Activist Silvia Martinez of the Trans Network of Nicaragua (REDTRANS) was denied permission to travel to the United States. Martinez has been issued visas in the past to other countries and MADRE, an international women’s rights group and mother-type group to REDTRANS, has previously been allowed to bring other activist speakers to the United States. MADRE also cited that Martinez met the eligibility requirements for a U.S. visa.

MADRE believes Martinez was denied a visa because she is transgender: “This discrimination constitutes a violation of internationally recognized human rights, which the US is obligated to uphold.”

The organization is urging people to write the U.S. embassy in Nicaragua through a convenient action alert, located here.