Marta is a transgender woman from Mexico who suffered unthinkable verbal, physical, and sexual abuse because of her sexual orientation and gender identity.  In 2001, Marta applied for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention against Torture.

Alejandra is an 18-year-old transgender woman from Guatemala who struggled for her family’s acceptance  and faced daily verbal and physical attacks. When local leaders decided she should be killed, Alejandra’s mother put her daughter on a bus out of Guatemala. Fearing for her life, she headed for the United States, walking most of the way and not resting until she reached U.S. soil.

M.Q. is a native and citizen of Mexico. When M.Q. was a child, his father often accused him of being a “sissy,” and as he grew up, M.Q. was physically assaulted many times by his family, peers, and police because he was gay. M.Q. fled Mexico and applied for asylum with help of NCLR. After 2 years of waiting, M.Q. was granted asylum in September 2008.

Born male in El Salvador, Barbara was abused throughout her childhood by family, neighbors, and classmates because she was “too feminine.” When Barbara turned 18, she began to live as a woman, but she still suffered frequent harassment and violence.

Angelica was born in Mexico City  in a family that was controlling and abusive. She was not permitted to participate in any activities outside of the home and was physically abused throughout her childhood. Angelica fled to the U.S. and filed for asylum.

Martin is an HIV-positive gay man from Mexico. Martin felt ‘different’ from other boys from a very young age. His father would punish him harshly for “not acting like a boy.” Upon finding out about his son’s homosexuality, Martin’s father beat him, verbally abused him and then kicked him out of the house with no belongings. In 2005 he left Mexico. In 2007 he applied for asylum and his application was granted in September 2008.

Raised in Cuernavaca, Mexico, Valeria suffered years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse because of her gender identity. In 1994, Valeria was attacked, mutilated, and left to bleed to death. As soon as she was well enough to travel, Valeria left Mexico but suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and serious depression. With NCLR’s help, Valeria filed an application for asylum in 2005, which was granted in September 2007.

Irma is a Mexican transgender woman who has suffered a lifetime of loss, violence, and abuse. Irma is the eighth of ten children. From a very young age, Irma understood herself to be female. She socialized with girls and believed she would grow up to be a woman. She only started to doubt those beliefs when her family began to taunt her and physically abuse her. Throughout her life, Irma was targeted for persecution by people in her community.

Raul is a transgender man from Peru who 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.