Nicole Santamaría

Nicole Santamaría is a Salvadoran human rights and LGBTQ activist based in the Mission District, San Francisco.^[1][2]

Nicole Santamaría
Born	El Salvador
Known for	expertise in Human rights and LGBTQ activism

Early life and education

Nicole Santamaría is an intersex and transgender woman from El Salvador. She pursued studies in product design, earning an undergraduate degree, a master's in gender and sexual diversity, and a degree in art therapy.^[3]

Career

Activism in El Salvador

In El Salvador, Santamaría co-founded Colectiva Alejandría, focusing on advocating for LGBTQI+ rights, particularly for transgender, intersex, and gender-diverse individuals. Her work involved collaboration with NGOs, activists, and government entities across Central America, the Caribbean, and the United States to raise awareness about the violations and realities faced by LGBTQI+ communities. Due to threats related to her activism, she sought asylum in the United States.^[4]

Work in the United States

After relocating to the U.S., Santamaría became the Executive Director of El/La Para TransLatinas, a San Francisco-based organization that supports transgender Latinas. In this role, she has developed diverse programs, supported staff growth, strengthened partnerships with community allies and organizations, ensured continued funding and financial stability, and served as the organization's spokesperson.^[5]

Advocacy and public engagement

Santamaría has been actively involved in various advocacy efforts, including participating in the Transgender Day of Remembrance and engaging with policymakers to promote human rights and social justice. She has also shared her experiences and insights through public speaking engagements, such as the Racial Justice Speaker Series at UC Davis School of Law.^[6][7]

Recognition

Her work has been recognized in various media outlets, highlighting her advocacy efforts after fleeing El Salvador due to threats related to her human rights work. Additionally, organizations such as Move to End Violence have acknowledged her leadership roles and contributions in profiles. She also met with Pope Francis to represent intersex leaders of Catholic faith.^[8][9][10]