Brock University “Gender Affirmation Fund” to address “known and unknown issues” including “the cost of a name change” and “medical care” said Natalee Caple — of the English Language & Literature faculty.
Meanwhile, Human Rights and Equity (HRE) at Brock University is looking into an “add on module” to the student Health Insurance policy to “increase coverage for transition-related care” including “gender-affirming hormones and surgery”.
Elizabeth Yates said “our members are connecting with BUSU to move this project forward”
The comments –disclosure of “a research phase” and further plans for expansion– were made during a “Townhall on Equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization” livestream hosted by Brock University on April 12, 2022.
‘Cultural shift’
“It’s important to note that some of the reasons for thinking about a fund at a time like this is that there is a massive cultural shift happening and we are meeting students where they are.
Natalee Caple, Town Hall on equity, diversity, inclusivity and decolonization
We are thinking about our present-day and our closest competing universities — York, McMaster, and U of T– have already started funds.
In fact, U of T’s trans fund is $40,000 per anum and it rolls over, so that needs are not great in one year but may be greater in another year, are still able to be addressed.”
Furthermore:
“We would be talking about student, staff and faculty. And we hope in the discussions around how to support, um, community, what would we be able to do is create a fund that would address both known and unknown issues.
Natalee Caple, Town Hall on equity, diversity, inclusivity and decolonization
So we know, for example what the costs of a name change are, and the various documents that have to happen and the order in which they have to happen. But we don’t necessarily know about things like, um, uh, groceries, medical care (that isn’t covered by various unions), transportation to and from medical care, and especially issues that come up in terms of housing crisis.”
Full comments in video hosted on Brock University’s YouTube channel:
Inspired by McMaster, et al.
In an June 2021 report in Niagara This Week (“Brock University offering free chest binders and breast forms for students”), it is quoted that a Brock Student Justice Centre (SJC) statement said a program to provide students with “free chest binders and breast forms” (sourced “using funds from the centre’s budget”) was inspired by McMaster Students’ Union Women & Gender Equity Network.
Natalee Caple cited “our closest competing universities” including McMaster–whose Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant union, CUPE 3906, cited U of T and Carleton.
“Weād like to thank our sister Locals like CUPE 3902 and CUPE 4600, who have led the charge in providing benefits like these to academic workers at U of T and Carleton, respectively. Their own Trans Funds served as great examples after which we could model our own Gender Affirmation Fund. ” reads the CUPE 3906 (McMaster TAs and RAs) information page on their Gender Affirmation Fund.
“The Gender Affirmation Fund is a pool of money that was won by the CUPE 3906 Unit 1 bargaining team (representing TAs and RAs in-lieu at McMaster) in their most recent round of collective bargaining with the Employer. Now protected in Article 21 of the Collective Agreement, the Gender Affirmation Fund provides a total of $10,000 per year to help offset the costs involved with various elements of affirming oneās gender.”
CUPE 3906 (McMaster
The “still rather modest” $10,000 is split among approved applications.
Applicants may receive up to $2000 in lump sum payments for “eligible expenses” including (but not limited to):
“Gender affirmation” purchases such as new wardrobe, binders, shapewear, packers, makeup, and wigs.
Further:
“Medical procedures, pharmaceuticals, and therapies associated with gender affirmation, especially those not sufficiently covered under the memberās existing health and public insurance plan(s). For example:
CUPE 3906 (McMaster)
ā gender-affirming surgeries, including gender-affirming cosmetic surgeries
ā hormone replacement therapy (H.R.T.) prescriptions
ā fertility treatments
ā resilience therapy/gender counselling
ā voice/speech therapy
ā laser/other forms of hair removal
ā For Two Spirit members, this might also include supports accessed through community Elders and traditional medicines (e.g. participation in Two Spirit gatherings, and related travel costs).
(3) Administrative costs associated with changing oneās legal name and/or listed gender marker through the required government channels, and reissuing any official documentation/forms of identification to reflect said change(s). Examples of documentation for re-issue may include, but are not exclusive to:
ā passports
ā health cards
ā driverās licenses
ā debit and credit cards
ā academic documents (diplomas, transcripts, awards, etc.)
(4) Costs incurred as a result of transphobic/transmisogynist violences. For example:
ā moving expenses
ā travel
ā legal funds and advice
(5) Procedures for body dysmorphia
ā body sculpting
ā fat reduction in chest
ā etc.
Trans-Inclusion Guide (2019)
According to the Brock University “Transgender-Inclusion Guide“, hormone therapies “(i.e. injection, gel, capsules, patches, etc.)” are currently available, but “Gender-Affirming Surgeries” are not; it is the same policy for the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA).
“Trans Agenda”
The “townhall” presentation mentioned a small event, “Pride Week 2022”, held in the final week of March. It featured, among other events, a Zoom webinar called “The Trans Agenda” which says that it is a “fact that academia has been tightly intertwined with gender politics”.
“Throughout this hour, we will discuss what it is like being a transgender person in higher academia, transitioning through a degree, and how academia is navigated by trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse people” said the description, which was “Facilitated by Jasper Fisher”
Link: Equity, diversity and inclusion progress, challenges highlighted at Brock Town Hall
Link: Assistant Professor Natalee Caple, Faculty of English Language & Literature
Link: Free Chest Binders and Breast Forms Program (BrockU.ca)
Link: Brock University Trans-Inclusion Guide (2019) (PDF)
