Mother of Trans Teen Accuses Queensland Government of Privacy Breach That Could Have ‘Outed’ Her Child

The state government released confidential details about the mother of a transgender teenager – data she says potentially exposed her child – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding private health records from guardians of transgender children who are contemplating a additional legal challenge to its controversial ban on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Order on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for transgender patients, shortly 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 detailed account of why the authorities decided to ban puberty blockers in the state. 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 details of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any other evidence which supports your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

The information were requested before the statement of reasons would be released.

The email, which has been seen by the Guardian, also asked them to “please also confirm if your child is a client of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the information submitted with the health service,” reads the email, which was sent last Friday.

Parents Describe Demand as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent characterized the demand as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was reluctant to share the details because the state government had accidentally forwarded her information to a different parent.

“It seems like having to reveal your child to obtain a response; 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 one of several who asked for a statement of reasons both times.

Earlier, the department sent a reply meant for her to another parent, revealing her identity and address – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a third party. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the media has obtained an message from the department confirming the error.

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

“My daughter is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any social setting. She doesn’t like people to know that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my core as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to services and exclusively to people I deem incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

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

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

Other Parent Voices Worries

Sally* said she was not comfortable disclosing the health background of her young non-binary child.

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

“To think that that information could accidentally be leaked one day, in any way, you know, although that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to them.”

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

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

“It’s such intensely private stuff. You would not reveal, for example, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to submit such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Legal Service Considering Second Lawsuit

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

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was “important to promptly enable the supply of explanations so that children and their parents can comprehend the logic behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Government Stance on Prohibition

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