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The state government disclosed private information about the mother of a trans teenager – information she claims potentially exposed her teen – to a unknown individual.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was accused of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding private medical information from guardians of trans youth who are considering a additional legal challenge to its controversial prohibition on hormone blockers.

Latest Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive prohibiting the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the state’s supreme court ruled the initial ban was unlawful.

Media has interviewed several parents who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the government made a decision to ban puberty blockers 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 health authorities for details of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any other evidence which supports your child having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

The information were requested before the explanation would be provided.

The message, which has been seen by the Guardian, also instructed them to verify if your child is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the data provided with the health service,” reads the communication, which was dispatched recently.

Mothers Describe Request as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers described the demand as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was reluctant to share the information because the state government had mistakenly forwarded her information to a different parent.

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

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or expose her child, was among those who requested a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the agency sent a reply meant for her to someone else, disclosing her identity and location – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a government employee later said sorry over the phone; the Guardian has obtained an email from the department admitting the error.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any public space. She dislikes people to know that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for obtaining entry to services and only to people I consider trustworthy and I know well.”

Louise was particularly concerned about the implication it would be “verified” by the medical facility.

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

Additional Mother Expresses Worries

Another mother said she was not comfortable disclosing the medical history of her seven-year-old gender-diverse child.

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

“To think that that information could inadvertently be disclosed someday, in any way, you know, although that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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

“I would not share that information 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 medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and careful to provide any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Considering Second Lawsuit

The advocacy organization, which assisted the mother in her challenge, was considering a new legal action, it said recently.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the supply of explanations so that minors and their parents can understand the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Stance on Prohibition

The government has consistently said the ban would stay enforced until a examination into gender-affirming care had been completed.