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The Queensland government disclosed confidential details about the parent of a transgender teenager – data she claims potentially exposed her child – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding confidential medical information from guardians of transgender children who are contemplating a additional court case to its disputed prohibition on hormone blockers.

Latest Government Order on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive prohibiting the prescription of hormone blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the high court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

Media has interviewed four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the authorities decided to ban puberty blockers in the region. By law, the document must be supplied under the legal statute.

Requested Health Information

Each were required by the health authorities for details of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any supporting documents which confirms your teen having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

The information were requested before the explanation would be released.

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

Mothers Describe Demand as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers characterized the demand as an invasion of privacy.

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

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

Case of Louise*

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or “out” her child, was one of several who requested a statement of reasons both times.

In May, the agency emailed a reply intended for her to someone else, revealing her name and location – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a department official later apologised over the phone; the Guardian has obtained an email from the department confirming the mistake.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any public space. She doesn’t like anyone to know that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever share is out of necessity for gaining access to services and exclusively to people I consider trustworthy and I know well.”

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

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

Other Parent Voices Worries

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

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

“To imagine that that data could accidentally be leaked one day, in any way, you know, even if that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

She responded saying the agency had requested an “excessive level of detail”.

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

“It’s such intensely private stuff. You wouldn’t disclose, 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, basically.”

Legal Service Considering Further Action

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

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about hundreds of minors and their families and it was crucial to promptly enable the provision of reasons so that minors and their guardians can comprehend the logic behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Government Position on Prohibition

The government has consistently said the prohibition would stay enforced until a examination into trans healthcare had been finished.