June 9, 2023 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Fighting Ignorance, Poverty with Job Fair for Trans, Intersex Folks

“Thriving in Los Angeles as a person of trans, non-binary, or intersex experience is challenging,” Eden Anaï Luna, Manager of the Transgender Economic Empowerment Project, said.

According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, nearly one-third of trans people are living in poverty, compounded by the statistic that they experience a 15 percent unemployment rate which is three times higher than the unemployment rate in the U.S. population (5 percent). The unemployment rate among trans people of color is worse—four times higher than the nation’s unemployment rate.

Luna said that there are many intersecting socioeconomic factors that affect the unemployment and poverty rates for trans, non-binary and intersex folks. She noted the lack of legal protections on the basis of gender identity and gender expression on a federal level. There is also a level of federally-sanctioned discrimination against gender diverse people that encourages individual states and companies to continually perpetuate discriminatory hiring and firing practices.

On Thursday, November 7, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m., the Los Angeles LGBT Center will host the 11th annual job and resources fair specifically tailored for trans, non-binary, and intersex people at the Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza. The free fair is hosted by the Center’s Transgender Economic Empowerment Project (TEEP) in partnership with programmatic funders City of West Hollywood and Citi Community Development, as well as community partners Trans Can Work, JVS SoCal, and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

“The City of West Hollywood is pleased to partner with the Transgender Economic Empowerment Project in this movement for economic development,” said City of West Hollywood Mayor John D’Amico. “We encourage all companies to hire trans community members and expand the visibility of their workforces.”

Luna said that the job fair is the bridge to economic stability, success and ultimately dignity in a workplace for a person of these experiences.

“At other job fairs, employers often presume that the jobseekers whom they are interacting with identifies as cisgender and heterosexual,” Luna said. “At our job fair, we aim to not only dispel that myth that gender diverse professionals do not exist. Rather, we celebrate and welcome diversity as the new normal.”

Since launching in 2008, the job and resources fair has attracted more than 1,500 potential candidates with hundreds of them eventually obtaining employment. This year, 40 top-tier corporations and companies are anticipated to participate in this year’s fair.

“Each year our participating businesses continues to grow. This year, however, we had to be more selective with the registration process. We have gathered employers who have demonstrated their commitment to support inclusivity practices on state and national scales. We are certain this will continue to set the standard to inclusive hiring practices across the country,” Luna said.

Employers will be conducting interviews on site and will be ready to hire the best candidates. Job seekers will also be able to access resources at the fair such as one-on-one résumé reviews; an interviewing skills workshop; and a photo booth for professional headshots. Professional clothing, haircuts, hairstyling, and makeup will be provided in preparation for the professional headshots. Participants will be able to download their headshots on USB flash drives donated by Grindr and ICM Partners.


“Access to job opportunities is a fundamental part of financial stability,” said James Alva, South California Market Manager, Citi Community Development. “By supporting the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Transgender Economic Empowerment Project, we aim to expand access to critical resources that boost long-term economic success for transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals.”

Due to ignorance, trans, non-binary, and intersex people often have to live in the very margins of society, Luna said. 

“Stereotypes crumble once employers begin to meet gender diverse people and realize that gender diverse people are just like everyone else,” Luna said. “At the Los Angeles LGBT Center, we work to address this issue and bridge the gaps between gender diverse professionals and inclusive employers, and we hope this continues to inspire other states and employers to join the movement.”

For more information, visit lalgbtcenter.org/TEEPcareers

Related Posts

Mariah Carey and Megan Thee Stallion to Headline LA Pride in the Park

June 9, 2023

June 9, 2023

By Susan Payne  Global superstars and Grammy award-winning artists Mariah Carey and Megan Thee Stallion will headline LA Pride’s 2023...

Celebrate Pride: Official LA Pride Events This June

June 9, 2023

June 9, 2023

By Susan Payne Los Angeles’ annual celebration of Pride Month is coming soon. Since 1970, the LA Pride Parade has...

WeHo Welcomes Pride Revelers to Celebrate Pride Month

June 9, 2023

June 9, 2023

By Susan Payne  Excitement is brewing for all things Pride in Los Angeles for the month of June and there...

LA Pride Announces Three Grand Marshals For The 2023 LA Pride Parade

May 25, 2023

May 25, 2023

Comedian Margaret Cho, Actor Leslie JordanThe ACLU Named As Grand Marshalls Christopher Street West Association (CSW), the esteemed 501(c)3 nonprofit...

The Dodgers Reinstate LGBTQ+ Group’s Invitation and Honor At Dodger Pride Night

May 25, 2023

May 25, 2023

The Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence Accepted The Baseball Team’s Apology By Dolores Quintana This morning, The Los Angeles Dodgers issued...

Disneyland Welcomes Official ‘Pride Nite’

April 28, 2023

April 28, 2023

Part Of The Park’s Disneyland After Dark Series Of Events By Susan Payne Disneyland is holding its first official LGBTQ...

Latino Equality Alliances Awards $20,000 To College-Bound Students

April 28, 2023

April 28, 2023

Eight Scholarships Went To Low-Income LGBTQ+ Scholars By Susan Payne Throughout the nation, LGBTQ+ and trans rights are being challenged...

Drag March Rally in Weho Amasses Thousands

April 28, 2023

April 28, 2023

Inclusivity and Diversity Take Center Stage at Weho’s Drag March, Drawing Thousands to the Streets By Susan Payne Santa Monica...

Coalition of Faith Communities Stand Against Anti-Transgender Agenda

April 14, 2023

April 14, 2023

By Susan Payne At an All Saints Church in Pasadena lrecently, a coalition of faith communities discussed concerns about a...

Ricky Martin presents 2023 GLAAD Vanguard Award to Bad Bunny

April 14, 2023

April 14, 2023

By Susan Payne During the GLAAD Media Awards this spring, Bad Bunny was honored with the Vanguard Award presented by...

Timothy Dean Family Seeks Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Ed Buck

April 14, 2023

April 14, 2023

By Susan Payne Judgment before trail is at request of the three sisters of Timothy Dean, who died in the...

Food, Music, and Philanthropy: Taste of Home Festival Hits Los Angeles on April 29th

April 13, 2023

April 13, 2023

Food festival planned for April 29 in Hollywood The Taste of Home Festival offers a unique experience that goes beyond...

Los Angeles LGBT Center Hosts Drag March in Protest of Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation

April 6, 2023

April 6, 2023

Over 1,000 Angelenos to rally for rights on Easter Sunday Los Angeles, April 04 – The Los Angeles LGBT Center...

WeHo ‘Rainbow Mile’ Runners Amass 20K in Marathon

April 2, 2023

April 2, 2023

By Susan Payne Nearly 20,000 runners gathered in West Hollywood for the 28th Annual Los Angeles Marathon, referred to as...

Outed MMA Fighter Jeff Molina Comes out as Bisexual

April 2, 2023

April 2, 2023

By Susan Payne UFC bantamweight Jeff Molina, known as “El Jefe,” in the octagon, was outed on social media and...