Stories

Queer without fear

Audrey Merwin knows who she is. Now she wants her ID to match.

With the help of her mom and the Queer Justice project at the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic (HCLC), the 16-year-old has filed her paperwork for a legal name and gender change. “It makes it easier than having to explain that I’m a trans female,” Audrey says. “It makes me feel recognized for who I am.”

“If we’d filled out the forms on our own, it may not have gone through,” says Audrey’s mother, Tammy. “Programs like this are so important. Trans people deserve all the rights that other people have.”

Interest in the trans ID clinic has increased recently, says Michael Blashko, staff lawyer and Queer Justice lead at HCLC. “People are unnerved by what’s happening in the U.S. and want to get their affairs in order,” he says. “The clinics have been reaching capacity.”

Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people, particularly those with low income, face significant barriers to accessing legal services. Discrimination, lack of resources and systemic inequities further marginalize these individuals. In addition to the trans ID clinics, the Queer Justice project provides clients with help navigating the legal system, direct legal assistance with housing and employment issues, and referrals. It also offers positive space training for organizations, is involved in community outreach, and works with the Greater Hamilton Health Network and Hamilton Trans Health Coalition.

“The big dream is inclusion,” says Clare Freeman, executive director of HCLC. “We want the larger community to know the rights of queer people and for queer people to be able to access those rights.”

Support from HCF will allow the project to expand its education and advocacy work. “We have plans but haven’t had the capacity until now,” Michael says.

Given that between 2020 and 2023 in Canada, police-reported hate crimes targeting sexual orientation more than tripled and hate crimes targeting gender identity doubled, the project also focuses on broader efforts to combat hate. This includes sitting on Hamilton Police Services’ hate crime review team.

“Hate happens in Hamilton, too,” Clare says. “It’s a scary time for Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people and we’re really proud HCF has said this is an important community that can’t be forgotten.”

Excerpt from 2024-25 annual report