Unemployment Drives Transgender Individuals into Sex Work, Disrespect Increases Depression

Approximately 29,000 transgender individuals live in Nepal, over 76 percent of whom earn their livelihood through sex work. Transgender people continue to struggle to obtain citizenship due to demanding medical documentation requirements, making the process cumbersome. The community experiences high rates of suicide, violence, and substance addiction, compounded by a lack of government protection and employment opportunities.

Kathmandu’s Thapathali area is gradually clearing of crowds. Nearby, a few customers sit quietly in a tea shop. Under the streetlights, human shadows become more distinct. From that light, Bobi Tamang (name changed) leans against the wall. The 29-year-old is a transgender woman and a sex worker. She has spent the past four years spending nights on the streets, enduring endless nights of waiting.

Bobi represents many transgender individuals who have been compelled to engage in sex work because of their gender identity. Like her, countless others rely solely on this work to survive. According to the National Statistics Office, Nepal has approximately 29,000 transgender people, with over 76 percent earning a living primarily through sex work. Sheetal Gurung states, “How else can we survive? No one offers us jobs or employment opportunities.”

When all avenues are closed and money is needed for survival, the streets become their last resort. This is not a profession but the final option and compulsion for many. According to Pradeep Kumar, a human rights activist from Janakpur, for transgender individuals, the only livelihoods available are dancing and sex work. He explains, “Initially, society did not understand, then it developed hatred, and only recently have some places begun to accept them.”