Egale Canada’s work would not be possible without the incredible individuals who believe in our vision and invest in a more inclusive future for 2SLGBTQI communities. Our Donor Spotlight Q & A series shines a light on the generous supporters who help bring our research, education, awareness, and legal advocacy efforts to life. Through these conversations, we’re proud to share the stories and motivations of the people standing with us every step of the way.
Q: Tell us a little about you!
I was born in France and moved to Canada a few years ago. In France, I co-founded a startup company that offers a legal search engine for lawyers and other legal professionals. I now live in Ontario and work at RBC. I’m also a trans woman and a lesbian.
Q: How did you first learn about Egale?
I first heard about Egale through Skipping Stone, a charity that supports trans youth in Alberta. Even though I don’t live in Alberta, I care deeply about supporting 2SLGBTQI+ people everywhere—which is what originally drew me to Skipping Stone.
Q: What motivates you to give to Egale?
Even though I’m a trans woman, I recognize that I’m in a very privileged position: I’m white, financially secure, and surrounded by a supportive family and community. I know how rare this is for trans people, and I feel a strong responsibility to help those who aren’t as fortunate. Equality for trans people is still incredibly rare and fragile.
I happen to live in an environment where I can enjoy something close to equal rights, but I’m aware that this isn’t the norm—and that even those rights can’t be taken for granted.
Q: Have there been any moments in your journey as a supporter and member of Canada’s 2SLGBTQI communities when your perspective shifted or deepened?
Without a doubt, transitioning has been the experience that most profoundly shifted my perspective. It helped me understand how systemic discrimination can feel invisible—or even “made up”—to people in the majority, while being very real and deeply damaging for those affected.
Before I realized I was trans, I wasn’t part of any visible minority. I was perceived as a white, cisgender, able-bodied man, and that meant I didn’t face many of the barriers others do. Now, I see much more clearly how issues like racism, misogyny, and transphobia can be dismissed by people who have never experienced them—and why their perspective isn’t always the best lens to judge whether those problems exist.
Q: Egale Canada focuses on research, education, awareness, and legal advocacy. Are there particular areas of our work that you feel most passionate about supporting?
The fight against transphobic laws!
I know Egale has recently been active in Alberta, and that kind of advocacy is incredibly important.
I only came out and transitioned as an adult. As a young child, I once said I wished I was a girl—but I was mocked, and no one ever explained that being trans was even possible. I internalized the idea that it was a ridiculous thing to say, and I never brought it up again.
I was traumatized by being forced to play on boys’ sports teams, separated from the girls. I didn’t understand why, but I knew something felt deeply wrong. I survived by dissociating, focusing on other parts of life and pushing away the growing discomfort I felt about my gender. I experienced suicidal thoughts, though I never attempted to act on them.
Much later, as an adult, I was finally able to transition—and it brought me a level of happiness I never thought possible. My only regret is not being able to do it sooner. Life could have been so much better if I’d been allowed to have a feminine name, to be referred to as a girl, to play on girls’ teams. Being able to medically transition earlier would have spared me from a masculine voice, years of gender dysphoria, and countless sessions of laser and electrolysis.
That’s why I care so deeply about today’s trans kids. They shouldn’t have to go through what so many of us did in the ’90s. Do we really need to traumatize another generation of trans kids? We can—and must—do better.
Q: What does a world without hate look like to you? How do you feel our work helps us get there?
To me, a world without hate is one where everyone can live authentically—without fear, judgment, or unnecessary obstacles. It’s a world where 2SLGBTQI+ people are supported, respected, and have full access to the resources they need to thrive.
I’m fortunate to live near Toronto, where the legal and social environment is very accepting. Even though I don’t “pass”, I’m able to live openly as a woman. People don’t question my access to women’s spaces. I was able to start HRT, change my name, and update my legal gender with relatively few hurdles. That level of access is incredibly rare—it represents the top 1% of what’s currently possible for trans people.
To highlight that, I often compare it with my home country, France. While it’s not a hostile place, the path to transition there is much more difficult. Accessing HRT can take a very long time, and changing your name or legal gender involves a slow, frustrating process. People often assume that Western Europe is very progressive on trans issues, but in practice, the support systems are far from ideal.
That’s why I believe Egale’s work in Canada is so important. By promoting legal advocacy, education, and awareness, Egale helps ensure that the kind of access and safety I’ve found in Toronto becomes more common across Canada. We can’t take our rights for granted—and Egale is helping to protect and expand them for everyone.
Q: What would you say to others who are considering supporting Egale?
Now is the time to fight for our rights!
The progress we’ve made is not guaranteed—it can be rolled back. Supporting Egale means helping protect the rights, safety, and dignity of 2SLGBTQI+ people across Canada. Every voice and every donation make a difference.