Flor Bermudez

Flor Bermudez found her calling soon after she graduated from college. She had landed a job as a labor organizer with United Farm Workers, and was appalled by the plight of 80 employees who were wrongfully fired for participating in a protest on their lunch break. “It was very challenging to find legal representation for all the workers and at that point, I realized how important it is for me to gain the legal skills required to provide much-needed legal representation to the people,” she said. Bermudez pictured above on the right with her daughter Angela and IIona Turner, became a lawyer, and today serves as Legal Director of the Transgender Law Center, where she advocates every day for transgender and gender non-conforming people’s rights. “I identify as queer and the discrimination I have encountered as a queer, immigrant woman in the legal profession and in my life have taught me resilience and that being unapologetic and unafraid is key to stand up for oneself,” Bermudez says. When she is feeling depleted, she looks for inspiration in the Zapatista indigenous women who led and organized autonomous movements for liberation and self-sufficiency. Additionally, she draws inspiration from her nine-year-old daughter. Bermudez advises LGBTQ youth to build their professional lives in tandem with their personal journeys. “All areas [are] connected and require equal amounts of attention and patience. I hope people also have their chosen family and close network for support and to help them get back up when adverse situations arise.” —SEJ