Sandra Usi Ramírez, a native of Acapulco, has been in the United States for the past 14 years.  As a male to female transgender, Sandra works tirelessly with the Latino transgender community in San Diego.  She has worked closely with the former Binational AIDS Advocacy in San Diego, The Center’s Latino Services Program, Bienestar and Christie’s Place.  Sandra has been awarded the Champion of Pride Award for her work with the Latino transgender community, and she has also been honored with the 2003 Angel Award from Christie’s Place, and the 2005 Transgender Day of Empowerment Award.

Sandra works hard to educate our transgender community so that they know they are not alone.  She has gathered and shared information about transgender legal rights, immigration and naturalization issues, safety, health care, HIV prevention and support, psychology, self esteem and more.   She has facilitated a weekly transgender discussion group for the past six years, which is now part of The Center’s Latino Services, and has been very instrumental in bringing education to the group.