"I Found My Job at the Job Fair" -- The San Francisco LGBT Center Announces TLGB Job Fair Wednesday, 10/15/2008.

* Multi-Agency Collaborative to Host Transgender Focus 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

* All jobseekers welcome from 12.30 to 3 p.m.

* Featured Employers Include Bank of America, Wells Fargo, H&R Block, Charles Schwab, PG&E, Macy's, Small Businesses and Non-Profits offering a range of positions from management to entry level.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center (The Center) announces its 17th Job Fair, which is the first "TLGB" Job Fair putting the T first to address the extremely disproportionate unemployment and underemployment among transgender people. The event takes place at 1800 Market Street, San Francisco.

"The Center's Job Fairs overcome barriers to employment by providing a comfort zone for LGBT job seekers to access diversity minded employers," said Ken Stram, The Center's Economic Development Director.

This unique event represents the coming together of The Center's Workforce Program with the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative (TEEI), the first coordinated program focused on improving the economic wellbeing of the transgender and gender non-conforming community.

As part of TEEI, the Transgender Law Center (TLC) provides free employer trainings to create safe and supportive environments for transgender applicants and employees. Trainings cover terminology, California non-discrimination and harassment law, issues in application and hiring, and enacting non-discrimination policies that include gender identity and expression. Contact Kristina Wertz, Legal Director, [phone].

"I found my job at last year's Job Fair and now I am coming back to recruit new staff for my company," said Shelly Crouse-Monarez, who was hired on the spot at the October 2007's Job Fair. "It mattered to me that an employer would be at the LGBT Center. It means that I can be myself and no one has a problem that I am a woman, gay and Mexican American."

"The Center's TLGB Job Fair reflects a true collaboration that features some of the City's most significant employment service providers backed up by experts in transgender workplace rights," said Rhonda Simmons, Director of Workforce, San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development. "This is the model of how workplace development needs to happen for diverse communities."

"This Job Fair provides a hands-on approach for all job seekers, whether they are affected by discrimination based on gender expression or facing hurdles because of sexual orientation," said Clair Farley from the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative (TEEI).

About The Center and TEEI Collaborative Members:

TEEI includes four agencies that link employees with employers, provide support for job seekers and newly placed employees, offer peer mentorship and provide technical assistance for employers to create truly safe and diverse workplaces. TEEI partners include: The Center, SFTEAM, Jewish Vocational Service and TLC.