Micheline Anne Hélène Montreuil is a remarkable Canadian lawyer, professor, writer, radio host, trade unionist, and politician whose life and career reflect both intellectual curiosity and resilience. Born under the sign of Gemini and the Dragon, she pursued extensive studies in law, management, and economics in Quebec, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Paris, eventually establishing herself as a lawyer, management consultant, professor, and lecturer. Alongside her academic and professional work, she authored numerous books and articles on law, business, and management, showing her wide-ranging expertise. Micheline also became known as a speaker on finance and banking, a radio hostess, and a member of many boards, while continuing her teaching career at the University of Quebec in Rimouski. Her personal journey has been no less extraordinary. Since 1998, she has lived openly as a woman, fighting tirelessly for transgender rights in Canada.
Her legal battles, which went as far as the Supreme Court, eventually contributed to reforms that made it easier for transgender people in Quebec to change their legal names and gender markers without being forced into medical requirements. She has also challenged discrimination in the workplace and was the first transgender woman to be nominated as an electoral candidate for a major political party in Canada, representing the New Democratic Party in 2007. Outside of her professional and activist commitments, Micheline embraces life with vitality and passion. She enjoys sports such as swimming, diving, tennis, and badminton, while also cherishing cultural activities like theater, museums, and cinema. Known for her elegance, humor, and determination, she proudly calls herself the “Princess of Gemini and the Daughter of the Dragon,” a reflection of both strength and spirit. Her story is not only about breaking barriers but also about living authentically and encouraging others to do the same. Today it is my great pleasure and honor to speak with Micheline Montreuil.
Monika: It is my great pleasure and honor today to speak with Micheline Anne Hélène Montreuil, a Quebec lawyer, professor, writer, radio host, trade unionist, and politician from Canada. Hello Micheline.
Micheline: Hello Monika, how are you today?
Monika: I am fine, thank you. To begin, could you tell our readers a little about yourself?
Micheline: Well, I could say that I am just an ordinary girl, but at the same time a little bit special because I am transgender. Otherwise, on a professional level, I am simply a lawyer, a professor of law, management, and ethics at university, a writer, and a lecturer.
Monika: You became widely recognized for your fight for transgender rights in Canada. Could you tell me about how that journey began?
Micheline: My first initiatives were about my name. I only wanted to add the first name Micheline to my birth certificate so that I could have a driver’s license under the name of Micheline Montreuil, but unfortunately, the Registrar of civil status denied me this right.
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| Glamour photo. |
Monika: How long did it take you to finally secure the legal recognition of your name?
Micheline: It was a long fight, from 1997 to 2011, before I finally gained the right to become Micheline Anne Hélène Montreuil. I was obliged to obtain my names one by one: Micheline in 2002, Anne in 2008, and Hélène in 2011. Think about it, it is totally ridiculous that it took me 14 years to change my name.
Monika: What happened when you repeatedly challenged the government in court?
Micheline: After being defeated many times in court, the government eventually realized that its legal position could not be supported before the courts. I should add that my fight went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Monika: How did the government respond once it understood that its position was unsustainable?
Micheline: The government of Quebec decided to change the law to make it easier for anyone older than 18 to change their name.
Monika: What kind of legal reform was introduced as a result of your struggle?
Micheline: In 2013, the Government of Quebec adopted an Act, Bill 35, entitled An Act to amend the Civil Code as regards civil status, successions, and the publication of rights. This law modified section 71 of the Civil Code and came into force in 2016. The new section 71 states: "Every person whose sexual identity does not correspond to the designation of sex that appears in that person’s act of birth may, if the conditions prescribed by this Code and by government regulation have been met, have that designation and, if necessary, the person’s given names changed."
Monika: What does this change mean in practical terms for transgender people in Quebec?
Micheline: These changes cannot be made dependent on the requirement to have undergone any medical treatment or surgical operation. Subject to article 3084.1, only a person of full age who has been domiciled in Quebec for at least one year and is a Canadian citizen may obtain such changes. So, someone who meets these conditions can now change the designation of sex that appears in her act of birth even if she has not undergone any medical treatment or surgical operation. It is a great change.
Monika: Beyond your legal name battle, did you also face other challenges connected to being transgender in your professional life?
Micheline: At the same time, I was obliged to sue some employers for discrimination in employment. Being transgender is a source of many problems. Honestly, I thought there would be less discrimination than I ended up facing, but I challenged anyone who decided to discriminate against me.
Monika: Could you share some examples of these discrimination cases?
Micheline: On that point, you may check these two decisions ruled by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal: Montreuil v. National Bank of Canada - 2004 CHRT 7 - 2004-02-05, and Montreuil v. Canadian Forces Grievance Board - 2007 CHRT 53 - 2007-11-20.
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| Micheline Anne and Michèle in the Park Jeanne D'Arc. |
Monika: On your website, you describe your journey to womanhood as a gradual process, writing that in 1965, at the age of 13, you put on your first bra, in 1968, at 16, you dressed fully as a woman for the first time, and in 1975, at 23, you did your first make-up and went on your first outing. What do you think makes this kind of journey different from others?
Micheline: This is probably the big difference between a transgender and a transsexual. A transsexual makes the leap in one step; she always says: I am a woman. A transgender reacts differently; she discovers her femininity over time, advancing step by step and realizing that she feels more and more herself, more comfortable, happier, and more relaxed.
Monika: How would you describe this path of gradual self-discovery in your own case?
Micheline: For a transgender, it is a long path that may never end. She is not in such a hurry because she is discovering herself little by little. Like me, a transgender may change slowly, year after year, for as long as she wishes. I still have not finished my path. I am a transgender with some alterations to my body. Some transgender people have more alterations, and some have fewer.
Monika: In 1986, when you were 34, you reached the moment of asking yourself the fundamental existential question, “Who am I?” How did you answer it?
Micheline: I have only found one answer; I am a human being called Micheline Montreuil. I may add that I am transgender, but it adds nothing except to specify that I am slightly different from traditional females and males. Finally, I do not care about what I am exactly. Is it so important? I have concluded that this question is not so important for me and consequently, the answer is not so important either. I am Micheline and it is enough for me.
Monika: That same year you came out, and soon after you began a legal battle for the recognition of your rights as a transgender woman. What pushed you into that fight?
Micheline: Right, but I started the battle only because the Registrar of civil status denied me the right to choose and change my name to Micheline. I wished, like many other transgender people, to do my transition peacefully, quietly, without being noticed. Unfortunately, the Registrar of civil status forced me to do it publicly by denying me the right to do it quietly. Usually, a transgender person does not wish to make her change in public to avoid many problems. By being stubborn, the Registrar of civil status forced people to do it openly and at the same time forced the transgender person to sue him before the courts.
Monika: During that period of your transition, did you have any transgender role models you could look up to?
Micheline: None. I created my own model because no one seemed to look like me. Probably, there were some other people in the same situation, but they were hidden. So, I could not identify myself with them.
Monika: Looking back, what was the most difficult part of your coming out?
Micheline: There are two aspects to this topic. First, I was surprised by the very negative reaction of many people; I did not expect to encounter such huge resistance to my transition. Second, I lost my job, I lost my spouse, I lost many “friends,” and it was very hard to find a new job, and so on. I thought that people would be more open-minded. I had to change my opinion about the level of tolerance people have toward transgender individuals.
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| Standing in front of her fireplace. |
Micheline: We are not accepted, nor tolerated. We exist and we take our place. So, people around us are obliged to accept the fact that we exist and that we will never go back into the closet. We need at least two more generations and hundreds of transgender people in public to convince society that we are human beings like everyone else.
Monika: Do you believe visibility in public life and media can help change these attitudes?
Micheline: The more people see transgender individuals around them in public, the more they will accept that we are part of society. There are more and more shows on television featuring transgender people, and some may be well known. Think about Caitlyn Jenner; she will be a model for many people because she shows that you can be transgender and a human being.
Monika: In 2007, you became the official candidate of the New Democratic Party, the first transgender person in Canada to be nominated by a major political party. Do you believe transgender women bring a unique perspective that can truly influence politics?
Micheline: I think that a transgender can make a difference in politics because she has not had the same life as an ordinary man or woman. She has lived a different life with different problems and difficulties. She may certainly talk more about discrimination, the difficulties of finding a job or a mate. She will consider problems from a different view because of her different life.
Monika: How did you feel when the New Democratic Party decided to withdraw your candidacy?
Micheline: Yes, I regret it because I think that I would have been a marvelous politician thinking first about the citizens and not about my career. Perhaps, I will be back as a candidate someday! I will not run for power, nor for money, but for the goal of helping people and ensuring good government in my country.
Monika: When you ran for office, what political vision or manifesto did you stand for?
Micheline: I call myself part of the center-left. So, in philosophical words, I am a liberal. I have an open mind and I state that the government must intervene in society to ensure a minimum level of welfare for all citizens, including unemployment benefits, free Medicare, free medicine, free schools, and so on. Governments are created by men for the benefit of all citizens, for the pursuit of a kind of common happiness, no matter color, language, sex, and so on.
Monika: Beyond politics, what role does love play in your life?
Micheline: I wish to never be alone. It is important for me to share my life with someone. You can call it love or deep friendship, but for me, it is important to share my life, my dreams, my interests, with someone else who also wishes to share her life or his life with me.
Monika: How do you feel about fashion, and how important is it in your daily life?
Micheline: Fashion is futile but so fascinating at the same time. I like fashion, and I enjoy shopping whenever I can find something that may fit me.
Monika: Could you tell me about your preference for jewelry and accessories?
Micheline: I will start with the jewels. I love earrings, mainly dangling earrings with a hook. Each time I travel, I buy at least six pairs of earrings. When I shop in shopping centers, I always take a look at earrings. As for necklaces, from time to time one will catch my eye, especially if it sparkles and is long enough. I usually always wear the same watch. Bracelets I wear occasionally if they are large enough for my wrist and look lovely. Rings I wear from time to time if they catch my eye and are large enough. I do not care about a true gem; I will buy it if I like the color of the stone and if it looks special. I also have two anklets that I wear during the summer or from time to time.
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| San Diego, California - July 1997. |
Micheline: I have a few blouses and skirts, but I wear more dresses. I may wear a blouse and skirt occasionally, but generally with a jacket. I like bright colors like emerald green, royal blue, fire red, deep black, and hot purple. I have some lighter colors too, like soft pink and powder blue, but I prefer the bright, darker colors.
Monika: How do you choose your dresses, and what makes them comfortable for you?
Micheline: Usually, I always wear dresses. From a practical point of view, I have bigger breasts than my hips. So, if the dress fits well on my breasts, it fits well on my hips. I find a dress more comfortable than any other type of clothing. I never wear a belt, letting the dress fall loosely. Many of my dresses are in bright colors, a few have prints, and some have two or three colors. They are very classical, ranging from ankle-length up to mid-thigh, with or without sleeves, and I always wear them with pantyhose.
Monika: What about pants, jeans, and shoes? How do they fit into your wardrobe?
Micheline: I have no pants at all. I have no jeans at all. For shoes, I usually wear classical pumps or high heels between one and three inches, usually black. When I travel, I usually wear running shoes, usually white. I have a giant closet with more clothes in it than the average woman.
Monika: Many transgender women choose to write memoirs about their experiences. Have you ever considered writing a book about your own life?
Micheline: Not really, because I have written a lot of material about myself on my website. Perhaps I will do it someday to help people, but right now I am helping them by sharing a lot of information on my website. It is free, and it can be accessed from all around the world with just one click of a mouse. However, I have written many books on law and management.
Monika: Looking ahead, what do you see as your next steps in life, both personally and professionally, over the next five to seven years?
Micheline: What will be my next step as a transgender? I do not know, because I am happy the way I am now. Perhaps, for example, I could have bigger breasts someday, but right now, it is really not important for me.
Monika: How about your professional goals? What do you plan to focus on in the coming years?
Micheline: For my next steps on a professional level, I intend to continue teaching at university, to be the vice-president of my union, to continue managing the retirement funds of other teachers at the university, to continue practicing law as a lawyer, to continue traveling all around the world, and to continue stating that transgender people are just ordinary people who only wish to live peacefully. We are kind people.
Monika: What advice would you give to transgender girls who are struggling with gender dysphoria and trying to find their path?
Micheline: Just be what you are! You are a woman, so act like any other woman. It is your life, not the life of another person. Live your life the way you wish, as a woman if that is what you want. Do not stay in the closet too long, or you will regret it.
Monika: What should they be aware of as they navigate the challenges of transitioning?
Micheline: Just be aware that you may lose your job, lose your spouse, lose some of your friends, and find it very hard to get a new job, but that is the price to pay to become transgender. It is not and will never be your fault; it is simply the way people react. Remember this: who is the most important person on Earth? You! So, take care of your life and live it fully as a woman, no matter what people around you may think. Again, it is your life, so live it the way you wish. Thank you so much, Monika, for this interview; it may help other transgender people become happier and live their new life better.
Monika: Micheline, thank you for the interview!
All the photos: courtesy of Micheline Montreuil.
© 2015 - Monika Kowalska
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