Organizers of a trans rights the rally in Montreal Sunday say they are fighting for migrant trans people to be recognized under the law.

Last October Quebec's Civil Code was changed; now a trans person can receive their ID cards with their chosen gender on it without the requirement for sex-reassignment surgery.

Despite gains like this in recent years for trans people, rally spokesperson Dalia Briki said that Article 71 of the Civil Code still prohibits immigrants from changing their name or gender identity on identification if they are not Canadian citizens.

The activist group Euphorie dans le genre said they believe a single piece of permanent residence ID should be enough to allow trans people not to be marginalized.

Briki said it is essential migrant trans people have documents that are consistent with their identities, otherwise they can be discriminated against.

Spokesperson Caroline Trottier-Gascon explained.

“In a daily way it can mean the tiny kinds of discriminations you can get. You know, you go to the depanneur and you buy some alcohol and you have to show your ID because you look young, and then people see you as trans and might not serve you or treat you differently because you’re trans,” she said. “The bigger stuff, like trying to get a job and being outed by your identity documents when you’re finalizing the application… We want to avoid these types of situations.”

Organizers of the 250-person strong march said they are optimistic Article 71 of the Civil Code will be eliminated, which would allow fast, simple and accessible options for migrant trans people.

“Who they want to be in their documents is who they are. What we need is giving them the same recognition as we give Canadian citizens,” said Trottier-Gascon. “No part of the immigration process asks migrants to go through years of discrimination as trans people. Many trans people come to Canada because where they live is too dangerous a place for trans people… and they come here not to be exposed to transphobia, not to be exposed to discrimination, and the first thing we tell them is, ‘Great, you’re in Canada, here’s several years of discrimination until you get citizenship.’ That’s not fair and that’s not why they come here.”

The third march for the rights of trans people began at 2 p.m. at Peace Park in downtown Montreal.

With a report from The Canadian Press