Issues Affecting Trans Sex Workers

We live in a society with overwhelmingly negative and fearful attitudes toward bodies, and sexuality meaning for those who make their living in the sex trade, there can be many hazards and barriers. Despite these barriers, many TS/TG women continue to find community, empowerment, independent income, and pride in the sex working community. The Meal Trans Programme was founded by transsexual sex workers and continues to take its' direction from that community, supporting both those who work in the trade and those who do not. The following is a list of barriers that trans sex workers accessing the shelter system, may be facing.

• Trans Sex workers are often facing the double stigma of both those identities while attempting to get their needs met by agencies
• Agencies who expect or require sex workers to leave the sex trade, often force them to lie about their work, making them less safe
• Negative attitudes toward sex work mask the reality that it is a part of the rich history and culture of transsexual women.
• HIV outreach material rarely targets trans women, keeping them at a higher risk
• Negative attitudes toward sex work mean that harassment and violence often goes unnoticed and unaddressed by the police, social services, and the greater GLBT community
• The criminalization of sex work forces sex workers to work without the job protections others have
• Gender identity clinics have often refused to assist sex workers with their transition (access to much needed hormones and surgeries).
• Police harassment, neighbourhood coalitions, and restrictive bail release conditions often force trans sex workers to move out of the areas they are known in and work in more isolated and less safe situations
  

How can shelters/hostels offer support? What would make sex work safer is decriminalization but in the meantime, validating it as a profession and making services accessible to those who might be doing sex work is really helpful. Some ways to do that might be: being flexible with curfews and considering it night work/shift work; having condoms and lube handy; having affirming posters/information on sex work support agencies such as Maggies, Meal Trans, etc; carrying "bad date" sheets; legal information and support.

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