Parents’ fury as transgender charity Mermaids publishes their private emails online

Fury as transgender charity publishes parents’ emails discussing their children’s transitions – including NAMES – available for anyone to see

  • CEO Susie Green uploaded the personal emails from parents to a public website
  • Parents have slammed is as a fundamental breach of trans children’s privacy  
  • Details about treatment, full names and telephone numbers were disclosed
  • Mermaids said it is taking the ‘mistake’ extremely seriously and is cooperating with an Information Commission investigation 

A leading transgender charity has come under fire after its chief executive published deeply personal emails from parents worried about their children’s transition.

Mermaids boss Susie Green has been accused of ‘fundamentally breaching’ youngsters’ privacy rights by posting the messages – which include the children’s full names – online for anyone to see.

The emails were reportedly sent in strictest confidence from parents whose children were struggling with their sex change.

One included the experience of a mother whose trans son – born a girl – used to wet himself on purpose so that the nursery would provide him with boys’ clothes.

Furious parents have launched a stinging attack on Mermaids for violating their trust and have called for a government investigation.

Mermaids boss Susie Green (pictured) has been accused of ‘fundamentally breaching’ youngsters’ privacy rights by posting the messages – which include the children’s full names – online for anyone to see

‘This is really worrying, I don’t think there could be a more fundamental breach of his right to privacy,’ one trans son’s mother told the Sunday Times.  

Mermaids tonight said it was taking the breach ‘extremely seriously’ and bear full responsibility for the ‘mistake’.

It also revealed that the supposed blunder had been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office.  

The emails, sent between 2016 and 2017, also disclosed intimate details about the trans children’s treatment and parents telephone numbers.

Ms Green, a former IT consultant, took her own child Jackie to Thailand aged 16 for genital surgery that is illegal in the UK and now outlawed in the southeast Asian country

Ms Green, a former IT consultant, took her own child Jackie to Thailand aged 16 for genital surgery that is illegal in the UK and now outlawed in the southeast Asian country

Ms Green uploaded the message exchanges to an online platform which appears to have been intended for correspondence with the charity’s trustees.

But the site, which yesterday was made private, was accessible by anyone.

According to Mermaids’ confidentiality policy, any staff member who discloses private client information risks ‘termination of your employment, or other corrective action.’

Leeds-based charity Mermaids was founded in 1995

Leeds-based charity Mermaids was founded in 1995

It adds that confidentiality is a ‘basic component of client care and business ethics’ and violating it could ‘also damage your relationship with the client and make it difficult to help the person.’

Ms Green, a former IT consultant, took her own child to Thailand aged 16 for genital surgery that is illegal in the UK and now outlawed in the southeast Asian country.

The charity works with about 500 youngsters and 1,400 parents and uses the Government cash to educate schools about homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying. 

It also recently received a £500,000 windfall from the National Lottery, despite accusations that it advocates measures such as puberty-blockers which lack scientific credentials. 

A spokesperson for Mermaids said: ‘Mermaids is taking this data breach extremely seriously and we are reaching out to the small number of service users affected. 

‘It is important to note that the email group in question was in a very obscure online location and the charity’s name was not included in its title. 

‘Therefore, we are curious as to how someone found the group without prior knowledge of its existence.

‘Nonetheless, we take full responsibility for this mistake and we have acted immediately in accordance with our legal obligations since becoming aware of this data breach. 

Ms Green (left) advised on the ITV drama Butterfly which was part inspired by Poppy (middle, pictured with her mother Claire)

Ms Green (left) advised on the ITV drama Butterfly which was part inspired by Poppy (middle, pictured with her mother Claire)

‘On Friday the matter was reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office. The page in question was secured immediately on Friday night when we were made aware of this issue.

‘The data in question consisted of historic and internal material dating from 2016 and 2017 and limited to emails between trustees, not emails to or from parents, children and families.

‘Mermaids has always been entirely open about having constructive, appropriate relationships with relevant NHS services and GIDS is no exception.

‘Mermaids will cooperate fully with the ICO throughout this process.’  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk