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The Queensland government released private details about the parent of a transgender teenager – information she says potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The revelation came as the state government was accused of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding confidential medical information from guardians of trans youth who are contemplating a additional court case to its disputed ban on hormone blockers.

Recent Government Order on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive banning the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the state’s supreme court determined the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Media has interviewed several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the authorities decided to prohibit puberty blockers in the state. Legally, the document must be provided under the legal statute.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were asked by the health authorities for details of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their date of birth and any other evidence which supports your child having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

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

The email, 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 confirm the information submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the communication, which was sent last Friday.

Mothers Label Request as Breach of Confidentiality

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

A mother said she was hesitant to share the details because the authorities had mistakenly forwarded her data to a different parent.

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

Case of the Mother

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or expose her child, was one of several who requested a explanation both times.

In May, the agency sent a reply intended for her to another parent, 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 by telephone; the media has seen an message from the agency admitting the error.

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

“My daughter is very reserved. She is immensely fearful 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 disclose is out of need for obtaining entry to supports and exclusively to people I deem incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

Louise was especially worried about the implication it would be “confirmed” by the medical facility.

She said the request was “threatening” and “feels threatening”.

Additional Mother Expresses Concerns

Another mother said she was unwilling revealing the health background of her young gender-diverse child.

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

“To imagine that that data could accidentally be disclosed someday, in any way, you know, although that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

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

“I would not share that information to another entity that asked for it, particularly in the climate of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your HIV status to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be hesitant and careful to provide any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Weighing Second Lawsuit

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

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about hundreds of minors and their families and it was “important to promptly enable the supply of explanations so that children and their guardians can understand the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Government Position on Ban

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