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The Queensland government disclosed private information about the mother of a transgender teenager – information she says potentially exposed her teen – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure 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 contemplating a additional court case to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Directive on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive banning the prescription of hormone blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the high court determined the initial ban was unlawful.

Media has spoken to several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the government decided to ban hormone treatments in the state. Legally, the document must be provided under the legal statute.

Demanded Health Information

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

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

The message, which has been seen 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 submitted with the health service,” reads the email, which was sent last Friday.

Mothers Label Demand as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent described the demand as an violation of confidentiality.

A mother said she was reluctant to share the information because the authorities had accidentally sent her data to a another individual.

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

Situation of Louise*

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or expose her child, was one of several who requested a statement of reasons both times.

In May, the agency sent a response meant for her to another parent, revealing her identity and address – and the fact that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a department official later said sorry by telephone; the media has obtained an message from the agency confirming the mistake.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being exposed in any public space. She doesn’t like people to be aware that she’s transgender,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my core as much as possible. The only time I ever disclose is out of need for obtaining entry to services and exclusively to individuals I deem incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

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

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

Additional Parent Expresses Worries

Sally* said she was unwilling disclosing the health background of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

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

“To imagine that that information could accidentally be leaked someday, in any way, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

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

“I wouldn’t provide that information to any other organisation that requested it, particularly in the climate of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential information. You would not reveal, for example, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to provide such details to a group of officials, basically.”

Advocacy Group Weighing Second Lawsuit

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

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the supply of explanations so that children and their parents can comprehend the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Government Position on Prohibition

The authorities has repeatedly said the ban would remain in place until a examination into trans healthcare had been finished.