Parent of Transgender Teen Accuses State Government of Data Leak 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 teen – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting confidential medical information from guardians of transgender children who are considering a additional court case to its disputed prohibition on puberty blockers.

Latest Official Directive on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive banning the use of puberty blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the state’s supreme court ruled the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Media has spoken to several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the government decided to ban hormone treatments in the region. By law, the document must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Medical Details

All four were required by the health authorities for particulars of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any other evidence which confirms your teen having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

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

The message, which has been seen by the Guardian, also instructed them to verify if your teen is a patient of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the data submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the email, which was sent last Friday.

Mothers Label Request as Breach of Confidentiality

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

A mother said she was hesitant to divulge the details because the state government had accidentally forwarded her data to a different parent.

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

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also identify or expose her child, was among those who requested a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the department sent a reply intended for her to another parent, revealing her identity and address – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a government employee later said sorry by telephone; the Guardian has seen an email from the agency admitting the error.

She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a result of the error.

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

“I respect that to my very being as much as possible. The only time I ever, ever share is out of necessity for obtaining entry to supports and only to individuals I deem trustworthy and I trust completely.”

The parent was particularly concerned about the implication it would be “confirmed” by the medical facility.

She said the request was “intimidating” and “seems coercive”.

Additional Mother Voices Concerns

Sally* said she was unwilling disclosing the medical history of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

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

“To think that that data could accidentally be disclosed one day, in any manner, you know, although that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

She wrote back saying the agency had asked for an “extraordinary amount of information”.

“I would not share that data to another entity that requested it, especially in the context of the present environment,” she said.

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

Legal Service Weighing Further Action

The advocacy organization, which represented the mother in her case, was evaluating a second lawsuit, it said last week.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the supply of reasons so that children and their guardians can comprehend the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Position on Ban

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