The use of “transvestite” and male pronouns to describe transgender sex workers in an Auckland Council report into street prostitution in South Auckland is being described as inappropriate. The document is aimed at putting pressure on the Government to allow Auckland Council to outlaw sex workers from certain areas, and includes personal accounts from business owners and residents. A snapshot from the report “In early February this year, 'Jane' was crossing the Great South Road in Papatoetoe with a friend at 8am, to the friend’s vehicle,” an eyewitness account in the document reads. “A transvestite was seen slamming a supermarket trolley into the vehicle. They both confronted him and an argument started. Jane rang 111 and the transvestite struck her in the shoulder. Emergency services advised Jane and her friend to enter the vehicle and lock themselves in. The transvestite lay across the bonnet,” it continues. Later “Jane” reports she noticed a “transvestite semi-naked and changing his dress outside a Great South Road office”. Store owner Sharon Maxey reports: “It was two years ago that I noticed numbers starting to grow. And about 18 months ago, transvestites began to appear. “A total of 30 is the most I’ve counted. They used to walk to solicit outside my shop. “Then they started to turn up by the carload. Sometimes they were accompanied by pimps and the odd dog.” Catherine Healy from the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective says the Council has tried in many ways to sound reasonable in the tone of the booklet. “However, it seems unbelievable that in a document this polished and sophisticated that they have used such inappropriate language in relation to transgendered people,” she says. “It really provides us with confirmation that they have little regard for transgendered sex workers.” Auckland Council has been approached for comment on the repeated use of the term ‘transvestite’ and male pronouns. The report sets out why the Council believes a bill, which would see prostitution banned from places such Hunter's Corner, is needed. The proposed law change would allow street workers and their customers to be fined up to $2,000 and allow police to stop any vehicles suspected of street trade activity. Healey says the Prostitutes Collective is very concerned its effect would be to set transgendered sex workers on a path for jail as a consequence of unpaid fines. “We envision that it could result in transgendered people, sex workers and non sex workers, clients and non-clients alike, being targeted throughout Auckland, as they go about their ordinary activities, such as shopping or visiting friends. “We feel that the specified places which will be created by Auckland Council will be extensive and create an uncomfortable tension for many transgendered people and impact on their friends too. “The Police have submitted that they have a number of concerns too,” she says. The police submission includes concerns the Bill will simply shift street prostitution to other areas, and will be hard to enforce without undercover officers as street workers will be wary of uniformed officers. It says further work groups such as the Prostitutes Collective may be more likely to reduce or diffuse anti-social behaviour.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 23rd July 2012 - 12:50pm