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

The state government released private details about the parent of a trans teenager – information she says potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure emerged as the government was accused of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting private health records from parents of transgender children who are contemplating a additional court case to its controversial prohibition on hormone blockers.

Recent Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive banning the prescription of puberty blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the state’s supreme court determined the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Media has interviewed several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the authorities decided to prohibit hormone treatments in the region. Legally, the paper must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Health Information

All four were asked by the Queensland health department for particulars of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any other evidence which confirms your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender identity disorder”.

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

The email, which has been seen by the Guardian, also instructed them to verify if your teen is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the data submitted with the health service,” reads the email, which was dispatched last Friday.

Mothers Label Demand as Invasion of Privacy

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

One parent said she was reluctant to share the details because the authorities had accidentally forwarded her data to a different parent.

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

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or expose her teen, was among those who requested a explanation both times.

In May, the department emailed a response intended for her to someone else, revealing her identity and location – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a third party. She said a department official later said sorry by telephone; the media has seen an message from the agency admitting the mistake.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any social setting. She dislikes anyone to be aware that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever share is out of necessity for gaining access to supports and only to individuals I consider incredibly safe and I know well.”

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

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

Additional Parent Expresses Worries

Another mother 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 information,” she said.

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

She wrote back saying the department had requested an “excessive level of detail”.

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

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

Legal Service Considering Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which assisted the parent in her challenge, was evaluating a second lawsuit, it said recently.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was “important to promptly enable the supply of explanations so that minors and their guardians can comprehend the logic behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Government Position on Ban

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