A specialist job vacancy website offers new hope and possibility to transexuals and transvestites seeking formal employment
You could live in Germany or Brazil, Mexico or France or even in the USA or Australia: if you were born in the wrong body, or if your happiness is dependent on an aesthetic appearance other than that defined by your birth certificate, it is more than probably that you will suffer some form of prejudice. Worse still, you may not even be able to find work.
A study by the Articulação Nacional das Travestis e Transsexuais do Brasil (ANTRA for short – a support group) revealed that 90% of transgender people are only able to find work as prostitutes. From a young age the transgender population are able to study quite normally, but it is the prejudice and bullying that they suffer in the early school years that leaves them without a complete education, making the job market very difficult.
But the situation is changing. In January 2015 the local government of São Paulo, along with the Secretary for Human Rights, launched a special programme – Transcidadania (cross-citizenship) – which seeks to promote the reintegration of transexuals and transgender people into the labour market. As a result of the project, these people – mostly homeless transvestites and transexuals – are able to receive a grant of R$ 840 (Brazilian Reais) to fund the completion of their primary education and study middle school vocational courses administered by the Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA –Youth and Adults Education). Today, there are approximately 100 available places for these two year courses.
Before this, back in 2013, Daniela Andrade, a systems analyst, and Paulo Bevilaqua, a designer, along with a lawyer named Marcia Rocha created an online portal known as Transempregos, where companies are able to offer registered jobs to transexuals, transvestites and crossdressers. There are all sorts of opportunities from a range of industries and sectors. Spaces are limited, but there are permanent positions, apprenticeships, self-employment opportunities, part time and full time work, and all available across a number of Brazilian States, including Goiás, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul. The portal has specific areas for companies to post jobs, and for candidates to apply.
Whether there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow still remains to be seen, but the road to get there is clear. As long as you are happy with your gender identity, there is no need to lose hope. Put on your best suit and go, with CV in hand, in search of a better future.
Transempregos – www.transempregos.com.br
