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The Queensland government released private details about the mother of a transgender teenager – data she says potentially exposed her child – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

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

Recent Official Order on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the Queensland health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order prohibiting the prescription of hormone blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the high court determined the initial ban was illegal.

Guardian Australia 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 decided to prohibit puberty blockers in the state. By law, the paper must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Medical Details

All four were required by the Queensland health department 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 requested before the statement of reasons would be provided.

The message, which has been seen by the media, also instructed them to verify if your child is a client of the youth gender service so that we can verify the information submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the email, which was sent last Friday.

Mothers Label Request as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent characterized the demand as an invasion of privacy.

One parent said she was reluctant to divulge the information because the state government had mistakenly forwarded her information to a another individual.

“It feels like having to ‘out’ your child 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 child, was among those who requested a explanation both times.

In May, the agency sent a reply intended for her to someone else, revealing her identity and address – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a department official later said sorry over the phone; the Guardian has seen an message from the department admitting the mistake.

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 social setting. She dislikes anyone to be aware that she’s trans,” the mother said.

“I honor that to my core as much as possible. The sole occasion I ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to supports and only to people I consider 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 “threatening” and “seems coercive”.

Additional Parent Voices Worries

Another mother said she was not comfortable revealing the medical history of her young non-binary child.

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

“To imagine that that data could accidentally be leaked one day, in any way, you know, even if that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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

“I wouldn’t provide that information to any other organisation that requested it, especially in the context of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private information. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your HIV status to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to provide any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Legal Service Considering Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the mother in her challenge, was considering a new legal action, it said last week.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was crucial to promptly enable the provision of reasons so that minors and their parents can comprehend the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Government Position on Ban

The government has consistently said the ban would stay enforced until a review into trans healthcare had been finished.