Author: Trans* Sexworks

On Sunday there is a demonstration happening again at Ostkreuz to protest the gentrification of the area and the recent evictions. At the beginning of February, over 100 unhoused people (mostly eastern-European migrants, many Romani) were suddenly evicted from the camp that many had been living in for years. This all happened at night while it was -10*C outside. For what? So an investor can build a tourist attraction. Many sex workers (cis and trans), trans women & queer people lived here.

Many sex workers (both cis and trans), trans women & queer people lived here. We want to continue fighting for our friends and are calling for our queer siblings, colleagues and allies to come to the demo on Sunday!

Pack your red umbrellas, trans or rainbow flag and cardboard sign and meet us at Ostkreuz (Hauptstraße/Kynaststraße). For more info: kontrapolis.info/2594/

1. Safety from domestic violence also for trans People. Most women shelters do not take in trans and non-binary people/women. Either this needs to change or we need an alternative fast!
2. Unhoused trans People need a safe shelter. Trans People are being rejected by most shelters or they experience violence in them. We need a shelter for unhoused trans, inter and non-binary people
3. We want drug counselling centers for trans, inter and non-binary people. Stress due to constantly experiencing discrimination results to higher drug use in the trans and queer community. There are still no specific services for trans, inter and non-binary people.
4. Abolish the “Prostitutes Protection Law”. The ProstSchG has failed. We call for an end to this criminalisation and demand better working conditions, more workers rights and the fight against stigma.

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On Friday night, the SPD had the Police evict over 100 People (mostly eastern-european migrants and Roma) from Berlins biggest Tent-City, so an Investor can build an Aquarium there. The eviction started suddenly at 10pm and lasted all night, while it was -10*C (14*F) outside and snowing. The residents where offered to move to a shelter, but most chose not to. There are many reasons why people do not want to move to a shelter: the shelters are not COVID safe, they usually arent open during the day, there are strict rules, pets often arent allowed, drug users are often not let inside etc. A few from our group spent all Saturday helping our trans & queer siblings and their friends and family get their belongings, and move them to a new location. Trans and Queer people experience a lot of violence in shelters and trans women are often not even let inside them. We are extremely angry that this eviction was done while the temperatures are below 0 and that the residents weren’t given even a few days notice. The fact that most of the residents are Roma seems to not have been taken into any consideration and while we were there all day, we did not see any translators. We talked to people and residents that were there last night and the police apperently worked together with 2 white & german NGOs (KARUNA and Gangway) that intimidated people to make them leave. We are beyond angry at how unorganized and inhumane this life-threatening eviction was carried out.

Interview with a trans woman that was evicted from the camp at Rummelsburger Bucht

Trans*Sexworks: What was the camp like for the residents?

A: For all the people who lived there, that was home. It was the same for me. When I saw the police, I felt like they were taking my house.

Trans*Sexworks: Many trans people do not go to the accommodation for fear of discrimination & violence or rejection by the accommodation. Do you think the trans people from the camp at Ostkreuz who have been cleared will go to the accommodations?

A: I think they don’t go into the accomodation. I think they will go back and look for something new

Trans*Sexworks: We are fighting together at Trans*SexWorks to ensure that a trans only accommodation is opened. Do you think trans people who don’t have an apartment will go if it is trans only?

A: Yes. I think so, because they think, if it’s only for trans it will be better. They will know then, that they can feel safe.

Trans*Sexworks: What do you think people can do to help?

A: Bring food and clothes. I think a new camp will be set up somewhere else. It’s like someone kicking you out of your apartment – you find a new apartment. If a new camp comes, I think I’ll go there too. People can bring things and help set up the camp.

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Trans*Sexworks: Was war das Camp für die Bewohner*innen?

A: “Für alle Leute die waren da, das war Zuhause. Für mich war das auch so. Wenn ich gesehen hab die Polizei, ich habe gefühlt als Sie nehmen mir mein Haus.”

Trans*Sexworks: Es haben dort auch viele trans Menschen gewohnt. Wie war das für trans Menschen dort zu wohnen?

A: Da war kein Problem mit anderen Leute. Die Alle waren freundlich zu uns. Ich habe nie gesehen, dass jemand macht Probleme zu uns.

Trans*Sexworks: Viele trans Menschen gehen nicht in die Unterkünfte aus Angst vor Diskriminierung & Gewalt oder Ablehnung durch die Unterkunft. Glaubst du die trans Menschen vom Camp am Ostkreuz die geräumt wurden gehen in die Unterkünfte?

A: Ich denke sie gehen nicht in die Halle. Ich glaube sie werden wieder zurück gehen und was Neues suchen.

Trans*Sexworks: Wir kämpfen ja zusammen bei Trans*Sexworks dafür, dass eine Unterkunft nur für trans Menschen aufgemacht wird. Denkst du trans Personen die keine Wohnung haben werden dorthin gehen dann?

A: Ja. Ich glaube schon, weil sie denken dann wenn es ist genau für trans, dann wird es besser sein. Sie werden wissen dann Sie können sich sicher fühlen. Sie haben dann kein Stress und ich glaube sie nehmen alle Hilfe aber brauchen bessere Hilfe.

Trans*Sexworks: Was denkst du können Menschen machen um zu helfen?

A: Bringen Essen und Kleidung. Ich denke es wird ein neues Camp gemacht wo anderes. Es ist wie jemand schmeissen dich aus deiner Wohnung du findest eine neue Wohnung. Wenn ein neues Camp kommt, denke ich, ich gehe dann auch dahin. Leute können bringen Sachen und helfen das Camp zu machen.

If you are a trans-, inter- and/or non-binary SWer and are struggling financially, please reach out to us to get free surgical- or FFP2 masks. Send us an email at sexworksberlin@gmail.com

If you have a “berlinpass” (a card that gives people that receive government support discounts) and live in Neukölln, you can receive 5 free medical masks. This is way too little, but we want to share this information. Starting on the 26. January you can pick up your masks at the adresses highlighted in the picture. In red are the offices that are open Tuesday-Friday from 11-16:00 and in green are the markets where the masks will also be handed out. Starting on the 26. January you can pick up your masks at the adresses highlighted in the picture. In red are the offices that are open Tuesday-Friday from 11-16:00 and in green are the markets where the masks will also be handed out.

Have you read the latest issue of Siegessäule yet? Inside, you can find an article by Andrea Birmingham on the current situation that trans sex workers face in Berlin & interviews with Isabella and Caspar, from our project. We hope more queer media starts to talk to us!

Find it online here!

The proceeds will be going to our project. You can order it here.
Thanks so much to everyone who made this calendar happen!
Picture by Tomás Eyzaguirre