FACT SHEET MEDIA
Remember that: → “People have different gender identities and expressions. Each person should have the right to define their own identity and be treated accordingly.” (TGEU, TOOLKIT) → “The human rights situation of trans sex workers calls for urgent action” (TGEU, Sex Work Policy) → Stigma leads to human rights violations which in turn have effects both on the whole community and on individual behaviors. → International Organisations like the WHO, the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, Amnesty International call “(…) for the decriminalization of all aspects of adult consensual sex work due to the foreseeable barriers that criminalization creates to the realization of the human rights of sex workers.” (AI Policy on Sex Work 2016) → Trafficking and exploitation are not identical to sex work. They are different phenomena and not to be confused or conflated with. → Large-scale communication plays an important role in the development of society and our perception inevitably is conditioned by the information we receive. → Media itself often reproduces and reinforces stereotypes and stigma. → When talking about sex work and gender identity, reliable objective information based on various sources is of big importance. → Hormone therapy in itself is quite safe. However, as any other medicine, it has potential side effects. Therefore, we would recommend using properly prescribed hormones under guidance. → To use Body-Transformation implants of soft tissue fillers without medical supervision can be risky. It is of big importance to use sterile equipment and not to share equipment. However, many fillers (silicon, oil, etc.) are not encapsulated and might therefore migrate through the body. → To use self-medication drugs (hormones, corticoids, benzodiazepines, antibiotics, etc) can have undesirable and drugs interactions effects.
Fact Box: → 88 % of murdered trans people in Europe are sex workers (TGEU 2017) → 43% of murdered trans people in Europe are migrant sex workers (TGEU 2017) → 33% report having at least one negative experience with doctors or medical personnel (Transgender Survey 2015) → Within the European Union, only 7 states have introduced anti-discrimination law, which protects against discrimination on grounds of gender expression. (TGEU 2019) → 86% of TSW in the USA have reported about being harassed, attacked, sexually assaulted, or mistreated in some other way by the police. (TGEU 2017)
This publication was funded by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020). The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of TransR and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.
Do’s:
Don’ts:
Be specific regarding the language and terminology: it is important to be very exact and clear regarding what you are talking about.
Don’t pathologize trans identities and trans bodies.
Don’t make any assumptions about gender identity, sexual behavior, or sexual orientation. Ask your interview partner for more information if you need it. Ask the interviewed, which gender pronoun they prefer, and Do not necessarily mention someone’s gender identity, if it is not whether they want this to be reflected in their written statements. important for the story. If possible, explain terminology to the audience/public in an easy Avoid a paternalistic discourse and stereotypical assumptions. and understandable way. Try to use the language that trans use for themselves. They know best the language that is right for them.
Consider which questions you ask.
Don’t portray TSW as voiceless victims.
Do not assume someone is a sex worker only because their trans and immigrant or undocumented. Do not make unjustified generalizations. Rather, highlight the Listen to stories from trans sex work activists and share their voicspecific character of the situation of the TSW you interviewed/ es. Learn from trans activists and trans journalists. visited. If possible, base your story on first-hand information from TSW or allies. Consult TSW organizations in regards to news around trans Don’t use only one source for your work. issues or sex work. Write stories outside of the stereotypical ones about surgeries, Do not use the voice of sex workers only to illustrate your arguviolence and sex. Try to present more “positive” pictures on activ- ment. Give them the space to be the authority/specialist voice in ism, successful advocacy, etc. your work. Trans sex workers are not only sex workers. Their lived realities Don’t rely on the views and information from police or other acextend beyond their profession. tors, who themselves are potential perpetrators of discrimination. Do not focus on transphobia or sex work alone. Instead, take Understand sex work as a strategy and mean to deal with strucinto account other factors such as migration regimes, economic tures of violence instead of as result of violent structures. violence, racism and misogyny. Don’t instrumentalize TSW and their experiences for other purAsk yourself: what is your motivation to report about TSW? Who poses e.g. as illustration for violent structures that affect all trans benefits in what ways form your own specific report? people. In case you take pictures of the TSW in order to illustrate your article, always ask the persons on the picture if they agree to publish Avoid using clichéd images in both, language and illustration. it. Respect the principles of confidentiality and privacy.
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