20 Jan Trans sex workers among China’s most discriminated groups
Transgender female sex workers are among the most marginalized and discriminated populations in China, according to a new report.
Based on 10 months of research by Asia Catalyst and two Chinese community-based organizations, Beijing Zuoyou Center and Shanghai CSW (commercial sex worker) and MSM (men who have sex with men) Center, the report found transgender sex workers experience ‘amplified stigma’ due to both their gender identity and their profession.
‘Severe prejudice is a major stumbling block for even the most basic tasks,’ said Zheng Huang, executive director of Shanghai Xinsheng.
‘Imagine being laughed at when using a public toilet, being evicted from your home or, even worse, dangerously self-medicating hormone use because no doctor will see you.’
As sex work is illegal in China, the police are one of the greatest challenges that transgender sex workers face. Interviewees reported police abuse, especially verbal and physical violence leveled at their transgender identity.
Transgender women whose ID cards designate them as male, are detained together with men. The report found that criminalization of sex work is a major obstacle to effective HIV interventions for this population.
Chinese law allows transgender people to change the gender identity on official documents only on condition of sex reassignment surgery (SRS). For those that do not want SRS, or cannot afford to do so, these requirements leave them with identity documents that do not match their gender identity, resulting in frequent public humiliation, and barriers in accessing basic services.
Source: Gay Star News