SistaazHood
SistaazHood is a South African activist and advocacy organization that supports the rights and health of transgender women and sex workers. It was founded in 2010 and is based in Cape Town. The group is also known for their photographic and fashion project, Sistaaz of the Castle in collaboration with photographer, Jan Hoek and fashion designer, Duran Lantink.
About
SistaazHood was founded in 2010 and represents transgender women in Cape Town who are sex workers, many of whom are homeless.[1] The organization provides community spaces for transgender women.[2] The group was founded by Netta Marcus.[3] Marcus brought the women together and they were able to live outside the Castle walls.[4] By 2019, there were around 40 members.[5]
SistaazHood is working to decriminalize sex work.[1] SistaazHood also fights transphobia in the police force and police violence against transgender women.[2] The group has helped the police draft new Standard Operating Procedures in dealing with transgender and homeless people and the law.[6]
They are affiliated with Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT), a group that advocates for the removal of laws against sex work.[7] SistaazHood also works with the Triangle Project and Gender DynamiX.[1]
Sistaaz of the Castle
Sistaaz of the Castle is a photographic and fashion collaboration between members of SistaazHood and photographer, Jan Hoek, and Duran Lantink, a fashion designer.[8] The project began in 2014.[1] Women from SistaazHood described the dresses they wanted to wear and Lantink created them for the photo shoots.[4] The collaboration led to the creation of a magazine called Sistaaz of the Castle which donates 100% of the profits back to SistaazHood.[7] The magazine had a printing run of 1,500 copies.[6] The magazine has been able to spread the word about the group, educating the community about them, and also helped give the women a sense of purpose.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d Mokatsane, Tshiamo (2019-08-15). "Trans sex workers launch publication". The CapeTowner. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
- ^ a b Smith, Molly; Mac, Juno (2018). Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers' Rights. Brooklyn, New York: Verso Books. p. 137. ISBN 978-1-78663-363-7.
- ^ Hyman, Aron (23 September 2019). "Gender activists hail landmark ruling for transgender prisoners". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Keeton, Claire (4 August 2019). "Cape Town's transgender sex workers play out their fantasies in 'glossy magazine'". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Homeless trans sex workers in Cape Town want equality". AfricaNews. 11 August 2019. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Harrisberg, Kim (6 November 2019). "Cape Town's homeless, transgender women fight for recognition". Thomson Reuters Foundation News. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Bardsley, Ella; Boreman, Isabella (2020-04-10). "Meet SistaazHood: Cape Town's trans sex workers fuelled by fashion". LOVE. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Sistaaz of the Castle". Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
- ^ "Sistaaz of the Castle". Nataal. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
External links
- Official site
- Sistaaz of the Castle
- Sistaaz of the Castle (2016 video)