Marni Panas

Marni Marcelle Panas (née Marcel) is a Canadian LGBT activist. As a transgender woman, she has campaigned for LGBT causes.

Early life and education

Panas was raised in a small town in Alberta. At birth, she was designated biologically male and her parents named her Marcel. Her family is Ukrainian Catholic. Panas has stated that members of her parish have been supportive of her as a transgender woman, that she would continue to be able to take Holy Communion, and that she would receive the Christian rite of burial as a woman. From "the age of six or seven," Panas became aware that she "didn't fit in to what was expected of [her] as a young boy." Around age 10, she began cross-dressing in her mother and sister's clothing. During her childhood, Panas struggled to fit in and was often ignored or rejected by other students.

On June 11, 2015, Panas graduated from Athabasca University with a degree in Health Administration.

Personal life

In 1996, Panas met her future wife, Laurina, who was accepting of Panas' passion for performing as a drag queen at Mardi Gras. They married and had a son. After receiving psychological counselling, Panas and Laurina sent an email to their relatives, friends, and coworkers to explain that March 21, 2014 would be the last day of Panas' life as a man. Her name was legally changed to Marni Marcelle Panas after this date and she returned to her job at Stollery Children's Hospital as a woman on April 8, 2014.

Panas resides in Edmonton.

Activism and honours

Panas campaigned for Bill 10 and is the recipient of a humanitarian award from John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights.