Gender DynamiX and the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) pulled their resources together and produced an info pamphlet outlining safe sex practices for transgender sex workers. This is the first time on the African continent that printed material gives scope to this marginalized group of people.

All sex workers face severe stigma. Transgender sex workers face stigma on two levels: on one level as sex workers and on another as transgender persons. It is very difficult to look after yourself when you are faced with such intense stigma. Transgender people are often denied educational, employment and housing opportunities.

“Employment, education and housing discrimination for example, limit opportunities for transgender people and lead a disproportionate percentage of biological males who do not conform to conventional gender expressions becoming involved in sex work. All too often, governments ignore the voices of people in sex work, married women, people living with HIV, and anyone else whose claim to sexuality and sexual rights challenges the dominant discourse.” – Cary Alan Johnson, the Senior Specialist for Africa at the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

Although this pamphlet looks at specific issues affecting male to female transgender sex workers it also has information that is useful to other members of the transgender community.

September 2006 SWEAT made contact with Gender DynamiX asking for advice about putting together a pamphlet to reach out to trans sex workers. The two organisations decided to do it together and after many hours of searching for information, writing and editing the draft pamphlet were ready earlier this year. In great anticipation it was sent to the designers and then to the printers.

Both SWEAT and Gender DynamiX is pleased with the result, and highlight the fact, that even if the original goal was to educate trans sex workers, this pamphlet can also very effectively be used as a safe sex guide by any trans woman.

SWEAT provides services to sex workers and Gender DynamiX works with transgender people. If you need more information on anything in this pamphlet you can contact either Gender DynamiX or SWEAT.

The pamphlet is available onlilne in our download section.

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