Radio-Canada has learned that the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) would now be able to issue driver's licenses with the gender marker “X” to trans and non-binary people. However, she refrains from doing so because the Legault government prevents her from doing so.
Last December, the Quebec government confirmed that it was postponing any decision regarding the use of the gender marker “X” in the documents of ministries and organizations until 2025, while its Committee of Wise Men on the Identity of the Genre (New Window) delivers its final report.
However, the government has never admitted that the SAAQ was, in fact, already ready to begin issuing driver's licenses that reflect non-binary gender identity.
The SAAQ did not want to grant an interview on this topic.
About fifteen people submitted an application to the SAAQ to change their license. And the SAAQ will be ready if necessary, confirms spokesman Gino Desrosiers.
Why not act now? Mr Desrosiers' email leaves little doubt that the SAAQ had no choice but to put the project on hold while it waited for the Committee of Wise Men's report.
The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec will await its conclusions before proceeding with a request to change the gender indication on the driver's license to the designation “X.”
Radio-Canada could not confirm who in the government has requested that SAAQ delay issuing driver's licenses with the “X” gender marker, despite the government's willingness to do so.
Sensitive questions
The minister responsible for the SAAQ, Geneviève Guilbault, did not want to grant an interview on this topic. However, his office reiterates in writing that the government will increasingly be called upon to make decisions related to the realities of trans and non-binary people.
His office also refers to the Committee of Wise Men, whose work, thanks to a global portrait, will allow us to make our future decisions more informed. […] of what is happening here and elsewhere [dans le monde].
These are sensitive issues that require thoughtful decisions.
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The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Geneviève Guilbault. (archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada
A few weeks ago, the President of the Commission on Human and Youth Rights called on the government to act on this matter as quickly as possible so that the true gender identity of trans and non-binary people can be recognized on their cards.
Since 2022, in Quebec, people who identify as neither male nor female can legally obtain the “X” gender marker at the civil registry office. However, government departments and agencies are slow to adapt to this new reality.
Completely discouraged
This issue made headlines late last year when Alexe Frédéric Migneault, a non-binary person fighting to have his true gender identity recognized by health insurance Régie, went on hunger strike. of Quebec (RAMQ) is recognized.
The extension of the
Alexe Frédéric Migneault, who is aware of the situation with the SAAQ, sees this as proof that the apparent difficulty of ministries and organizations in recognizing the gender characteristic “X” has nothing to do with technology or administration, but rather with the Politics.
I am completely disheartened to see that those in power have an iron grip on this progress under the pretense that their prejudices, their preconceptions against trans and non-binary people are stronger than our rights and injustices that we endure.
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Alexe Frédéric Migneault is legally non-binary in the eyes of the civil status director, but this is still not reflected on his driver's license and health insurance card.
Photo: Radio-Canada
Having still not managed to obtain a RAMQ card with the correct gender marker, Alexe Frédéric plans to start a new hunger strike on January 30th.
According to RAMQ, at the beginning of last fall, 359 people had applied for a health insurance card with the gender characteristic “X”.