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The state government released confidential details about the mother of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially exposed her teen – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure came as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding private medical information from parents of transgender children who are considering a further legal challenge to its controversial ban on hormone blockers.

Recent Government Order on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the Queensland health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the prescription of hormone blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the high court determined the initial ban was unlawful.

Media has interviewed several parents who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the authorities made a decision to prohibit hormone treatments in the state. Legally, the paper must be supplied under the legal statute.

Demanded Medical Details

Each were asked by the health authorities for details of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any other evidence which supports your child having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

The details were sought before the explanation would be released.

The message, which has been seen by the media, also asked them to “please also confirm if your teen is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the information submitted with the health service,” reads the communication, which was sent recently.

Mothers Label Request as Invasion of Privacy

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

One parent said she was reluctant to divulge the information because the authorities had mistakenly forwarded her data to a different parent.

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

Case of Louise*

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or expose her teen, was one of several who asked for a explanation on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the agency emailed a response intended for her to someone else, revealing her identity and location – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a government employee later said sorry by telephone; the Guardian has obtained an message from the department admitting the error.

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

“My child is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any social setting. She dislikes anyone to be aware that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my core as much as possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever disclose is out of need for gaining access to services and only to individuals I consider incredibly safe and I know well.”

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

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

Additional Parent Expresses Worries

Sally* said she was not comfortable disclosing the health background of her seven-year-old non-binary 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 way, you know, even if that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

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

“I wouldn’t provide that data to any other organisation that requested it, particularly in the context of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. 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 mother in her challenge, was considering a second lawsuit, it said last week.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was “important to promptly enable the supply of reasons so that minors and their guardians can comprehend the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Stance on Prohibition

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