Although transgender workers face steep barriers, corporate America wants to hire them

LOS ANGELES - While working at a hair salon in Santa Monica, Ryan Blake played a role.

Blake recalls acting like a "stereotypical gay dude" at the business, not a 22-year-old gender non-binary individual who doesn't necessarily identify as either male or female, which can find expression in pronoun usage or dress.

It's not "he" or "him." Blake uses "they" or "them."

"I knew in my heart that if I came into work like this," said Blake - gesturing to their black cardigan, black skirt, tights and heeled boots - "it would be a problem."

"I just wasn't comfortable even reaching that conversation 'cause I knew it wouldn't go well," said Blake, who felt coming out as gender non-binary could mean being treated differently, or worse, losing their job.

So Blake never did, and that's why the stylist could be found recently at the first job fair for transgender, gender non-binary and non-conforming individuals sponsored by the St. John's Well Child and Family Center in