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The state government disclosed private information about the parent of a transgender teenager – information she says potentially “outed” her child – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure came as the state government was accused of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting confidential medical information from guardians of trans youth who are considering a additional legal challenge to its controversial prohibition on puberty blockers.

Latest Official Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the state’s supreme court ruled the government’s first attempt 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 puberty blockers in the region. By law, the document must be supplied under the legal statute.

Requested Medical Details

Each were required by the Queensland health department for particulars of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their date of birth and any other evidence which confirms your child having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

The details were sought before the explanation would be provided.

The message, which has been reviewed by the media, also instructed them to verify if your child is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the information submitted with the health service,” states the email, which was sent recently.

Parents Describe Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent characterized the demand as an violation of confidentiality.

One parent said she was reluctant to divulge the details because the authorities had mistakenly sent her data to a another individual.

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

Case of the Mother

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or “out” her child, was one of several who requested a explanation on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the agency emailed a reply meant for her to someone else, disclosing her name and address – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a government employee later said sorry by telephone; the Guardian has seen an email from the agency confirming the mistake.

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

“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 transgender,” the mother said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as possible. The only time I ever share is out of need for obtaining entry to supports and exclusively to individuals I deem incredibly safe and I know well.”

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

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

Additional Parent Voices Concerns

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

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

“To imagine that that data could inadvertently be leaked someday, in any manner, you know, even if that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

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

“I wouldn’t provide that data to another entity that asked for it, particularly in the climate of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private information. You would not reveal, for example, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to submit such details to a group of officials, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Weighing Second Lawsuit

The LGBTI Legal Service, which assisted the parent in her case, was considering a second lawsuit, it said last week.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the supply of reasons so that children and their parents can comprehend the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Government Position on Ban

The authorities has consistently said the prohibition would remain in place until a examination into trans healthcare had been completed.