🔗 Share this article

The Queensland government released private details about the parent of a trans teenager – information she says potentially exposed her teen – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation came as the government was accused of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding confidential medical information from parents of trans youth who are considering a further legal challenge to its controversial prohibition on puberty blockers.

Recent Official Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the high court determined the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has spoken to several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the government decided to prohibit hormone treatments in the region. Legally, the document must be supplied under the legal statute.

Requested 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 identity disorder”.

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

The email, which has been seen by the media, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your child is a patient of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the information provided with the health service,” reads the email, which was sent recently.

Parents Label Demand as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent characterized the request as an violation of confidentiality.

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

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

Case of the Mother

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

In May, the department emailed a reply intended for her to another parent, revealing her name and location – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a department official later apologised over the phone; the media has obtained an email from the department admitting the error.

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

“My child is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any social setting. She doesn’t like people to be aware that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my core as much as possible. The only time I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for obtaining entry to supports and exclusively to people I deem incredibly safe and I know well.”

Louise was especially worried about the suggestion it would be “confirmed” by the hospital.

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

Other Mother Expresses Worries

Sally* said she was not comfortable disclosing the medical history of her seven-year-old gender-diverse child.

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

“To think that that information could accidentally be disclosed one day, in any manner, you know, even if that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

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

“I would not share that data to another entity 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 example, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to submit such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Legal Service Weighing Second Lawsuit

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the mother in her challenge, was considering a second lawsuit, it said last week.

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

Authorities Position on Ban

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