### **No one should have to choose between being able to afford groceries and being legally recognized by their identity.**

Costing upwards of $450, the fees associated with updating their name and gender marker can be a significant barrier for those who are transitioning.

OUTlaw, the University of Alberta’s 2SLGBTQIA+ law student group, advocates for advancing queer visibility in the legal profession and promotes the education of law students with respect to the realities of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in Canada.

The Trans ID Clinic is a student-run project offered by Student Legal Services that helps individuals navigate the bureaucracy of changing their legal name and gender marker. After volunteering with the Clinic, many of OUTlaw’s members saw how financial barriers made the process inaccessible to low-income Edmontonians. This experience transformed our priorities as a student group and led us to focus on fundraising for the Trans ID Clinic in an effort to reduce the costs associated with some of the required procedures.

**This is where we need your help.** OUTlaw is asking for your donations to support a project which provides an essential service. The Trans ID Clinic supports trans and non-binary members of our community while providing hands-on experiential learning for law students. 
Your donation will help reduce these cost barriers, allowing low-income trans and non-binary Edmontonians to access legal services and assistance. Supporting this program ensures that law students graduate with a better understanding of the realities of trans and non-binary people. Your contributions will have a lasting impact on trans and non-binary members of our community.

![OUTlaw 2025](https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.alumniq.com/ualberta/prod/crowdfunding/2025/1740089114480.jpg)

### **What does your gift do?**

All of the money raised goes directly towards alleviating the costs associated with the administrative process of changing your name or gender marker. The Trans ID Clinic itself is operated entirely by volunteers. Law students provide free assistance to trans and non-binary individuals with completing paperwork and navigating the process of updating their identification.

In addition, the clinic organizes free notarization, which removes another financial barrier associated with legally updating names and gender markers on government identification. OUTlaw is asking for your support to further break down the barriers that prevent low-income Edmontonians from using this service.

Here is a sample breakdown of all the costs associated with changing your legal name or gender marker for individuals born in Alberta:

* Legal Name Change: $120 (per change of name application)
* Amending a Birth Event (changing gender marker on AB Birth Certificate): $20
* **Electronic Fingerprint Report:** $50 - $80 in Edmonton
* Criminal Record Check: $76 in Edmonton
* Registry Fees: $120 - $160 in Edmonton
* **Total:** $386 - $486

Our inaugural campaign helped cover fingerprinting costs and we hope to continue to expand the services we can cover this year. Each donation makes it that much easier for low-income trans and non-binary individuals to have identification that more accurately reflects their identity.

OUTlaw has a fundraising goal of $5,000, which translates to helping approximately 75 individuals receive accurate IDs this year if we hit this goal. **That means 75 more people can feel secure knowing that their driver’s licences and other documents correctly represent who they are.**

The Trans ID Clinic is continuing to grow. In 2024 the clinic assisted over 100 individuals. With new applications coming in each week, the clinic is developing new connections with other Edmonton organizations to improve awareness. This service is being used by Edmontonians, and as it grows, so does the number of law students who can have the opportunity to work with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Your support ensures that the project continues to provide experiential learning for law students.

Volunteering with the clinic equips law students with skills to help serve their communities by giving them the opportunity to assist trans and non-binary individuals through the legal process of updating their name and/or gender marker. Lawyers must understand the communities they serve, and the Trans ID Clinic allows law students to better understand the realities of trans and non-binary people. OUTlaw is committed to amplifying the impact of the Trans ID Clinic.

**Together, we can empower individuals and shape a more equitable society. Your donation not only supports the transgender community, it also creates a more comprehensive learning experience for University of Alberta law students.**

Proud To Be Me - OUTlaw for the Trans ID Clinic

Proud to Be Me

Ends On: March 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM MDT