Pride5 Supports Zuo You

This year proceeds from ShanghaiPRIDE goes to support Beijing Zuo You Information Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to the eradication of violence and discrimination against MSM/transgender sex workers in the Beijing area because of their profession and the promotion of their equal rights. Its work also includes areas such as LGBT cultural development, gender/sexuality culture education, rights advocacy within the LGBT community and HIV/AIDS education and care services.

Beijing Zuoyou Information Center

Mission

Beijing Zuoyou Information Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the eradication of violence and discrimination against MSM/transgender sex workers in the Beijing area because of their profession and the promotion of their equal rights. Its work also includes areas such as LGBT cultural development, gender/sexuality culture education, rights advocacy within the LGBT community and HIV/AIDS education and care services.
For Zuoyou’s ongoing programs and projects, please refer to their strategy document.

History

Beijing Zuoyou Information Center (previously Beijing Tongxing Group) was established in 2004. It works within the gay men community in HIV/AIDS awareness education through a variety of activities to promote health consciousness. It also works in collaboration with other LGBT organizations in areas of LGBT culture and rights advocacy.
In 2007 the Center began providing services to MSM/transgender sex workers in the Beijing area. These services include professional health and safety, medical referral and rapid STI tests. Over the years, the Center has created printed materials, conducted outreach and public activities to promote the rights of sex workers. It has provided a platform for sex workers to exchange information and to mutually support each other. It has served as a voice piece for sex workers to ask for the end of discrimination and prejudice.

Staff and Volunteers

Beijing Zuoyou Information Center is governed by a five member board of directors. There are three full time staff and 15 core volunteers who operate the Center and manage its various programs and projects. Half of the management and stuff of the Center are sex workers.

Funding

In the early period of the Center, its operational cost relied on volunteered time and limited personal donations. Starting in 2007, international organizations provided funding to partly support its work. If you are interested in supporting the Center, please contact us at bjzuoyou@gmail.com

Strategy 1: Health Advocacy

Objectives

1. Promote safe sex awareness among Beijing area MSM/Transgender sex workers
2. Improve HIV/AIDS related knowledge among this population
3. Increase the testing rate among this population

Activities

1. Outreach targeting this population
2. Rapid STI testing
3. HIV awareness brochures
4. Provide small emergency assistance grants to sex workers for urgent medical care
5. Medical referral
6. Case management services for HIV+ individuals, including followups, nutrition and mental health counseling

Strategy 2: Communication Platform for Sex Workers

Objectives

1. Develop collaborative relationships with Beijing area hospitals
2. Develop relationships with friendly law firms and lawyers
3. Promote information exchange for sex workers
4. Online resources in physical and mental health, legal defense, etc.

Activities

1. Educate sex workers on relevant penal codes and legal self-defense, promote the awareness of legal rights
2. Workshops to promote participation in mutual support
3. Gather information on violence related to sex work, develop resources to combat it
4. Provide help to individual victims of violence
5. Visit during incarceration and provide legal assistance
6. Develop lateral relationships with sex worker service organizations in other cities and provide mutual referral services

Strategy 3: Public Advocacy

Objectives

1. Promote public understanding and acceptance of sex workers
2. Advocate policy changes related to sex work

Activities

1. Public education campaigns
2. Collect sex work related news stories and media
3. Publish pamphlets on sex workers rights, violence against them and individual stories
4. Collaborate with LGBT and professional organizations
5. Promote the rights of sex workers through response to emergency incidents
6. Workshops to disseminate information regarding the sex work profession
7. Requite interns from sex workers to work at the Center to raise their public visibility

Contact

+86 158 1069 5757
bjzuoyou@gmail.com
http://weibo.com/bjtx
QQ: 79424121