What is the Gender Affirming Care Legal Support Clinic? 

This is a free legal clinic for trans, non-binary and gender fluid people across Ontario seeking legal support in getting access to gender affirming care. This includes navigating coverage with OHIP, challenges with your health care provider or a parent/guardian. We help provide education, navigational supports, legal advice, and sometimes, representation on appeals of OHIP’s coverage decisions

What to expect:

You can sign up for phone, virtual or in-person appointments (at the 519) with one of our volunteer lawyers.

In-person and virtual appointments:

In person at The 519 [519 Church St.] or via Zoom.

Your privacy: 

When you fill in an intake form and meet with a lawyer as part of this clinic, your personal information and the communication you share is protected by solicitor-client privilege.  The information is only shared with The 519 Legal Clinic staff and it’s volunteer lawyers.

For registration for legal advice: Visit The 519 – Legal Intake Form

Or email for more information: TransLegal@the519.org

Your facilitators:

Team of volunteer lawyers who have experience challenging OHIP denials at HSARB and the Divisional Court (including K.S. v OHIP).

John McIntyre

John McIntyre (he/him) is a health law lawyer working at his own firm, McIntyre Szabo PC. He is an out gay man and helped start the Gender Affirming Care Legal Support Clinic. John was the lawyer on the OHIP v. KS case, successfully arguing at the Court of Appeal for coverage of KS’s vaginoplasty without a penectomy. He has his Master’s Degree from Johns Hopkins University in Public Health with a certificate in LGBTQ Public Health.

Aaden Pearson

Aaden Pearson (they/them) is a trans lawyer working in the area of human rights and constitutional law. They are currently working for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association where they work with and for the transgender community to protect and develop trans rights in Canada. Aaden volunteers at the Gender Affirming Care Legal Support Clinic and is passionate about advancing accessibility to trans healthcare.

Frank Nasca

Frank Nasca (they/them) is an openly transgender lawyer, working at a small firm called Kastner Ko LLP. Frank volunteers at the 519 Gender Affirming Care Legal Support Clinic and regularly advocates for the rights of transgender clients in their daily work. In their personal life, Frank is a loving parent to one human, one dog, and two cats.

Jess Abramson

Jess Abramson is an Articling Student at a Bay Street business law firm and a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School. She was recently awarded the Women’s Law Association of Ontario Aird & Berlis LLP Equality Award for her efforts in support of trans, non-binary and gender diverse communities. Jess is also a parent to a child whose negotiating skills far surpass her own.

Clémence Thabet

Clémence Thabet (they/them/iel) is a labour and employment lawyer working at Cavalluzzo LLP. They have worked with a number of equality-oriented initiatives, including working with queer and trans refugees at the Capital Rainbow Refuge, and often work with 2SLGBTQIA+ people navigating their workplaces. Clémence has published peer-reviewed articles on queer legal theory, queer reproductive justice and policy implications regarding access to gender-affirming care. They also speak French.

Resource:

Please check out this helpful Gender Affirming Care Clinic FAQ prepared by our team of volunteer lawyers:

GACLSC FAQ May 2025

Offered as part of The 519 Legal Clinic. For other services of the clinic, visit Access to Justice and Legal Initiatives