In an effort to reduce the high unemployment rate within the city’s transgender community, the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Transgender Economic Empowerment Project (TEEP) will host a job fair specifically tailored for transgender people. Sponsored by the City of West Hollywood, the job fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the National Council for Jewish Women, 543 N. Fairfax Ave. south of Melrose. Job seekers will be provided with training classes to gain valuable office skills and find employment opportunities.

“With many of these potential candidates holding college degrees, the transgender community is an untapped pool of talent that’s experiencing unemployment rates at twice the national average simply because of their gender identity,” said TEEP Manager Drian Juarez. “It’s time for a change, and this job and resource fair is a step in the right direction.”

The job fair will include a brunch with potential employers and—as an added benefit to companies that are striving to be more inclusive—a training class on gender and sexual diversity in the workplace. TEEP is also encouraging employers to become “Trans* Champions” by committing to hiring at least one transgender person.