🔗 Share this article

The state government released confidential information about the parent of a trans teenager – information she claims potentially “outed” her teen – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure emerged as the government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting private medical information from guardians of transgender children who are contemplating a further court case to its controversial ban on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Order on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order banning the use of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the state’s supreme court determined the initial ban was illegal.

Guardian Australia has spoken to four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the authorities made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the region. By law, the document must be provided under the legal statute.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were required by the health authorities for details of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their date of birth and any other evidence which supports your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

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

The email, which has been seen by the Guardian, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your teen is a client of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the data provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the email, which was dispatched recently.

Mothers Label Demand as Invasion of Privacy

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

A mother said she was reluctant to divulge the details because the authorities had accidentally sent her information to a different parent.

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

Situation 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 both times.

In May, the agency sent a response intended for her to someone else, revealing her identity 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 media has seen an email from the agency confirming the mistake.

She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a consequence of the blunder.

“My daughter is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any public space. She doesn’t like people to know that she’s transgender,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my core as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever disclose is out of need for gaining access to supports and only to individuals I consider incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

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

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

Additional Parent Expresses Worries

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

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

“To think that that data could inadvertently be disclosed one day, in any way, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to them.”

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

“I would not share that data to another entity that requested it, particularly in the climate of the present environment,” 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 very reluctant and very cautious to submit any of that information to a group of officials, basically.”

Legal Service Considering Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which assisted the parent in her challenge, was considering a new legal action, it said recently.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the supply of explanations so that children and their guardians can comprehend the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Government Stance on Ban

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