessive level of detail”.

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

“It’s such highly confidential information. You would not reveal, for example, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to provide such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Considering Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the mother in her case, was evaluating a new legal action, it said last week.

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

Authorities Position on Prohibition

The authorities has consistently said the ban would stay enforced until a examination into gender-affirming care had been finished.