In a hospital of the Mexican Institute of Social Security in Mérida, Yucatan, Andrea Canto, a trans woman, a nurse by profession, has been working for three years, making it clear that gender identity and vocation are not in dispute.
For an interview with La Jornada, Canto explained that he has faced prejudice since he decided to study nursing at his 20 years of age, having problems with school directors during his academic life and then the difficulty of getting a job within institutions of health.
The proud nurse described that in her first days of having obtained a position at the IMSS, seven years ago, she came disguised as a man to work, but stronger was her respect for her identity, which managed to raise awareness among high-level officials of the institution so that the accept as the woman she is. Her struggle led her to open up space in the institution and achieve the recognition of her identity legally.
“Being a federal job, I needed approval and to bring all the documents that support me as a woman. I did it, blessed God, I traveled to Mexico City, I made my identity change and three years ago I worked as a female nurse, ”she explained for La Jornada.
Andrea Canto
Andrea Canto also works as an activist and collaborates within the Trans Empowered Women and Yacutrans associations, who carry out community work with people in vulnerable situations, especially the trans community, in order to provide them with tools to improve their quality of life and access to your human rights.
“I am so proud to belong to an association called Trans Empowered Women in which we defend the rights of both LGTBI + and the general population, because nobody is above the law and equality. I thank you very much because I have learned a lot from this wonderful group to defend ourselves and to fight and now more in this contingency. ”
Andrea Canto
Currently, Canto carries out an awareness campaign on the social networks of the organizations, so that the population takes the necessary health and prevention measures to avoid being a victim of covid-19, as well as delivering food to those who need it.
