Non-binary client wins discrimination case against Montreal-area hair salon
CBC
When Alexe Frédéric Migneault suddenly began experiencing hair loss, they thought a haircut would be just the thing to help them feel confident again.
But they didn't realize trying to book an appointment at a Montreal-area salon would lead them to a years-long legal challenge.
That chapter came to a close for Migneault earlier this month, when Quebec’s Human Rights Tribunal ordered the Station10 hair salon in Longueuil, Que., to pay them $500 in damages as it ruled they were the victim of discrimination.
It all started in 2023, when Migneault went to book an appointment for a haircut at the Station10 hair salon.
Prices there are significantly cheaper when booking in advance and the only way to do that is by filling out an online form.
At the time, the form forced Migneault to specify whether the service was for a man or a woman.
"'Choose whichever' is something that is said a lot to non-binary people but it’s extremely tricky for us to do that," Migneault explained in an interview Wednesday. "As soon as we pick one of these two options, we force ourselves to become either completely invisible... or we have to come out."
Migneault decided to reach out to the salon to try to find a solution, but was told the only way to book an appointment was online and to choose one of the two gender options.
In an email chain attached to the tribunal ruling, salon staff explains the choice would have no bearing on the haircut itself and says they have never had issues accommodating people in the 2SLGBTQ+ community in the past.
Migneault decided to take their case to Quebec's Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission, known as the CDPDJ.
In the meantime, the salon offered Migneault three free haircuts and changed its website to include a non-gendered option.
In 2024, the CDPDJ determined Migneault was the victim of discrimination and recommended the salon pay $500 to the plaintiff to avoid the risk of being sued.
But Station10 refused.
Alexis Labrecque, the salon’s co-owner, said his colleagues would have been happy to cut Migneault’s hair, but when they did more research on the plaintiff they felt “extorted” because Migneault has made complaints about other businesses in the past.
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