By Zoe Madden-Smith. This story is part of a series on sex work in Aotearoa to support the release of Red Light Boys. Read our other piece on the history of sex work in Aotearoa.
Content warning: This article discusses police violence and underage sex work. Stashed at the bottom of her bag are a crop top and a pair of jeans that are so tight, an imprint of the stitching is left behind on her skin after she takes them off. She likes those jeans because they make her long and slim legs look even longer. Photo: Renati Waaka. She finds a bathroom to get changed, replacing the tight ensemble in her bag with her school uniform. They go for a drive before parking up and having sex.
She learns quickly what the men like - blow jobs mostly. This was more than 40 years ago. If you are under the age of 18, you are not breaking the law if you are in sex work. However, brothel operators, clients and even friends or workers aged 18 or over can be fined or imprisoned for facilitating people under the age of 18 into sex work.
Her home in Aro Valley is not far from the red light district where she established herself as a sex worker - and where she is still connected today. We all found each other and stuck together because we all knew this. This was mainly because back then, trans sex workers were not allowed to work elsewhere.
Working on the street was more dangerous than working in parlours because you were more visible to the police. This bond lives on even though many have left the streets to work in now legal brothels, overseas or online for themselves. Tiana is her working name - she wanted to remain anonymous in this story for privacy reasons. Back then, Tiana was 18 and just starting to transition. That day was the start of Tiana being tucked under her drag mother's wing and being guided on not only how to be a sex worker, but a wahine too.
