The Los Angeles Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department and its Transgender Advisory Council hosted a virtual job fair for transgender and non-binary community on March 31, connecting more than 60 attendees with 12 employers, including the FBI and Thomas Safran & Associates.  

The job fair, hosted on the Transgender Day of Visibility, is one of many upward mobility and community empowerment events hosted by the department. 

“We are thrilled at the overwhelming support for our first job fair. This tells us that this is a much needed service and we need to keep going,” said advisory council member Eden Anaï Luna, who is also the program manager at the L.A. LGBT Center’s Transgender Economic Empowerment Project. “Employers today are now more aware of the severe socioeconomic disadvantages which trans and nonbinary people face every day – and the valuable contributions which we bring to the workforce.” 

“I am incredibly honored to be part of this team and excited to see this job fair come into fruition for our TGI (trans, gender non-conforming, intersex) family,” advisory council member Luckie-Alexander Fuller said. “It’s very important that our community has access to affirming employment and livable wages. Our TGI job seekers can go into this space confident that they are seen based on the skills they possess and nothing more. I’m so grateful we as the trans advisory council are in a position to have this kind of positive impact on our community and their lives.” 

Studies show that the trans and non-binary community face unemployment at twice the rate of the U.S. population as a whole, and that trans workers are nearly four times more likely than to have a household income of under $10,000.  

Furthermore, many trans and non-binary workers report increased harassment and discrimination in the workplace, making it more difficult to find safe and affirming employment. Anti-trans discrimination in employment was legal in the United States before being outlawed by the Supreme Court in June 2020.  

“Even during a labor shortage, we know that qualified transgender and non-binary applicants are not getting hired or are being mistreated at work,” department executive director Capri Maddox said. “We hosted this job fair with our transgender advisory council to get L.A. employers trained on creating inclusive workplaces and to expand upward mobility and gainful employment for our trans and non-binary community. We are so thankful to Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell for supporting this event and to all the employers who joined.” 

The job fair featured L.A.-based employers from a range of industries, including hospitality, government, real estate and the nonprofit sector. Every employer involved in the fair received a training before participating, and job seekers were offered a free resume prep and interview skills training.  

Employers included Project Q, Project Angel Food, Beautycounter, the Housing Rights Center, the FBI Los Angeles Bureau, Thomas Safran & Associates, Conrad Hotels, Empowering Families Inc., the AMAAD Institute, Sender One Climbing and the UCLA Center for LGBTQ Advocacy, Research and Health. 

“The city is meeting the challenge of bringing resources to the transgender and non-binary communities, while also helping small businesses that have suffered during the pandemic,” said O’Farrell, 13th District, one of two out LGBTQ+ members of the Los Angeles City Council. “Bringing these communities together in such a thoughtful way is vital to ensuring there is visibility, equity and economic opportunities for all. I want to thank L.A. Civil Rights and our fearless leaders at the transgender advisory council for spearheading this ongoing effort and working to ensure that all Angelenos are welcomed, visible and valued.”