Alessandra Ramos, Brazil

“We don’t accept your kind here.” For years, Alessandra Ramos, 33, heard variations of that devastating message wherever she went, whether it was delivered explicitly or subtly. After applying for one job and passing through several stages in the selection process,

Ramos recalls, “They didn’t hire me […] because I revealed I was trans.”

Ramos’ professional qualifications are impressive. Born in Brasília and raised in Rio de Janeiro, where she now resides, she taught herself English, French, Italian, and Spanish, and has become a well-known interpreter of Brazilian sign...

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