The recent murder of Kiesha Jenkins, 22-year-old Philadelphia resident, on October 6, 2015, marked (at least) the 20th transgender homicide of 2015. While Ms. Jenkins’ death has not been ruled a “hate crime” (meaning a crime motivated by the fact that she was transgender) there has been discussion that her death was partly related to her location near Old York Road in North Philadelphia – an area known for commercial sexual exploitation. Ms. Jenkins’ death consequently, highlights the similar danger of violence trans women as well as cisgender women experience with respect to commercial sexual exploitation. These populations also experience similar vulnerabilities that lead to a life of commercial sexual exploitation, including sexual violence, rape, beatings, and robbery.
Trans women suffer similar vulnerabilities to all woman forced to enter a life of prostitution. These vulnerabilities include poor home lives, domestic violence, insecurities, familial acceptance struggles, and sexual abuse. This environment would understandably cause children to run away from home to a life on the streets, or, alternatively, be forced into the foster care system and potentially subjected to further abuse. Inevitably, with a lack of family and financial support, it is not uncommon to find this population homeless, where they are forced to turn to prostitution – with or without a trafficker.
Once involved in “the life,” both transwomen and cisgender women are in danger of sexual violence, rape, beatings, and robbery. These women may, consequently turn to drugs to cope with the pain associated with enduring this violence. Traffickers also use addiction as a means of coercing the trans women into compliance by controlling their access to drugs. However, these victims have no one to go to for help. They are forced to leave these traumatic situations and return to a life on the streets where the cycle of violence and brutality against them continues.
In conclusion, it is imperative that trans women are recognized alongside cisgender women with respect to human trafficking legislation. Victim assistance should not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender identity, but rather should serve those with similar vulnerabilities, who face similar dangers, and who have undergone similar traumatic experiences. For more information, please visit the Williams Institute at http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu or contact the Williams Institute at http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/contact-us/. See also the resources available at the Mazzoni Center at https://www.mazzonicenter.org or contact CSE Institute Board Member, Barrett Marshall. Esq.
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