Parent of Trans Teen Accuses State Government of Data Leak That Could Have ‘Outed’ Her Child

The state government released private details about the parent of a transgender teenager – data she says potentially exposed her teen – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the government was accused of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting confidential medical information from parents of transgender children who are contemplating a further court case to its controversial ban on hormone blockers.

Latest Official Directive on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order prohibiting the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the high court determined the initial ban was illegal.

Media has spoken to four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the government decided to prohibit puberty blockers in the state. By law, the document must be supplied under the legal statute.

Demanded Health Information

All four were asked by the health authorities for particulars of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any other evidence which confirms your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

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

The message, which has been seen by the Guardian, also asked them to “please also confirm if your teen is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the information submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the communication, which was sent recently.

Parents Describe Demand as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent characterized the demand as an invasion of privacy.

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

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

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal 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, revealing her identity and location – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a third party. She said a department official later said sorry over the phone; the Guardian has seen an email from the agency admitting the mistake.

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

“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,” the mother said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever disclose is out of need for obtaining entry to supports and only to people I deem trustworthy and I trust completely.”

Louise was particularly concerned about the suggestion it would be “confirmed” by the medical facility.

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

Other Parent Voices Worries

Sally* said she was not comfortable disclosing the health background of her seven-year-old gender-diverse child.

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

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

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

“I wouldn’t provide that information to another entity that asked for it, particularly in the context of the present environment,” 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 careful to submit any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Weighing Second Lawsuit

The LGBTI Legal Service, which assisted the mother in her challenge, was considering a second lawsuit, it said recently.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the provision of reasons so that children and their parents can comprehend the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Government Position on Prohibition

The government has repeatedly said the prohibition would remain in place until a examination into gender-affirming care had been finished.