Parent of Trans Teen Accuses Queensland Government of Privacy Breach That Could Have Revealed Her Child

The state government released confidential details about the parent of a transgender teenager – information she claims potentially “outed” her child – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure emerged as the government was charged of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding confidential health records from guardians of trans youth who are contemplating a additional court case to its controversial ban on hormone blockers.

Recent Official Order on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order prohibiting the prescription of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

Media has interviewed several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the government decided to ban puberty blockers in the state. Legally, the paper must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Medical Details

Each were asked by the Queensland health department for details of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their date of birth and any supporting documents which supports your child having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

The information were sought before the explanation would be provided.

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

Mothers Describe Request as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent described the demand as an violation of confidentiality.

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

“It feels like having to reveal your teen to actually get a response; like, it’s terrifying,” she said.

Case of the Mother

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or expose her child, was among those who requested a statement of reasons both times.

Earlier, the department emailed a response intended for her to someone else, disclosing her name and address – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a government employee later said sorry by telephone; the Guardian has obtained an email from the department confirming the mistake.

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

“My child is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any public space. She doesn’t like people to know that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever share is out of need for gaining access to services and exclusively to people I deem incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

The parent was especially worried about the suggestion it would be “confirmed” by the medical facility.

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

Other Parent Expresses Worries

Sally* said she was not comfortable disclosing the medical history of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

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

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

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

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

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your HIV status to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to submit any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Legal Service Weighing Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the parent in her challenge, was evaluating a new legal action, it said last week.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was crucial to promptly enable the provision of explanations so that children and their parents can understand the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Government Position on Prohibition

The government has repeatedly said the prohibition would stay enforced until a examination into gender-affirming care had been finished.