Micheline Montreuil
Encyclopedia
Micheline Anne Hélène Montreuil is a Quebec
lawyer, teacher, writer, radio host, trade unionist and politician. As a transgender
person, she became known for her legal struggles to defend her rights. On March 31, 2007, a nomination meeting without opposition chose her as the official candidate of the New Democratic Party
(NPD) in the riding of Québec. This made her the first transgender person in history to be nominated as an electoral candidate by a major political party in Canada
.
. Born a male
, Montreuil began using the first name Micheline in the 1980s. Montreuil studied Civil law
, Common Law, management, industrial relations, ethics and education. On September 13, 2003, wearing a wedding gown, she married
at the Quebec City Palais des arts the lawyer and author Michèle Morgan. This is Montreuil's first marriage. She has worked as a lawyer at the Conseil de la justice administrative du Québec. Now, she is back as a lawyer in private practise and teacher of ethics
, law and management at the Uqar, the Université du Québec à Rimouski
.
to Micheline. Following a court ruling in her favour, her request was finally accepted in 2002. (See Legal aspects of transsexualism
.)
Also, in 1998, the National Bank
refused to hire Micheline Montreuil. Although the bank argued that she was not hired because she was "overqualified, condescending and self-centered", in a judgement given on February 5 the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
ruled that the National Bank had discriminated against her on the basis of her gender identity.
In 2004, she was elected president of Section 225 of the Syndicat de la fonction publique du Québec. In 2006, within the New Democratic Party of Canada, a federal party
, she is Co-Chair of the NDP's federal LGBT Committee and a member of the NDP Federal Council. She has also served as a member of the administration councils of the Canadian Human Rights Trust and Egale Canada
.
She was a candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada
nomination in 1984 in the riding of Langelier, candidate for city councillor in the Saint-Sacrement District for the Progrès civique de Québec in 1993, and candidate for the nomination Saint-Roch et Saint-Jean Baptiste District
for the Renouveau municipal de Québec
in 2001.
In 2007, she was acclaimed as NDP candidate for the federal riding of Québec for the NDP. Jack Layton
, leader of the party, commented favourably on her candidacy, saying that he was pleased with her candidacy and that having candidates who could raise questions of equality
showed that the NDP was quite open and that Quebecers were progressive
enough to accept differences. Her political objectives include the struggle against problems of poverty
, unemployment
and homelessness
.
However, the NDP dropped Montreuil as its candidate in December 2007. Montreuil alleged that the party had dropped her because of her gender identity, while party spokesman Matthew McLauchlin argued that she was dropped for being overly confrontational with both the media and her colleagues in the party.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
lawyer, teacher, writer, radio host, trade unionist and politician. As a transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
person, she became known for her legal struggles to defend her rights. On March 31, 2007, a nomination meeting without opposition chose her as the official candidate of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
(NPD) in the riding of Québec. This made her the first transgender person in history to be nominated as an electoral candidate by a major political party in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Biography
Micheline Anne Hélène Montreuil was born Pierre Montreuil in Quebec CityQuebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. Born a male
Male
Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
, Montreuil began using the first name Micheline in the 1980s. Montreuil studied Civil law
Civil law (common law)
Civil law, as opposed to criminal law, is the branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals or organizations, in which compensation may be awarded to the victim...
, Common Law, management, industrial relations, ethics and education. On September 13, 2003, wearing a wedding gown, she married
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
at the Quebec City Palais des arts the lawyer and author Michèle Morgan. This is Montreuil's first marriage. She has worked as a lawyer at the Conseil de la justice administrative du Québec. Now, she is back as a lawyer in private practise and teacher of ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
, law and management at the Uqar, the Université du Québec à Rimouski
Université du Québec à Rimouski
The Université du Québec à Rimouski is a branch of the Université du Québec in Rimouski, Quebec. There is also a campus of the university in Lévis, Quebec, recently moved to a newly constructed building. Founded in 1969, UQAR is one of the most modern in Quebec.This university is well-known for its...
.
Political activism
Micheline made herself known with her struggles for transgender rights. For example, in 1997, she began a legal challenge against the Registrar of Civil Status of Quebec as she had not been permitted to legally change her nameName change
Name change generally refers to a legal act allowing a person to adopt a name different than their name at birth, marriage, or adoption. The procedures and ease of a name change depend on the jurisdiction. In general, common law jurisdictions have loose limitations on name changes while civil law...
to Micheline. Following a court ruling in her favour, her request was finally accepted in 2002. (See Legal aspects of transsexualism
Legal aspects of transsexualism
Transsexual people are those who establish a permanent identity with the gender opposite to the gender identified at birth. As most legal jurisdictions have at least some recognition of the two traditional genders at the exclusion of other categories, this raises many legal issues and aspects of...
.)
Also, in 1998, the National Bank
National Bank of Canada
National Bank of Canada is the 6th largest bank and 8th largest financial institution in Canada. The bank's headquarters are in Montreal, Quebec....
refused to hire Micheline Montreuil. Although the bank argued that she was not hired because she was "overqualified, condescending and self-centered", in a judgement given on February 5 the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal is an administrative tribunal established in 1977 by the Canadian Human Rights Act. It is directly funded by the Parliament of Canada and is independent of the Canadian Human Rights Commission which refers cases to it for adjudication under the Act.The Tribunal...
ruled that the National Bank had discriminated against her on the basis of her gender identity.
In 2004, she was elected president of Section 225 of the Syndicat de la fonction publique du Québec. In 2006, within the New Democratic Party of Canada, a federal party
Canadian federalism
Canada is a federation with two distinct jurisdictions of political authority: the country-wide federal government and the ten regionally-based provincial governments. It also has three territorial governments in the far north, though these are subject to the federal government...
, she is Co-Chair of the NDP's federal LGBT Committee and a member of the NDP Federal Council. She has also served as a member of the administration councils of the Canadian Human Rights Trust and Egale Canada
Egale Canada
Egale Canada is an advocacy organization founded in 1986 to advance equality for Canadian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families, across Canada....
.
She was a candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
nomination in 1984 in the riding of Langelier, candidate for city councillor in the Saint-Sacrement District for the Progrès civique de Québec in 1993, and candidate for the nomination Saint-Roch et Saint-Jean Baptiste District
Saint-Roch
Saint-Roch may refer to:In Canada:*Saint-Roch, Quebec City, a neighbourhood of Quebec City*Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Quebec, a municipality*Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac, Quebec, a municipality*Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu, Quebec, a municipality...
for the Renouveau municipal de Québec
Renouveau municipal de Québec
The Renouveau municipal de Québec is a political party in the city of Québec, Quebec, Canada that contests municipal elections. It was created on February 26, 2001, after the amalgamation of Quebec City and surrounding suburban municipalities. In 2007, the party currently holds 24 of the 37 seats...
in 2001.
In 2007, she was acclaimed as NDP candidate for the federal riding of Québec for the NDP. Jack Layton
Jack Layton
John Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC was a Canadian social democratic politician and the Leader of the Official Opposition. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and previously sat on Toronto City Council, serving at times during that period as acting mayor and deputy mayor of...
, leader of the party, commented favourably on her candidacy, saying that he was pleased with her candidacy and that having candidates who could raise questions of equality
Social equality
Social equality is a social state of affairs in which all people within a specific society or isolated group have the same status in a certain respect. At the very least, social equality includes equal rights under the law, such as security, voting rights, freedom of speech and assembly, and the...
showed that the NDP was quite open and that Quebecers were progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
enough to accept differences. Her political objectives include the struggle against problems of poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
and homelessness
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
.
However, the NDP dropped Montreuil as its candidate in December 2007. Montreuil alleged that the party had dropped her because of her gender identity, while party spokesman Matthew McLauchlin argued that she was dropped for being overly confrontational with both the media and her colleagues in the party.