A woman in Naples has started an advocacy group aimed at helping Southwest Florida’s vulnerable transgender community.

For several months, Cori Craciun helped her friend through a tough time. Her friend is a transgender woman. For a while, she had a hard time finding a job and a place to live. So, Craciun put her friend up while they looked for something. But, that took a really long time.

Craciun said that’s because Southwest Florida doesn’t have discrimination policies in place aimed at protecting transgendered people.

“I mean, if she was abused she could have gone to the homeless shelter, but she’s not a case of domestic violence,” Craciun explained. “If she was an alcoholic or a drug addict, she could have gone to a safe house, but of course this was not the case. So, just for people that don’t have any other problem except just of being themselves, there’s no protection there’s no legislation there’s no help out there.”

Craciun said the fact her friend had not had gender reassignment surgery and was therefore not “passable” as a woman, also made things difficult. That’s why Craciun started the Southwest Florida Equality Coalition. Her group is pushing for local laws aimed at protecting this community from discrimination when they look for a place to live or work.

Craciun said there’s a lot of work to be done, especially in light of a recent homicide in Fort Myers. A month ago, a transgender woman was found dead and burned.  Craciun said the incident is a sign the transgender community is particularly vulnerable here.