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The state government released private details about the parent of a trans teenager – data she says potentially “outed” her child – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure came as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting private health records from parents of trans youth who are contemplating a additional legal challenge to its disputed ban on hormone blockers.

Recent Government Order on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the high court determined the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Media has interviewed several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the government made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the state. By law, the document must be provided under the legal statute.

Requested Health Information

Each were asked by the Queensland health department for particulars of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any supporting documents which confirms your child having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

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

The email, which has been seen by the Guardian, also asked them to verify if your teen is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can verify the data provided with the health service,” states the email, which was dispatched last Friday.

Mothers Describe Request as Invasion of Privacy

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

One parent said she was hesitant to share the information because the authorities had mistakenly forwarded her data to a different parent.

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

Situation of Louise*

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

In May, the department sent a response intended for her to someone else, revealing her name and address – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a department official later said sorry over the phone; the Guardian has obtained an email from the department admitting the error.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any social setting. She doesn’t like anyone to be aware that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my core as much as possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever disclose is out of need for gaining access to supports and only to people I consider trustworthy and I trust completely.”

The parent was especially worried about the suggestion it would be “verified” by the hospital.

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

Additional Mother Expresses Concerns

Another mother said she was not comfortable revealing the medical history of her young non-binary child.

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

“To think that that information could accidentally be leaked one day, in any manner, you know, although that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

She wrote back saying the agency had asked for an “extraordinary amount of information”.

“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 intensely private information. You wouldn’t disclose, for example, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to provide any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Considering Further Action

The advocacy organization, which assisted the parent in her case, was considering a second lawsuit, it said last week.

The head, 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 children and their parents can understand the logic behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Government Position on Prohibition

The authorities has consistently said the ban would stay enforced until a review into gender-affirming care had been finished.