🔗 Share this article

The Queensland government disclosed private details about the mother of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially exposed her teen – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was accused of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding private health records from parents of trans youth who are considering a further legal challenge to its disputed prohibition on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Order on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order banning the prescription of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the state’s supreme court determined the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Media has spoken to four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the authorities made a decision to ban hormone treatments in the state. Legally, the paper must be supplied under the legal statute.

Demanded Medical Details

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 other evidence which supports your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

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

The email, which has been reviewed by the media, also asked them to “please also confirm if your child is a patient of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the information provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” reads the email, which was sent recently.

Parents Describe Demand as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent described the request as an invasion of privacy.

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

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

Case of the Mother

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or expose her teen, was among those who asked for a explanation on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the agency emailed a reply intended for her to another parent, disclosing her name and address – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a department official later apologised over the phone; the Guardian has seen an email from the department confirming the mistake.

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

“My daughter is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any social setting. She doesn’t like people to be aware that she’s trans,” Louise 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 only to people I deem incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

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

She said the request was “intimidating” and “feels threatening”.

Additional Parent Expresses Concerns

Another mother said she was unwilling disclosing the health background 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 inadvertently be leaked someday, in any way, you know, although that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

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

“I wouldn’t provide that information to any other organisation that asked for it, particularly in the climate of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private information. You would not reveal, for instance, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be hesitant and careful to submit any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Legal Service Weighing Further Action

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

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

Authorities Position on Prohibition

The authorities has consistently said the prohibition would stay enforced until a review into trans healthcare had been completed.