Human Trafficking

Trans Specific Dynamics

Increased vulnerability to violence and exploitation

Traffickers frequently seek out people or groups with fewer resources and less access to support for exploitation. Due to systemic oppression, trans/nonbinary people are more vulnerable to this form of abuse.

“Transgender and nonbinary people especially are vulnerable to exploitation: employment opportunities are slim for those identifying outside of the traditional gender binary and traffickers actively know this. For that reason, many actively seek out trans and nonbinary victims, as they know they have few alternatives to turn to.”[iii]

In the 2015 US Trans Survey, approximately 3% of respondents reported some or all of their income came from the underground economy, which includes sex work.[iv] The 2022 results are not yet available. Further, in the 2015 results, 29% of respondents reported currently living in poverty. By the 2022 report, that percentage had grown to 35% of respondents.[v] The lack of economic options and resources may lead people to seeking work that is more likely to be targeted by traffickers.

Many trans and nonbinary youth are vulnerable to trafficking if they have experienced a lack of family acceptance. Young people who have been displaced from their home may end up in more vulnerable situations – both financially and emotionally – which lend themselves to traffickers exploitation.

Violence against trans people

There is little available information about physical violence and trafficking, except the knowledge that physical violence is frequently used against trafficking victims. It is also known that physical assault is often targeted towards people who are engaged in sex work.

“St. James Infirmary’s intake data showed that among 783 sex workers, 36 percent reported sex work-related violence, with trans women at significantly higher risk of work violence, including violence perpetrated by customers and police officers.”[vi]

Increased policing and criminalization

While victims of trafficking are victims of crime, they may also be subject to increased policing and criminalization, particularly if they are forced to work in the sex or drug industries or any other underground economy. Trans people, particularly trans women of color, are also under increased police scrutiny and are often assumed to be sex workers and thus targeted for arrest or police abuse.

“In practice, anti-sex trafficking policy means greater criminalization and surveillance of people engaged in sexual economies. People trading sex already face police harassment, extortion, and abuse. This vulnerability is made much worse by the fact that the policing of sexual economies has exponentially increased due to anti-trafficking. The vital alliance between survivors and sex workers is undermined when survivors are placed in opposition to sex workers.”[vii]

When victims of crime are arrested or harassed by the police, they are less likely to seek out support for crimes they are harmed by. This includes not being safe engaging with law enforcement and extends to other services that work with or are perceived to work with law enforcement. For example, a survivor of trafficking may not disclose the trafficking to a child welfare investigator out of fear of police involvement.

Lack of trans-focused information and resources

Few service providers receive extensive training on human trafficking. When they do, that training is rarely trans specific. This can make it difficult for service providers to assist in identifying signs of trafficking with people they are working with, which will lead to trans/nonbinary survivors receiving less information and support.

Trans/nonbinary people are also less likely to seek out mainstream victim services due to transphobia and the lack of trans affirming resources. Many service providers are not prepared to serve trans people or do not make clear that they do work with trans/nonbinary people. Many trafficking services focus on women who experience sex trafficking and do not include people of other genders or other forms of trafficking. This makes it more difficult for trans survivors to find help when they do seek it out.

Barriers to stability

Trans people face many barriers to economic stability. This not only increases the risk of trafficking, but makes recovering from victimization more difficult. These barriers include:

• Challenges with legal identification
  • Trans people may not have identification that is consistent and affirming of their name and gender markers.
• Lack of job opportunities
  • Trans people experience high rates of employment discrimination.
• Unmet healthcare needs
  • Trans people face challenges accessing appropriate and affirming healthcare. Health challenges can lead to difficulties maintaining employment or stable housing.

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