Another serious problem for trans sex workers from lower social classes, resulting from the demands of many German clients for unprotected sex is that these unsafe practices make prevention of HIV and STIs almost impossible. When we are visible in public we get attacked in Germany on a regular basis. People on the street yell at us, call us “son of a whore”, “faggot”, or a “fucked up tranny”. They throw bottles at us and GERMANY Another serious problem is the fact that homeless shelters are often not accessible for trans street sex workers, as their opening hours conflict with their working hours and people have trans discriminatory experiences connected with these places. Homeless shelters in Germany usually separate people based on their legal name and gender, and not their self-identification and chosen names. When we are placed with non-queer cisgender men in homeless shelters, we have to face a wide range of trans discrimination and thus are unable to take care of our basic needs. Additionally, the option to live in queer projects or shared flats is nearly impossible for non-queer trans sex workers. Therefore, many trans sex workers live in very difficult conditions or end up in very dependent relationships with a person who often expects sexual services in exchange for being able to share their space. Trans street sex workers also often need access to hormones and surgeries, however, this access is extremely difficult for them. Without health insurance and no legally recognised gender, people do not have access to prescriptions for hormones and therefore, for example, use contraception pills and self-made injections. These practices are often unsupervised, without blood tests being carried out. Regarding surgery, it is quite likely that trans sex workers will undergo surgery without any follow-up check-up due to lack of money for safe surgeries. FOR THE RECORD 2016 | 29 do not want to support the image that we are forced to work in the sex business because sex work is also an option that allows us to earn money. However, when you try to earn money with sex work all night long and you do not understand the complicated welfare system, you are more likely to give up. Often it does not seem possible to enter the system of social benefits and the job market.