Mauritius: A Grassroots Trans Woman Centering Sex Workers’ Realities in Trans Rights Advocacy

A young Mauritian trans woman and grassroots activist is reshaping how trans rights advocacy is done by centring the lived realities of trans sex workers. Through accessible language, video storytelling, and community participation, she is helping EkiT build a movement grounded in dignity, survival, and genuine inclusion.

As a transgender woman and grassroots activist in Mauritius, the storyteller works closely with transgender people—especially trans women who are sex workers. These women often face severe violence, exclusion, and economic hardship, yet are frequently absent from mainstream advocacy. Many have limited literacy, speak Creole rather than English, and feel alienated by civil society spaces dominated by academic or policy language.

Her goal is to make advocacy accessible, human, and reflective of real lived experiences. She challenges narratives that portray trans women only through trauma, instead highlighting resilience, dignity, and economic survival. Her approach centres real voices: speaking in simple, clear language and uplifting those most marginalised within the community.

Change came about when she began using public videos, informal online campaigns, and community-generated content to speak about trans rights in ways that felt authentic and relatable. Over time, she became a reference point within EkiT for accessible communication. She advises on campaign language, ensuring content does not reproduce stigma or harmful stereotypes, and brings community feedback directly into organisational decision-making.

A key part of her strategy involves encouraging community members to share their stories and appear in content. She models visibility by participating in videos herself, showing that grassroots trans women deserve to be seen and heard. This approach shifted EkiT’s communication from policy-facing to deeply community-facing. Rather than having advocacy shaped in formal planning spaces, it now grows from continuous interaction with trans sex workers and other marginalised trans people.

The resulting change has transformed who feels included in the movement. Previously, many trans sex workers saw activism as distant and irrelevant. Content was often dense and disconnected from everyday struggles. Today, messaging is simpler, grounded, and reflective of lived realities. Community members now engage with content, share experiences, and approach EkiT for support. Trans sex workers increasingly feel recognised as part of the movement rather than an afterthought.

This shift resonates with broader changes in Mauritian society, where public attitudes are slowly opening. The Fear & Fairness survey by The Other Foundation noted that the majority of Mauritians believe transgender people deserve equal rights and protection. The movement’s new approach aligns with these values, building visibility, dignity, and belonging.

The significance of this change extends beyond communication style. It expands who is represented within the movement and strengthens its legitimacy by grounding advocacy in lived realities rather than institutional language. When trans people feel represented, they are more likely to seek services, participate in activities, and trust trans-led organisations—key ingredients for sustainable movement building.

Sustaining the change requires embedding accessible language and community-informed messaging into EkiT’s structures. Plans include storytelling workshops, peer-led content creation, and partnerships with grassroots LGBTQIA+ groups to broaden reach. Linking storytelling to services—such as SRHR referrals, gender-affirming support, and economic empowerment—will help reinforce participation and trust, ensuring that advocacy continues to grow from the ground up. 

Quotes

E.J: Omg heart touching to heard all these words and stories from you Alizée, keep shining and smiling as usual.

@mathiaschopin6079: To all the trans people and parents of trans and non-binary people out there: you are heroes.

beatricemaunick7945: Fouf so dernier phrase fer moi coule enn larme, Fouf, his last sentence made me cry.