🔗 Share this article

The Queensland government disclosed confidential details about the parent of a transgender teenager – information she says potentially exposed her teen – to a stranger.

Accusations 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 parents of transgender children who are contemplating a further court case to its disputed prohibition on hormone blockers.

Latest Official Order on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

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

Requested Health Information

Each were asked by the Queensland health department for particulars of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any other evidence which confirms your teen having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

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

The message, which has been seen by the Guardian, also asked them to “please also confirm if your child is a patient of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the information submitted with the health service,” states the email, which was dispatched last Friday.

Parents Describe Request as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent characterized the request as an violation of confidentiality.

One parent said she was reluctant to divulge the details because the state government had mistakenly sent her information to a another individual.

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

Case of the Mother

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or “out” her teen, was among those who asked for a explanation both times.

In May, the agency emailed a response intended for her to another parent, disclosing her identity and location – and the fact that she had a trans teen – to a third party. She said a government employee later apologised over the phone; the Guardian has seen an message from the department confirming the error.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any public space. She doesn’t like anyone to be aware that she’s trans,” Louise 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 gaining access to supports and exclusively to people I deem trustworthy and I know well.”

The parent was particularly concerned about the suggestion it would be “confirmed” by the hospital.

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

Additional Parent Voices Concerns

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

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

“To imagine that that information could inadvertently be leaked one day, in any manner, you know, even if that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to them.”

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

“I would not share that data to any other organisation that asked for it, especially in the climate of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private stuff. You would not reveal, for instance, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to submit any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Considering Further Action

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

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the provision of reasons so that children and their guardians can understand the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Government Stance on Ban

The government has repeatedly said the ban would remain in place until a review into trans healthcare had been completed.