• Sexuality and reproductive rights

Sexuality and reproductive rights

Sexuality issues have gained considerable discursive space in the last two decades in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. However this debate has largely framed men, both homosexual and heterosexual, as the primary sexual actors, whether as agents in sexual relationships or as transmitters of sexual diseases. This Working Paper contributes to challenging this framework by focusing on some issues of identity considered important by many transgendered people in and on the socio-economic struggles that most encounter in Lima, Peru.

The papers author draws on a two-year research project with transgendered people (travestis) in Lima that explored issues of identity considered important by many travestis in Latin America and on their socio-economic struggles. The paper gives consideration to some of some of the conceptual issues that confront travestis, in particular in relation to the polarised gender categories of male/female. It goes on to place travesti issues in a ‘development’ framework, emphasising the ways in which travestis actively manage and challenge the many aspects of their disadvantage and social exclusion. The discussion offers some key points for development in ways that do not threaten travesti identity. It illustrates some positive examples of work with travestis, as potential ways forward. The author argues against fixed ideas of heterosexuals and sexual minorities as homogenous populations dominated by men and with two clean-cut genders. This could be done by making visible the diversity within these communities. Ways forward are discussed and include:

• making resources accessible
• working on sex worker rights
• working on identity
• new forms of activism
• working on gender dichotomies
  

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