Continuing debate over transvestite prostitution in Buenos Aires

About two years ago the city government made a regulation that prohibited prostitutes from offering their services within 200 metres of a school, church or residential building. This prohibition covered just about every street in the city so the prostitutes (nearly all transvestites) moved their business to a part of Palermo Woods called Rosedal. (I have read in the press that every night Rosedal receives around 3000 potential clients in cars or taxis looking to do business with the 200 or so "girls" offering their services there - not all at the same time of course.) Then two weeks ago, as a result of complaints by nearby residents and park users, the government extended the prohibition to this location also.

The transvestites were so incensed that they not only refused to leave the area but on the following Monday held a protest outside the city government offices and the following day the order was rescinded. The government offered to organise a meeting to include all interested parties to try and resolve the situation.

Accordingly last Monday (6th August) a meeting was held in the unlikely venue of the the Palermo Golf Club. The two principal parties (transvestites and residents) ended up agreeing to disagree - a suggestion that the business be moved to the area near the Planetarium was rejected by the transvestites. The government is now going to meet each group individually to try and find a way of resolving the issues.


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