The Public Service Alliance of Canada 901 (PSAC) is now offering a Gender Affirming Support Bursary to trans, non-binary, and two-spirit members.

PSAC, the union of teaching assistants, teaching fellows, research assistants, and postdoctoral scholars at Queen’s, aims to advocate for members by promoting equity and social justice within the Queen’s and larger Kingston communities. 

All members of PSAC who identify as trans, non-binary, or two-spirit are eligible to apply to the bursary, which covers any expenses not covered by their personal healthcare plans.

Defining the term “trans,” PSAC said it understands the term to be “a broad and inclusive term that includes genderqueer, transgender, transsexual, and gender variant among others.” 

Hoping to eliminate barriers to employment faced by individuals who identify as trans, non-binary, or two-spirited, PSAC holds an open definition for what constitutes gender affirmation and doesn’t have a predetermined list of what expenses are eligible or ineligible to be reimbursed by the gender-affirming bursary. 

Eligibility is based on the need for reimbursement for processes involved to affirm an individual’s gender. 

Funds from the bursary may be allocated toward medical expenses, including pharmaceutical and therapeutic costs; administrative costs associated with changing one’s name or reissuing official government documents; and for two-spirit members, accessing supports through elders and traditional members. The bursary will also compensate for any misogynistic trauma and loss of employment. 

Funds will be allocated to eligible members of PSAC in maximum payouts of $2,000 until the funds are exhausted. Applications are to be accepted on a rolling basis until all funding has been allocated. 

PSAC901 didn’t respond to The Journal’s request for comment at the time of publication.