The 2110 Centre for Gender Advocacy is delighted by the recent news from Concordia University that it will now allow trans’ and gender non-conforming students to use their preferred name throughout their university education.
The name of common usage will replace the legal name on the student I.D., on letters from the registrar, roll calls, student lists, exam lists, moodle website and student record. Upon request, the gender marker will also be removed thus avoiding gendered greetings.
The 2110 Centre worked with student, Ben Boudreau, and other allies in the Concordia Student Union to present arguments in favour of allowing the change to take place.
Previously, trans students were often outed in class during roll calls when a legal name not matching their gender identity was called. With trans’ people still facing a great deal of discrimination and violence, this created a potentially unsafe situation for trans’ students.
“This is an great step forward for trans’ students at Concordia,” says Trans’ Advocacy Coordinator with the 2110 Centre, Gabrielle Bouchard. “With this change, students no longer have to worry that they will be outed in front of their peers, or depend on the goodwill of individual professors to remember and respect their preferred name. We applaud the university’s willingness to make this accommodation in the interests of the safety and wellbeing of Concordia students.”
The change is due to take effect in the fall semester of 2012. Concordia University will be the first university in Quebec to allow students to use their preferred name. The change will also be made available to other students when needed.