Eli Verdugo

I am Eli (pronounced Ellie), a non-binary jotx/cuir/marica person from La Paz, Baja California Sur. I am currently a master’s student in the Social Dimensions of Health program at the School of Public Health and Social Policy at the University of Victoria, in Victoria, British Columbia, and a student in the Chair of Transgender Studies at the same university. I have a degree in Psychology, specializing in Social psychology, from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana in Mexico City. I advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Baja California Sur, Mexico, where I founded an LGBTQ+ non-profit: La Paz es Diversa. My research interests include mental health, gender, queer and trans+ issues, youth, identity and community. My current research project seeks to further knowledge of trans+ youths' mental health in La Paz, Mexico, using community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) principles to inform public policy in their state, promote trans+ youths' rights and promote social change to benefit the LGBTQ+ community.

You can contact Eli at eliverdugo@uvic.ca