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The Queensland government released private details about the mother of a transgender teenager – information she says potentially exposed her teen – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure came as the government was charged of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding private health records from parents of trans youth who are considering a further legal challenge to its controversial ban on puberty blockers.

Recent Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive prohibiting the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the state’s supreme court determined the initial ban was illegal.

Media has spoken to several parents who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the government made a decision to ban hormone treatments in the state. Legally, the paper must be provided 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 the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any other evidence which supports your teen having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

The information were requested before the explanation would be provided.

The email, which has been seen by the Guardian, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your child is a client of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the data submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” reads the email, which was dispatched last Friday.

Parents Describe Demand as Invasion of Privacy

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

One parent said she was hesitant to divulge the information because the authorities had accidentally forwarded her data to a different parent.

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

Case of the Mother

Louise*, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or expose her child, was one of several who requested a statement of reasons both times.

In May, the department sent a reply meant 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 government employee later said sorry over the phone; the media has obtained an email from the department confirming the error.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any public space. She dislikes anyone to know that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my core as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever, ever disclose is out of need for obtaining entry to services and exclusively to individuals I consider trustworthy and I trust completely.”

Louise was particularly concerned about the implication it would be “confirmed” by the hospital.

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

Additional Mother Voices Concerns

Another mother said she was not comfortable disclosing the health background of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

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

“To imagine that that data could accidentally be leaked someday, in any way, you know, even if that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to them.”

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

“I wouldn’t provide that data to any other organisation that asked for it, especially in the context of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private stuff. You would not reveal, for instance, your HIV status to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to submit such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Legal Service Weighing Second Lawsuit

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

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about hundreds of minors and their families and it was “important to promptly enable the supply of explanations so that children and their guardians can understand the logic behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Government Stance on Prohibition

The authorities has repeatedly said the prohibition would stay enforced until a review into gender-affirming care had been finished.