🔗 Share this article

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

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was accused of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding private health records from guardians of trans youth who are considering a further legal challenge to its controversial ban on puberty blockers.

Recent Official Order on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive banning the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the state’s supreme court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

Guardian Australia has interviewed several parents who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the authorities decided to prohibit hormone treatments in the region. Legally, the paper must be provided under the legal statute.

Requested Health Information

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

The details were sought before the statement of reasons would be provided.

The email, which has been reviewed by the media, also asked them to verify if your teen is a patient of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the information submitted with the health service,” reads the email, which was dispatched recently.

Mothers Label Request as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent described the demand as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was hesitant to divulge the information because the authorities had mistakenly sent her data to a another individual.

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

Case of Louise*

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or expose her child, was one of several who asked for a statement of reasons both times.

In May, the department emailed a response meant for her to another parent, revealing her identity and address – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a government employee later said sorry over the phone; the media has seen an message 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 deeply afraid of being outed in any public space. She doesn’t like people to know that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my core as much as possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for obtaining entry to services and exclusively to individuals I deem incredibly safe and I know well.”

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

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

Additional Parent Expresses Worries

Another mother said she was not comfortable disclosing the health background of her seven-year-old gender-diverse child.

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

“To imagine that that information could accidentally be disclosed one day, in any manner, you know, even if that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

She responded saying the agency had requested an “extraordinary amount of information”.

“I would not share that information to another entity that requested it, especially in the climate of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You would not reveal, for example, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to submit such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Legal Service Considering Second Lawsuit

The advocacy organization, which assisted the parent in her case, was evaluating a new legal action, it said recently.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was crucial to promptly enable the supply of reasons so that children and their parents can comprehend the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Authorities Stance on Ban

The authorities has repeatedly said the prohibition would remain in place until a review into trans healthcare had been finished.