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The Queensland government disclosed confidential details about the mother of a trans teenager – information she claims potentially “outed” her teen – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure came as the government was charged of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding confidential medical information from parents of trans youth who are considering a additional court case to its controversial prohibition on hormone blockers.

Latest Official Directive on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the Queensland health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order prohibiting the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the state’s supreme court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

Media has spoken to four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the government decided to ban hormone treatments in the region. By law, the paper must be provided under the legal statute.

Requested 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 other evidence which supports 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 reviewed by the Guardian, also asked 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 Children’s Health Queensland,” states the communication, which was dispatched recently.

Parents Label Request as Invasion of Privacy

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

One parent said she was hesitant to share the information because the authorities had mistakenly sent her data to a another individual.

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

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or “out” her child, was among those who asked for a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

In May, the department sent a reply meant for her to someone else, disclosing her identity and location – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a government employee later said sorry over the phone; the media has obtained an message from the agency confirming the mistake.

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

“My child is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any social setting. She doesn’t like anyone to be aware that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I respect 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 consider trustworthy and I trust completely.”

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

She said the request was “intimidating” and “seems coercive”.

Other Mother Voices Concerns

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

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

“To think that that data could accidentally be disclosed someday, in any manner, you know, although that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

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

“I would not share that information to any other organisation that asked for it, especially in the context of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You would not reveal, for instance, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to submit such details to a group of officials, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Considering Further Action

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

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was “important to promptly enable the supply of explanations so that minors and their parents can understand the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Stance on Prohibition

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