Part two of this series explains what happened on the van the rest of the night.
There are some triggers that let the outreach workers know that people are working the streets. It’s more than just being “on the stroll” or wearing skimpy clothes. It's looking into cars to make eye contact with the drivers. It's being out at a certain time during the night when nothing else is happening. It's standing around for too long in one spot (particularly on a night like this one where the temperature is well below freezing).
2:46 am Mike pulls over for two black women walking down the street. One is scantly dressed with a very short mini-skirt and lace stockings. The other is wearing pants and a heavy coat. They immediately recognized HIPS and stopped to chat. “They’re cool. Outstanding. And just a damn blessing,” explains one of them with enthusiasm.
2:53 am A black female is excited to see the van as she meets it at the curb near a Metro stop. Her face presents a motherly appearance. "Hey! HIPS is here." She puts in her request for Magnums, flavored lube and regular condoms. "HIPS is great!" she cheered when asked what she thought about the organization. Meredith presented her with information about the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, which she promised to read later.
Sex workers can make anywhere from $500 to $1,500 dollars a night and more if they choose. Working at a minimum wage job will render $7.25 an hour. Working on a wait staff that gets tips will bring in at minimum $2.13 an hour. “It’s hard to find work and people need to survive. It’s an economic choice,” states Jenna during the drive.
3:07 am A transgender woman recognized the HIPS sign in the car window. She asked for a mixed bag. She said that she had a date waiting for her but offered this statement regarding HIPS and the work that they do. “HIPS helps us by saving our lives. They give us what we need cause these things are expensive. They help us, help us. Does that make sense?” Meredith quickly adds that she is saving her own life by accepting the help. To take condoms and use them in their line of work is an empowering experience. It helps the worker maintain control.
3:31 am Three older black men are standing by an abandoned building talking. They seem patriarchal and any other drivers would assume that they are drug addicts or homeless alcoholics. Since they could possibly be sex workers, Mike pulls over to the curb. Meredith goes into her introduction of offering candy, hot chocolate, condoms, or water. They accept the hot chocolate and condoms. The jovial trio quietly retreat back to their spot one by one. They are grateful for the condoms.
5:01 am At the border of DC and Prince George’s County, a transgender female stops to talk to Meredith in the hot seat. Less than two minutes into the conversation, a Prince George’s County police car pulls up behind the HIPS van. One officer approaches the female and demands for her to interlock her fingers behind her head. She tried to explain what she was doing (just talking to Meredith) when he barked a reply “Do you know who you’re talking to?” She gets frisked while the other officer asked Mike about what he and the volunteers are doing. Mike explained that they are from HIPS and that they are just passing out condoms and information. The officer interrupts “I don’t know what a HIP is.” As he looks in the back at the tubs of condoms and lube with his flashlight he yelps, “You’re encouraging this? You’re making it easier and condoning. I don’t appreciate you giving them the tools to make their jobs easier.” While the officer on the sidewalk orders the female to go across the street to the DC side and not come back, the roadside officer requested everyone’s identification. Meredith made a request of her own. “Can we have your badge number?” He blows off her request and walks away. He comes back to the van eight minutes later, returns the identification cards and snapped his badge number. “Is that good enough for you?”
In part three, the DC HIV/AIDS Examiner talks to Executive Director Cyndee Clay to get an inside look at how and why HIPS continues to help the 'shunned' community of sex workers.
To read part one, click here.
Recommended reading: International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.
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Comments
Oh This is Great Job. First Time I am reading this information, which is very Good. I came to know few new things from this article. for Eg. A Finger Cots, Flavored Lubricants, etc.
HIPS is doing a great Job, you people are like night watchmen ( in a cricket language.) you are saving millions of life's.
And one more thing that How the sex workers are harassed by police men. all the best for HIPS and too Merdith.
As someone who lives in an area where prostitutes have started doing business, thanks for giving them condoms to leave around my car and back steps. Since they have absolutely no concern for my property or health by leaving their liquid-filled treasures on my steps and for me to step in, I hope those disgusting animals all get AIDS and die quickly.
Drewww, you may want to do a little more research about how diseases such as HIV and other STDs are transmitted before you freak out about a used condom on the street. And I would argue that the presence of used condoms means that they DO care about your health -- they are utilizing the best way to reduce the spread of disease, so you are less likely to be exposed through sex and/or needle-sharing :)
Fantastic job, HIPS! You are an inspiration to the rest of us who work in social justice and public health. Contrary to some people's beliefs, people engaged in sex work do have respect for themselves and others, and care deeply about their health and the health of their community.
So there's no potential health issues from handling other people's semen, saliva, or fecal matter?! Really?! And I'm not talking about a used condom on the street...I'm talking about used condoms on my back steps....next to my car....in the yard where my niece & nephew would play when they visit if I allowed them back there....which I don't because of the used condoms from those filthy sub-humans. They dispose of their filth on my property....what's "empowering" about that?!
Snaps to HIPS for offering a buffet of options for sex workers. Not only are they empowering disadvantaged and marginalized individuals to be safe and protect themselves, they are also engaging in preventative health care to lower HIV and other STI transmission for the entire community. DC has one of the highest infection rates for HIV in the country, and I have nothing but love and respect for HIPS for finding a creative and effective way to lower those infection rates. Keep up the good work!
Teach those filthy animals how to dispose of their condoms.....how about that?! Maybe I'll start handing out condoms and poking some holes in them so they get lots of fun diseases......filthy animals...all of them.
how about instead of offering condoms to the prostitutes; you offer them pamphlets on job training and other avenues besides prostitution; instead of enabling them; try to get them to do something else other than prostitution
I agree with you Nunya that they need alternatives to prostitution but believe it or not many of them have tried to get jobs. Even with training they still find it difficult to make ends meet on the salaries they get. Also, remember it is really difficult to get a job if you have a police record which some of them do for solicitation, drugs, etc. Employers can be very judgmental of a person they don't even know.
Thanks you so much for reading and for your feedback. I really do appreciate it.
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