At a time when the unemployment rate for trans people in the U.S. is double that of the general population, the San Francisco LGBT Center's Trans at Work campaign highlights the talents of working trans and gender-nonconforming people. Launched today with photographs by Samantha Cooper along with a video, a website, and the hashtags #TransAtWork and #HireTrans, the campaign is the brainchild of the SF LGBT Center's Trans Employment Program, the country's first city-funded employment program specifically for trans and gender-nonconforming people.



The Center's director of economic development, Clair Farley — a trans woman herself — wrote in an email to BuzzFeed News, "We hope people can start talking more about the economic impact of discrimination on the transgender community." She believes that the Trans at Work campaign can help combat prejudices against trans people so they can be seen as valued candidates by potential employers.

Farley also hopes that the campaign will inspire trans people to pursue their ambitions despite the many obstacles they face. "It’s my dream to have the images on billboards and buses, and I want to make sure that no trans person ever feels alone or not able to chase their career goals," she said.

The campaign provided BuzzFeed News with an exclusive first look at the photo series. Following are the portraits of 12 participants, along with a few words about their experiences in the workplace and their feelings about trans employment: