Mother of Transgender Teen Alleges Queensland Government of Data Leak That Could Have ‘Outed’ Her Child

The Queensland government disclosed private information about the parent of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially exposed her child – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the government was charged of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding confidential medical information from guardians of trans youth who are contemplating a additional legal challenge to its controversial ban on puberty blockers.

Latest Official Directive on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the high court ruled the initial ban was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has spoken to several parents who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the authorities made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the region. By law, the paper must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Health Information

Each were required by the Queensland health department for particulars of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their date of birth and any supporting documents which supports your child having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

The information 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 client of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the data provided with the health service,” reads the communication, which was sent last Friday.

Parents Label Demand as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent characterized the demand as an violation of confidentiality.

A mother said she was reluctant to divulge the information because the authorities had accidentally sent her data to a different parent.

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

Case of the Mother

Louise*, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or “out” her teen, was one of several who asked for a statement of reasons both times.

In May, the department sent a reply intended for her to someone else, revealing her identity and address – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the Guardian has obtained an email from the department confirming the error.

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

“My child is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any public space. She dislikes people to be aware that she’s transgender,” the mother said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as possible. The sole occasion I ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to supports and only to individuals I consider incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

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

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

Other Parent Expresses Concerns

Another mother said she was unwilling revealing the medical history of her young non-binary child.

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

“To think that that data could inadvertently be disclosed one day, in any way, you know, even if that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to them.”

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

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

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to submit any of that information to a group of officials, basically.”

Legal Service Considering Second Lawsuit

The LGBTI Legal Service, which assisted the parent in her challenge, was considering a second lawsuit, it said last week.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the supply of explanations so that children and their guardians can comprehend the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Government Position on Prohibition

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