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The state government disclosed confidential details about the mother of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially “outed” her teen – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure came as the government was accused of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting confidential medical information from guardians of transgender children who are considering a additional court case to its controversial prohibition on hormone blockers.

Latest Government Directive on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order prohibiting the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court determined the initial ban was illegal.

Guardian Australia has interviewed four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the authorities decided to ban puberty blockers in the region. By law, the paper must be supplied under the legal statute.

Demanded Health Information

All four were asked by the Queensland health department for details of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any supporting documents which confirms your teen having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

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

The message, which has been reviewed by the media, also asked them to “please also confirm if your child is a patient of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the information submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the email, which was sent recently.

Mothers Label Demand as Invasion of Privacy

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

One parent said she was reluctant to divulge the information because the state government had accidentally sent her data to a different parent.

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

Situation of Louise*

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or expose her child, was among those who requested a statement of reasons both times.

Earlier, the agency emailed a response intended for her to another parent, disclosing her name and address – and the fact that she had a trans teen – to a third party. She said a department official later said sorry over the phone; the Guardian has obtained an email from the agency confirming the mistake.

She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a consequence of the error.

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any social setting. She doesn’t like anyone to know that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as possible. The only time I ever share is out of need for obtaining entry to services and exclusively to individuals I consider incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

Louise was especially worried about the suggestion it would be “verified” by the medical facility.

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

Other Mother Voices Worries

Sally* said she was not comfortable disclosing the health background of her seven-year-old gender-diverse child.

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

“To think that that information could inadvertently be disclosed one day, in any way, you know, although that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

She wrote back saying the department had requested an “extraordinary amount of information”.

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

“It’s such highly confidential information. You would not reveal, for instance, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and careful to submit such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Weighing Further Action

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

Its president, 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 parents can comprehend the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Government Position on Prohibition

The authorities has consistently said the ban would stay enforced until a examination into trans healthcare had been finished.