OTHER CASES
Below are summaries of successful cases with transgender applicants achieved through the National Center for Lesbian Rights:
1) In re Raul
Raul is a transgender man originally from Peru who, from a very early age, knew that he was in the wrong body. As a child, he woke up every morning waiting for his body to change from female to male. His family had a difficult time adjusting to their child’s gender identity and expression. In school, he endured verbal and physical attacks, isolation, and harassment on a daily basis. Despite the many obstacles that he faced in obtaining his education, he was admitted into a prestigious university where he pursued his professional degree. However, after all his efforts and struggles to succeed, the university refused to issue him the diploma he had earned, due to his gender identity.
With no hope of ever having a peaceful life in his home country, Raul sought refuge in the United States where his relatives resided. His search for legal help went on for nine months and he was ready to give up when he found NCLR. Raul made his way to San Francisco where he proceeded to file for asylum. NCLR, with the assistance of various pro bono attorneys filed his application in February 2007. Raul was granted asylum in July 2007.
2) In re Mariella & Edit
On October 13, 2003, Mariella, a transgender woman, and her wife, Edit, were attacked in broad daylight on the streets of Lima, Peru by a gang of youth who beat them with stones while yelling disparaging homophobic comments. After months of continued harassment and threats, the couple fled Peru seeking safety in the United States. Through the support of pro bono counsel at NCLR, Mariella and Edit were granted asylum on September 9, 2004.
3) In re Irma
Irma is a Mexican transgender woman. From a very young age, Irma understood herself to be female. Her family taunted her and physically abused her because of this. Throughout her life in Mexico, Irma was targeted for persecution by people in her community. At the age of sixteen and on her way back from a friend’s birthday party, Irma flagged down a car thinking that it was a cab. She realized too late that it was a patrol car. The two police officers inside forced her into the car and drove to a remote location. She was brutally assaulted. The policemen threatened that if she told anyone about this that her and her family would suffer much more.
Some time after the brutal assault and continuing hostility from her mother and other family members, Irma fled to the United States. It wasn’t until 2005, when she moved to San Francisco, that she sought help. In January 2006, she began to receive services from the Mission Neighborhood Resource Center (MNRC) and it was there that she was referred to NCLR for assistance with her immigration status. With the pro bono representation of the Transgender Law Center’s Executive Director, Irma’s asylum application was submitted on August 2006. Irma was granted asylum in August 2007.
For more examples of successful and pending cases with transgender applicants, please visit the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
1) In re Raul
Raul is a transgender man originally from Peru who, from a very early age, knew that he was in the wrong body. As a child, he woke up every morning waiting for his body to change from female to male. His family had a difficult time adjusting to their child’s gender identity and expression. In school, he endured verbal and physical attacks, isolation, and harassment on a daily basis. Despite the many obstacles that he faced in obtaining his education, he was admitted into a prestigious university where he pursued his professional degree. However, after all his efforts and struggles to succeed, the university refused to issue him the diploma he had earned, due to his gender identity.
With no hope of ever having a peaceful life in his home country, Raul sought refuge in the United States where his relatives resided. His search for legal help went on for nine months and he was ready to give up when he found NCLR. Raul made his way to San Francisco where he proceeded to file for asylum. NCLR, with the assistance of various pro bono attorneys filed his application in February 2007. Raul was granted asylum in July 2007.
2) In re Mariella & Edit
On October 13, 2003, Mariella, a transgender woman, and her wife, Edit, were attacked in broad daylight on the streets of Lima, Peru by a gang of youth who beat them with stones while yelling disparaging homophobic comments. After months of continued harassment and threats, the couple fled Peru seeking safety in the United States. Through the support of pro bono counsel at NCLR, Mariella and Edit were granted asylum on September 9, 2004.
3) In re Irma
Irma is a Mexican transgender woman. From a very young age, Irma understood herself to be female. Her family taunted her and physically abused her because of this. Throughout her life in Mexico, Irma was targeted for persecution by people in her community. At the age of sixteen and on her way back from a friend’s birthday party, Irma flagged down a car thinking that it was a cab. She realized too late that it was a patrol car. The two police officers inside forced her into the car and drove to a remote location. She was brutally assaulted. The policemen threatened that if she told anyone about this that her and her family would suffer much more.
Some time after the brutal assault and continuing hostility from her mother and other family members, Irma fled to the United States. It wasn’t until 2005, when she moved to San Francisco, that she sought help. In January 2006, she began to receive services from the Mission Neighborhood Resource Center (MNRC) and it was there that she was referred to NCLR for assistance with her immigration status. With the pro bono representation of the Transgender Law Center’s Executive Director, Irma’s asylum application was submitted on August 2006. Irma was granted asylum in August 2007.
For more examples of successful and pending cases with transgender applicants, please visit the National Center for Lesbian Rights.