Trans, non-binary people demanding Quebec government act quicker to change gender markers on IDs

Some trans and non-binary people in Quebec say they are fed up with the bureaucracy of waiting for the gender marker X to appear on government IDs, a health card or drivers license.

The province’s Bill 2 came into force in June of last year, allowing Quebecers to use the X gender marker on birth and death certificates. But Montrealer Alexe Frédéric Migneault says in the over two year process of filing documents to receive appropriate IDs, they feel left in the dark.

“They’re saying the process is pending. We’re waiting for answers. We’re waiting for the report. We’re waiting for a meeting. But all of there’s always something else that’s missing. And I’m so frustrated,” explained Migneault. “I’m not seeing any concrete proof that they’re actually trying to implement it and respect that the new civil law.

“I feel like I’m not being understood at all, that my struggles are not met with empathy at all and I am just unable to take it anymore.”

Alexe Frédéric Migneault. (Photo Courtesy: Alexe Frédéric Migneault)

For Migneault, the change to their IDs would impact their daily life.

“It would protect me from potential discrimination and harassment as I have fallen victim to way too many times already in the past. It would it would simply reflect the person that I am and give me all the rights that that I am supposed to have.”

Celeste Trianon, a trans activist and law student, has been helping trans and non-binary people fill out and mail request forms with the hope of correcting their identification, by operating a legal clinic every few weeks here at L’Asterisk – a safe space for 2SLGGTQ+ youth in Montreal’s village.

“When I ran for the first week, there were about 150 people who showed up, which is a good sign of just how many trans people. Still, we don’t have access to correct I.D.,” said Trianon.

“It’s it’s about the right to identity and the right to be recognized as who you are. Because not having that that gender identifier, it makes it so you’ll never be recognized as yourself.”

Alexe Frédéric Migneault. (Photo Courtesy: Alexe Frédéric Migneault)

Quebec’s health ministry tells CityNews in a statement, “The MSSS is concerned about trans and non-binary people experiencing distress related to their gender identity or gender expression.

“However, it is important to do things in order and correctly. Work is underway to update government practices on sex and gender. An interdepartmental committee, which brings together 20 departments and organizations, was set up in 2022,” the statement continued.

The RAMQ, the provincial health insurance board, says “concerted government action can be put forward in the coming months, in taking into account the regulatory, legislative, IT and organizational considerations specific to each of the departments and agencies concerned. This interdepartmental committee reports to the Office for the Fight against Homophobia and Transphobia of the Secretariat for the Status of Women.”

Quebec’s automobile insurance board says, “the SAAQ is preparing to make computer changes to allow “X” on driver’s licenses. These changes should be implemented by the end of 2023. In the meantime, a personalized communication will be sent to each person who has requested “X” on their driver’s license to inform them of the next steps.”

However Celeste says, “It makes no sense, no temporary solution being applied can be as simple as removing all gender markers from from provincial ID for a little bit or having just small stickers, which the X you can just put on there.”

As for Migneault, “I refuse to believe that there are so many non-binary and sex gender markers since sex sex marker users in Quebec that is entirely impossible to orchestrate a small temporary measure.”