Parent of Transgender Teen Accuses State Government of Privacy Breach That Could Have Revealed Her Child

The Queensland government disclosed confidential details about the parent of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially exposed her teen – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The revelation emerged as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding private health records from guardians of trans youth who are contemplating a additional court case to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Latest Official Order on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order banning the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the high court ruled the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Media has spoken to several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the authorities made a decision to ban puberty blockers in the state. Legally, the document must be supplied under the legal statute.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were asked by the health authorities for details of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any supporting documents which confirms your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

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

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

Mothers Label Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

All four mothers characterized the request as an violation of confidentiality.

A mother said she was hesitant to share the information because the state government had mistakenly forwarded her information to a different parent.

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

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or expose her child, was one of several who requested a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the department emailed a response 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 department official later apologised over the phone; the media has seen an email from the agency confirming the error.

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

“My child is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any public space. She dislikes anyone to know that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever share is out of need for obtaining entry to services and only to people I deem incredibly safe and I know well.”

The parent was particularly concerned about the implication it would be “verified” by the medical facility.

She said the request was “intimidating” and “feels threatening”.

Other Parent Expresses Concerns

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

“It’s not my information, it’s a seven-year-old’s details,” she said.

“To imagine that that data could inadvertently be leaked one day, in any manner, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

She responded saying the agency had asked for an “extraordinary amount of information”.

“I wouldn’t provide that information to another entity that requested it, especially in the climate of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private information. You would not reveal, for example, your medical condition to the minister’s 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 Weighing Further Action

The advocacy organization, which represented the parent in her case, was evaluating a second lawsuit, it said last week.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about hundreds of minors and their families and it was “important to promptly enable the provision of explanations so that minors and their parents can comprehend the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Authorities Stance on Ban

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