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Pour les droits des femmes du Québec vs. transgender people

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Pour les droits des femmes du QuĂ©bec [For women’s rights in Quebec] (PDF QuĂ©bec) is a Canadian anti-transgender organization.

Background

PDF QuĂ©bec was founded in November 2013 in response to trans-inclusive intersectional feminist groups like la FĂ©dĂ©ration des femmes du QuĂ©bec. PDF QuĂ©bec argues instead for a “universalist” approach to women’s rights.

Their early work focused on the legal and social status of women and promoting secularism (laïcité).

PDF QuĂ©bec believes that feminist advocacy should remain focused on “sex-based” inequalities affecting women. PDF QuĂ©bec is critical of surrogacy, sex work, and trans and gender diverse people.

The founding board announced at the organization’s launch included:

  • MichĂšle Sirois: founding president
  • Luce Cloutier: vice-president
  • Diane Guilbault: secretary (1955–2020)
  • Chantale Caron: treasurer
  • Lyne Jubinville
  • Leila Lesbet
  • AndrĂ©e Yanacopoulo
  • Julie Latour
  • Leila Bensalem

Others associated with the group include:

  • James Cantor (advisor)
  • Athena Davis
  • Nadia El Mabrouk
  • VĂ©ronique Fournier
  • Dominique Gaucher (2022 letter)
  • Ghislaine Gendron
  • Marie-Claude Girard
  • Élaine GrisĂ© (2022 letter)
  • Alexandra Houle (2022 letter)
  • RhĂ©a Jean (2022 letter)
  • Lyne Jubinville
  • Ann Leduc
  • DaphnĂ© Poirier (2015 presentation)
  • Johanne St-Amour

The organization has participated in parliamentary committees, conferences, and policy discussions on feminism and public affairs. In 2026, PDF Québec claimed to have over 300 members.

PDF Québec also has a satellite site called Pour les droits des enfants du Québec [For the rights of Québec children] (PDEQ).

Anti-trans activism

In April 2015, PDF QuĂ©bec presented to the National Assembly of QuĂ©bec regarding proposed changes to QuĂ©bec’s Civil Code. The submission was part of a parliamentary consultation on proposed changes regarding legal sex designation for transgender people. PDF QuĂ©bec argued that legal distinctions based on sex should be maintained and raised concerns about the potential consequences of replacing sex-based categories with categories based on gender identity.

  • “Agir sur les papiers d’identitĂ©, c’est comme mettre un diachylon sur une grave blessure” [Acting on identity papers is like putting a bandage on a serious wound].
  • They argue that a transsexual person has had bottom surgery, and a transgender person has not, and that the two are being conflated in law.
  • “La question qui nous est posĂ©e, c’est celle-ci : Est-ce le sexe ou le genre qui est au cƓur de l’identitĂ© de la personne? Jusqu’à maintenant, le droit, et ce de façon universelle, a privilĂ©giĂ© le sexe tel que constatĂ© Ă  la naissance. La communautĂ© transgenre plaide aujourd’hui pour que ce soit le genre” [The question before us is this: Is sex or gender at the core of a person’s identity? Until now, the law, universally, has privileged sex as observed at birth. The transgender community now argues that gender should be the determining factor].
  • “PDF QuĂ©bec remet en question l’autodĂ©termination de l’« identitĂ© de genre » au niveau de l’état civil
 les organisations transgenres exigent le droit Ă  “l’autodĂ©termination”, c’est-Ă -dire que, sur leur simple parole, le directeur de l’état civil change le sexe sur leur extrait de naissance et autres papiers d’identitĂ©” [PDF QuĂ©bec questions the self-determination of ‘gender identity’ at the civil registry level
 transgender organizations demand the right to ‘self-determination,’ meaning that, on their simple declaration, the civil registrar would change the sex on their birth certificate and other identity documents].
  • “Il y aura des hommes, ayant gardĂ© leurs organes sexuels masculins, qui se prĂ©senteront avec des papiers d’identitĂ© de femmes dans toutes sortes de lieux. Il s’agit de modifications qui auront des consĂ©quences rĂ©elles et sĂ©rieuses sur la sĂ©curitĂ© des femmes” [There will be men who have retained their male sexual organs who will present themselves with women’s identity papers in various places. These changes will have real and serious consequences for women’s safety.].
  • “Nous sommes trĂšs nombreuses Ă  ne pas vouloir nous retrouver dans un vestiaire sportif Ă  cĂŽtĂ© d’hommes nus sous prĂ©texte qu’ils disent se sentir femmes” [Many of us do not wish to find ourselves in a sports changing room next to naked men on the basis that they say they feel like women].
  • “De nombreux transgenres qui disent se sentir femmes semblent souvent se conformer Ă  une apparence de femme trĂšs stĂ©rĂ©otypĂ©e, Ă  savoir une femme en jupe, maquillĂ©e, Ă  talons hauts, cheveux longs, etc.” [Many transgender people who say they feel like women often appear to conform to a highly stereotypical appearance of women—wearing skirts, makeup, high heels, long hair, and so on].
  • “PDF QuĂ©bec recommande d’abandonner ce projet de rĂšglement basĂ© sur les apparences, et demande au gouvernement de faire un suivi des expĂ©riences en cours, notamment en Ontario et au Royaume-Uni” [PDF QuĂ©bec recommends abandoning this proposed regulation based on appearance and asks the government to monitor the ongoing experiences in other jurisdictions, particularly Ontario and the United Kingdom].

In 2017, PDF QuĂ©bec submitted a report to the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs regarding Bill C-16, federal legislation adding “gender identity and gender expression” to the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code protections. In its submission, PDF QuĂ©bec argued that the legislation should undergo a comparative analysis of its effects on women’s rights and sex-based legal protections. They disagree that “that a change of gender is equivalent to a change of sex, which is impossible.” They cite three key issues: transgender athletes, transgender prisoners and their accommodations, and transgender and gender diverse youth.

“There is a dramatic increase in demands for “gender” change from children who do not conform to gender stereotypes, such as little boys who love princess’ dresses or teenage girls unhappy with their breasts. Studies are very clear however: more than 80% of children with gender dysphoria grow to be adults comfortable in their bodies. There is a lot of homophobia underlying this desire to treat children, many of whom are possibly gay, but whose surrounding prefers to say they were born in “THE WRONG BODY”. Mutilations, such as mastectomy on teenage girls, administration of puberty blockers and lifelong hormone intake may lead to sterilization, a kind of chemical castration of these children. All this is carried out without their knowledge, without their informed consent. How could this be in the best interests of children?”

  • A 2026 event with Robert Wintemute
  • A 2025 event with Lysanne Couture
  • Offering a course promoting their views of sex and gender
  • Promoting anti-trans documentary La mĂ©thode scandinave by Anik Salas
  • Promoting anti-trans documentary GĂ©nĂ©ration Trans by Jean-Pierre Roy (that screening was cancelled)
  • Translating a glossary by Genspect (in collaboration with Tradfem and Observatoire de la petite sirĂšne)
  • Petitioning medical organizations about “les enjeux Ă©thiques et juridiques soulevĂ©s par certaines pratiques liĂ©es Ă  l’approche transaffirmative” [the ethical and legal issues raised by certain practices associated with the trans-affirming approach] for trans youth healthcare:
    • l’Association des mĂ©decins psychiatres du QuĂ©bec [Quebec Association of Psychiatrists]
    • SociĂ©tĂ© canadienne des chirurgiens plasticiens [Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons]
    • CollĂšge des mĂ©decins du QuĂ©bec [College of Physicians of Quebec]
  • Petitioning Statistics Canada to count “detransitioners,” claiming “qu’environ 30 % des individus qui font une transition hormonale se dĂ©sistent ou exhibent de graves problĂšmes de santĂ© Ă  terme, ce qui peut prendre une dĂ©cennie avant de se manifester” [approximately 30% of individuals who undergo hormonal transition eventually desist or develop serious health issues—problems that may take a decade to manifest].
  • Writing a brochure critical of all-gender restrooms and successfully petitioning BibliothĂšque de QuĂ©bec to reinstate single-sex bathrooms at the BibliothĂšque Gabrielle-Roy.
  • Sending a delegation to a March 8, 2024, event titled Reality Based Women Unite, held in Toronto by Canadian Women’s Sex-Based Rights (caWsbar). The event was significantly funded by right-wing civil liberties group The Democracy Fund and featured Trish Oliver, Amy Hamm, April Hutchinson, Eva Kurilova, Raine McLeod, Heather Mason, Meghan Murphy, and Linda Blade.
  • Statement supporting anti-trans sexologist Jocelyne Robert Ordre, who resigned from l’Ordre professionnel des sexologues du QuĂ©bec (OPSQ) [Professional Order of Sexologists of Quebec]
  • Supporting “Billboard Chris” aka Chris Elston following anti-trans protests coordinated with Legal Tender and Women’s Human Rights Campaign (WHRC–QuĂ©bec).

References

Carabin, François (April 24, 2024). QuĂ©bec rappelle Ă  l’ordre un organisme fĂ©ministe jugĂ© transphobe [Quebec reprimands a feminist organization deemed transphobic.]. Le Devoir https://www.ledevoir.com/actualites/societe/811614/quebec-rappelle-ordre-organisme-feministe-juge-transphobe

Signatories (June 17, 2023). Qui protĂšge vraiment les enfants trans [Who really protects trans children]? Le Devoir https://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/idees/793144/droit-qui-protege-vraiment-les-enfants-trans

Curtis, Christopher (March 29, 2023). TERF Wars: Why is Quebec Funding Anti-Trans Activism? The Rover https://therover.ca/terf-wars-why-is-quebec-funding-anti-trans-activism/

Morris, Erika (March 30, 2023). Critics call on Quebec to cut funding to ‘overtly transphobic’ women’s group. CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/critics-cut-funding-transphobic-group-1.6793343

Amador, Marisela (March 18, 2023). Critics allege group funded by Quebec government spreading transphobic views. The Globe and Mail https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-critics-allege-group-funded-by-quebec-government-spreading-transphobic/

Roy, Lillian (March 17, 2023). ‘Slap in the face’: Trans activist targeted by Quebec-funded women’s rights group. CTV News https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/slap-in-the-face-trans-activist-targeted-by-quebec-funded-womens-rights-group/

Morris, Erika (March 14, 2023). Quebec government funding group that promotes anti-trans views. CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/anti-trans-views-quebec-funding-1.6777654

House, Claire C.A. (2023). â€˜I’m real, not you’: Roles and discourses of trans exclusionary women’s and feminist movements in anti-gender and right-wing populist politics. DiGeSt: Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies https://www.digest.ugent.be/article/85755/galley/207661/view/ https://doi.org/10.21825/digest.85755

Canada House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights testimony by James Cantor and Ghislaine Gendron (December 1, 2020). JUST (43-2) – No. 13: Evidence on Bill C6 (conversion therapy ban). https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/JUST/meeting-13/evidence

(June 29, 2020). Occulter la rĂ©alitĂ© des sexes n’est pas une solution contre la discrimination []. Le Devoir https://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/idees/581593/occulter-la-realite-des-sexes-n-est-pas-une-solution-contre-la-discrimination

Robertson, Dylan C (May 30, 2017). Senate committee rejects motion to narrow trans bill’s scope. Xtra* https://xtramagazine.com/power/senate-committee-rejects-motion-to-narrow-trans-bills-scope-73581

Senate of Canada Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (May 17, 2017). Statement by MichĂšle Sirois on Bill C-16. https://sencanada.ca/en/Content/SEN/Committee/421/lcjc/53339-e

Anti-trans coverage

Grisé, Elaine (February 19, 2020). Will Quebec finally say enough is enough to FFQ president, Gabrielle Bouchard? Feminist Current https://www.feministcurrent.com/2020/02/19/will-quebec-finally-say-enough-is-enough-to-ffq-president-gabrielle-bouchard/

Hamilton, Graeme (January 8, 2018). Feminists challenge ability of transgender leader of Quebec women’s group to speak for women. National Post https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/transgender-president-of-quebec-womens-group-faces-backlash-from-feminists

Selected writing by PDF Québec members

Fournier, VĂ©ronique; Leduc, Ann; Sirois, MichĂšle (July 22, 2025). FĂ©minisme et libertĂ© de pensĂ©e: Ă  la dĂ©fense de Jocelyne Robert [Feminism and freedom of thought: in defense of Jocelyne Robert]. Libre MĂ©dia https://libre-media.com/2025/07/22/feminisme-et-liberte-de-pensee-a-la-defense-de-jocelyne-robert

Staff (September 28, 2023). Les toilettes pour femmes : au coeur des revendications fĂ©ministes [Women’s restrooms: at the heart of feminist demands]. https://site.pdfquebec.org/fr/nos-actions-identite/les-toilettes-pour-femmes-au-coeur-des-revendications-feministes

Sirois, MichĂšle (July 3, 2023). Cette nouvelle idĂ©ologie qui efface les filles et les femmes [This new ideology that erases girls and women]. La Presse https://www.lapresse.ca/debats/opinions/2023-07-03/cette-nouvelle-ideologie-qui-efface-les-filles-et-les-femmes.php

Davis, Athena (April 19, 2023). PDF QuĂ©bec, ou les femmes d’abord! L’organisation s’inquiĂšte des conflits entre les droits des femmes et les demandes de certains militants trans. [PDF QuĂ©bec: Women First! The organization is concerned about conflicts between women’s rights and the demands of certain trans activists]. Le Devoir https://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/libre-opinion/789343/libre-opinion-pdf-quebec-ou-les-femmes-d-abord

Sirois, MichĂšle (March 3, 2023). Le fĂ©minisme universaliste pour favoriser l’émancipation des femmes [Universalist feminism to foster women’s emancipation]. L’aut’journal https://www.lautjournal.info/20230303/le-feminisme-universaliste-pour-favoriser-lemancipation-des-femmes

Sirois, MichĂšle, Gaucher, Dominique; GrisĂ©, Élaine; Houle, Alexandra; Jean, RhĂ©a (March 8, 2022). Objet : Directive du Commissaire CD-100. Gestion des dĂ©linquants ayant des considĂ©rations d’identitĂ© ou d’expression de genre. https://site.pdfquebec.org/files/R%C3%A9flexion%20sur%20le%20genre/Lettre%20Directive%20CD-100%202022-03-08%20-%20fran%C3%A7ais-english%20v2-2.pdf [archive]

El Mabrouk, Nadia; Gendron, Ghislaine; St-Amour, Johanne (November 15, 2021). Assimiler genre et sexe ? Tout le monde est concernĂ© [Equating gender and sex? It affects everyone.]. La Presse https://www.lapresse.ca/debats/opinions/2021-11-15/assimiler-genre-et-sexe-tout-le-monde-est-concerne.php

Gendron, Ghislaine; Sirois, MichĂšle (November 12, 2020). Protecting the Physical and Psychological Integrity of Children and Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria: Brief on Bill C-6. Pour les droits des femmes du QuĂ©bec (PDF QuĂ©bec) https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/432/JUST/Brief/BR11002891/br-external/PourLesDroitsDesFemmesDuQu%C3%A9bec-10347826-e.pdf\

Jubinville, Lyne El-Mabrouk, Nadia; Gendron, Ghislaine; Girard, Marie-Claude (June 29, 2020). Occulter la rĂ©alitĂ© des sexes n’est pas une solution contre la discrimination [Obscuring the reality of the sexes is not a solution to discrimination]. Le Devoir https://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/idees/581593/occulter-la-realite-des-sexes-n-est-pas-une-solution-contre-la-discrimination

Pour les droits des femmes du Québec (PDF Québec) (May 17, 2017). Presentation before the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on Bill C-16. https://www.pdfquebec.org/English/documents/2017-05-17-Allocution_au_Senat_PDF_Quebec_EN.pdf

Guilbault, Diane; Poirier, Daphné; Sirois, MichÚle (April 15, 2015). La mention de sexe: toute la société est concernée. Pour les droits des femmes du Québec (PDF Québec) https://www.pdfquebec.org/documents/Memoire_identite_sexuelle_2015_04.pdf

Resources

Pour les droits des femmes du QuĂ©bec (PDF QuĂ©bec) (site.pdfquebec.org)

Pour les droits des enfants du Québec (pdeq.org)

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