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The state government disclosed confidential details about the mother of a transgender teenager – information she claims potentially exposed her teen – to a unknown individual.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure emerged as the government was charged of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting private medical information from guardians of transgender children who are contemplating a additional court case to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Latest Official Order on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order banning the prescription of hormone blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the state’s supreme court determined the initial ban was illegal.

Media has spoken to several parents who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the government made a decision to prohibit hormone treatments in the region. Legally, the document must be provided under the legal statute.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were asked by the health authorities for particulars of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any other evidence which supports your child having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

The details were sought before the explanation would be released.

The message, which has been seen by the Guardian, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your child is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the information provided with the health service,” states the communication, which was dispatched recently.

Parents Describe Request as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent characterized the demand as an violation of confidentiality.

A mother said she was reluctant to divulge the information because the state government had accidentally sent her data to a another individual.

“It seems like having to ‘out’ your teen to actually get a reply; like, it’s terrifying,” she said.

Case of Louise*

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or expose her child, was among those who requested a statement of reasons both times.

In May, the agency sent a reply intended for her to another parent, revealing her name and address – and the fact that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the media has seen an message from the department confirming the error.

She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a consequence of the error.

“My daughter is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any social setting. She dislikes anyone to be aware that she’s trans,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever share is out of need for gaining access to supports and only to individuals 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 “feels threatening”.

Additional Parent Voices Worries

Another mother said she was not comfortable revealing the medical history 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 one day, in any way, you know, even if that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to them.”

She wrote back saying the department had requested an “extraordinary amount of information”.

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

“It’s such intensely private information. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your HIV status to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be hesitant and careful to provide such details to a group of officials, essentially.”

Legal Service Weighing Second Lawsuit

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

The head, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was crucial to promptly enable the provision of reasons so that children and their guardians can understand the logic behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Authorities Position on Prohibition

The government has repeatedly said the ban would stay enforced until a review into trans healthcare had been finished.