1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:14,014 --> 00:00:17,058 (TRAFFIC RUMBLING) 4 00:00:20,562 --> 00:00:23,189 (CAR HORNS HONKING) 5 00:00:25,984 --> 00:00:28,653 KRISTEN LOVELL: The first time I ran away from home, I was 15. 6 00:00:30,363 --> 00:00:34,659 As soon as I moved to New York, I was working at a coffee shop. 7 00:00:36,244 --> 00:00:39,497 When I decided to transition, I was fired. 8 00:00:40,832 --> 00:00:44,711 And that is how I found out about The Stroll. 9 00:00:44,794 --> 00:00:46,254 ♪ (SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 10 00:00:46,338 --> 00:00:49,174 KRISTEN: I was doing sex work there. 11 00:00:50,258 --> 00:00:52,677 There were no other opportunities 12 00:00:52,719 --> 00:00:54,262 for trans women at the time. 13 00:00:56,222 --> 00:00:58,683 I spent almost ten years of my life out there. 14 00:01:00,226 --> 00:01:02,937 It was fun at first. I was like, "Oh, I'm making more money 15 00:01:03,021 --> 00:01:05,940 than I'm making in my job." Please. 16 00:01:05,982 --> 00:01:08,318 Then I started doing the weekend ho thing, 17 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:09,861 and then it just became, like... 18 00:01:09,944 --> 00:01:11,154 (SNIFFS) 19 00:01:12,989 --> 00:01:14,366 ...an everyday thing. 20 00:01:16,242 --> 00:01:17,660 It's been good for me in a way, 21 00:01:17,702 --> 00:01:19,537 you know what I'm saying? Because I've been able to eat. 22 00:01:19,621 --> 00:01:21,539 I've been able to live. I've been able to survive. 23 00:01:21,623 --> 00:01:23,875 Some filmmakers were doing a documentary, 24 00:01:23,917 --> 00:01:26,002 so I had cameras following me, 25 00:01:26,044 --> 00:01:27,920 and these videos, majority of the time 26 00:01:28,004 --> 00:01:30,840 I was on cocaine. 27 00:01:30,882 --> 00:01:33,134 And I think in that clip right there, I was explaining 28 00:01:33,218 --> 00:01:37,222 how exhausted I was of the every day 29 00:01:37,263 --> 00:01:38,723 just living to do this. 30 00:01:40,725 --> 00:01:41,851 (KISSES) 31 00:01:41,893 --> 00:01:44,938 When I was approached to be a subject of a documentary, 32 00:01:45,021 --> 00:01:49,567 I knew that that could be a segue way into filmmaking. 33 00:01:50,735 --> 00:01:53,154 But what I discovered is that didn't have control 34 00:01:53,238 --> 00:01:54,948 over my own story. 35 00:01:55,031 --> 00:01:58,451 ♪ (MUSIC TURNS PENSIVE) ♪ 36 00:01:58,535 --> 00:02:01,079 KRISTEN: And so it really motivated me 37 00:02:01,162 --> 00:02:04,457 to start my journey as a director. 38 00:02:07,752 --> 00:02:11,256 I was determined to make a film about The Stroll. 39 00:02:12,424 --> 00:02:15,927 I wanted to know the history of how long trans women 40 00:02:16,011 --> 00:02:17,637 had been coming into the area, 41 00:02:17,721 --> 00:02:21,766 and for how long sex work has been a part of our story. 42 00:02:24,644 --> 00:02:27,981 We were pushed out of the neighborhood years ago 43 00:02:28,064 --> 00:02:30,275 and now you don't see us here anymore. 44 00:02:33,403 --> 00:02:37,699 My mission was to tell this story before we're gone. 45 00:02:39,492 --> 00:02:43,413 I felt that I could get it right if I was the one to tell it. 46 00:02:54,966 --> 00:02:56,509 ♪ (PENSIVE MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 47 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:03,725 CREW MEMBER: Egyptt interview, A camera. Take one. 48 00:03:04,267 --> 00:03:05,602 Welcome, Egyptt. 49 00:03:05,643 --> 00:03:11,524 Um, I'm so excited to speak to you today about our history. 50 00:03:11,608 --> 00:03:15,153 For somebody who has so much lived experience 51 00:03:15,195 --> 00:03:17,906 that the little time that I was out there, 52 00:03:17,989 --> 00:03:21,284 you know, I can't even encompass half of the stuff 53 00:03:21,326 --> 00:03:22,827 that you've been through 54 00:03:22,911 --> 00:03:26,331 and the history that you're gonna share with us. 55 00:03:26,414 --> 00:03:29,668 I'm so honored to have you sitting here with us right now. 56 00:03:29,751 --> 00:03:32,837 Well, I feel so blessed to be here to tell my story, 57 00:03:32,921 --> 00:03:36,883 because a lot of times when they do stories like this, 58 00:03:36,966 --> 00:03:39,886 they cut out the good parts 59 00:03:39,969 --> 00:03:44,349 on the true meaning of what we had to go through. 60 00:03:44,432 --> 00:03:46,434 Some of it is traumatic. 61 00:03:46,518 --> 00:03:49,562 Um, some of it was happy, some of it was sad, 62 00:03:49,646 --> 00:03:52,565 but overall it was an experience 63 00:03:52,649 --> 00:03:55,360 and history that needs to be told. 64 00:03:55,402 --> 00:03:57,696 CREW MEMBER: Izzi interview, A cam. Take one. 65 00:03:58,488 --> 00:04:00,198 I want you to be comfortable. 66 00:04:00,281 --> 00:04:02,742 -Right. -KRISTEN: Your regular self. 67 00:04:02,826 --> 00:04:05,286 It's just me and you having our everyday conversation, 68 00:04:05,370 --> 00:04:07,872 -you're telling me stories. -IZZI: Okay. 69 00:04:07,956 --> 00:04:11,668 I consider myself to be of transgender experience 70 00:04:11,710 --> 00:04:14,504 because I spend half of my life as a transgender woman 71 00:04:14,546 --> 00:04:18,173 and half of my life as a non-binary boy. 72 00:04:18,216 --> 00:04:19,591 ♪ (SOFT MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 73 00:04:19,676 --> 00:04:23,179 IZZI: For me, life as a young trans person 74 00:04:23,221 --> 00:04:24,472 was very difficult. 75 00:04:24,556 --> 00:04:28,184 It was a whole different kind of learning process 76 00:04:28,226 --> 00:04:29,686 for me and everybody around me. 77 00:04:31,062 --> 00:04:34,858 Coming from a prominent Black family, middle class, 78 00:04:34,899 --> 00:04:37,068 um, my dad was a mason, 79 00:04:37,152 --> 00:04:39,904 had a lot of rules and regulations 80 00:04:39,946 --> 00:04:41,906 around masculinity. 81 00:04:41,990 --> 00:04:44,367 I was the child that didn't want to play football, 82 00:04:44,451 --> 00:04:47,620 didn't want to mud roll, didn't want to do any of that. 83 00:04:47,704 --> 00:04:49,748 I wanted to jump rope, cut up the curtains 84 00:04:49,831 --> 00:04:51,832 and turn them into evening gowns. 85 00:04:51,916 --> 00:04:54,210 That was me. I was the child that got caught 86 00:04:54,252 --> 00:04:56,296 in high heels all the time. 87 00:04:56,379 --> 00:04:57,714 I started at an early age. 88 00:04:57,756 --> 00:05:00,258 (BOTH CHUCKLE) 89 00:05:00,342 --> 00:05:02,260 Growing up, for me, being in a household, 90 00:05:02,302 --> 00:05:04,220 there was specific gender roles. 91 00:05:04,262 --> 00:05:06,431 The women cooked, the men worked. 92 00:05:06,514 --> 00:05:09,059 The kitchen was, like, specific for the women, 93 00:05:10,060 --> 00:05:12,437 and, um, for me, 94 00:05:12,479 --> 00:05:15,523 my mom would let me in there with all my sisters. 95 00:05:15,607 --> 00:05:19,944 I was the only male born one that was allowed there. 96 00:05:19,986 --> 00:05:22,489 Even though my grandmother was affirming, 97 00:05:23,156 --> 00:05:24,866 my other siblings weren't. 98 00:05:24,949 --> 00:05:27,369 My aunts and uncles, they didn't understand. 99 00:05:27,452 --> 00:05:29,996 My community in the neighborhood that I grew up in, 100 00:05:30,830 --> 00:05:32,457 was very harmful. 101 00:05:32,499 --> 00:05:35,335 We're siblings. Biological sisters. 102 00:05:35,418 --> 00:05:38,421 One hundred percent. I'm the oldest. 103 00:05:38,463 --> 00:05:40,256 And a lot of people don't believe us, 104 00:05:40,298 --> 00:05:43,009 but we are literally siblings. 105 00:05:43,093 --> 00:05:45,887 Don't breathe. (BLOWS) 106 00:05:45,970 --> 00:05:49,140 Being Pentecostal, my uncle was the pastor of our church. 107 00:05:49,182 --> 00:05:52,769 There was a lot of pressure in being the stereotypical, 108 00:05:52,811 --> 00:05:55,313 cisgender heterosexual male for them. 109 00:05:55,397 --> 00:05:58,817 Our family did not give us the tools 110 00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:03,488 necessary for us to grow healthily. 111 00:06:03,530 --> 00:06:06,616 My mother always told me, never let anyone tell 112 00:06:06,658 --> 00:06:08,410 you can't do something. 113 00:06:09,703 --> 00:06:12,372 And when they told me that I had to leave 114 00:06:12,455 --> 00:06:14,040 because of all of this, 115 00:06:14,708 --> 00:06:15,875 I said, "You always told me, 116 00:06:15,959 --> 00:06:18,336 'never let no one tell you can't do something.'" 117 00:06:18,420 --> 00:06:20,171 -♪ (SOFT MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ -(TRAIN WHIRRING) 118 00:06:20,255 --> 00:06:23,508 ♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 119 00:06:23,591 --> 00:06:26,678 I ran away. I ran away to save my life. 120 00:06:26,761 --> 00:06:28,680 I ran away so I could breathe. 121 00:06:28,722 --> 00:06:31,933 I ran away to get the hell away from those people. 122 00:06:32,017 --> 00:06:35,311 I ran away for peace of mind, for safety. 123 00:06:35,353 --> 00:06:37,147 Yes, I had to sleep on the train. 124 00:06:37,188 --> 00:06:38,773 Yes, I was homeless. 125 00:06:39,649 --> 00:06:42,569 I'd rather the A train than that house 126 00:06:42,652 --> 00:06:44,446 with all that pomp and circumstance 127 00:06:44,529 --> 00:06:46,364 and all of the "religion." 128 00:06:46,448 --> 00:06:48,366 I was safer in the street 129 00:06:48,408 --> 00:06:50,784 than I was ever in that household. 130 00:06:53,913 --> 00:06:57,751 EGYPTT: It was 1983. I was on my own. 131 00:06:57,834 --> 00:07:00,795 I was transitioning at this time. 132 00:07:00,879 --> 00:07:03,381 Back then, being a trans woman, 133 00:07:03,423 --> 00:07:05,592 unless you had your ID changed 134 00:07:05,675 --> 00:07:06,885 and Social Security card, 135 00:07:06,968 --> 00:07:09,554 you couldn't just walk into a place and get a job. 136 00:07:09,637 --> 00:07:13,433 Some people choose sex work because they want to. 137 00:07:13,516 --> 00:07:16,019 Some choose it because they had no choice. 138 00:07:16,061 --> 00:07:19,731 A lot of us back then did not have a choice 139 00:07:19,814 --> 00:07:22,942 because jobs were not accessible to us. 140 00:07:25,570 --> 00:07:28,448 At that time, people were not hiring 141 00:07:29,324 --> 00:07:32,911 people that looked like me. 142 00:07:32,952 --> 00:07:34,996 So girls did what they had to do, 143 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:37,082 and that was to go to the Ho Stroll. 144 00:07:38,707 --> 00:07:41,753 I would say every borough had a stroll 145 00:07:41,836 --> 00:07:43,296 where the girls would work. 146 00:07:43,380 --> 00:07:45,298 The Stroll in the Meatpacking District 147 00:07:45,382 --> 00:07:47,467 was nothing but transwomen down there. 148 00:07:47,550 --> 00:07:48,843 It was a place where 149 00:07:48,927 --> 00:07:52,305 the young gays, the older gays, cross-dressers, 150 00:07:52,389 --> 00:07:56,393 trans women, drag queens, they can go and make money. 151 00:07:56,433 --> 00:07:59,771 So the tricks knew what they was getting 152 00:07:59,813 --> 00:08:01,189 because that was the only people 153 00:08:01,231 --> 00:08:02,774 that hustled down in the village. 154 00:08:02,857 --> 00:08:04,943 ♪ (MUSIC TURNS WHIMSICAL) ♪ 155 00:08:05,026 --> 00:08:06,778 KRISTEN: Every queer young person knew 156 00:08:06,861 --> 00:08:09,989 that Christopher Street in the Village was the gay mecca 157 00:08:10,073 --> 00:08:10,949 of New York City. 158 00:08:11,032 --> 00:08:12,492 -SPEAKER: Hey, girl! -(INDISTINCT CHATTER) 159 00:08:12,575 --> 00:08:14,119 KRISTEN: And the further west you went, 160 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:15,704 the more empty it became. 161 00:08:17,580 --> 00:08:18,957 There you could see queer people 162 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,626 having fun and being sexually free. 163 00:08:23,211 --> 00:08:26,381 By the water, there were these dilapidated piers 164 00:08:26,423 --> 00:08:28,883 where you would see gay men having sex. 165 00:08:28,967 --> 00:08:29,801 (LOUD MOANING) 166 00:08:29,884 --> 00:08:31,553 KRISTEN: And in the center of it all 167 00:08:31,636 --> 00:08:34,264 was this ten-by-12-block radius 168 00:08:34,304 --> 00:08:36,224 called the Meatpacking District. 169 00:08:37,142 --> 00:08:39,352 We called 14th Street The Stroll, 170 00:08:39,436 --> 00:08:41,354 and that was our turf. 171 00:08:41,438 --> 00:08:43,148 ♪ (WHIMSICAL MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 172 00:08:43,231 --> 00:08:44,941 (TRAFFIC HUMMING) 173 00:08:45,025 --> 00:08:46,818 (CARS HORNS HONKING) 174 00:08:47,777 --> 00:08:50,155 ♪ (SOFT MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 175 00:08:54,492 --> 00:08:55,785 IVY: The Meatpacking District 176 00:08:55,827 --> 00:08:58,830 was not a neighborhood people came to. 177 00:08:58,872 --> 00:09:01,708 You never walked into this neighborhood. 178 00:09:01,791 --> 00:09:06,338 There was a very defined dividing line at Eighth Avenue. 179 00:09:06,421 --> 00:09:11,676 I am a long-time resident of the Meatpacking District. 180 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,596 I have a gallery in the Triangle Building 181 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:15,972 and everybody knows this building 182 00:09:16,014 --> 00:09:18,516 'cause it's in the middle of the street. 183 00:09:18,558 --> 00:09:21,353 This space was in The Village Voice. 184 00:09:21,394 --> 00:09:25,273 Eighteen hundred square feet with a wood-burning fireplace. 185 00:09:25,357 --> 00:09:29,194 I called somebody who I knew lived in the building, 186 00:09:29,277 --> 00:09:32,072 and I said, you know, "What is it like down there? 187 00:09:32,155 --> 00:09:36,326 You know, it looks really grimy. It looks really dangerous. 188 00:09:36,368 --> 00:09:38,703 Everybody says it's dangerous." 189 00:09:38,745 --> 00:09:40,789 And she said, "It's not dangerous at all. 190 00:09:41,623 --> 00:09:42,915 It's wonderful. 191 00:09:42,999 --> 00:09:45,752 It stinks because it is the Meatpacking District 192 00:09:45,835 --> 00:09:50,090 and there's blood and inedibles and meat all around. 193 00:09:50,173 --> 00:09:52,884 But besides that, it's a great neighborhood." 194 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:57,013 JOHN: People wouldn't even walk through it. 195 00:09:57,055 --> 00:09:58,682 People walked through the meat market back then, 196 00:09:58,723 --> 00:10:00,058 they-- they held their nose. 197 00:10:00,100 --> 00:10:03,812 I mean, you had to be one of us to get used to the odors. 198 00:10:03,895 --> 00:10:05,855 Without a doubt, it was its own little city. 199 00:10:05,897 --> 00:10:09,234 And every building had a meat company in it. 200 00:10:11,069 --> 00:10:12,987 Back then you would have to be careful, 201 00:10:13,071 --> 00:10:14,572 when you were walking down the street, 202 00:10:14,656 --> 00:10:16,741 you couldn't walk too close to a truck 203 00:10:16,783 --> 00:10:19,077 because the meat would come flying off. 204 00:10:19,119 --> 00:10:21,246 That's how fast the trucks were unloaded. 205 00:10:21,329 --> 00:10:22,414 (INDISTINCT CHATTER) 206 00:10:22,455 --> 00:10:25,375 JOHN: Just the amount of meat that was cut here. 207 00:10:25,417 --> 00:10:26,626 Back then, to me, 208 00:10:26,710 --> 00:10:28,503 it was just the most amazing place. 209 00:10:28,586 --> 00:10:31,256 -♪ (SOFT MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ -♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 210 00:10:31,297 --> 00:10:32,841 EFRAIN: Well, the first time I came here 211 00:10:32,924 --> 00:10:35,135 was when I was driving a taxi. I was born up in the Bronx, 212 00:10:35,218 --> 00:10:37,220 so I had all these questions about my sexuality 213 00:10:37,262 --> 00:10:39,681 that I was trying to come to terms with, 214 00:10:39,764 --> 00:10:42,100 and I discovered The Meatpacking District. 215 00:10:43,601 --> 00:10:46,855 You have all these fetish bars, fetish clubs, 216 00:10:47,605 --> 00:10:49,816 underground events, 217 00:10:49,899 --> 00:10:52,193 brick factories, and falling apart buildings 218 00:10:52,277 --> 00:10:53,778 and empty lots. 219 00:10:53,862 --> 00:10:56,156 The life, the light, the shadows. 220 00:10:56,239 --> 00:10:59,451 It was such a film noir kind of atmosphere, 221 00:10:59,534 --> 00:11:02,620 and that's what I wanted to capture with my camera. 222 00:11:02,704 --> 00:11:05,874 There were prosties here almost 24/7. 223 00:11:05,957 --> 00:11:08,418 Uh, they would conduct their business in parked cars 224 00:11:08,460 --> 00:11:09,836 right on the street, 225 00:11:09,919 --> 00:11:13,465 and the prosties would often hang out under the elevated 226 00:11:13,506 --> 00:11:14,549 West Side Highway, 227 00:11:14,632 --> 00:11:17,510 and, y'know, wait for passing johns. 228 00:11:17,594 --> 00:11:21,139 The S&M bars, the hookers, 229 00:11:21,181 --> 00:11:23,933 the meatpackers. That's what was down here. 230 00:11:23,975 --> 00:11:27,896 -♪ (TENSE MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ -(TRAFFIC WHIZZING) 231 00:11:31,232 --> 00:11:34,319 ♪ ("ANGEL" BY TELEPHONE MAN PLAYING) ♪ 232 00:11:47,665 --> 00:11:49,125 CAREY: When I first went out there, 233 00:11:49,167 --> 00:11:52,796 it felt like we were going through a secret passage. 234 00:11:52,837 --> 00:11:55,882 I just saw all these beautiful women, 235 00:11:55,965 --> 00:11:58,176 and I was like, "Oh, my God, 236 00:11:58,218 --> 00:12:00,387 what is all these girls doing out here? 237 00:12:00,470 --> 00:12:02,514 They so beautiful." 238 00:12:02,597 --> 00:12:05,058 I remember one particular night, 239 00:12:05,141 --> 00:12:09,729 this girl asked me to block her while she fixed her tuck. 240 00:12:09,813 --> 00:12:12,023 I said, "Tuck," I said, "What is that?" 241 00:12:12,107 --> 00:12:14,484 And this girl looked nice. 242 00:12:14,526 --> 00:12:16,528 So while she was fixing her tuck, 243 00:12:16,611 --> 00:12:19,239 I turned around and I looked, 244 00:12:19,322 --> 00:12:23,743 and I said, "Oh, my God, you have a penis." 245 00:12:23,827 --> 00:12:27,038 She was like, "I'm a trans woman." 246 00:12:27,122 --> 00:12:30,709 And I said, "This is what all these girls out here are?" 247 00:12:30,750 --> 00:12:32,335 I said, "Oh, my God, 248 00:12:32,377 --> 00:12:37,549 I want to do this. This is me." I said, "I... I got to do this." 249 00:12:37,590 --> 00:12:40,218 ♪ (MUSIC TURNS SOFT) ♪ 250 00:12:46,099 --> 00:12:48,518 KRISTEN: I remember, like, when I first stepped on 251 00:12:48,560 --> 00:12:51,730 to 14th Street, when we came around that corner 252 00:12:51,771 --> 00:12:54,190 and all I seen were, 253 00:12:54,232 --> 00:12:58,028 like, it felt like hundreds of trans women were out there. 254 00:12:58,778 --> 00:13:00,405 But I remember it was... 255 00:13:00,488 --> 00:13:06,036 I saw you, and Ceyenne, and a bunch of other girls. 256 00:13:06,077 --> 00:13:08,872 And it was just amazing, like, to see 257 00:13:08,913 --> 00:13:12,042 strong Black trans women. 258 00:13:12,584 --> 00:13:14,919 (BOTH CHUCKLE) 259 00:13:14,961 --> 00:13:17,047 EGYPTT: Yeah. This is what started my journey 260 00:13:17,088 --> 00:13:19,591 because I wanted to be that. 261 00:13:19,674 --> 00:13:22,177 And I used to watch the girls. 262 00:13:22,260 --> 00:13:24,262 And then it was when I came to the decision, 263 00:13:24,346 --> 00:13:25,930 I was like, 264 00:13:26,014 --> 00:13:29,351 "I'm going to... (CHUCKLING) ...you know, transition." And... 265 00:13:29,434 --> 00:13:32,771 Because I had seen everybody so confident in themselves. 266 00:13:32,812 --> 00:13:35,190 And so I was able to draw that out of myself. 267 00:13:35,273 --> 00:13:38,818 So when I first stepped on to that Stroll, 268 00:13:38,902 --> 00:13:40,779 it empowered me to be like, 269 00:13:40,820 --> 00:13:42,030 "If they can live their life like this, 270 00:13:42,113 --> 00:13:44,240 then I can live my life like this too." 271 00:13:45,825 --> 00:13:47,369 ♪ (SOFT MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 272 00:13:48,119 --> 00:13:51,414 (CRICKETS CHIRPING) 273 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,002 Right here, the picture was taken back there... 274 00:13:56,086 --> 00:13:57,962 -BRENDA: Oh, really? -...the reflection of the-- 275 00:13:58,046 --> 00:13:59,673 -It was water. -BRENDA: Okay. 276 00:13:59,756 --> 00:14:02,217 LADY P: The coat opened out-- It was taken right there. 277 00:14:02,300 --> 00:14:03,218 BRENDA: Wow. 278 00:14:03,301 --> 00:14:04,469 LADY P: Because there was nobody back here 279 00:14:04,511 --> 00:14:06,638 -but me and the photographer. -BRENDA: Okay. 280 00:14:06,680 --> 00:14:09,557 LADY P: I was gonna let you see the goods for free, baby. 281 00:14:09,641 --> 00:14:10,392 (BRENDA LAUGHING) 282 00:14:10,475 --> 00:14:11,976 LADY P: You can't see it for free, girl. 283 00:14:12,060 --> 00:14:16,022 But I didn't have all this va-va-la-voom then. 284 00:14:16,106 --> 00:14:19,901 -But, um, I have arrived now. -(BRENDA CHUCKLING) 285 00:14:20,652 --> 00:14:21,653 Thank you. 286 00:14:21,695 --> 00:14:23,405 I can't believe it's still here. 287 00:14:23,863 --> 00:14:24,989 I'm reminiscing. 288 00:14:25,073 --> 00:14:27,492 This was my favorite little corner right here. 289 00:14:27,575 --> 00:14:29,327 This is where I worked at. 290 00:14:29,369 --> 00:14:32,831 I didn't allow no one in that corner. 291 00:14:32,914 --> 00:14:36,835 -LADY P: Oh, my God. I'm right here. -Oh, she loves the trucks. 292 00:14:36,876 --> 00:14:39,087 I used to-- We used to take them back here, look, 293 00:14:39,170 --> 00:14:42,882 because sometimes the people would forget to lock the trucks, 294 00:14:42,966 --> 00:14:45,343 -because there was nothing in the back of the trucks -BRENDA: Mm-hmm. 295 00:14:45,385 --> 00:14:47,262 but funky meat that ain't there no more, 296 00:14:47,345 --> 00:14:51,307 so we would take the clients right back here. 297 00:14:52,517 --> 00:14:54,227 BRENDA: Don't get stuck back there, honey. 298 00:14:54,310 --> 00:14:55,979 -Oh, no, baby. -(BRENDA CHUCKLING) 299 00:14:56,021 --> 00:15:00,316 -Big Mama's in charge now, she gets stuck nowhere, darling. -(BRENDA LAUGHING) 300 00:15:00,358 --> 00:15:03,445 -Open the door. -Yeah. I'm not touching it now. 301 00:15:03,528 --> 00:15:05,947 But, you know, back then, we would open up the door 302 00:15:05,989 --> 00:15:08,700 and take a client back, that was like the hotel room. 303 00:15:08,742 --> 00:15:12,871 You know, the guy's back there. And do what Mother does best. 304 00:15:12,954 --> 00:15:15,040 -(BRENDA LAUGHING) -(LAUGHS) 305 00:15:15,081 --> 00:15:16,750 ♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 306 00:15:16,833 --> 00:15:18,376 The Stroll mothers. 307 00:15:18,460 --> 00:15:20,879 They was the ones who took us under their wing. 308 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:23,715 These girls showed me the ropes. 309 00:15:23,757 --> 00:15:27,635 These girls showed me what streets to stay safe on, 310 00:15:27,719 --> 00:15:28,845 what not to do, 311 00:15:28,887 --> 00:15:31,348 so that the minute I got off on 14th Street 312 00:15:31,389 --> 00:15:33,975 on the PATH train and I started walking, 313 00:15:34,059 --> 00:15:36,728 and you could hear the clickety-clack of the heels. 314 00:15:36,811 --> 00:15:37,896 (HEELS CLACKING) 315 00:15:37,937 --> 00:15:39,981 TABYTHA: I knew that was Ceyenne, 316 00:15:40,065 --> 00:15:41,941 I knew Nicole was around the corner. 317 00:15:42,025 --> 00:15:43,902 I knew where everybody was at. 318 00:15:43,985 --> 00:15:45,362 It was just the banter, 319 00:15:45,403 --> 00:15:48,281 the allure of just having that, "How's tricks, girl?" 320 00:15:48,365 --> 00:15:49,908 "Oh, it's late... oh, it's late for you, 321 00:15:49,991 --> 00:15:52,327 not for me, girl. You should go home." 322 00:15:52,410 --> 00:15:55,413 -Just the cattiness of it. -(POLICE SIREN WAILING) 323 00:15:55,497 --> 00:15:58,249 Like, these girls taught me how to survive. 324 00:16:00,043 --> 00:16:01,378 EGYPTT: In the middle of West Side Highway, 325 00:16:01,419 --> 00:16:03,546 that people today call the High Line, 326 00:16:03,588 --> 00:16:05,215 was the train tracks. 327 00:16:05,256 --> 00:16:07,759 When I first went out there with one of my girlfriends, 328 00:16:07,842 --> 00:16:09,260 I was petrified. 329 00:16:10,428 --> 00:16:12,430 I mean, she's walking up and down the street, 330 00:16:12,472 --> 00:16:13,306 calling cars, 331 00:16:13,390 --> 00:16:15,141 and I'm like, "What are you doing?" 332 00:16:15,225 --> 00:16:17,936 She said, "This is how we're going to make some money." 333 00:16:18,019 --> 00:16:19,187 (CAR HORN HONKING) 334 00:16:19,270 --> 00:16:20,438 EGYPTT: People are tooting their horns at me, 335 00:16:20,522 --> 00:16:22,107 and people trying to get me in their cars 336 00:16:22,190 --> 00:16:23,233 and I kept saying no. 337 00:16:23,274 --> 00:16:24,984 Until she said, "Girl, the only way 338 00:16:25,068 --> 00:16:28,113 you're gonna get money, you have to get in a car. 339 00:16:28,196 --> 00:16:29,531 Go do what you gotta do. 340 00:16:29,614 --> 00:16:32,575 Don't let them make you do anything you don't want to do." 341 00:16:32,617 --> 00:16:35,036 I've had clients that want me to do 342 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,456 some of the weirdest things. 343 00:16:38,540 --> 00:16:39,958 But let me tell you about this client. 344 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:41,042 This client was weird. 345 00:16:41,126 --> 00:16:43,086 This guy would do pretend blowjobs 346 00:16:43,128 --> 00:16:44,921 and pretend sex and pay me 347 00:16:44,963 --> 00:16:46,297 -for prete-- Yes. -For dollar? 348 00:16:46,381 --> 00:16:50,176 Yes, I remember. I remember now, he was very, like, hygienic. 349 00:16:50,260 --> 00:16:52,137 He was practicing social distancing 350 00:16:52,220 --> 00:16:54,305 before it became a trend. 351 00:16:54,389 --> 00:16:57,350 Yeah, I was-- This mortician guy, right, 352 00:16:57,434 --> 00:17:00,812 and he would date me and I would go up to his house 353 00:17:00,895 --> 00:17:02,522 and I would sit in his stairwell, 354 00:17:02,605 --> 00:17:05,983 it was like a 100 dollars in, like, three minutes, 355 00:17:06,026 --> 00:17:09,779 maybe less than three minutes, because all he did was take me, 356 00:17:09,820 --> 00:17:12,490 spin me around, and by the time I came back this way, 357 00:17:12,531 --> 00:17:14,617 he had already nutted on the floor and I left. 358 00:17:14,659 --> 00:17:16,077 (LAUGHS) 359 00:17:16,161 --> 00:17:17,537 ♪ (TENSE MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 360 00:17:19,455 --> 00:17:22,416 CAREY: One of my first nights out there, 361 00:17:22,500 --> 00:17:25,878 I went with this guy to a hotel, 362 00:17:25,962 --> 00:17:29,382 and I was like, "Okay, so... 363 00:17:29,466 --> 00:17:34,012 um-- I'm going to be a bottom for you." Whatever, whatever. 364 00:17:34,054 --> 00:17:35,347 Is it okay if I explain it? 365 00:17:35,430 --> 00:17:37,349 -Girl, you're fine. (CHUCKLES) -CAREY: Okay. 366 00:17:37,432 --> 00:17:39,642 Pegging, they call it pegging today, but... 367 00:17:39,684 --> 00:17:41,269 -(LAUGHING) -Okay. 368 00:17:41,353 --> 00:17:44,397 In my mind, being on 14th Street 369 00:17:44,481 --> 00:17:48,193 when I was a beginner, nobody told me 370 00:17:48,276 --> 00:17:51,488 the... the ifs and outs about, 371 00:17:51,529 --> 00:17:56,368 "Okay, you're a trans woman, you use your tool, or, your wand." 372 00:17:56,409 --> 00:18:02,290 (CHUCKLES) I figured out that I was very well-endowed, 373 00:18:02,374 --> 00:18:07,629 which I didn't really look at my private parts, so... 374 00:18:07,712 --> 00:18:11,549 That played... That played a lot in my life with... 375 00:18:11,633 --> 00:18:15,261 'cause-- because I used to make so much money. 376 00:18:15,345 --> 00:18:18,306 And how old were you when you first went out to The Stroll? 377 00:18:19,015 --> 00:18:22,227 Um, I think I was 15. Fifteen. 378 00:18:22,310 --> 00:18:26,314 -(INDISTINCT CHATTER) -(CAR HORNS HONKING) 379 00:18:29,526 --> 00:18:32,112 IZZI: The first time that I've ever seen The Stroll, 380 00:18:32,195 --> 00:18:35,532 stepping back, was scary. 381 00:18:35,573 --> 00:18:37,909 I'm not gonna lie. It gave me anxiety. 382 00:18:37,951 --> 00:18:39,160 I was having a panic attack 383 00:18:39,244 --> 00:18:41,621 because I didn't wanna have sex with people. 384 00:18:41,705 --> 00:18:43,456 That wasn't really what I was interested in. 385 00:18:44,249 --> 00:18:46,292 But I had no clue 386 00:18:46,376 --> 00:18:48,253 on how to get money at 15 years old 387 00:18:48,336 --> 00:18:50,505 on the street. So that's where I ended up. 388 00:18:51,339 --> 00:18:53,591 ♪ (SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 389 00:18:55,260 --> 00:18:58,096 EGYPTT: I cried. I cried like a baby. 390 00:18:58,179 --> 00:19:00,640 First time I had to do sexual acts 391 00:19:00,724 --> 00:19:03,935 with someone for money and he told me to get out. 392 00:19:04,019 --> 00:19:06,438 The first time, I was traumatized 393 00:19:06,479 --> 00:19:09,607 because this man wanted me to do some sexual act 394 00:19:09,691 --> 00:19:10,900 with him for money. 395 00:19:10,942 --> 00:19:12,444 And I knew what I was going to do. 396 00:19:12,485 --> 00:19:14,279 But it's-- when you actually do it 397 00:19:14,362 --> 00:19:17,073 the reality sets in, "What are you doing?" 398 00:19:17,115 --> 00:19:19,909 And it was terrifying. 399 00:19:19,951 --> 00:19:20,952 Right, 'cause like, 400 00:19:21,036 --> 00:19:22,454 I'm not really attracted to this man. 401 00:19:22,537 --> 00:19:24,289 EGYPTT: Not at all. (CLEARS THROAT) 402 00:19:24,330 --> 00:19:25,540 Because you got to realize, 403 00:19:25,623 --> 00:19:30,628 you have all different shapes, colors and sizes. 404 00:19:30,712 --> 00:19:33,548 I've gotten in cars with people with the worst thing 405 00:19:33,631 --> 00:19:35,133 I've ever seen in my entire life. 406 00:19:35,216 --> 00:19:36,676 It was like, "Oh, my God." 407 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:40,472 But those Benjamins sounded great. 408 00:19:42,182 --> 00:19:44,309 ♪ (SOMBER MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 409 00:19:47,729 --> 00:19:50,482 ELIZABETH: I remember, it was a warm night. 410 00:19:51,399 --> 00:19:54,152 And I was feeling myself. I was. 411 00:19:54,194 --> 00:19:57,155 This young man pulled up in a car 412 00:19:57,197 --> 00:19:59,699 and he was mad cute. 413 00:19:59,783 --> 00:20:02,911 And I thought to myself, "Elizabeth, you deserve 414 00:20:02,994 --> 00:20:04,329 a little bit of fun time. 415 00:20:05,246 --> 00:20:07,207 So go ahead. Have your fun." 416 00:20:11,002 --> 00:20:12,671 I remember him taking me 417 00:20:12,754 --> 00:20:15,882 to the side of St Vincent Hospital. 418 00:20:15,965 --> 00:20:18,259 Went to go perform on him. 419 00:20:18,343 --> 00:20:19,511 And that's when I heard 420 00:20:19,552 --> 00:20:22,347 the back door is open to the car. 421 00:20:22,430 --> 00:20:24,849 -(CAR DOOR CLOSING) -ELIZABETH: Next thing I know, 422 00:20:24,891 --> 00:20:28,228 he punched me out. And between all three of them... 423 00:20:28,311 --> 00:20:30,063 ♪ (SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 424 00:20:30,146 --> 00:20:32,607 -ELIZABETH: ...assaulted me and robbed me. -(AMBULANCE SIREN WAILING) 425 00:20:32,691 --> 00:20:34,818 ELIZABETH: I ran into St. Vincent Hospital, 426 00:20:34,859 --> 00:20:36,695 into the ER waiting area. 427 00:20:36,778 --> 00:20:40,031 I was just literally assaulted and I was screaming for help. 428 00:20:41,366 --> 00:20:43,535 And the security guard told me that I had to leave, 429 00:20:43,618 --> 00:20:44,786 that I couldn't be there. 430 00:20:45,954 --> 00:20:47,622 And I remember... 431 00:20:47,706 --> 00:20:50,458 basically telling him, "You know what, fuck you," 432 00:20:50,542 --> 00:20:52,711 picked up my strap, one of my straps, 433 00:20:52,794 --> 00:20:55,839 and walked out and walked to The Stroll crying. 434 00:20:58,174 --> 00:21:00,093 You know, whether it was from the police 435 00:21:00,176 --> 00:21:01,720 who chased you and beat you up, 436 00:21:01,803 --> 00:21:03,847 and wanted to force you to have sex, 437 00:21:03,888 --> 00:21:06,850 whether it was from the john who didn't have enough money 438 00:21:06,891 --> 00:21:07,809 and you knew he was short, 439 00:21:07,892 --> 00:21:09,644 so you was trying to get away from him, 440 00:21:09,728 --> 00:21:11,646 but he wanted you to finish the job. 441 00:21:11,730 --> 00:21:13,898 A lot of the guys knew where we populated at, 442 00:21:13,940 --> 00:21:16,401 and sometimes that became very unsafe. 443 00:21:18,069 --> 00:21:20,363 I had a little bit of everything in my pocketbook. 444 00:21:20,405 --> 00:21:23,408 Mace, hammer, you name it. 445 00:21:23,491 --> 00:21:24,784 I learned to defend myself 446 00:21:24,868 --> 00:21:28,413 because I was always in close proximity of violence. 447 00:21:28,496 --> 00:21:31,416 There was a lot of times where I came into danger. 448 00:21:31,458 --> 00:21:33,835 Then that's when I became the Battle Bot. 449 00:21:35,211 --> 00:21:36,755 You know, you wasn't gonna take my money. 450 00:21:36,838 --> 00:21:39,341 You wasn't gonna beat me up. I was gonna get you 451 00:21:39,424 --> 00:21:40,717 before you got me. 452 00:21:43,011 --> 00:21:44,971 EGYPTT: Wonder Woman is this all-powerful woman 453 00:21:45,055 --> 00:21:47,599 who can handle anything. 454 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:50,852 I call 'em my Wonder Woman powers because I have to deal 455 00:21:50,935 --> 00:21:52,270 with crazy people, 456 00:21:52,354 --> 00:21:54,230 when I'm getting in and out of your car. 457 00:21:54,272 --> 00:21:55,774 I don't know where you're going to be at. 458 00:21:55,857 --> 00:21:58,693 You don't know what their motives are. 459 00:21:58,777 --> 00:22:00,403 You don't know what type of mood they're in. 460 00:22:00,445 --> 00:22:03,948 So you have to be able to think that fast. 461 00:22:03,990 --> 00:22:05,617 And I love that you call it Wonder Woman, 462 00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:07,869 because I used to call it Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 463 00:22:07,952 --> 00:22:10,372 -(EGYPTT LAUGHING) -And I'm out here slaying all these dicks. 464 00:22:10,455 --> 00:22:12,123 (HIGH HEELS CLACKING) 465 00:22:12,165 --> 00:22:16,544 EGYPTT: If I ever got in trouble with one person, a guy, 466 00:22:16,628 --> 00:22:19,130 every girl that was on The Stroll was there. 467 00:22:23,301 --> 00:22:25,428 The girls stuck together more then 468 00:22:26,137 --> 00:22:27,514 and protected each other. 469 00:22:27,597 --> 00:22:29,474 Especially when we were in danger. 470 00:22:29,516 --> 00:22:33,144 Because if one was in trouble, we all were in trouble. 471 00:22:33,186 --> 00:22:34,854 And that, I miss that part 472 00:22:34,938 --> 00:22:37,857 about the rallying together to protect each other. 473 00:22:40,151 --> 00:22:44,823 (INDISTINCT CHATTER) 474 00:22:44,906 --> 00:22:47,325 -NICOLE: Oh, he is cute! -CHARISMA: Look, they ready. 475 00:22:47,367 --> 00:22:49,160 -Hey, boo. -DRIVER: 476 00:22:49,244 --> 00:22:50,829 -Uh-uh. No. -No! 477 00:22:50,912 --> 00:22:51,788 DRIVER: 478 00:22:51,830 --> 00:22:53,748 NICOLE: No, we're talking about our lives. 479 00:22:53,832 --> 00:22:56,251 We're talking about our lives... 480 00:22:56,334 --> 00:22:58,628 out here before this became this. 481 00:22:59,504 --> 00:23:00,964 -Yeah. -Yeah. 482 00:23:01,006 --> 00:23:02,007 DRIVER: 483 00:23:02,090 --> 00:23:03,842 Oh! (LAUGHS) 484 00:23:03,925 --> 00:23:05,468 He said, "I remember that." (LAUGHS) 485 00:23:05,510 --> 00:23:08,555 I'm sure you do. What's your name? 486 00:23:08,638 --> 00:23:10,682 -(LAUGHS) Bob. -CHARISMA: Bill. 487 00:23:10,765 --> 00:23:14,019 Bill? Bob Reg, Bob Regular? 488 00:23:14,060 --> 00:23:15,353 CHARISMA: Still got it. 489 00:23:15,395 --> 00:23:17,022 Wait, you gotta get in the mirror. 490 00:23:17,105 --> 00:23:18,606 That bitch has still got it. 491 00:23:18,690 --> 00:23:20,150 NICOLE: (LAUGHS) You got to tell them. 492 00:23:20,191 --> 00:23:21,651 Come on, baby. Check your face. 493 00:23:21,693 --> 00:23:24,404 What did you say? The diva will what? 494 00:23:24,487 --> 00:23:25,864 KATRINA: Will succeed. 495 00:23:26,281 --> 00:23:27,323 Pump. Pump. 496 00:23:27,365 --> 00:23:29,409 NICOLE: The diva will succeed. 497 00:23:30,535 --> 00:23:32,037 You know this is huge. 498 00:23:32,120 --> 00:23:35,040 And you ain't probably take this trip in a minute. 499 00:23:35,081 --> 00:23:39,377 I remember, with The Vault. And RuPaul. 500 00:23:39,419 --> 00:23:41,588 Remember when RuPaul used to be out here? 501 00:23:41,671 --> 00:23:44,716 And she used to film her videos with the tricks? 502 00:23:44,758 --> 00:23:47,469 Located in Manhattan's Lower West Side. 503 00:23:47,552 --> 00:23:49,304 The meat market is filled 504 00:23:49,387 --> 00:23:51,514 with transvestite hookers by night. 505 00:23:51,556 --> 00:23:52,807 ♪ (WHIMSICAL MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 506 00:23:52,891 --> 00:23:55,060 I ought to know because I live right around the block. 507 00:23:55,101 --> 00:23:56,436 I asked some of the girls, 508 00:23:56,519 --> 00:23:59,230 boys, girls, whatever. (LAUGHING) 509 00:23:59,314 --> 00:24:00,732 If I could, you know, take a look 510 00:24:00,774 --> 00:24:02,776 inside of their world. Let's go see what's going on. 511 00:24:02,859 --> 00:24:05,070 Maybe I'll get lucky. Maybe I'll make my rent money. 512 00:24:05,153 --> 00:24:06,946 (LAUGHS) Come on, you guys. 513 00:24:07,030 --> 00:24:09,074 KRISTEN: I was looking for footage for the doc, 514 00:24:09,157 --> 00:24:10,658 that's when I seen the clip. 515 00:24:10,742 --> 00:24:12,619 When I was researching, I was starting 516 00:24:12,702 --> 00:24:15,413 with transgender hookers. 517 00:24:15,455 --> 00:24:17,582 And that wasn't the right word. 518 00:24:17,624 --> 00:24:21,002 The right word was transvestite hookers. 519 00:24:21,086 --> 00:24:22,587 (LAUGHS) 520 00:24:22,629 --> 00:24:24,422 RUPAUL: Do you have a boss? Do you work for yourself? 521 00:24:24,506 --> 00:24:26,466 Oh, yeah, for myself, of course. 522 00:24:26,549 --> 00:24:29,010 RUPAUL: Are you ever scared out here on the street? 523 00:24:29,094 --> 00:24:31,930 Yeah. Huh. Sometimes it's hard, you know? Sometimes... 524 00:24:32,013 --> 00:24:34,015 Sometimes people get really rough, though. 525 00:24:34,099 --> 00:24:37,227 And, uh, you know, I have been in some-- my purse has been stolen 526 00:24:37,268 --> 00:24:38,436 several times, though. 527 00:24:38,478 --> 00:24:39,938 But it's very much to be careful. 528 00:24:40,021 --> 00:24:41,731 You carry some mace or something in your purse, 529 00:24:41,773 --> 00:24:43,483 honey, and you've got to mace these motherfuckers 530 00:24:43,566 --> 00:24:44,651 'cause they crazy. 531 00:24:44,734 --> 00:24:46,027 KRISTEN: Ru should have known better. 532 00:24:46,111 --> 00:24:49,155 I felt like, from her tone that this was lighthearted 533 00:24:49,239 --> 00:24:50,615 and a joke for her. 534 00:24:50,699 --> 00:24:53,410 RUPAUL: I've had to talk to people or be with people 535 00:24:53,451 --> 00:24:54,661 who I didn't necessarily know 536 00:24:54,744 --> 00:24:56,287 and I had to be friendly with them, you know? 537 00:24:56,371 --> 00:24:59,040 And that's the hooking sense. And so what's the difference? 538 00:24:59,124 --> 00:25:01,334 I guess the difference is I didn't have to go down 539 00:25:01,418 --> 00:25:03,003 on those people, but if you ask me... 540 00:25:03,086 --> 00:25:06,297 (LAUGHS) ...it's almost the exact same. 541 00:25:09,968 --> 00:25:14,055 I love it. I may have to change my vocation. (LAUGHING) 542 00:25:17,851 --> 00:25:20,979 The reality of homelessness 543 00:25:21,021 --> 00:25:25,942 and transitioning and trans life in general. 544 00:25:27,485 --> 00:25:28,820 It was r-- it was difficult. 545 00:25:28,862 --> 00:25:30,989 ♪ (SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 546 00:25:31,072 --> 00:25:32,991 KRISTEN: Because we got shunned from society. 547 00:25:33,074 --> 00:25:37,328 We couldn't find work without having to revert back 548 00:25:37,412 --> 00:25:39,664 to presenting as cis. 549 00:25:41,791 --> 00:25:43,918 The longer you are there, 550 00:25:44,002 --> 00:25:46,171 it becomes more like a dead-end street. 551 00:25:48,590 --> 00:25:50,842 I had to sleep in a movie theater. 552 00:25:50,884 --> 00:25:53,345 And being like... (SCOFFS) "I'm a trans woman, 553 00:25:53,428 --> 00:25:54,596 a homeless trans woman 554 00:25:54,679 --> 00:25:56,806 sleeping in this movie theater, like, 555 00:25:56,848 --> 00:25:59,267 this is as close to Hollywood I'm gonna get." 556 00:26:01,853 --> 00:26:04,939 But I refused to let the world beat me down. 557 00:26:06,066 --> 00:26:08,777 Back then, we just took our punches. 558 00:26:10,862 --> 00:26:12,781 We've been taking them for decades. 559 00:26:12,864 --> 00:26:14,657 ♪ (SOMBER MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 560 00:26:18,495 --> 00:26:19,996 REPORTER: The sixth precinct is located 561 00:26:20,038 --> 00:26:23,541 in Greenwich Village, where many homosexuals live. 562 00:26:23,625 --> 00:26:26,211 It also encompasses a parking area for trucks 563 00:26:26,252 --> 00:26:29,089 under the West Side Highway along the Hudson River. 564 00:26:29,172 --> 00:26:31,007 The trucks are a known gathering spot 565 00:26:31,049 --> 00:26:33,551 and solicitation area for homosexuals 566 00:26:33,593 --> 00:26:36,429 who use the trucks for sexual acts. 567 00:26:36,513 --> 00:26:39,307 Certain acts committed by homosexuals, 568 00:26:39,391 --> 00:26:42,894 uh, such as dressing in drag, hanging around the trucks, 569 00:26:42,936 --> 00:26:44,979 as we refer to it in the sixth precinct, 570 00:26:45,063 --> 00:26:48,733 and certain-- As we term it, unnatural acts 571 00:26:48,817 --> 00:26:50,652 or which may be committed on the street. 572 00:26:50,735 --> 00:26:51,945 Do you think that has really helped 573 00:26:52,028 --> 00:26:54,280 the image of the homosexual? 574 00:26:54,364 --> 00:26:57,951 I absolutely, 100 percent, wholeheartedly think 575 00:26:58,034 --> 00:27:01,996 that the sixth precinct of the NYPD had full, 576 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:04,541 utter contempt towards the trans community. 577 00:27:04,582 --> 00:27:09,087 I had a total of 68 arrests. 578 00:27:09,129 --> 00:27:10,880 -If I'm not mistaken. -Oh, wow. 579 00:27:10,922 --> 00:27:12,465 BRENDA: You know, I passed through 580 00:27:12,549 --> 00:27:14,759 a lot of experience with the NYPD. 581 00:27:14,801 --> 00:27:17,137 Especially sixth precinct. 582 00:27:17,220 --> 00:27:19,639 Tasty Tuesdays and Tasty Thursdays. 583 00:27:19,723 --> 00:27:20,849 It's funny that y'all called it that 584 00:27:20,932 --> 00:27:22,267 because we called it TNT. 585 00:27:22,308 --> 00:27:25,979 You... You know, there was times that the girls already knew 586 00:27:26,062 --> 00:27:28,773 the schedule and it would be empty. 587 00:27:28,815 --> 00:27:31,317 So, I guess once they seemed to have been emptied, 588 00:27:31,401 --> 00:27:35,655 the girls started getting the hang of the lock up days. 589 00:27:35,739 --> 00:27:37,949 That's when they started switching it around 590 00:27:37,991 --> 00:27:39,743 and lock you up on a Friday. 591 00:27:39,784 --> 00:27:41,161 You didn't want to get locked on a Friday 592 00:27:41,244 --> 00:27:43,121 -because then that's all weekend in jail. -BRENDA: Yep. 593 00:27:43,204 --> 00:27:45,415 You know, the days that you know that you're gonna spend 594 00:27:45,457 --> 00:27:46,833 the weekend in the bullpens. 595 00:27:46,916 --> 00:27:48,668 Yeah, I've made those mistakes a few times. 596 00:27:48,752 --> 00:27:50,795 -(LAUGHS) -BRENDA: Yeah. 597 00:27:50,837 --> 00:27:53,131 CEYENNE: You had to stay busy to avoid the police. 598 00:27:53,214 --> 00:27:55,008 You had to, like, stay on the move. 599 00:27:55,091 --> 00:27:59,804 And sitting, sitting on a car, smoking a cigarette, maybe, 600 00:27:59,888 --> 00:28:02,599 acting like I'm talking on a phone that don't work... 601 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:05,477 -(CHUCKLES) -...and that kept me alive. 602 00:28:05,518 --> 00:28:06,853 ♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 603 00:28:06,936 --> 00:28:09,522 CECILIA: "Walking While Trans" is a piece of legislation 604 00:28:09,606 --> 00:28:12,025 that allowed sex workers, 605 00:28:12,108 --> 00:28:13,651 especially trans sex workers, 606 00:28:13,735 --> 00:28:17,822 to be stop-and-frisk for decades. 607 00:28:17,864 --> 00:28:21,868 I was arrested many times just going to the store 608 00:28:21,951 --> 00:28:25,789 to get bread, for example, 609 00:28:25,830 --> 00:28:28,333 and police officers would arrest me 610 00:28:28,375 --> 00:28:30,960 under the suspicion that I was loitering 611 00:28:31,002 --> 00:28:33,546 for purposes of prostitution. 612 00:28:33,630 --> 00:28:36,091 POLICE OFFICER: You would sit in a police vehicle, 613 00:28:36,174 --> 00:28:38,009 a half a block to a block away. 614 00:28:38,093 --> 00:28:39,886 You would have a set of binoculars. 615 00:28:39,969 --> 00:28:42,847 All right. You would focus in on a particular area. 616 00:28:42,889 --> 00:28:44,349 While you're focusing on that particular area, 617 00:28:44,391 --> 00:28:47,227 you write down the time you started looking. 618 00:28:47,310 --> 00:28:50,355 As vehicles make the turn, depending on where it is, 619 00:28:50,397 --> 00:28:53,316 either the he/she or transvestite waves him down 620 00:28:53,358 --> 00:28:55,819 or they stop and have a brief conversation. 621 00:28:55,860 --> 00:28:58,947 That's one, it repeats again. That's two. 622 00:28:59,030 --> 00:29:01,241 It repeats a third time. That's three. 623 00:29:01,324 --> 00:29:04,828 After the third time, we will slowly drive up. 624 00:29:04,869 --> 00:29:06,496 One of us will exit out of the radio car. 625 00:29:06,538 --> 00:29:09,708 The other will drive past. And we'll basically close in, 626 00:29:09,749 --> 00:29:11,167 and put the individual under arrest. 627 00:29:11,209 --> 00:29:13,586 Put the individual in the back of the police car, 628 00:29:13,670 --> 00:29:14,796 take it to another location, 629 00:29:14,879 --> 00:29:16,256 put it in a van as a holding area. 630 00:29:16,339 --> 00:29:17,674 Then we will go back and repeat it, 631 00:29:17,716 --> 00:29:20,844 depending on how many girls we're gonna take in that night. 632 00:29:20,885 --> 00:29:22,554 Last Sunday night that just passed, 633 00:29:22,595 --> 00:29:25,348 we locked up six females... 634 00:29:25,390 --> 00:29:30,103 the rest of the night, the whole area was clear... 635 00:29:30,186 --> 00:29:32,564 which basically lets them know that we're not playing around 636 00:29:32,605 --> 00:29:35,233 and we'll be out again and we'll lock them up again. 637 00:29:35,275 --> 00:29:36,901 Until they get the message and realize 638 00:29:36,943 --> 00:29:41,281 that 14th Street is not prostitution. 639 00:29:42,991 --> 00:29:44,242 ♪ (TENSE MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 640 00:29:44,325 --> 00:29:46,411 CAREY: A lot of my clients were officers, 641 00:29:46,494 --> 00:29:51,041 a lot of my client-- COs, officers, all of it. 642 00:29:51,082 --> 00:29:54,002 One, he used to drive a paddy wagon. 643 00:29:54,085 --> 00:29:55,754 He was a Black guy, 644 00:29:55,837 --> 00:29:57,464 and he would pick me up 645 00:29:57,547 --> 00:30:00,216 and we would go right on the West Side Highway. 646 00:30:00,258 --> 00:30:04,804 You know, so he wasn't shy about what he was doing. 647 00:30:04,888 --> 00:30:06,973 ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 648 00:30:07,057 --> 00:30:10,226 Two days ago, there was an officer. 649 00:30:10,268 --> 00:30:13,355 And he turned trick with me and he said that he was-- 650 00:30:13,438 --> 00:30:14,481 he's all for it, 651 00:30:14,564 --> 00:30:17,359 and he wanted it to be legalized. 652 00:30:17,442 --> 00:30:20,945 He was a nice officer. Very cute, if I must say. 653 00:30:20,987 --> 00:30:23,281 INTERVIEWER 1: How'd you pick him up, was he on duty? 654 00:30:23,323 --> 00:30:25,867 No he was off duty, in a gorgeous car. 655 00:30:25,950 --> 00:30:27,911 He was in a stingray. I was gasping 656 00:30:27,952 --> 00:30:29,746 when I found out he was an officer. 657 00:30:29,788 --> 00:30:32,415 I actually gave fellatio 658 00:30:32,457 --> 00:30:36,628 to a very beautiful, beautiful, beautiful young Black man 659 00:30:36,670 --> 00:30:38,296 who was a cop. 660 00:30:38,380 --> 00:30:42,884 And after I was done doing his deed, he arrested me. 661 00:30:42,967 --> 00:30:46,096 I drive around here, but, uh, I don't go out. 662 00:30:46,137 --> 00:30:47,847 INTERVIEWER 2: Why d'you drive around here? 663 00:30:47,931 --> 00:30:49,391 'Cause I lock 'em up on occasion. 664 00:30:51,142 --> 00:30:55,021 BRENDA: They used to come around in different type of vehicles 665 00:30:55,105 --> 00:30:57,023 to count the girls on The Stroll. 666 00:30:57,107 --> 00:30:58,566 We didn't know who's who. 667 00:30:58,650 --> 00:31:01,986 You know, everybody's a client. Everybody's a trick. 668 00:31:02,070 --> 00:31:04,322 So we would not notice that and then the paddy wagon 669 00:31:04,406 --> 00:31:08,118 would come like 15 or 20 minutes later to swipe us all up. 670 00:31:08,660 --> 00:31:10,203 (POLICE SIREN WAILING) 671 00:31:10,286 --> 00:31:11,746 KRISTEN: When the police were around, 672 00:31:11,830 --> 00:31:16,334 the girls would scream, "Mag," like the TV show Magnum P.I. 673 00:31:16,376 --> 00:31:18,211 Once you heard "Mags," then you would see 674 00:31:18,294 --> 00:31:23,466 the girls dipping and dodging under trucks and around corners. 675 00:31:23,508 --> 00:31:25,635 The police would scramble the girls 676 00:31:25,677 --> 00:31:29,556 by driving the squad cars on top of the sidewalk, 677 00:31:29,639 --> 00:31:33,351 blaring their sirens to chase us out of the area. 678 00:31:33,435 --> 00:31:36,021 And after the cops went away, the girls would reemerge 679 00:31:36,062 --> 00:31:39,190 from under the trucks and get back to work. 680 00:31:39,232 --> 00:31:41,192 Some nights you may get arrested, 681 00:31:41,276 --> 00:31:44,696 spend the night in jail, get a little community service, 682 00:31:44,779 --> 00:31:46,031 and then we'd be back on The Stroll 683 00:31:46,114 --> 00:31:48,033 the very next night. 684 00:31:48,116 --> 00:31:50,368 CEYENNE: We can't just be normal people that work. 685 00:31:50,452 --> 00:31:54,039 They will categorize us as sex workers first 686 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:57,500 before employers, employees, before anything. 687 00:31:57,542 --> 00:32:00,295 We will be drug addicts, whores, and prostitutes 688 00:32:00,378 --> 00:32:01,713 -before we're-- -(POLICE SIREN WAILING) 689 00:32:01,755 --> 00:32:05,383 -♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ -(POLICE SIREN CONTINUES) 690 00:32:07,886 --> 00:32:09,721 I hope their tires bust. 691 00:32:09,763 --> 00:32:12,349 (ALL LAUGH) 692 00:32:13,558 --> 00:32:15,352 (SNORTS) 693 00:32:15,393 --> 00:32:17,729 NARRATOR: (OVER VIDEO) ...specifically homosexuals, uh, on the street, 694 00:32:17,812 --> 00:32:22,317 possibly fondling each other in a-- in an unlawful manner. 695 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:26,488 KRISTEN: A lot of my time I would go to the library 696 00:32:26,571 --> 00:32:30,283 to rest and have some kind of shelter over my head. 697 00:32:31,409 --> 00:32:34,746 And so I would find myself researching. 698 00:32:34,829 --> 00:32:35,914 (INDISTINCT CHATTER) 699 00:32:35,955 --> 00:32:37,749 KRISTEN: I was always into history, 700 00:32:37,791 --> 00:32:39,459 specifically trans history, 701 00:32:39,542 --> 00:32:42,921 and I would always talk to the older girls on The Stroll 702 00:32:42,962 --> 00:32:44,673 about the '70s and '80s. 703 00:32:46,466 --> 00:32:49,427 And then one day I met Sylvia Rivera. 704 00:32:49,511 --> 00:32:51,346 I said, "Are we happy?" 705 00:32:51,429 --> 00:32:54,099 KRISTEN: When I first met Sylvia Rivera 706 00:32:54,182 --> 00:32:56,101 in the summer of 2000, 707 00:32:56,184 --> 00:32:59,062 I wish I had just paid a little bit more attention. 708 00:32:59,104 --> 00:33:00,980 ♪ (SOFT MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 709 00:33:01,064 --> 00:33:03,650 KRISTEN: Sylvia was a sex worker and activist 710 00:33:03,733 --> 00:33:05,610 who had been around for decades. 711 00:33:05,652 --> 00:33:08,613 She was one of the initiators of the Stonewall riots. 712 00:33:10,073 --> 00:33:12,367 I think Sylvia being out on the streets 713 00:33:12,450 --> 00:33:15,453 and having to fend for herself at such an early age, 714 00:33:15,495 --> 00:33:18,707 she saw herself in many of our shoes, 715 00:33:18,790 --> 00:33:20,709 in many of our situations. 716 00:33:21,751 --> 00:33:24,295 ELIZABETH: She is the icon. 717 00:33:24,379 --> 00:33:26,631 She was like the mother of the community, 718 00:33:27,632 --> 00:33:28,633 her and Marsha. 719 00:33:52,657 --> 00:33:55,035 KRISTEN: Marsha and Sylvia founded STAR, 720 00:33:55,118 --> 00:33:57,746 Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, 721 00:33:57,829 --> 00:34:01,166 the first trans sex workers rights organization. 722 00:34:02,667 --> 00:34:04,336 SYLVIA RIVERA: Marsha and I both grew up 723 00:34:04,419 --> 00:34:07,213 at a very early age on Times Square. 724 00:34:07,297 --> 00:34:09,507 Marsha was seven years my senior, 725 00:34:09,549 --> 00:34:15,513 and we had seen the suffering from the '60s into the '70s 726 00:34:15,554 --> 00:34:17,306 of the trans youth 727 00:34:17,349 --> 00:34:19,601 and the gay youth being homeless, 728 00:34:19,684 --> 00:34:22,478 because, um, we'd either run away 729 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:25,440 or either we get kicked out from our home. 730 00:34:27,775 --> 00:34:29,485 (CAR HORNS HONKING) 731 00:34:32,322 --> 00:34:34,032 KRISTEN: I think the gay community wanted 732 00:34:34,074 --> 00:34:36,743 to be accepted into mainstream society 733 00:34:36,826 --> 00:34:41,790 to show people that homosexuals are just like everybody else. 734 00:34:41,873 --> 00:34:45,960 So when you have trans and gender nonconforming people, 735 00:34:46,043 --> 00:34:47,962 it just makes things a little bit 736 00:34:48,045 --> 00:34:49,755 more difficult to explain. 737 00:34:49,839 --> 00:34:51,800 (INDISTINCT CLAMORING) 738 00:34:51,882 --> 00:34:54,219 Y'all all better quiet down. 739 00:34:55,719 --> 00:35:00,517 Y'all tell me go and hide my tail between my legs. 740 00:35:00,558 --> 00:35:04,688 I will never longer put up with this shit. 741 00:35:04,729 --> 00:35:08,817 I have been beaten, I have had my nose broken, 742 00:35:08,900 --> 00:35:13,238 I have been thrown in jail. I have lost my job, 743 00:35:13,321 --> 00:35:17,075 I have I lost my apartment for gay liberation. 744 00:35:17,158 --> 00:35:19,411 And you all treat me this way? 745 00:35:19,494 --> 00:35:22,122 What the fuck's wrong with you all? 746 00:35:22,205 --> 00:35:24,582 -Think about that. -(CROWD APPLAUDING, CHEERING) 747 00:35:26,543 --> 00:35:28,336 ELIZABETH: Sylvia was like a blueprint, 748 00:35:28,420 --> 00:35:33,133 you know, seeing her up there on that stage, getting hoarse, 749 00:35:33,216 --> 00:35:34,634 screaming at everybody. 750 00:35:34,718 --> 00:35:37,595 I knew that there was a need for that. 751 00:35:37,637 --> 00:35:39,556 And if she could do it, I could do it. 752 00:35:41,141 --> 00:35:43,518 Or at least try. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) 753 00:35:45,270 --> 00:35:48,440 KRISTEN: The mainstream lesbian and gay community 754 00:35:48,523 --> 00:35:50,734 drove Sylvia and Marsha crazy 755 00:35:50,775 --> 00:35:53,403 because they put themselves on the line to fight 756 00:35:53,445 --> 00:35:56,614 for gay liberation and power. 757 00:35:56,698 --> 00:36:00,326 After all they fought for, they were pushed to the side. 758 00:36:00,410 --> 00:36:02,245 ♪ (SOFT MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 759 00:36:02,287 --> 00:36:05,165 Gay America does not care. 760 00:36:05,957 --> 00:36:08,543 They don't care about their own. 761 00:36:11,796 --> 00:36:17,302 We did. We did, when we-- in 1970. (SNIFFLES) 762 00:36:19,220 --> 00:36:21,556 We had to build them, we did everything. 763 00:36:21,639 --> 00:36:27,896 We fucking fed, we fed children. We took care of children. 764 00:36:27,979 --> 00:36:31,316 Damn it! This is my history. 765 00:36:39,532 --> 00:36:42,410 This was literally a dilapidated pier 766 00:36:43,161 --> 00:36:44,329 with holes in it. 767 00:36:45,205 --> 00:36:46,664 There was nothing here for years. 768 00:36:46,706 --> 00:36:48,375 -ELIZABETH: Nothing. -And then you had this 769 00:36:48,458 --> 00:36:51,670 whole, like, area with Sylvia’s encampment. 770 00:36:51,711 --> 00:36:55,340 'Cause this-- I can't even tell what it is anymore. 771 00:36:55,423 --> 00:36:56,591 STEFANIE: Oh, that's right. 772 00:36:56,675 --> 00:36:58,468 KRISTEN: But basically where we're at, right, 773 00:36:58,510 --> 00:37:00,720 standing right here is where the encampment was. 774 00:37:00,804 --> 00:37:01,846 ♪ (SOFT MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 775 00:37:01,888 --> 00:37:03,264 STEFANIE: It used to be where a lot of homeless 776 00:37:03,348 --> 00:37:05,350 queer youth used to spend the night. 777 00:37:05,392 --> 00:37:06,559 Didn't have anywhere to go. 778 00:37:06,643 --> 00:37:08,770 They knew this was like a safe place 779 00:37:08,812 --> 00:37:10,188 to be able to congregate, 780 00:37:10,230 --> 00:37:12,232 sometimes spend the night and sleep here. 781 00:37:12,315 --> 00:37:14,526 I actually spent several nights in this. 782 00:37:14,567 --> 00:37:16,236 We've all spent the night on this thing. 783 00:37:16,319 --> 00:37:17,654 -At some point. -Yeah. 784 00:37:18,947 --> 00:37:24,536 EGYPTT: I was on the pier where we literally had huts. 785 00:37:24,619 --> 00:37:26,871 People started making more and more and more. 786 00:37:26,955 --> 00:37:30,875 You had single room ones. You had three bedroom ones. 787 00:37:30,917 --> 00:37:32,210 That's how big they got. 788 00:37:32,252 --> 00:37:34,713 They was like your own apartment. 789 00:37:34,796 --> 00:37:37,632 SYLVIA: This is my little segment of the house, 790 00:37:37,716 --> 00:37:40,010 because Vinny and Tom live on that side. 791 00:37:40,051 --> 00:37:41,386 You can go in. 792 00:37:41,428 --> 00:37:45,849 You know, it's, you know, very decor, you know, 793 00:37:45,890 --> 00:37:50,645 we have a film crew. You know, we have it dressed up. 794 00:37:51,563 --> 00:37:53,523 Down there was Shady Brook Lane. 795 00:37:53,565 --> 00:37:57,944 We had like five or six other houses down there 796 00:37:58,028 --> 00:38:00,196 with another open kitchen. 797 00:38:00,238 --> 00:38:03,199 We had a Thanksgiving dinner, 798 00:38:03,241 --> 00:38:07,120 and we had Christmas here one year. 799 00:38:07,203 --> 00:38:10,415 And, um, we had lots of fun here. 800 00:38:10,457 --> 00:38:12,584 EGYPTT: It became a village of people 801 00:38:12,625 --> 00:38:15,837 taking care of each other. This our neighborhood. 802 00:38:21,051 --> 00:38:24,054 ♪ (SOFT MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 803 00:38:24,095 --> 00:38:26,890 (SHOUTS) Excuse me. Don’t be going in my house! 804 00:38:28,391 --> 00:38:30,310 EGYPTT: One day, policemen came over. 805 00:38:30,393 --> 00:38:31,478 They gave us a certain date. 806 00:38:31,561 --> 00:38:33,730 "On that date, we’re putting gates up." 807 00:38:33,772 --> 00:38:35,982 This is when they said, "You guys have to leave." 808 00:38:36,066 --> 00:38:38,610 ♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 809 00:38:38,651 --> 00:38:40,695 RUDOLPH GIULIANI: I, Rudolph William Giuliani. 810 00:38:40,779 --> 00:38:42,072 BAILIFF: "Do solemnly swear." 811 00:38:42,113 --> 00:38:43,365 GIULIANI: Do solemnly swear... 812 00:38:43,406 --> 00:38:45,241 "That I will support the the constitution of the Unit..." 813 00:38:45,283 --> 00:38:46,618 REPORTER 1: With the pledge to fight crime 814 00:38:46,659 --> 00:38:49,204 and the city's nagging deficit, Rudolph Giuliani 815 00:38:49,287 --> 00:38:52,957 took the oath of office as the 107th mayor of New York. 816 00:38:53,041 --> 00:38:54,626 Giuliani, a former US attorney 817 00:38:54,709 --> 00:38:57,212 and the first Republican elected in nearly two decades, 818 00:38:57,295 --> 00:38:59,964 narrowly defeated incumbent David Dinkins on a platform 819 00:39:00,006 --> 00:39:02,717 to take back New York's dangerous streets. 820 00:39:02,801 --> 00:39:06,137 American cities can't survive as we know them 821 00:39:06,179 --> 00:39:08,473 if they remain so violent. 822 00:39:08,515 --> 00:39:11,935 The era of fear has had a long enough reign. 823 00:39:11,976 --> 00:39:15,480 The period of doubt has run its course. 824 00:39:15,522 --> 00:39:16,731 REPORTER 2: New York is in the middle 825 00:39:16,815 --> 00:39:18,983 of its worst recession for 50 years. 826 00:39:19,025 --> 00:39:21,695 But the economy isn't the key issue here. 827 00:39:21,778 --> 00:39:26,032 The one issue today that obsesses New Yorkers. Crime. 828 00:39:26,991 --> 00:39:28,410 JEREMIAH: Rudy Giuliani brought in 829 00:39:28,493 --> 00:39:29,869 Broken Windows Policing. 830 00:39:29,953 --> 00:39:32,914 Broken windows theory is basically that, 831 00:39:32,997 --> 00:39:37,252 where there is disorder there-- it will lead to violent crime. 832 00:39:37,335 --> 00:39:42,799 So, they basically elided things like graffiti, loitering, 833 00:39:42,841 --> 00:39:47,012 boomboxes, sex work, with rape and murder. 834 00:39:47,095 --> 00:39:48,513 So when you see graffiti, 835 00:39:48,555 --> 00:39:50,015 someone's gonna get raped and murdered. 836 00:39:50,098 --> 00:39:52,684 This is not true. It's been debunked, 837 00:39:52,767 --> 00:39:56,855 but in the dominant imagination of the ruling class, 838 00:39:56,896 --> 00:40:00,275 disorder has to be destroyed to keep us safe. 839 00:40:00,316 --> 00:40:01,860 NEWS ANCHOR: If one window is left broken, 840 00:40:01,901 --> 00:40:04,154 the theory goes, others are shattered. 841 00:40:04,237 --> 00:40:05,739 Pretty soon, the entire building, 842 00:40:05,822 --> 00:40:08,908 the entire neighborhood, decays. 843 00:40:08,992 --> 00:40:11,953 Where we seen back in the '70s and '80s, 844 00:40:12,037 --> 00:40:15,290 girls were getting arrested sporadically, 845 00:40:15,373 --> 00:40:18,877 Giuliani literally came for us 846 00:40:18,960 --> 00:40:21,755 in ways that we've never seen before. 847 00:40:21,838 --> 00:40:24,716 We were taken out of a place of freedom 848 00:40:24,758 --> 00:40:27,719 and put into a place where we were cattle. 849 00:40:27,761 --> 00:40:30,263 Christopher Street became his target. 850 00:40:30,347 --> 00:40:33,516 42nd Street became his target. 851 00:40:33,558 --> 00:40:35,310 These were known places 852 00:40:35,393 --> 00:40:37,771 where we could thrive and survive. 853 00:40:39,981 --> 00:40:42,692 GIULIANI: We want to show people improvement in the quality 854 00:40:42,734 --> 00:40:45,111 of their life, that things are getting better for them, 855 00:40:45,195 --> 00:40:48,573 that things are safer, quieter, more peaceful. 856 00:40:48,615 --> 00:40:50,325 A city that they can use and enjoy. 857 00:40:50,408 --> 00:40:51,409 REPORTER 1: Ladies and gentlemen, 858 00:40:51,451 --> 00:40:53,995 Washington Square Park is now closed. 859 00:40:54,079 --> 00:40:56,331 RESIDENT: This is where I live and I don't like to see this 860 00:40:56,414 --> 00:40:57,582 and I don't like to deal with this. 861 00:40:57,665 --> 00:40:59,334 So if they can-- can crack down on that and get rid 862 00:40:59,376 --> 00:41:00,960 of some of that stuff, I'd be very pleased. 863 00:41:01,044 --> 00:41:03,963 REPORTER 2: The police aim to please with their crack down. 864 00:41:04,047 --> 00:41:06,925 This week they showed off the kind of new equipment 865 00:41:06,966 --> 00:41:09,761 which cost the department half a million dollars. 866 00:41:09,844 --> 00:41:12,847 Night vision cameras, miniature tape recorders, 867 00:41:12,931 --> 00:41:15,558 noise meters. Officers in Greenwich Village 868 00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:18,937 have written nearly 2000 summonses since March. 869 00:41:19,020 --> 00:41:22,023 People without IDs are brought to the precinct station, 870 00:41:22,107 --> 00:41:25,610 and those who fail to show in court are tracked down. 871 00:41:25,652 --> 00:41:26,611 If you don't respond, 872 00:41:26,695 --> 00:41:28,071 if you just throw it in your drawer 873 00:41:28,113 --> 00:41:28,947 and forget about it, 874 00:41:29,030 --> 00:41:30,615 it comes back as a warrant for your arrest. 875 00:41:30,699 --> 00:41:32,033 You stop doing it for a while, 876 00:41:32,117 --> 00:41:34,786 it comes back just as bad if not worse than before. 877 00:41:34,869 --> 00:41:36,663 You have to keep after it. 878 00:41:36,746 --> 00:41:38,832 It's like a police state in a way, 879 00:41:38,915 --> 00:41:41,793 sometimes the way they just stop people at will. 880 00:41:41,835 --> 00:41:44,295 CROWD: (CHANTING) Racist, sexist, anti-gay! 881 00:41:44,379 --> 00:41:46,548 Giuliani, go away! 882 00:41:46,631 --> 00:41:51,011 Racist, sexist, anti-gay! Giuliani, go away! 883 00:41:51,094 --> 00:41:55,849 Quality of life initiatives made you ask, "Whose life?" 884 00:41:55,932 --> 00:42:00,812 Because these were initiatives that were supposed to "clean up" 885 00:42:00,895 --> 00:42:04,065 the neighborhoods by removing people 886 00:42:04,149 --> 00:42:07,485 who were unwanted by the homeowners, 887 00:42:07,527 --> 00:42:09,446 the affluent taxpayers. 888 00:42:09,487 --> 00:42:11,948 They wanted to get rid of things like... 889 00:42:11,990 --> 00:42:13,491 -(HORN HONKING) -KATE: ...squeegee people, 890 00:42:13,575 --> 00:42:17,370 panhandlers, young people hanging out, 891 00:42:17,454 --> 00:42:21,374 pretty much anybody of color who was not in a uniform. 892 00:42:21,458 --> 00:42:23,168 I mean, it was profoundly racist, 893 00:42:23,251 --> 00:42:26,504 and also very anti-poor. 894 00:42:26,546 --> 00:42:28,089 You know, during the AIDS epidemic, 895 00:42:28,173 --> 00:42:31,593 a lot of gay-owned buildings became available 896 00:42:31,676 --> 00:42:34,137 because the owners died, and a lot of them 897 00:42:34,179 --> 00:42:36,973 were bought by wealthy, straight people. 898 00:42:37,015 --> 00:42:39,768 And then there were some affluent queer people 899 00:42:39,851 --> 00:42:42,520 who hated the women on The Stroll. 900 00:42:42,562 --> 00:42:44,397 You know, they treat them like they're ants 901 00:42:44,481 --> 00:42:46,691 or something, right? They just wanna 902 00:42:46,775 --> 00:42:48,193 clear off the street. 903 00:42:48,276 --> 00:42:51,613 Those are the people who think that the queer youth 904 00:42:51,654 --> 00:42:54,532 in the West Village should just magically disappear 905 00:42:54,616 --> 00:42:56,076 because it's their neighborhood. 906 00:42:56,159 --> 00:42:58,703 Never mind the fact that the young people were there 907 00:42:58,745 --> 00:43:02,207 decades before the wealthy people were. 908 00:43:02,248 --> 00:43:05,835 I live in-- in an apartment on Christopher Street. 909 00:43:05,877 --> 00:43:10,048 We are in danger. We residents are in danger. 910 00:43:10,715 --> 00:43:12,592 I have to sleep at night. 911 00:43:13,927 --> 00:43:18,890 The immediate need is for more regular police. 912 00:43:19,599 --> 00:43:20,725 RESIDENT 1: Exactly. 913 00:43:20,809 --> 00:43:23,311 RESIDENT 2: We have to get this under control. 914 00:43:25,313 --> 00:43:27,982 HARRY: The trannies were out on the street 24/7. 915 00:43:28,066 --> 00:43:30,944 It was really a very bad situation. 916 00:43:31,027 --> 00:43:34,406 They would do their business inside cars. 917 00:43:34,447 --> 00:43:37,742 Sometimes parked right in front of a residential building. 918 00:43:37,826 --> 00:43:40,412 You'd walk out of your door at 7:00 am, 919 00:43:40,495 --> 00:43:42,497 and there'd be two people having sex. 920 00:43:42,580 --> 00:43:44,541 Uh, not the kind of thing 921 00:43:44,582 --> 00:43:48,211 that anybody should really be subjected to. 922 00:43:48,253 --> 00:43:51,297 The problem is they were using our streets as their bedrooms. 923 00:43:52,757 --> 00:43:54,801 I voted for Giuliani because I thought 924 00:43:54,884 --> 00:43:56,761 he was the right man for the job, 925 00:43:56,803 --> 00:44:00,015 and having him on our side definitely was a plus. 926 00:44:01,808 --> 00:44:04,144 ♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 927 00:44:04,227 --> 00:44:07,605 CAREY: In the '90s, I remember there was this old man 928 00:44:07,689 --> 00:44:09,816 that always used to walk past me, 929 00:44:09,899 --> 00:44:11,860 and he used to be, "Ah, look at you, 930 00:44:11,943 --> 00:44:13,445 you're so disgusting. 931 00:44:13,486 --> 00:44:17,407 You don't have on any clothes. You're terrible." 932 00:44:17,449 --> 00:44:20,452 I remember one day this fool 933 00:44:20,493 --> 00:44:23,872 came out with, like, 20 other people, 934 00:44:23,955 --> 00:44:26,332 and they had picket signs, 935 00:44:26,416 --> 00:44:27,542 and they were like, 936 00:44:27,625 --> 00:44:29,794 "We want you out of our neighborhoods. 937 00:44:29,878 --> 00:44:32,964 Get out of our neighborhoods, transvestite bitch." 938 00:44:33,006 --> 00:44:34,883 "Tr--" And they cursed me out, 939 00:44:34,966 --> 00:44:36,926 but I used to put my middle finger up 940 00:44:36,968 --> 00:44:38,803 and get in the car still, 941 00:44:38,887 --> 00:44:41,014 or go down the steps by their house. 942 00:44:41,097 --> 00:44:42,974 -I didn't give a shit. -(LAUGHS) 943 00:44:43,058 --> 00:44:46,811 I didn't care, honey. (CHUCKLES) Okay. 944 00:44:46,895 --> 00:44:50,273 (CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING) 945 00:44:50,315 --> 00:44:54,235 HARRY: We started a group called Villagers Against Crime. 946 00:44:54,319 --> 00:44:57,447 We collected money from the neighborhood, 947 00:44:57,489 --> 00:44:59,324 and we used it to purchase three 948 00:44:59,407 --> 00:45:01,034 large professional banners. 949 00:45:01,117 --> 00:45:05,455 So, there was a banner facing the eastbound traffic 950 00:45:05,497 --> 00:45:07,332 that was coming on 12th Street. 951 00:45:07,415 --> 00:45:11,878 Uh, another banner facing the southbound traffic here, 952 00:45:11,961 --> 00:45:14,214 and another one also on Washington Street 953 00:45:14,297 --> 00:45:15,423 a few blocks north. 954 00:45:15,507 --> 00:45:20,261 The banner said, in big letters, "Johns and hookers beware. 955 00:45:20,345 --> 00:45:24,307 We note license plates, inform your job and home." 956 00:45:24,349 --> 00:45:28,228 In those days, you could contact the motor vehicle department, 957 00:45:28,311 --> 00:45:29,688 and for a small fee, 958 00:45:29,729 --> 00:45:32,440 get the name and address of the owners. 959 00:45:32,524 --> 00:45:33,608 So some of my neighbors 960 00:45:33,692 --> 00:45:35,235 would note the plates of the johns, 961 00:45:35,318 --> 00:45:37,112 -and they would call them up... -(DIAL PAD BEEPING) 962 00:45:37,195 --> 00:45:38,905 HARRY: ...and they would say, "Mr. Smith, 963 00:45:38,988 --> 00:45:40,323 -some of my neighbors... -(TELEPHONE RINGING) 964 00:45:40,365 --> 00:45:42,033 HARRY: ...have seen you in the neighborhood, 965 00:45:42,117 --> 00:45:43,743 dealing with prostitutes. 966 00:45:43,827 --> 00:45:46,705 They've told me that if they see you again, 967 00:45:46,788 --> 00:45:48,373 they're gonna call your wife, 968 00:45:48,456 --> 00:45:50,208 they're gonna call your employer 969 00:45:50,291 --> 00:45:52,210 and they're gonna call your neighbor." 970 00:45:53,837 --> 00:45:55,380 People would say, "Oh, prostitution, 971 00:45:55,422 --> 00:45:57,132 that's a victimless crime, isn’t it?" 972 00:45:57,215 --> 00:45:58,758 And we’d point it out that no, 973 00:45:58,842 --> 00:46:01,094 the people living in the neighborhood, 974 00:46:01,177 --> 00:46:03,138 we were actually the victims. 975 00:46:08,935 --> 00:46:10,395 ♪ (TENSE MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 976 00:46:12,313 --> 00:46:14,899 -(CAR HORNS HONKING) -(TRAFFIC HUMMING) 977 00:46:19,529 --> 00:46:21,364 (INDISTINCT CHATTER) 978 00:46:23,074 --> 00:46:24,951 KRISTEN: Elizabeth, you're very protective 979 00:46:25,035 --> 00:46:26,369 of your little sister. 980 00:46:26,453 --> 00:46:27,954 Did you bring her to New York? 981 00:46:28,872 --> 00:46:30,540 I did. You want me to...? 982 00:46:31,249 --> 00:46:33,293 -Yeah. -Um... 983 00:46:33,376 --> 00:46:36,629 my sister was struggling out in California. 984 00:46:36,713 --> 00:46:38,423 One day I called her, 985 00:46:38,506 --> 00:46:40,800 we were talking on the phone and she expressed to me 986 00:46:40,884 --> 00:46:44,846 that she had been on the night news. 987 00:46:44,929 --> 00:46:46,890 -And, uh... -♪ (SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 988 00:46:46,931 --> 00:46:48,516 ...I asked her why and it's because 989 00:46:48,600 --> 00:46:49,601 she was getting ready 990 00:46:49,684 --> 00:46:51,936 to jump off of a freeway overpass. 991 00:46:51,978 --> 00:46:55,357 And no one in the family knew about it. 992 00:46:55,440 --> 00:46:56,775 STEFANIE: There was a lot of things 993 00:46:56,858 --> 00:46:58,109 that I was going through in LA, 994 00:46:58,193 --> 00:47:00,612 I was working on The Stroll in Santa Monica Boulevard. 995 00:47:00,695 --> 00:47:04,032 Um, I had pimps pushing up on me. 996 00:47:04,115 --> 00:47:07,077 I was getting robbed every other night. 997 00:47:07,786 --> 00:47:10,038 I almost got killed by a john 998 00:47:10,121 --> 00:47:12,832 who dragged me for half a block in his car 999 00:47:12,916 --> 00:47:14,376 and almost ran me over. 1000 00:47:16,294 --> 00:47:19,923 So and then also just being new to my transition, 1001 00:47:19,964 --> 00:47:22,967 it was like, I was having a hard time 1002 00:47:23,009 --> 00:47:25,345 with the, um, 1003 00:47:25,428 --> 00:47:27,639 turning of the backs from the family. 1004 00:47:28,723 --> 00:47:29,891 I felt... 1005 00:47:30,475 --> 00:47:32,352 as her older sister, 1006 00:47:32,435 --> 00:47:34,813 a sense of responsibility, and at the same time, 1007 00:47:34,854 --> 00:47:36,022 I felt like... 1008 00:47:37,232 --> 00:47:39,067 I left her there by herself. 1009 00:47:40,276 --> 00:47:41,403 I felt guilty. 1010 00:47:41,486 --> 00:47:42,946 (INDISTINCT CHATTER) 1011 00:47:42,987 --> 00:47:45,865 ELIZABETH: Me, my sister, and my friend Desire 1012 00:47:45,949 --> 00:47:47,784 were returning back from our trip 1013 00:47:47,826 --> 00:47:49,119 to go pick up my sister. 1014 00:47:49,160 --> 00:47:54,082 And when we arrived in New York, at Port Authority... 1015 00:47:54,165 --> 00:47:56,835 the person that I had ran into, I remember they were like, 1016 00:47:56,876 --> 00:47:58,837 "Hey, Elizabeth, how you doing?" And just-- 1017 00:47:58,878 --> 00:48:00,171 The next thing out of their mouth is, 1018 00:48:00,213 --> 00:48:03,425 "Did you hear what happened?" And I said, "What?" 1019 00:48:03,508 --> 00:48:07,220 "Amanda Milan was murdered just a couple of nights ago." 1020 00:48:07,303 --> 00:48:10,140 And this person is explaining it to me, and I could just see 1021 00:48:10,181 --> 00:48:12,517 that look on my sister's face-- (EXHALES) 1022 00:48:16,271 --> 00:48:18,606 KRISTEN: What happened to Amanda Milan... 1023 00:48:20,442 --> 00:48:26,031 was every trans woman's worst nightmare. 1024 00:48:26,114 --> 00:48:28,158 She was at the Port Authority. 1025 00:48:28,199 --> 00:48:32,203 She had gotten into a verbal altercation with some man, 1026 00:48:32,287 --> 00:48:35,999 and he stabbed her in the neck. 1027 00:48:37,250 --> 00:48:39,711 But that wasn't the worst part of it. 1028 00:48:39,753 --> 00:48:40,879 (INDISTINCT CHATTER) 1029 00:48:40,920 --> 00:48:43,089 KRISTEN: The worst part is that all the people 1030 00:48:43,173 --> 00:48:46,468 that were standing out there watching, 1031 00:48:46,551 --> 00:48:50,722 laughing and cheering because she was a trans woman, 1032 00:48:50,805 --> 00:48:52,640 refused to help her... 1033 00:48:53,975 --> 00:48:56,436 and she bled out and died. 1034 00:48:57,562 --> 00:48:59,898 REPORTER: Two people passing this fence on Wednesday 1035 00:48:59,939 --> 00:49:01,900 thought they were looking at a scarecrow. 1036 00:49:01,941 --> 00:49:03,151 When they looked closer, 1037 00:49:03,234 --> 00:49:05,945 they realized it was the savagely beaten body 1038 00:49:06,029 --> 00:49:08,239 of a young man who had been tied to the fence 1039 00:49:08,281 --> 00:49:10,408 and left to die in the cold. 1040 00:49:10,492 --> 00:49:13,328 The victim, 22-year-old Matthew Shepard, 1041 00:49:13,411 --> 00:49:16,081 a student at the University of Wyoming. 1042 00:49:16,164 --> 00:49:19,167 Police say he was attacked because he's gay. 1043 00:49:19,209 --> 00:49:21,252 BILL CLINTON: Sometimes, when terrible tragedies strike us, 1044 00:49:21,336 --> 00:49:23,046 they bring us to our senses in a way 1045 00:49:23,088 --> 00:49:24,631 that would never otherwise be the case. 1046 00:49:24,714 --> 00:49:28,134 And I think the horrible death of Matthew Shepard 1047 00:49:28,218 --> 00:49:30,553 helped to sober the country up. 1048 00:49:30,595 --> 00:49:32,931 This is an amazing turnout. 1049 00:49:33,014 --> 00:49:36,142 (CROWD CHEERS) 1050 00:49:45,151 --> 00:49:47,529 CHRISTY: What happened to Matthew Shepard, I fell for. 1051 00:49:47,570 --> 00:49:48,988 I marched with the people. 1052 00:49:49,072 --> 00:49:50,782 Everybody was right behind him. 1053 00:49:50,865 --> 00:49:53,910 -CROWD: (CHANTING) Shame! Shame! Shame! -Back up. 1054 00:49:53,952 --> 00:49:56,287 PROTESTORS: Protect the streets! 1055 00:49:57,288 --> 00:49:59,124 CHRISTY: You had straight people, 1056 00:49:59,165 --> 00:50:01,126 high school kids, all ready 1057 00:50:01,167 --> 00:50:06,631 and willing to get maced and hit by police officers. 1058 00:50:06,673 --> 00:50:11,052 But Matthew Shepard wasn't even from New York. 1059 00:50:11,136 --> 00:50:13,304 They were just giving him a vigil in New York. 1060 00:50:13,972 --> 00:50:16,391 One of our sisters died. 1061 00:50:16,474 --> 00:50:21,021 Amanda Milan was killed in cold blood in the street. 1062 00:50:21,104 --> 00:50:24,065 Literally in front of cameras and cab drivers, 1063 00:50:24,149 --> 00:50:26,026 witnesses, people walking. 1064 00:50:26,985 --> 00:50:28,778 And when it was time 1065 00:50:28,820 --> 00:50:32,323 to give her the proper send-off 1066 00:50:32,407 --> 00:50:35,952 to make people aware of this tragedy, 1067 00:50:35,994 --> 00:50:37,996 no one wanted to show up. 1068 00:50:38,079 --> 00:50:40,331 Very few. And it was only us. 1069 00:50:40,415 --> 00:50:42,125 It was only the sisters. 1070 00:50:42,167 --> 00:50:46,087 It was only anybody who could understand her story. 1071 00:50:46,129 --> 00:50:47,672 -We were on the front line... -(INDISTINCT CHATTER) 1072 00:50:47,756 --> 00:50:49,341 CHRISTY: ...with the gay and lesbian community, 1073 00:50:49,424 --> 00:50:52,385 marching and fighting for equality. 1074 00:50:52,469 --> 00:50:54,346 We-- We knew we were freaks to them 1075 00:50:54,387 --> 00:50:56,765 because the only time we were recognized 1076 00:50:56,848 --> 00:50:59,684 was when they had events, when they had parties, 1077 00:50:59,726 --> 00:51:04,314 when they needed to make money. Then we were of value. 1078 00:51:04,356 --> 00:51:05,982 But you're not doing anything to help me 1079 00:51:06,024 --> 00:51:08,860 from getting attacked. At the end of the day, 1080 00:51:08,943 --> 00:51:10,278 that's not community. 1081 00:51:11,446 --> 00:51:14,032 SYLVIA: With the Amanda Milan actions, 1082 00:51:14,074 --> 00:51:17,494 when we had the event take place... 1083 00:51:18,203 --> 00:51:19,746 who showed up? 1084 00:51:19,829 --> 00:51:24,709 Two-hundred people. It's a... It's a damn shame. 1085 00:51:24,751 --> 00:51:27,712 It hurts me to see that, 1086 00:51:27,796 --> 00:51:30,840 no matter how hard we organize, 1087 00:51:30,882 --> 00:51:34,386 and we organize, and e-mail and... 1088 00:51:34,469 --> 00:51:38,723 and only 200 people show up. It's a disgrace. 1089 00:51:42,143 --> 00:51:43,937 It could have been me. 1090 00:51:44,020 --> 00:51:45,397 It could have been one of my friends. 1091 00:51:45,438 --> 00:51:47,399 And so that kind of was like, 1092 00:51:47,440 --> 00:51:50,402 we need to start advocating for ourselves. 1093 00:51:51,528 --> 00:51:55,323 I went to that rally and I met up at MCCNY, 1094 00:51:55,407 --> 00:51:56,491 and that was when I met 1095 00:51:56,574 --> 00:51:59,202 the legendary Octavia St. Laurent. 1096 00:51:59,244 --> 00:52:01,830 ♪ ("AMAZING GRACE" BY MAHALIA JACKSON PLAYING) ♪ 1097 00:52:03,415 --> 00:52:05,250 KRISTEN: I remember we started walking. 1098 00:52:05,333 --> 00:52:08,294 We did this whole procession up Eighth Avenue, 1099 00:52:08,378 --> 00:52:13,383 and Octavia singing like she was Shug Avery. 1100 00:52:13,425 --> 00:52:16,428 Then we get to the Port Authority, 1101 00:52:16,511 --> 00:52:19,931 and we all stood where Amanda was killed. 1102 00:52:20,015 --> 00:52:26,938 ♪ ...Grace ♪ 1103 00:52:28,815 --> 00:52:29,983 ♪ How sweet... ♪ 1104 00:52:30,066 --> 00:52:32,193 KRISTEN: Amanda Milan's memorial 1105 00:52:32,277 --> 00:52:34,779 was a turning point for the trans community. 1106 00:52:35,822 --> 00:52:38,450 We began to mobilize and have rallies 1107 00:52:38,491 --> 00:52:40,368 to make people understand 1108 00:52:40,452 --> 00:52:43,204 -that our lives matter. -(CROWD CHEERING) 1109 00:52:43,288 --> 00:52:45,457 I believe in us getting our rights, 1110 00:52:45,540 --> 00:52:48,960 or else I would not be out there fighting for our rights. 1111 00:52:49,044 --> 00:52:53,298 KRISTEN: Amanda Milan's death reinvigorated Sylvia Rivera, 1112 00:52:53,381 --> 00:52:55,925 and brought her out of retirement. 1113 00:52:55,967 --> 00:53:00,513 And that's what made me realize that I can be an activist too. 1114 00:53:00,597 --> 00:53:03,224 And the best way for me to be a part of the movement 1115 00:53:03,308 --> 00:53:05,852 was through storytelling. 1116 00:53:05,935 --> 00:53:09,689 To make people understand the reality of our lives. 1117 00:53:15,278 --> 00:53:18,323 I wanted to archive the movement 1118 00:53:18,365 --> 00:53:21,534 that was building between trans women and sex workers. 1119 00:53:22,994 --> 00:53:24,829 We were gaining visibility, 1120 00:53:24,871 --> 00:53:27,540 but we didn't know that another tragedy would strike... 1121 00:53:29,167 --> 00:53:30,335 one that changed everything. 1122 00:53:30,418 --> 00:53:32,504 ♪ ("AMAZING GRACE" BY MAHALIA JACKSON CONCLUDES) ♪ 1123 00:53:32,545 --> 00:53:36,841 (AMBULANCE SIREN WAILING) 1124 00:53:36,883 --> 00:53:38,718 (CROWD CLAMOR) 1125 00:53:38,802 --> 00:53:41,012 KRISTEN: I was on The Stroll headed to court 1126 00:53:41,096 --> 00:53:42,389 when the first plane hit. 1127 00:53:44,432 --> 00:53:46,351 The thing I remember the most, 1128 00:53:46,434 --> 00:53:48,895 -it just smelled like smoke... -(FIRE CRACKLING) 1129 00:53:48,978 --> 00:53:50,730 KRISTEN: ...and ash and death. 1130 00:53:53,358 --> 00:53:55,527 New York City came to a standstill. 1131 00:53:56,152 --> 00:53:57,612 Everyone was in shock. 1132 00:53:58,780 --> 00:53:59,781 And we didn't know 1133 00:53:59,864 --> 00:54:01,866 how we were gonna continue to survive out there. 1134 00:54:04,536 --> 00:54:07,247 There was a yellow tape that was stretched out 1135 00:54:07,330 --> 00:54:10,375 across 14th Street that I used to cut through. 1136 00:54:12,210 --> 00:54:14,421 (CHUCKLING) The Stroll was unrecognizable, 1137 00:54:14,504 --> 00:54:17,924 there were no dates coming in and out. 1138 00:54:18,008 --> 00:54:21,219 I still sit and wonder how I survived that time 1139 00:54:21,302 --> 00:54:23,888 'cause it lasted for a couple of years. 1140 00:54:25,306 --> 00:54:26,891 When they finally let down the barriers, 1141 00:54:26,933 --> 00:54:29,894 the cars weren't coming as frequently. 1142 00:54:29,936 --> 00:54:31,980 And when the dates started to return, 1143 00:54:32,063 --> 00:54:35,567 the dates weren't as generous as they used to be. 1144 00:54:35,650 --> 00:54:38,111 9/11 made it even more difficult to survive 1145 00:54:38,194 --> 00:54:39,279 because there was nothing. 1146 00:54:39,362 --> 00:54:42,741 There was no resources or anything. 1147 00:54:42,782 --> 00:54:44,993 And for somebody who's homeless on the streets 1148 00:54:45,076 --> 00:54:48,663 and needed to rely on sex work, baby, I was pissed, 1149 00:54:48,747 --> 00:54:52,375 because now our money has been severely cut off. 1150 00:54:52,417 --> 00:54:53,752 ♪ (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 1151 00:54:53,835 --> 00:54:55,295 KRISTEN: We didn't know how long it was gonna be 1152 00:54:55,378 --> 00:54:58,423 for The Stroll to pick back up again. 1153 00:54:58,506 --> 00:54:59,966 NICOLE: That was it for a lot of years, 1154 00:55:00,050 --> 00:55:03,511 maybe two or three years, 'cause it was bad. 1155 00:55:03,595 --> 00:55:06,264 9/11 kind of shut things down, 1156 00:55:06,348 --> 00:55:08,933 and forced things to the Internet, 1157 00:55:09,017 --> 00:55:10,935 because there was no other way. 1158 00:55:11,770 --> 00:55:13,563 (ROCKET HISSING) 1159 00:55:13,605 --> 00:55:15,106 AUTOMATED VOICE: Welcome. 1160 00:55:15,190 --> 00:55:16,399 (DIAL-UP INTERNET TONE) 1161 00:55:16,441 --> 00:55:18,443 KRISTEN: At night, I would be on The Stroll, 1162 00:55:18,526 --> 00:55:21,488 and during the day, I would be in the Internet cafes, 1163 00:55:21,571 --> 00:55:23,114 -every day. -(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS) 1164 00:55:23,198 --> 00:55:25,909 -KRISTEN: And there we began... -(KEYBOARD KEYS CLACKING) 1165 00:55:25,950 --> 00:55:28,912 KRISTEN: ...to make ads and post pictures 1166 00:55:28,953 --> 00:55:32,957 in the chat rooms to solicit clients. 1167 00:55:32,999 --> 00:55:38,630 So, I learned about marketing, promotion and graphic design. 1168 00:55:38,672 --> 00:55:39,964 Back then we had no choice... 1169 00:55:40,006 --> 00:55:41,716 -(MOUSE CLICKS) -KRISTEN: ...but to hustle. 1170 00:55:41,800 --> 00:55:45,387 CEYENNE: It actually kicked in the door for safety. 1171 00:55:45,470 --> 00:55:47,931 I can tell you from my own personal story, 1172 00:55:47,972 --> 00:55:51,810 I was protected by being able to screen a client, 1173 00:55:51,851 --> 00:55:55,313 by being able to pick and choose a client, 1174 00:55:55,355 --> 00:55:56,648 by being able to take 1175 00:55:56,690 --> 00:55:58,983 my street sex work into fetish work, 1176 00:55:59,067 --> 00:56:03,947 so I would not be arrested, and turn it into computer work. 1177 00:56:03,988 --> 00:56:06,408 And I didn't even know how to work a computer, 1178 00:56:06,491 --> 00:56:08,034 child, but I learned it. 1179 00:56:08,118 --> 00:56:11,037 -(KEYBOARD KEYS CLACKING) -NICOLE: There was a lot of learning in that process too. 1180 00:56:11,121 --> 00:56:14,082 The Stroll was kind of like, "Okay, you can go to The Stroll, 1181 00:56:14,165 --> 00:56:16,251 but you can actually now do this from your home 1182 00:56:16,334 --> 00:56:17,836 on the computer." 1183 00:56:17,877 --> 00:56:20,839 The time did change and so did the girls. 1184 00:56:22,340 --> 00:56:24,676 IVY: For about a year it was as if 1185 00:56:24,759 --> 00:56:27,762 the entire city was holding its breath, 1186 00:56:27,846 --> 00:56:32,142 and then all of a sudden everything just geared up. 1187 00:56:32,183 --> 00:56:33,435 (INDISTINCT CHATTER) 1188 00:56:33,476 --> 00:56:35,687 I'm urging people to vote for-- for Mike Bloomberg. 1189 00:56:35,729 --> 00:56:38,606 I think Mike Bloomberg is ideally, uh, qualified 1190 00:56:38,690 --> 00:56:41,192 to run the city at this very, very critical time. 1191 00:56:41,234 --> 00:56:43,486 Uh, Mike's business background, 1192 00:56:43,528 --> 00:56:45,488 the fact that he is a self-made man 1193 00:56:45,530 --> 00:56:49,409 who's, uh, had enormous success in business, 1194 00:56:49,492 --> 00:56:51,494 qualifies him to be mayor of New York City 1195 00:56:51,536 --> 00:56:52,871 at a time in which businesses 1196 00:56:52,954 --> 00:56:54,289 are considering leaving the city. 1197 00:56:54,372 --> 00:56:56,583 CITIZEN: I think Bloomberg is gonna be good for the city 1198 00:56:56,666 --> 00:56:59,210 because Giuliani spoke so highly of him, 1199 00:56:59,294 --> 00:57:00,920 and because Giuliani is so popular, 1200 00:57:01,004 --> 00:57:02,922 he must know who's gonna do a great job. 1201 00:57:03,006 --> 00:57:04,841 After September 11th, we definitely need 1202 00:57:04,883 --> 00:57:06,801 more commerce and more business in New York. 1203 00:57:06,885 --> 00:57:08,386 And I think, as a billionaire, I don't know 1204 00:57:08,470 --> 00:57:09,804 what he's gonna be like as a politician, 1205 00:57:09,888 --> 00:57:13,058 but I think as a businessman, he'll help New York. 1206 00:57:13,099 --> 00:57:15,560 We will rebuild, renew, 1207 00:57:15,643 --> 00:57:18,188 and remain the capital of the free world. 1208 00:57:18,229 --> 00:57:19,356 ♪ (DRAMATIC MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 1209 00:57:19,397 --> 00:57:21,441 What was happening in terms of gentrification 1210 00:57:21,524 --> 00:57:24,235 had been happening for several years, 1211 00:57:24,319 --> 00:57:25,862 but when Bloomberg 1212 00:57:25,904 --> 00:57:28,615 became the mayor, and after 9/11, 1213 00:57:28,698 --> 00:57:33,078 it was as if gentrification went on steroids. 1214 00:57:34,829 --> 00:57:36,039 REPORTER: The Meatpacking District 1215 00:57:36,081 --> 00:57:37,123 isn't what it used to be. 1216 00:57:37,207 --> 00:57:40,585 And to-- for perspective, when Hogs opened in 1992, 1217 00:57:40,627 --> 00:57:43,213 rent was 3,000 dollars a month. 1218 00:57:43,254 --> 00:57:45,256 -Uh, and think about it. -REPORTER: That's incredible. 1219 00:57:45,340 --> 00:57:46,633 I mean, 20 years ago, 1220 00:57:46,716 --> 00:57:49,010 that area was not an area where anyone wanted to live in. 1221 00:57:49,094 --> 00:57:49,969 I wonder what part, 1222 00:57:50,053 --> 00:57:51,429 like, Sex and the City played with that, 1223 00:57:51,513 --> 00:57:53,598 because Samantha moved to Meatpacking District, 1224 00:57:53,640 --> 00:57:54,766 it was still pretty sketchy 1225 00:57:54,808 --> 00:57:56,017 when she moved there, but kind of like-- 1226 00:57:56,101 --> 00:57:57,352 REPORTER: Yeah, the transvestites 1227 00:57:57,435 --> 00:57:58,770 -were on the streets. -ALIX: Exactly! 1228 00:57:58,853 --> 00:58:01,147 REPORTER: Now it's a whole-- totally different neighborhood. 1229 00:58:01,231 --> 00:58:03,608 ♪ (WHIMSICAL MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 1230 00:58:04,734 --> 00:58:07,320 JOHN: It was inevitable that the decline 1231 00:58:07,404 --> 00:58:08,988 of the urban meatpackers came. 1232 00:58:09,072 --> 00:58:11,741 I'm one of the seven remaining meatpackers 1233 00:58:11,783 --> 00:58:13,535 in the Gansevoort Market here. 1234 00:58:13,618 --> 00:58:16,329 There used to be two or 300 meatpackers down here, 1235 00:58:16,413 --> 00:58:19,708 employing at least 1500, 2000 people, 1236 00:58:19,791 --> 00:58:23,461 and now there's just seven of us employing about 125. 1237 00:58:23,545 --> 00:58:26,381 And I will tell you, all those old meat guys 1238 00:58:26,423 --> 00:58:28,133 that were down here that were the big guys 1239 00:58:28,174 --> 00:58:31,344 in the industry and sold so much meat, 1240 00:58:31,428 --> 00:58:33,972 none of them would ever believe 1241 00:58:34,014 --> 00:58:35,807 what happened to this neighborhood. 1242 00:58:48,570 --> 00:58:51,281 IVY: There wasn't a gradual change. 1243 00:58:51,322 --> 00:58:55,660 It was a big change economically 1244 00:58:55,744 --> 00:58:58,163 of who came into the neighborhood. 1245 00:58:58,204 --> 00:58:59,706 It was shocking. 1246 00:59:01,666 --> 00:59:05,587 It was such an extreme jump 1247 00:59:05,670 --> 00:59:09,799 from being this gritty film noir, 1248 00:59:09,841 --> 00:59:12,719 inviting environment where you could 1249 00:59:12,802 --> 00:59:14,929 really do anything, 1250 00:59:15,555 --> 00:59:17,515 to all of a sudden, 1251 00:59:17,599 --> 00:59:20,518 it felt like Madison Avenue was moving in. 1252 00:59:20,602 --> 00:59:23,813 ♪ (MUSIC TURNS PENSIVE) ♪ 1253 00:59:23,855 --> 00:59:26,274 IVY: The whole luxury apartments, 1254 00:59:26,358 --> 00:59:28,651 the whitewashing of everything, 1255 00:59:28,693 --> 00:59:31,696 the kind of erasing of the culture. 1256 00:59:31,738 --> 00:59:34,741 It was a big change. 1257 00:59:37,827 --> 00:59:40,163 It's really disorienting, right, to walk down a street 1258 00:59:40,205 --> 00:59:43,416 you've walked down a hundred thousand times, 1259 00:59:43,500 --> 00:59:48,004 and feel struck by a sudden sense of disorientation, 1260 00:59:48,046 --> 00:59:51,883 of feeling like, "I don't know quite where I am anymore." 1261 00:59:51,925 --> 00:59:53,885 And, "Am I on the right street? 1262 00:59:53,968 --> 00:59:55,720 Am I in the right neighborhood? Is this... 1263 00:59:55,804 --> 01:00:00,892 Is this the same city? Is this the same me?" 1264 01:00:00,975 --> 01:00:05,522 One of the ways memory works is it relies on triggers. 1265 01:00:05,563 --> 01:00:07,857 So, remember when you were there 1266 01:00:07,899 --> 01:00:09,067 and who you were with, 1267 01:00:09,109 --> 01:00:10,568 and then you have a chain of associations, 1268 01:00:10,610 --> 01:00:13,238 but that chain is broken and destroyed 1269 01:00:13,279 --> 01:00:14,864 when that place is gone. 1270 01:00:15,699 --> 01:00:16,950 So, we lose ourselves. 1271 01:00:17,033 --> 01:00:19,411 Then we lose our sense of connection 1272 01:00:19,494 --> 01:00:21,913 and ongoingness when that happens. 1273 01:00:24,708 --> 01:00:26,543 KRISTEN: When Bloomberg became the mayor, 1274 01:00:26,584 --> 01:00:28,962 things started to change fast. 1275 01:00:29,045 --> 01:00:31,006 Those older girls that I was out there 1276 01:00:31,089 --> 01:00:33,925 on the streets talking to were no longer there. 1277 01:00:35,260 --> 01:00:38,847 Bloomberg started a program called Operation Spotlight, 1278 01:00:38,930 --> 01:00:42,100 a "three strikes and you're out" system. 1279 01:00:42,183 --> 01:00:46,187 If you got over three arrests for prostitution, 1280 01:00:46,271 --> 01:00:49,482 then you can be sent away longer than a year. 1281 01:00:49,566 --> 01:00:53,403 Bloomberg was able to clean up the Meatpacking District 1282 01:00:53,445 --> 01:00:55,071 by sending the girls to jail. 1283 01:00:56,948 --> 01:00:59,743 I spent a lot of my 20s on Rikers Island, 1284 01:00:59,784 --> 01:01:02,579 New York City's largest jail. 1285 01:01:02,620 --> 01:01:05,331 It's a horrible and disgusting place. 1286 01:01:05,415 --> 01:01:08,293 People are just piled up on one another. 1287 01:01:08,335 --> 01:01:11,796 You have people telling you when to shower, when to eat, 1288 01:01:11,838 --> 01:01:13,131 and when to go to bed. 1289 01:01:14,424 --> 01:01:17,010 You don't have rights. 1290 01:01:17,093 --> 01:01:20,013 CAREY: Going to Rikers, honey, was a whole 'nother ball game, 1291 01:01:20,096 --> 01:01:23,058 'cause as soon as you go into the six building, 1292 01:01:23,141 --> 01:01:25,602 back then, I'm not going to lie, like, 1293 01:01:25,643 --> 01:01:28,646 it would be a lot of hate speech. 1294 01:01:28,730 --> 01:01:31,191 As soon as they bring us off the... the bus, 1295 01:01:31,274 --> 01:01:34,444 and we're in our little tight skirts and our heels. 1296 01:01:34,486 --> 01:01:38,782 "Oh, look at these fuckin' faggots," da da da da... 1297 01:01:38,823 --> 01:01:40,241 Come up, put your hands up here... 1298 01:01:40,325 --> 01:01:42,494 -(INDISTINCT CHATTER) -Let me see that ring. 1299 01:01:42,577 --> 01:01:44,329 -Is that a wedding ring? -Yes, it is. 1300 01:01:44,371 --> 01:01:46,623 All right, leave it on. You're good. Put your hands up. 1301 01:01:46,664 --> 01:01:48,750 (CHAINS RATTLING) 1302 01:01:48,833 --> 01:01:50,126 PRISONER: All that is ass and tits. 1303 01:01:50,168 --> 01:01:51,586 Don't worry about it, man, go over there, 1304 01:01:51,670 --> 01:01:52,837 go over there, ass and tits, all right. 1305 01:01:52,921 --> 01:01:55,757 (INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER) 1306 01:01:55,840 --> 01:01:57,425 INTERVIEWER: How did you do that to yourself? 1307 01:01:57,509 --> 01:01:58,635 Implants, Daddy. 1308 01:01:58,677 --> 01:02:00,470 -INTERVIEWER: Really? -Yes. 1309 01:02:00,512 --> 01:02:01,763 INTERVIEWER: When did you do that? 1310 01:02:01,846 --> 01:02:03,556 About three years ago. 1311 01:02:03,640 --> 01:02:04,849 INTERVIEWER: So when they house you, 1312 01:02:04,933 --> 01:02:06,101 they house you with all the other men? 1313 01:02:06,184 --> 01:02:09,187 -Yeah. -♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 1314 01:02:09,270 --> 01:02:11,481 POLICE OFFICER: Gay housing, quarter mile down 1315 01:02:11,523 --> 01:02:13,441 the corridor of building five. 1316 01:02:13,525 --> 01:02:15,527 You have to sign papers. 1317 01:02:15,610 --> 01:02:18,780 When you go into Rikers Island in the receiving room, 1318 01:02:18,863 --> 01:02:20,657 you can request to be placed 1319 01:02:20,699 --> 01:02:22,534 in alternative lifestyle housing. 1320 01:02:22,617 --> 01:02:25,954 And that was the place where all your girlfriends would be. 1321 01:02:26,037 --> 01:02:28,873 All the queens would be there, everybody you knew was always 1322 01:02:28,915 --> 01:02:31,001 in gay housing. 1323 01:02:31,710 --> 01:02:33,712 They separated the queens 1324 01:02:33,795 --> 01:02:36,506 and the gay boys from the population. 1325 01:02:36,548 --> 01:02:37,757 My name is Shante 1326 01:02:37,841 --> 01:02:40,802 and this is my little... my little home 1327 01:02:40,885 --> 01:02:43,221 for my little short stay while I'm here. 1328 01:02:43,263 --> 01:02:45,849 You know, my family takes care of me. 1329 01:02:45,932 --> 01:02:49,686 They... They don't knock me about my sexual preference. 1330 01:02:49,728 --> 01:02:51,604 Um, I have something 1331 01:02:51,688 --> 01:02:53,481 I would like, uh, for you to see. 1332 01:02:54,441 --> 01:02:56,651 A little bit of how I dress on the streets. 1333 01:02:56,735 --> 01:02:58,820 This is my everyday effect. 1334 01:02:58,903 --> 01:03:00,572 You know, that's how I like to dress. 1335 01:03:00,613 --> 01:03:02,323 That's me and my male friend. 1336 01:03:03,241 --> 01:03:05,535 This is how I dress on the street. 1337 01:03:05,577 --> 01:03:07,328 On the street, I dress as a woman. 1338 01:03:07,412 --> 01:03:09,748 This is where I hang my jackets at. 1339 01:03:09,831 --> 01:03:12,042 My suede, my silk. 1340 01:03:12,459 --> 01:03:13,835 Gap, of course. 1341 01:03:14,461 --> 01:03:15,920 Have a nice day. 1342 01:03:15,962 --> 01:03:18,840 KRISTEN: I think I've been to Rikers about 30 times, 1343 01:03:18,923 --> 01:03:20,842 the longest time was eight months. 1344 01:03:21,676 --> 01:03:23,428 If you keep accruing charges, 1345 01:03:23,511 --> 01:03:27,057 you can be sent away longer upstate to prison. 1346 01:03:28,266 --> 01:03:31,770 What led to my incarceration? Selling drugs. 1347 01:03:31,811 --> 01:03:34,064 I sold everything from cash, ass to grass. 1348 01:03:34,105 --> 01:03:36,066 If I could sell it, I sold it. 1349 01:03:36,107 --> 01:03:37,692 Right. After a while, 1350 01:03:37,734 --> 01:03:40,445 you get tired of being face down, ass up. 1351 01:03:40,528 --> 01:03:43,281 After a while, you get tired of hanging from the chandelier, 1352 01:03:43,323 --> 01:03:45,200 dropping down and getting your eagle on. 1353 01:03:46,117 --> 01:03:48,745 I had made a sale to an undercover, 1354 01:03:48,787 --> 01:03:51,915 and that's how I ended up going to prison. 1355 01:03:51,956 --> 01:03:56,419 You're up in the mountains, away from your city 1356 01:03:56,503 --> 01:03:58,546 where all you see is redneck. 1357 01:03:58,630 --> 01:04:02,967 All you see is chewing tobacco and them calling you nigger. 1358 01:04:03,009 --> 01:04:05,387 And ain't a damn thing you can say about it. 1359 01:04:07,806 --> 01:04:09,015 I was young. 1360 01:04:10,392 --> 01:04:11,351 I was afraid. 1361 01:04:12,852 --> 01:04:14,270 I was gonna be raped. 1362 01:04:15,188 --> 01:04:17,273 And I turned into a monster. 1363 01:04:17,357 --> 01:04:19,150 (INDISTINCT CHATTER) 1364 01:04:19,234 --> 01:04:22,362 TABYTHA: How it is to survive as a trans woman in jail, 1365 01:04:22,445 --> 01:04:26,032 it's a sub world within the world. 1366 01:04:26,116 --> 01:04:30,370 It's like a microcosmic world of oppression. 1367 01:04:30,453 --> 01:04:35,083 I realized that people didn't respect peace. 1368 01:04:35,166 --> 01:04:37,127 They respected violence. 1369 01:04:37,168 --> 01:04:40,046 So I became a very violent person in jail. 1370 01:04:40,130 --> 01:04:41,506 And I was ready to fight 1371 01:04:41,548 --> 01:04:43,800 and stab anything that came near me. 1372 01:04:43,842 --> 01:04:45,510 (INDISTINCT CHATTER) 1373 01:04:46,386 --> 01:04:47,262 When you cut someone 1374 01:04:47,345 --> 01:04:48,972 or you stab someone in jail, that's a case. 1375 01:04:49,014 --> 01:04:50,223 They add that on to your time, 1376 01:04:50,306 --> 01:04:52,350 and that's why you keep getting more time. 1377 01:04:52,434 --> 01:04:54,853 My original sentence was five to seven. 1378 01:04:54,894 --> 01:04:58,023 So, imagine five flat to seven flat. 1379 01:04:58,648 --> 01:04:59,607 I did 14. 1380 01:05:04,612 --> 01:05:06,197 (INDISTINCT CHATTER) 1381 01:05:07,073 --> 01:05:08,908 TABYTHA: Well after 14 years in prison, 1382 01:05:08,992 --> 01:05:11,202 I was released in 2012. 1383 01:05:12,037 --> 01:05:13,538 They just give you a bus ticket, 1384 01:05:13,580 --> 01:05:15,707 and whatever you have in your commissary, 1385 01:05:15,749 --> 01:05:17,542 and you're on your own. 1386 01:05:17,584 --> 01:05:20,295 I knew to go back, like, you know where to go. 1387 01:05:21,671 --> 01:05:23,381 So, I'm getting onto this bus 1388 01:05:23,465 --> 01:05:26,468 and I started seeing all these pretty stores. 1389 01:05:26,509 --> 01:05:28,011 It was very hard for me 1390 01:05:28,053 --> 01:05:30,638 to understand what was going on around me. 1391 01:05:31,556 --> 01:05:33,933 The community is not there. 1392 01:05:34,017 --> 01:05:36,144 Vanessa was one of the girls who I hung out with. 1393 01:05:36,227 --> 01:05:38,188 I was like, "Yo, you heard such and such?" 1394 01:05:38,229 --> 01:05:41,024 "Uh-uh, baby, she dead." "What?" 1395 01:05:41,066 --> 01:05:43,109 "Oh, no, she gone." "What?" 1396 01:05:44,486 --> 01:05:46,071 Josie? Dead. 1397 01:05:48,865 --> 01:05:50,325 Nunie? Dead. 1398 01:05:51,951 --> 01:05:53,495 Vanessa? Dead. 1399 01:05:54,662 --> 01:05:56,247 Melissa? Dead. 1400 01:05:58,124 --> 01:05:59,584 These people are gone now. 1401 01:06:02,253 --> 01:06:05,548 Now, they got all these fancy shoe stores down there. 1402 01:06:05,590 --> 01:06:09,552 And what is it, the High Line? The only "high line" we had 1403 01:06:09,594 --> 01:06:12,263 was a crack pipe on the pier next to the water. 1404 01:06:12,347 --> 01:06:14,224 -That's the only thrill you got. -(BIRDS CHIRPING) 1405 01:06:15,975 --> 01:06:17,185 TABYTHA: The world was digital. 1406 01:06:17,268 --> 01:06:18,770 -What the hell is an iPhone? -(PHONE CAMERA CLICKING) 1407 01:06:18,853 --> 01:06:22,107 TABYTHA: When I went to jail, we had the beepers. 1408 01:06:22,190 --> 01:06:26,444 It was still some of the same but the money had changed. 1409 01:06:26,486 --> 01:06:30,115 The price of pussy went down. I ain't got time for that. 1410 01:06:30,156 --> 01:06:32,701 So I knew I couldn't survive like that. 1411 01:06:35,245 --> 01:06:38,331 Before I just decided to, like, I can't do this anymore. 1412 01:06:39,124 --> 01:06:41,918 I couldn't. I'm almost 50. 1413 01:06:41,960 --> 01:06:43,795 So, it took a lot for me to walk away 1414 01:06:43,837 --> 01:06:44,921 from the thing that-- 1415 01:06:44,963 --> 01:06:47,090 the very thing that saved my life. 1416 01:06:49,926 --> 01:06:51,594 The Stroll was over. 1417 01:06:51,636 --> 01:06:53,221 (FOOTSTEPS RECEDING) 1418 01:06:57,976 --> 01:07:00,478 -(RAIN PATTERING) -(TRAFFIC RUMBLING) 1419 01:07:10,488 --> 01:07:13,908 KRISTEN: This rain, to me, kind of represents 1420 01:07:13,992 --> 01:07:17,787 all of the tears of the girls who didn't make it to see today. 1421 01:07:20,415 --> 01:07:21,916 I like to think that they're 1422 01:07:22,000 --> 01:07:24,669 giving me their blessings from above. 1423 01:07:26,463 --> 01:07:27,756 I think about... 1424 01:07:29,049 --> 01:07:33,553 all of the girls that used to sleep up here. 1425 01:07:33,636 --> 01:07:37,849 Back in the day, this whole row was encampments. 1426 01:07:37,891 --> 01:07:40,518 -(INDISTINCT CHATTER) -KRISTEN: Girls living in cardboard boxes. 1427 01:07:42,729 --> 01:07:44,314 And I just can't believe 1428 01:07:44,356 --> 01:07:47,108 how many times I had to go to jail... (CHUCKLES) 1429 01:07:47,192 --> 01:07:49,235 ...for this High Line park to be built. 1430 01:07:50,070 --> 01:07:53,198 (INDISTINCT CHATTER) 1431 01:07:58,661 --> 01:08:01,122 IZZI: Do you remember when we used to walk down here, 1432 01:08:01,206 --> 01:08:03,875 and all the neighbors used to stare at us, 1433 01:08:03,958 --> 01:08:05,085 -and we used to be... -Mm-hmm. 1434 01:08:05,168 --> 01:08:07,504 -And we would just be pumping. -...runway. 1435 01:08:07,545 --> 01:08:10,924 -And they would look at us like we were circus freaks... -Pumping. 1436 01:08:11,007 --> 01:08:13,510 ...but you could tell they enjoyed it. 1437 01:08:14,469 --> 01:08:16,888 I remember the girls would be on this corner, 1438 01:08:16,970 --> 01:08:18,973 lined up against this wall. 1439 01:08:19,057 --> 01:08:22,143 Right. I would be standing right here. 1440 01:08:22,227 --> 01:08:24,354 -Just perched like... -Perched. 1441 01:08:24,938 --> 01:08:26,356 Looking for a date. 1442 01:08:27,732 --> 01:08:30,734 Sometimes, we used to just go up to the cars. 1443 01:08:30,819 --> 01:08:33,238 -KRISTEN: Yes. -Look, Kristen. 1444 01:08:33,279 --> 01:08:36,908 Yes. Let me call a date. Or give him the very... 1445 01:08:39,368 --> 01:08:42,330 I could just imagine Josie as she was, 1446 01:08:42,413 --> 01:08:47,961 -you know, out in a scandal-- -IZZI: And walking up to the cars like nothing. 1447 01:08:48,044 --> 01:08:50,130 She would come down the street 1448 01:08:50,212 --> 01:08:52,465 and she would have all this body. 1449 01:08:52,549 --> 01:08:53,800 -Right. -She would be in like-- you know, 1450 01:08:53,883 --> 01:08:57,595 her ass out up to here, like, "How you doing, baby?" 1451 01:08:57,636 --> 01:08:59,596 -(CHUCKLING) -IZZI: And she would come back 1452 01:08:59,680 --> 01:09:03,225 with a bag of money. 1453 01:09:03,268 --> 01:09:04,602 -Josie was... -(KRISTEN CHUCKLING) 1454 01:09:04,644 --> 01:09:08,273 IZZI: ...the true meaning of a trans woman sex worker. 1455 01:09:08,314 --> 01:09:11,568 She would show everybody how it's done. 1456 01:09:11,609 --> 01:09:14,279 What do you think she would think about today though, like? 1457 01:09:14,319 --> 01:09:17,240 I think, today, Josie would still be here 1458 01:09:17,282 --> 01:09:18,825 right now, making her money. 1459 01:09:20,160 --> 01:09:21,703 KRISTEN: She was out here a very long time, 1460 01:09:21,786 --> 01:09:24,372 I think longer than any of us has been out here. 1461 01:09:24,456 --> 01:09:28,501 And I could only imagine being 12, 13 years old, 1462 01:09:28,585 --> 01:09:30,795 having to come out into the streets 1463 01:09:30,837 --> 01:09:32,921 because your family don't accept you 1464 01:09:32,964 --> 01:09:36,509 to have to sex work to survive. 1465 01:09:39,179 --> 01:09:40,555 I can't stop thinking about, 1466 01:09:40,638 --> 01:09:43,099 like, I see all these people walking around, 1467 01:09:43,140 --> 01:09:45,393 and it reminds me of the people 1468 01:09:45,477 --> 01:09:47,687 that were standing in their place back in our day 1469 01:09:47,770 --> 01:09:48,813 that are no longer here. 1470 01:09:50,023 --> 01:09:51,941 A lot of people lost their lives... 1471 01:09:53,484 --> 01:09:55,528 trying to survive here on this corner. 1472 01:09:58,823 --> 01:10:02,160 Today, we’re at this point of liberation and visibility 1473 01:10:02,243 --> 01:10:04,829 and everybody's got talking about trans issues. 1474 01:10:04,871 --> 01:10:06,164 And act like 1475 01:10:06,247 --> 01:10:07,957 -it's something new. -Hold on, I can't. 1476 01:10:08,833 --> 01:10:11,169 I can’t. (SOBBING) 1477 01:10:11,211 --> 01:10:12,295 (INDISTINCT CRYING) 1478 01:10:12,337 --> 01:10:14,339 Oh, my God. I can't... (SOBS) 1479 01:10:15,840 --> 01:10:16,841 (SOBS) 1480 01:10:20,345 --> 01:10:22,806 ...then I come here and I feel fucked up. 1481 01:10:24,557 --> 01:10:27,352 I can't even believe it. It's like, 1482 01:10:27,394 --> 01:10:30,814 the things we had to do. I hate this place. 1483 01:10:31,481 --> 01:10:33,566 I fucking hate this place. 1484 01:10:35,193 --> 01:10:36,986 -(CRIES) -KRISTEN: Let's go. 1485 01:10:39,072 --> 01:10:40,990 -Come on, let's go home. -♪ (SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 1486 01:10:41,032 --> 01:10:42,701 (TRAFFIC RUMBLING) 1487 01:10:47,872 --> 01:10:48,915 (IZZI SOBBING) 1488 01:10:59,551 --> 01:11:02,345 EGYPTT: From back then, from the '80s... 1489 01:11:03,430 --> 01:11:06,307 let's say there was a thousand girls. 1490 01:11:06,391 --> 01:11:10,061 Today, living from that era, it may be five. 1491 01:11:10,145 --> 01:11:11,187 Oh, my God. 1492 01:11:11,229 --> 01:11:14,524 It might be five of us left from then 1493 01:11:14,566 --> 01:11:17,694 that was out on The Stroll because everybody's gone. 1494 01:11:17,777 --> 01:11:19,029 Trans women don't... 1495 01:11:20,613 --> 01:11:24,492 get to live past 35 or 40. 1496 01:11:24,576 --> 01:11:28,079 So, if you were here and you made it... 1497 01:11:28,121 --> 01:11:30,957 to live that beyond, you are tremendously blessed, 1498 01:11:31,041 --> 01:11:37,839 and you have changed the dynamics of the system. 1499 01:11:37,922 --> 01:11:42,469 And you must. You must. Even in your depression. 1500 01:11:42,552 --> 01:11:45,722 You owe it to every trans woman before you, 1501 01:11:45,764 --> 01:11:49,934 and everyone after you, to keep moving and keep pushing. 1502 01:11:51,978 --> 01:11:56,524 The trans community has always been in survival mode forever, 1503 01:11:56,608 --> 01:11:58,276 and it is important 1504 01:11:58,318 --> 01:12:01,738 that we all get an opportunity to... 1505 01:12:02,822 --> 01:12:04,616 thrive. 1506 01:12:04,657 --> 01:12:07,619 I believe that the gay rights movement 1507 01:12:07,660 --> 01:12:11,539 has consistently left us behind, 1508 01:12:11,623 --> 01:12:15,293 and it took trans people and sex workers 1509 01:12:15,377 --> 01:12:17,712 to start our own fight. 1510 01:12:17,796 --> 01:12:21,591 CECILIA: As a sex worker, as a person who live 1511 01:12:21,633 --> 01:12:22,967 -(READS PROMPT) -(CROWD CHEERING) 1512 01:12:23,051 --> 01:12:28,932 ...for 30 years, exchanging sex for anything that I needed, 1513 01:12:28,973 --> 01:12:30,600 I want to remind you all 1514 01:12:30,642 --> 01:12:33,436 that we cannot forget sex workers. 1515 01:12:33,478 --> 01:12:35,438 (CROWD APPLAUDING, CHEERING) 1516 01:12:35,480 --> 01:12:38,149 We've been gatekeeped from the smallest windows 1517 01:12:38,191 --> 01:12:39,901 in society to the highest. 1518 01:12:39,984 --> 01:12:43,154 Black trans women are now in the fight 1519 01:12:43,238 --> 01:12:44,656 and we won't go away. 1520 01:12:44,698 --> 01:12:47,450 CROWD: (CHANTING) Black trans lives matter! 1521 01:12:47,492 --> 01:12:49,119 Black trans lives matter! 1522 01:12:49,160 --> 01:12:51,287 Across the country, where we're seeing an escalation 1523 01:12:51,329 --> 01:12:53,540 of policing, an escalation of laws 1524 01:12:53,623 --> 01:12:55,291 targeting trans people. 1525 01:12:55,333 --> 01:12:56,501 -Many places... -(POLICE SIREN WAILING) 1526 01:12:56,584 --> 01:12:58,003 CHASE: ...have some criminal law 1527 01:12:58,044 --> 01:13:01,589 that is about indicating that one is a sex worker. 1528 01:13:01,673 --> 01:13:04,384 And these are, broadly speaking, 1529 01:13:04,467 --> 01:13:06,845 the laws, uh, in New York and around the country 1530 01:13:06,886 --> 01:13:10,015 that have been referred to as the "Walking While Trans" laws. 1531 01:13:10,098 --> 01:13:12,726 What these laws essentially make a crime 1532 01:13:12,809 --> 01:13:17,856 is looking like you're going to engage in sex work. 1533 01:13:17,897 --> 01:13:21,026 Things like talking to people in cars, 1534 01:13:21,067 --> 01:13:22,569 walking down the street, 1535 01:13:23,194 --> 01:13:24,988 congregating with others. 1536 01:13:25,030 --> 01:13:30,785 Very unclear, vague, overbroad set of laws 1537 01:13:30,869 --> 01:13:33,663 that for decades have been used just to target 1538 01:13:33,705 --> 01:13:36,541 and harass largely trans women of color. 1539 01:13:37,792 --> 01:13:40,045 CROWD: (CHANTING) Trans rights are human rights! 1540 01:13:40,128 --> 01:13:41,838 CECILIA: I believe that change 1541 01:13:41,880 --> 01:13:46,009 is often reflected in legislation. 1542 01:13:46,092 --> 01:13:48,386 CROWD: Black trans lives matter! 1543 01:13:48,470 --> 01:13:51,056 ♪ (NEWS INTRO MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 1544 01:13:51,097 --> 01:13:53,725 Welcome back to Capital Tonight. I'm Susan Arbetter. 1545 01:13:53,767 --> 01:13:55,977 Advocates are calling for the repeal of a bill 1546 01:13:56,061 --> 01:13:59,105 that's been used to arrest transgender women of color. 1547 01:13:59,189 --> 01:14:02,776 TS Candii, a Black trans woman, who on a summer afternoon 1548 01:14:02,859 --> 01:14:05,528 in 2017 was smoking outside her apartment 1549 01:14:05,570 --> 01:14:07,280 when a police officer approached her. 1550 01:14:07,364 --> 01:14:11,826 He threatened to arrest her under this very section 240.37, 1551 01:14:11,910 --> 01:14:14,037 unless she performed oral sex on him. 1552 01:14:15,538 --> 01:14:18,667 Bring the bill to vote now! 1553 01:14:18,750 --> 01:14:21,586 ALL: Bring the bill to vote now! 1554 01:14:21,628 --> 01:14:23,296 -TS CANDII: We are ready... -CROWD: We are ready... 1555 01:14:23,380 --> 01:14:25,173 -TS CANDII: ...to repeal... -CROWD: ...to repeal... 1556 01:14:25,256 --> 01:14:27,050 -TS CANDII: ...the Walking... -CROWD: ...the Walking... 1557 01:14:27,092 --> 01:14:28,927 -TS CANDII: ...While Trans.... -CROWD: ...While Trans.... 1558 01:14:28,968 --> 01:14:30,178 -TS CANDII: ...ban. -CROWD: ...ban. 1559 01:14:30,261 --> 01:14:32,138 REPORTER: New tonight, Governor Cuomo has signed 1560 01:14:32,222 --> 01:14:34,265 a measure repealing parts of the so-called, 1561 01:14:34,349 --> 01:14:36,935 "Walking While Trans" law. 1562 01:14:37,018 --> 01:14:40,188 It was passed in the '70s to prohibit loitering 1563 01:14:40,271 --> 01:14:41,981 for the purpose of prostitution. 1564 01:14:42,065 --> 01:14:45,151 BAILIFF: An act to repeal Section 240.37 of the penal law, 1565 01:14:45,235 --> 01:14:48,697 -ayes forty five, May 16. -SPEAKER: The bill is passed. 1566 01:14:48,780 --> 01:14:50,824 The most important part of all of this 1567 01:14:50,907 --> 01:14:54,577 is like people like me and people like everybody here 1568 01:14:54,619 --> 01:14:57,414 that identify as trans are gonna be able 1569 01:14:57,455 --> 01:14:59,541 to see themselves reflected 1570 01:14:59,624 --> 01:15:02,669 in this important point of the city, 1571 01:15:02,752 --> 01:15:07,674 and say, "Me as a trans person, I see myself reflected. 1572 01:15:07,757 --> 01:15:12,137 Me as a person of color, I see myself reflected. 1573 01:15:12,178 --> 01:15:17,267 Me as a former sex worker, I see myself reflected." 1574 01:15:17,308 --> 01:15:19,477 (CROWD APPLAUDS) 1575 01:15:19,561 --> 01:15:23,398 Today, sex workers are finding a way 1576 01:15:23,481 --> 01:15:25,316 to express their needs, 1577 01:15:25,358 --> 01:15:29,529 and to ask for the solutions that they need for themselves. 1578 01:15:29,612 --> 01:15:31,698 ♪ (HOPEFUL MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 1579 01:15:34,367 --> 01:15:37,662 CEYENNE: I didn't want to work for another agency 1580 01:15:37,704 --> 01:15:39,080 that was gonna govern my work, 1581 01:15:39,164 --> 01:15:43,126 or my thoughts, or my dreams, or my wishes for my community. 1582 01:15:43,168 --> 01:15:46,838 I wanted to do that and have ownership of my own. 1583 01:15:46,921 --> 01:15:50,216 You took part in a very iconic moment 1584 01:15:50,300 --> 01:15:52,344 at the Brooklyn March. 1585 01:15:52,427 --> 01:15:54,596 CEYENNE: We had started a fundraiser 1586 01:15:54,679 --> 01:15:58,016 exactly three days before the liberation march. 1587 01:15:58,099 --> 01:16:04,189 In three days’ time, the numbers blew my face off. 1588 01:16:04,272 --> 01:16:06,441 CROWD: Black trans lives matter! 1589 01:16:06,524 --> 01:16:08,526 SPEAKER OVER PA: Black trans lives matter! 1590 01:16:08,610 --> 01:16:10,904 CROWD: Black trans lives matter! 1591 01:16:10,987 --> 01:16:12,989 -(INDISTINCT CHATTER) -(CROWD CHEERING) 1592 01:16:20,747 --> 01:16:23,625 -We're whores! -(CROWD CHEERING) 1593 01:16:28,546 --> 01:16:31,174 I am the founder of GLITS Inc., 1594 01:16:31,216 --> 01:16:35,553 that's "Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society." 1595 01:16:35,637 --> 01:16:39,057 (CROWD CHEERING) 1596 01:16:39,099 --> 01:16:40,725 I named it that 1597 01:16:40,767 --> 01:16:43,186 because we have always been last. 1598 01:16:44,562 --> 01:16:47,232 That's not gonna happen anymore, we're first. 1599 01:16:47,774 --> 01:16:51,986 (READS PROMPT) 1600 01:16:52,070 --> 01:16:53,988 (CROWD CHEERING) 1601 01:16:57,826 --> 01:17:01,913 We have never had equity in the city of New York. 1602 01:17:01,996 --> 01:17:04,958 -Motherfuckers, we do now. -(CROWD CHEERING) 1603 01:17:05,625 --> 01:17:10,088 (READS PROMPT) 1604 01:17:20,682 --> 01:17:23,768 -(CROWD APPLAUDING, CHEERING) -(SOBS) 1605 01:17:34,863 --> 01:17:36,239 We made it here. 1606 01:17:40,452 --> 01:17:42,996 CEYENNE: We're buying equity. 1607 01:17:44,789 --> 01:17:49,044 -(READS PROMPT) -(CROWD CHEERING) 1608 01:17:51,087 --> 01:17:54,132 (SOBS) 1609 01:17:54,174 --> 01:17:55,967 (CROWD CHEERING) 1610 01:18:01,639 --> 01:18:04,142 For every girl that's died, 1611 01:18:04,184 --> 01:18:07,312 the police need to be ashamed of themselves. 1612 01:18:07,395 --> 01:18:10,774 For every time we had to bury one of ours, 1613 01:18:10,815 --> 01:18:13,485 they need to be ashamed of themselves. 1614 01:18:13,568 --> 01:18:19,657 You're looking at a Black, international whore, baby. 1615 01:18:19,699 --> 01:18:22,827 -It's me. -(CROWD CHEERING, APPLAUDING) 1616 01:18:24,371 --> 01:18:28,333 And I'm selling me to save you. 1617 01:18:28,375 --> 01:18:32,087 ♪ (“I AM HER” BY SHEA DIAMOND PLAYING) ♪ 1618 01:18:36,132 --> 01:18:39,052 ♪ There’s an outcast In everybody’s life ♪ 1619 01:18:39,135 --> 01:18:43,515 -♪ And I am her ♪ -♪ I am her ♪ 1620 01:18:43,556 --> 01:18:46,351 ♪ There’s a shadow In everybody’s front door ♪ 1621 01:18:46,393 --> 01:18:49,646 -♪ And I am her ♪ -♪ I am her... ♪ 1622 01:18:49,729 --> 01:18:51,773 KRISTEN: As a young, homeless trans woman 1623 01:18:51,856 --> 01:18:54,359 sleeping in movie theatres, I never thought 1624 01:18:54,442 --> 01:18:58,113 I would have the power and ability to make films. 1625 01:18:58,196 --> 01:19:01,199 I am so proud that the girls are happy, 1626 01:19:01,282 --> 01:19:04,160 and I wanted to give them the opportunity to shine. 1627 01:19:04,911 --> 01:19:09,040 ♪ All that glitters isn't gold ♪ 1628 01:19:09,082 --> 01:19:13,128 ♪ At least that's What I've been told... ♪ 1629 01:19:13,211 --> 01:19:16,131 The system never gave us resources. 1630 01:19:16,214 --> 01:19:19,217 We created the resources by telling our stories, 1631 01:19:19,259 --> 01:19:21,511 by standing out there and rallying. 1632 01:19:21,553 --> 01:19:24,180 I am my own liberation. 1633 01:19:24,222 --> 01:19:26,057 ♪ It wouldn't be The worst thing ♪ 1634 01:19:26,099 --> 01:19:27,434 ♪ That I ever did ♪ 1635 01:19:27,517 --> 01:19:31,730 ♪ It's a hell of a world That we're living in ♪ 1636 01:19:31,813 --> 01:19:34,899 ♪ James 2:10 A sin is a sin... ♪ 1637 01:19:34,941 --> 01:19:37,235 NICOLE: When people say that there's no honor 1638 01:19:37,318 --> 01:19:40,071 amongst hoes, they told a fucking lie, 1639 01:19:40,155 --> 01:19:42,574 because for The Stroll for us back then, 1640 01:19:42,657 --> 01:19:44,242 there was nothing but honor, 1641 01:19:44,325 --> 01:19:45,660 and protect a girl 1642 01:19:45,702 --> 01:19:47,912 who was walking down that back street. 1643 01:19:47,954 --> 01:19:50,915 ♪ There's an outcast In everybody's life ♪ 1644 01:19:50,957 --> 01:19:55,170 -♪ And I am her ♪ -♪ I am her... ♪ 1645 01:19:55,253 --> 01:19:56,838 CAREY: A lot of these new girls, 1646 01:19:56,921 --> 01:20:00,133 they don't know about what we have done for them. 1647 01:20:00,216 --> 01:20:04,262 We paved the way. We fought to be where we are. 1648 01:20:04,346 --> 01:20:07,682 No matter how much my future changes, 1649 01:20:07,724 --> 01:20:10,435 14th Street will always be a part of me. 1650 01:20:10,518 --> 01:20:16,524 ♪ Oh, you know I am her ♪ 1651 01:20:17,567 --> 01:20:22,155 ♪ I am shame, she is me We get down... ♪ 1652 01:20:22,238 --> 01:20:25,658 EGYPTT: To live 20 years on a ho stroll, 1653 01:20:25,742 --> 01:20:28,536 being homeless, being on drugs, 1654 01:20:28,620 --> 01:20:31,915 doing what I had to do, and I survived all of it, 1655 01:20:31,956 --> 01:20:34,417 I feel that I am that Wonder Woman. 1656 01:20:34,459 --> 01:20:38,838 And I am here today at the age of 60. 1657 01:20:39,881 --> 01:20:43,051 ♪ There's an outcast In everybody's life ♪ 1658 01:20:43,134 --> 01:20:47,013 -♪ And I am her ♪ -♪ I am her... ♪ 1659 01:20:47,097 --> 01:20:50,725 KRISTEN: After 20 years, we're still connected. 1660 01:20:50,809 --> 01:20:53,603 We always look out for one another. 1661 01:20:55,313 --> 01:20:57,607 Through all of our shared experiences, 1662 01:20:57,649 --> 01:20:59,859 our sisterhood still thrives. 1663 01:20:59,943 --> 01:21:02,362 ♪ And I am her... ♪ 1664 01:21:02,445 --> 01:21:05,949 KRISTEN: You can take the girl off of The Stroll, 1665 01:21:05,990 --> 01:21:08,660 but you can't take The Stroll out of the girl. 1666 01:21:15,583 --> 01:21:19,295 ♪ (“I AM HER” BY SHEA DIAMOND CONCLUDES) ♪ 1667 01:21:22,632 --> 01:21:25,552 ♪ (UPLIFTING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ 1668 01:24:52,967 --> 01:24:55,845 ♪ (UPLIFTING MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪