Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Why Gavin Newsom Shouldn't Kill the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative
by Michael A. Jones May 06, 2010 01:22 PM (PT)

http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/why_gavin_newsom_shouldnt_kill_the_transgender_economic_empowerment_initiative (http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/why_gavin_newsom_shouldnt_kill_the_transgender_economic_empowerment_initiative)

There's a unique program in San Francisco called the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative (TEEI). And while the program might not be well known outside of the City By the Bay, it certainly could be a model program for cities looking to promote safe and welcoming work places for transgender individuals.

The overall thrust of the program is to help transgender individuals find stable jobs that provide a living wage, benefits, and opportunities for advancement. Hard to disagree with a mission statement like that. But the TEEI does a whole lot more. In collaboration with several other organizations, the TEEI works with employers to create safe work zones, as well as work within the broader community to advance transgender rights. They hold job fairs, run classes for transgender individuals looking to improve certain skills (like resume writing, for example), and help make sure that transgender employees know their rights. And that's covering something particularly important, given that transgender employees are much more likely to face discrimination on the job.