Elias is a gay man from Brazil. He suffered bullying and harassment for being different for most of his childhood. At the age of 18, through a church program, Elias sought a sponsor to help him pay to study abroad so that he could leave Brazil. After suffering hate crimes in Brazil, Elias moved to San Francisco where he heard about NCLR and our Immigration Project.

J.L. was initially granted asylum over 8 years ago, but for personal reasons he returned briefly to his home country and was apprehended at the border when he tried to come back to the U.S.. He was placed in deportation proceedings and a motion from the government to terminate his asylum status was granted.

M.G. is a transgender woman who fled Mexico in 2002 because of threats from gang members and violence from police. Unfortunately, due to the severe trauma she suffered from her past, she found herself in vulnerable positions even in this country which made it difficult or impossible for her to apply for asylum.  With NCLR’s assistance, M.G. completed her asylum application and was granted asylum in early 2019.

T. is a transgender man from Mexico who is still working to overcome the lasting effects of the trauma he has experienced, both in his country and here in the United States. T.’s friend—also an NCLR Immigration Project client–helped T. find support, which ultimately led to him deciding to apply for asylum.

A.M.D. is a transgender man from Mexico who has suffered much persecution in his country of origin at the hands of society at large and state authorities, including sexual abuse and threats against his life.

The Raise the Wage Act would raise the federal minimum wage in stages over the next six years until it reaches $15. After six years, the minimum wage would be adjusted annually to keep pace with growth in the typical worker’s wages.

An increase in the federal minimum wage would help the LGBTQ community, especially its most marginalized members. The Williams Institute estimates incomes would rise above poverty level for nearly 30,000 people in same-sex relationships. Raising the minimum wage to $15 would decrease poverty by almost 50% among female same-sex couples and by 35% among male same-sex couples. In June 2019, The U.S. House passed the bill. The Senate not has taken action on the bill.

G.C. is from Mexico and has been in the United States since 2005. G.C. has suffered so much throughout her life and been targeted for being a masculine lesbian. Because of that past suffering, it is really hard for her to speak about her past experiences, which is why it took her more than ten years to seek legal help.