transgender women.
In Beijing, as described, most of the sex workers interviewed prefer to use the internet
and cell phones to find customers. Most of these clients are also heterosexual men,
with some, referred to as “妖客” (yaoke, trannie johns), men who prefer transgender
female sex workers. There are several reasons for the transition from servicing the
MSM community in male attire to servicing heterosexual men in female attire: One
is the number of potential clients. MSM typically comprise only 2%-5% of the total
population,134 and there is a much greater demand for sexual services from heterosexual
men. Zhengzheng, from Taiyuan, does not consider himself a woman, but says his
income has increased substantially since he began engaging in sex work dressed as a
woman.135
Second, many transgender sex workers identify as women, and their sexual orientation
is heterosexual. Engaging in sex work as women conforms to both their gender identity
and their sexual orientation. Lili has considered herself female since she was young, and
her previous servicing of homosexual men was mainly for financial reasons: “I don’t like
homosexuality at all. I mixed with homosexual circles before just to make a living. Since
then, I’ve realized that I like being a woman, and I like straight men. Some people may
think I’m abnormal, but I don’t feel that way.”136
Xiao Ming has been cross-dressing to engage in sex work for more than three years. He
explained why he feels more relaxed servicing heterosexual men:
“I started out as an MB [a “money boy,” referring to male sex workers]. When I
was an MB, I did both 1 and 0 [referring to the receptive and insertive position
in anal sex], and it was exhausting and really hard on me physically. With crossdressing, you don’t have to fuck the client. When the client’s done, you’re done,
and it’s not so tiring.”137
Xiaomeng felt even more strongly about homosexual clients:
“Generally speaking, homosexual clients are very low-quality, and I won’t take
any now. Homosexual clients are too fussy – lick here, lick there. Trannie johns
and straight clients are easy – they don’t make a lot of demands. It’s mostly just
134 Li Qian. “Survey of the living conditions of China’s homosexuals.” [中国同性恋生存状况调查] Xinhua Online, August 3, 2005. http://news.
xinhuanet.com/globe/2005-08/03/content_3302692.htm (accessed October 1, 2014).
135 Interview with Zhengzh