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

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

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

Recent Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order prohibiting the prescription of hormone blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the high court ruled the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Media has spoken to several parents who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the government made a decision to ban puberty blockers in the region. Legally, the paper must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were required by the Queensland health department for particulars of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any supporting documents which supports your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender identity disorder”.

The details were requested before the explanation would be provided.

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

Parents Label Request as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent characterized the request as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was reluctant to share the details because the state government had mistakenly forwarded her information to a another individual.

“It feels like having to ‘out’ your child to obtain a reply; like, it’s terrifying,” she said.

Case of the Mother

Louise*, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or expose her child, was one of several who requested a explanation on multiple occasions.

In May, the agency sent a reply intended for her to another parent, disclosing her name and address – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later said sorry over the phone; the media has seen an message from the agency confirming the error.

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

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

“I honor that to my core as much as possible. The only time I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for obtaining entry to supports and exclusively to people I consider incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

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

She said the request was “threatening” and “seems coercive”.

Additional Parent Expresses Worries

Another mother said she was unwilling revealing the health background 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 leaked someday, in any manner, you know, although that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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

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

“It’s such intensely private information. You would not reveal, for example, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and careful to provide any of that information to a group of officials, basically.”

Legal Service Weighing Further Action

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

The head, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the provision of explanations so that children and their guardians can understand the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Government Position on Ban

The government has repeatedly said the ban would stay enforced until a examination into trans healthcare had been completed.