🔗 Share this article

The Queensland government disclosed confidential details about the mother of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting confidential health records from guardians of transgender children who are contemplating a additional legal challenge to its disputed prohibition on hormone blockers.

Latest Official Order on Puberty Blockers

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

Media has spoken to several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper 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 supplied under the legal statute.

Demanded Health Information

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

The information were sought before the explanation would be released.

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

Mothers Label Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent described the demand as an invasion of privacy.

One parent said she was hesitant to share the information because the state government had mistakenly sent her data to a another individual.

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

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also identify or expose her child, was one of several who asked for a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the agency sent a response meant for her to another parent, revealing her identity and address – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the media has obtained an message from the agency confirming the error.

She said she felt “sick and unsafe” 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 be aware that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my core as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever share is out of need for obtaining entry to supports 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 medical facility.

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

Other Mother Voices Worries

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

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

“To think that that data could accidentally be disclosed one day, in any way, you know, although that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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

“I wouldn’t provide that information to any other organisation that asked for it, especially in the context of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You would not reveal, for example, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to submit such details to a group of officials, basically.”

Legal Service Considering Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the mother in her case, was considering a second lawsuit, it said recently.

The head, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the provision of reasons so that children and their parents can understand the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Authorities Position on Ban

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