Aunchanaporn Pilasuta, known as Anna, is a transgender sex worker from northeastern Thailand who is challenging perceptions of sex work and encouraging health and dignity above all else. This is her story...
My work is a means to survive and every human-being deserves respect and dignity, not be judged or looked down. I am a 33 year old transgender sex worker, originally from Loey in northeastern Thailand.
“Often, my customers don’t want to use protection. Just one mistake could have serious negative effects on your life and health. Regardless of how much money I am offered, I always refuse clients who do not agree to use protection. Health is the most important and if we are not healthy it is impossible for us to earn money.”
Working in this industry requires you to be mindful at all times, especially when it comes to protection. Often, my customers don’t want to use protection. Just one mistake could have serious negative effects on your life and health. Regardless of how much money I am offered, I always refuse clients who do not agree to use protection. Health is the most important and if we are not healthy it is impossible for us to earn money. In Thailand, there are many sex workers and HIV affects several, some of whom may not be aware of their status. To address that, I believe there should be a space where sex workers can access HIV testing services and additionally, equally important is access to holistic counseling. We need healthcare workers and providers we can trust, who are empathetic to our needs and who do not judge us.
“My family, unlike others in my hometown, are my biggest source of support, they mean everything to me and they help me deal with the challenges I face.”
I have experienced a great deal of stigma due to the nature of my work and it follows me everywhere, beyond healthcare settings. When I return to my hometown people always talk behind my back and tell me that the work I do lacks dignity. I try not be affected by them. My family, unlike others in my hometown, are my biggest source of support, they mean everything to me and they help me deal with the challenges I face.
“I want people to understand that sex work in just another kind of work, that it also has dignity.”
I want people to understand that sex work in just another kind of work, that it also has dignity. It remains my biggest hope for the future for sex work to be decriminalized in Thailand and that a law protecting us and our rights will be put in place. Decriminalizing sex work would be a tremendous stepping-stone in helping sex workers accessing HIV prevention and treatment. It will make us feel like our work is normal and as a result the society will cease seeing us as outcasts and the stigma will also decrease. Alongside this, I also hope that infection rates among sex workers will go down and that everyone in the industry will prioritize their health and regularly access health services for HIV testing, counselling and support.