BEN MATCHAP: ST ARTICLE ABOUT TRANSGENDERS AT WOODLANDS IS HIGHLY INSENSITIVE

My rebuttal to the ST article "'Sisters' peddle sex in cars at park": http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/sisters-peddle-sex-cars-park

From the article: "It is midnight on a Thursday, and three "sisters", which is how they like to be known, are sitting at a bus stop outside the Woodlands Town Garden."

Good start, it's great that you care about how the would like to be known. But then in your next paragraph you start with the word transvestite.

Firstly please if you are going to write about people who have undergone a sex change or identify as another gender please use the proper pronounce. Using the word transvestite is kinda rude, akin to calling a black man nigger. The proper pronounce is transgendered. I know it's confusing and sometimes hard to adhere to, but for f*cksake you write for a newspaper. Also it would be nice if you were a little kinder with your words maybe instead of using the word "prostitute" the term sex worker might be better?

I would expect a little more tact when you talk about a marginalised group.

Quote again from the article: "There are some sisters who do it because they enjoy the sex and are lonely. There are very few places where people can accept us,"

That's good because you highlighted and some people can do sex work because they choose it. BUT it's bad because you do not go on and talk about how transgendered women are discriminated and find it hard to get employment,which unfortunately results in them having to do sexwork. Don't belittle yourself you are writing for a newspaper, informing the public is YOUR JOB.

Seriously is it too much to expect straits times "journalist" to not write like a frat boy

YEA DUDEEEE PROSTITUTES!

OMG TRANSVESTITE DOING IT IN THE LORRY WOOOOOHOOOO.

Please be a little more sensitive when talking about marginalised groups who are not as privileged as you.

Benjamin Matchap
A.S.S. Contributor