It was the only way she could survive as a new immigrant. So again, I found myself engaged in street sex work. Roosevelt Avenue has been a hub for immigrant sex workers for decades β particularly Asian cis women and South American trans women, says Mateo Guerrero, a trans justice organizer with the Make the Road non-profit.
But the number of street-based sex workers in Queens has increased since the pandemic, due to increasing economic pressure. Adams responded quickly. At an unrelated press conference on Monday, the mayor said he had taken a late night trip to Roosevelt Avenue to see the neighborhood for himself. Or they talk about how lonely they feel. It also points to why there are growing numbers of visible sex workers in Queens: more people are struggling.
That creates a sense of solidarity β contrary to tabloid narratives β between sex workers and street vendors, who are also harassed by city officials. Rene Tlecuil Luna, a Mexican snack vendor on Roosevelt, says he views street-based sex workers as part of the community. But street-based sex work is particularly tough, and a reflection of inequality. White, light-skinned, and more highly educated workers tend to market themselves online as escorts to high-paying customers β whereas Black and brown workers are more likely to do street-based sex work, which is often riskier.
Francesca is a trans sex worker who came to Jackson Heights from Mexico a year ago and sees no choice but to work on Roosevelt. One of the biggest dangers is the police. Guerrero rattles off a list of trans women he knows in the neighborhood who have been harassed by cops for doing nothing: going to the grocery store. Walking to the park. Going to the pharmacy. One trans woman was walking down the street when someone pulled up offering her a ride home β the driver turned out to be an undercover cop.
When the policing of sex work meets immigration enforcement, the results can be deadly. Her arrest record for sex work had made her ineligible for permanent status in the United States. While cities have long targeted sex work on morality grounds, in recent years officials have increasingly reframed enforcement around human trafficking concerns.
