Claudette is a loving 76 years old husband, a father and grandfather; a champion cyclist, and a campaigner for the rights of sex workers. Claudette is also a woman and a prostitute
Born as a hermaphrodite, with both male and female genitals, she has spent her life being talked about, especially by strangers who have tried to reduce her to what she is not because of her job, and because of her gender. Strangers often pity her, or try to save her. Claudette does not need saving.
Some would have tried to keep these things private, but because she feels no shame, she shared her story to replace prejudice by understanding. She has shared her intimacy, made it a strength, and has refused to be bullied.
Claudette can unnerve us because she lives a happy and coherent life while denying moral precepts taken for granted by most, such as selling your body and sexual fidelity. She makes her choices clearly and knowingly. She does more than just live her life, she loves it. And she lives it without lying to herself or others about her job, her relationships or anything else.
Sharing her intimacy has freed her for the burden of lying and feeling ashamed. She knows who she is. She has shared the intimacy of her clients as well and seen the relief she brought them by releasing them from their loneliness.
This project is a testimony that seeks to deconstruct prejudices by offering an insight into the rich life of Claudette where prostitution and gender play but two parts.
As she says: "I’d rather sell my ass than my soul, it’s harder but much cleaner"
