ID: 979

Type of submission: Oral

Conference track: Policy

Topics: LGBT Communities and Harm Reduction; Sex Work and Harm Reduction

Presenting author: Tiommi Luckett

Presenting author biography:

Tiommi Luckett is a nationally recognized advocate for the rights of people living with HIV and for trans* rights, focusing on the issues particular to transgender women of color.

Nothing About Us Without Us: the intersection of trans rights, sex worker rights, harm reduction and HIV policy

Tiommi Luckett

Issue: In the United States laws and policies criminalizing HIV and sex work disproportionately impact transgender people especially those with experience as sex workers. Harm reduction service providers report that their programs are affected by these policies and stigma. National HIV policy makes no mention of sex work as a priority and is weak on the priorities of transgender people. This presentation discusses the outcomes of a national community based research project to document the problems caused by these issues, completed by leaders of the trans community and sex worker communities.

Setting: The research and policy discussion centers on the United States including data from numerous jurisdictions nationwide, including information from urban centers and rural areas.

Objectives:
Describe key research findings from the inaugural sex worker and trans lead national research in the United States on the intersection of sex work, trans rights, harm reduction and HIV policy
Provide an overview of organizing for the rights of sex workers and trans people in regards to HIV
Describe how trans and sex worker leadership has been silenced in regards to HIV organizing and share examples of best practices in how to be an ally to trans and sex worker-led organizing
Present an intersectional focus on the communities most affected by HIV within sex work and describe how anti-racism/anti-oppression methodology is essential for this work in the United States

Format and presentation outcomes: The presentation will center on information sharing based on community based research into the impact of legal structures on harm reduction, consider stigmas relating to sex work and engage the audience in key issues about trans rights. Presenter will distribute copies of the report “Nothing About Us, Without Us” and other materials connecting to our ongoing and inclusive campaigns for change.