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The Queensland government released private details about the mother of a transgender teenager – information she claims potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation came as the government was charged of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding private health records from parents of transgender children who are contemplating a further legal challenge to its controversial ban on hormone blockers.

Latest Official Directive on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order banning the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court ruled the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Media has interviewed four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the government decided to prohibit puberty blockers in the region. By law, the paper must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were asked by the health authorities for details of their teen’s health background, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any other evidence which supports your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender identity disorder”.

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

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 confirm the data provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” reads the communication, which was dispatched last Friday.

Mothers Describe Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

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

One parent said she was hesitant to share the information because the state government had mistakenly sent her data to a different parent.

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

Case of the Mother

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or expose her child, was among those who asked for a explanation on multiple occasions.

In May, the agency emailed a response intended for her to someone else, disclosing her identity and address – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a department official later said sorry over the phone; the Guardian has obtained an message from the department admitting the mistake.

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

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

“I honor that to my core as much as possible. The sole occasion I ever disclose is out of necessity for obtaining entry to services and only to individuals I consider trustworthy and I know well.”

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

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

Other Parent Voices Worries

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

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

“To think that that data could inadvertently be disclosed someday, in any manner, you know, even if that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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, especially in the climate of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential information. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to provide any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Considering Further Action

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

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was “important to promptly enable the supply of reasons 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”.

Authorities Stance on Prohibition

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