Finding the Right Fit: Disparities Between Cisgender and Transgender Women Arrested for Prostitution in Baltimore

Abstract

This article highlights gender in Baltimore's court-affiliated prostitution diversion program. Administrative data were gathered over a 19-month period from 616 defendants charged with prostitution in Baltimore City. Using logistic regression, gender was a statistically significant predictor for defendants’ history of substance abuse history or mental illness. Transgender defendants were 81% less likely to report substance abuse (p < .001) and 75% less likely to report mental health problems (p < .001) compared to cisgender defendants. Qualitative findings indicate that transgender participants often engage in prostitution due to discrimination and that current programming provides them with some useful assistance. Recommendations include a need to more appropriately tailor services to the experiences and goals of transgender participants and to combat stigma within and outside the court. Programs must be cognizant of discrimination faced by transgender program participants that may impact the range of options available to them during and after participation.

Notes

¹The program was originally called the Specialized Prostitution Diversion Program but program staff changed the name as some participants did not want be identified with a program specifically targeted and named for those engaging in prostitution due to stigma.

²The term “cisgender” refers to someone whose assigned gender matches her gender identity, whereas we use the term transgender to refer to women whose assigned gender does not match their gender identity and expression who comprise the overwhelming majority of our transgender study participants. However, we acknowledge that the term “transgender” is also used to apply to a much broader spectrum of identities (Beemyn & Rankin, 2011).