🔗 Share this article

The state government disclosed private details about the mother of a transgender teenager – data she claims potentially “outed” her child – to a unknown individual.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The revelation emerged as the state government was accused of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting confidential medical information from guardians of transgender children who are considering a additional court case to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Latest Official Directive on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the state’s supreme court determined the initial ban was illegal.

Guardian Australia has interviewed several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the authorities made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the region. Legally, the paper must be provided under the legal statute.

Requested Medical Details

Each were required by the Queensland health department for particulars of their teen’s health background, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any supporting documents which supports your child having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

The information were requested before the explanation would be provided.

The message, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also asked them to verify 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 last Friday.

Mothers Describe Demand as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers characterized the request as an violation of confidentiality.

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

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

Situation of Louise*

Louise*, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or “out” her teen, was among those who requested 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 trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the media has seen an message from the department admitting the error.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being exposed in any social setting. She doesn’t like anyone to be aware that she’s transgender,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever share is out of need for obtaining entry to services and only to individuals I consider incredibly safe and I know well.”

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

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

Other Parent Voices Concerns

Another mother said she was not comfortable revealing the health background of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

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

“To think that that information could inadvertently be disclosed one day, in any manner, you know, although that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to them.”

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

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

“It’s such intensely private information. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to submit any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Legal Service Weighing Further Action

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 affected about hundreds of minors and their families and it was “important to promptly enable the supply of explanations so that children and their parents can comprehend the logic behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Government Stance on Prohibition

The government has consistently said the ban would remain in place until a review into gender-affirming care had been completed.