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

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation came as the state government was accused of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting private medical information from parents of transgender children who are contemplating a additional legal challenge to its controversial ban on puberty blockers.

Recent Official Directive on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the Queensland health official, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the state’s supreme court ruled the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

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

Requested Health Information

Each were required by the health authorities for particulars of their teen’s health background, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any supporting documents which supports your teen having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

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

The message, which has been seen by the media, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your teen is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the information provided with the health service,” states the communication, which was sent recently.

Parents Describe Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent characterized the demand as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was hesitant to share the information because the authorities had accidentally forwarded her data to a another individual.

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

Case of Louise*

Louise*, who must remain anonymous because it would also identify or “out” her child, was among those who requested a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the agency emailed a reply meant for her to someone else, disclosing her name and location – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a department official later apologised by telephone; the Guardian has seen an email from the department admitting the mistake.

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

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

“I respect that to my core as much as possible. The only time I ever share is out of need for gaining access to supports and only to individuals I consider incredibly safe and I know well.”

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”.

Additional Parent Voices Concerns

Sally* said she was unwilling revealing the medical history of her seven-year-old gender-diverse child.

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

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

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

“I wouldn’t provide that data to any other organisation that requested it, especially in the climate of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You would not reveal, for instance, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to provide such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Advocacy Group Considering Second Lawsuit

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

The head, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was crucial to promptly enable the supply of explanations so that minors and their parents can understand the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Authorities Position on Ban

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