Mother of Trans Teen Accuses Queensland Government of Data Leak That Could Have ‘Outed’ Her Child

The Queensland government disclosed confidential information about the mother of a transgender teenager – data she says potentially “outed” her teen – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was charged of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding confidential health records from guardians of transgender children who are considering a further court case to its disputed prohibition on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the Queensland health official, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the state’s supreme court ruled the initial ban was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has interviewed four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the authorities made a decision to ban puberty blockers in the region. By law, the paper must be supplied under the legal statute.

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 date of birth and any other evidence which confirms your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

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

The message, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also asked them to verify if your child is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can verify the data submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the communication, which was dispatched last Friday.

Parents Describe Demand as Invasion of Privacy

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

One parent said she was reluctant to share the details because the authorities had accidentally forwarded her information to a different parent.

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

Case of the Mother

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or “out” her teen, was one of several who requested a explanation both times.

Earlier, the department emailed a reply intended 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 department official later apologised by telephone; the media has obtained an email from the agency admitting the error.

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

“My child is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being exposed in any public space. She doesn’t like anyone to be aware that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as possible. The only time I ever, ever share is out of need for obtaining entry to supports and only 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 request was “threatening” and “seems coercive”.

Other Mother Expresses Concerns

Sally* said she was not comfortable revealing the health background of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

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

“To think that that data could inadvertently be leaked someday, in any way, you know, although that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

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

“I would not share that information to any other organisation that asked for it, particularly in the context of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private stuff. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to submit such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Advocacy Group Considering Further Action

The advocacy organization, which represented the mother in her case, was considering a new legal action, it said last week.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was “important to promptly enable the provision of explanations so that minors and their parents can understand the logic behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Authorities Stance on Prohibition

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