Intersections of Exclusion: The Lived Realities and Resistance of Trans Women of Color Sex Workers in New York City

In this study, I examine the experiences of transgender women of color (TWOC) in New York City’s sex trade, using feminist pathways, queer pathways, and intersectional stigma frameworks. In interviews with 17 TWOC sex workers, I explore how systemic violence, criminalization, and marginalization shape their lives and limit access to safety, housing, and employment. I identified four themes: childhood trauma and familial rejection, criminal legal encounters, employment discrimination, and persistent fear and hypervigilance. Participants also offered policy recommendations, calling for trans-affirming services and community-led care. The study affirms TWOC sex workers as critical voices in reimagining justice beyond carceral systems.