A cross-dressing "prostitute" was taken onto a police car. Photo by reporter Hua Su.
According to the report, at 9 PM on April 7th, after preliminary investigation and meticulous planning, Mingxiu Police Station deployed more than 10 police forces, adopting a "one-on-one surveillance" strategy to capture 13 people suspected of prostitution in one fell swoop. Shockingly, upon review, among these 13 individuals, there were 3 heavily made-up "female prostitutes" who turned out to be men.
At 10:30 PM on April 7th, Director Gao Rong of Mingxiu Police Station informed the reporter that recently, patrol officers had noticed an increase in open-air prostitution activities due to the warming weather. Particularly rampant were such activities at a construction site in the middle section of Anji Avenue in Nanning. Every nightfall, many female prostitutes would gather here, targeting nearby migrant workers and passers-by for solicitation. After agreeing on prices, they would conduct their transactions in dark corners of the construction site, causing extremely adverse effects.
In response to this situation, Mingxiu Police Station immediately formulated a plan, organizing plainclothes officers to conduct preliminary investigations at the construction site on the evening of April 6th. According to feedback from the plainclothes officers, nearly 20 men and women suspected of prostitution gathered there for transactions, turning the vast construction site into what seemed like an open-air "market."
At 9 PM on April 7th, after careful planning, the police station dispatched more than 10 personnel on foot to the vicinity of the construction site, conducting "one-on-one" surveillance on over ten men and women negotiating "business" on the site.
Once the opportunity matured, the team leader gave the order, and more than 10 plainclothes officers moved simultaneously, controlling the 13 men and women suspected of prostitution, then taking them back to the police station for further review.
Shockingly, after reviewing the 13 individuals suspected of prostitution, three of the heavily made-up individuals stood out as different from other female prostitutes. The investigating officer said: "At first glance, 'they' all appeared as long-haired women dressed in tight-fitting clothes and mini-skirts, but when they spoke, coarse male voices emerged, leading us to suspect their gender." Ultimately, after review, all three admitted to being male impersonators posing as "female prostitutes."
At 11 PM that night, the reporter saw these three well-built, cross-dressed "female prostitutes" at the police station and conducted an on-site interview with a 35-year-old "female prostitute" named Chen.
Chen, standing before the reporter, had long straight hair, wore a black tight-fitting top, mini-skirt, and thigh-high stockings, with a golden handbag slung over his arm. He sat quietly in a chair, eyes cast downward. At first glance, he seemed no different from an ordinary woman. However, when he raised his head to speak, his distinctly male Adam's apple became apparent.
Chen openly admitted to being male and explained that he began cross-dressing because he grew up in a single-parent household. Since elementary school, he discovered that he liked speaking in a soft voice, dressing up as a girl, and even developed feelings for male classmates...
This unusual gender orientation also led Chen to remain unmarried at the age of 35. Over the years, his family constantly urged him to marry and have children, but he always evaded with the excuse of "not finding the right person." He said, "I will never get married. Since I've embarked on this path, I can only take it step by step."
In Nanning, there are reportedly forty to fifty male "prostitutes" like Chen.
Over the years, how has Chen made a living? What led him down the path of pretending to be a woman for prostitution? How many male "prostitutes" like Chen exist in Nanning? With these questions in mind, the reporter engaged Chen in a dialogue:
Reporter: How many years of schooling did you complete? What jobs have you done since finishing school?
Chen: My home is in the western part of Guangxi. I dropped out after elementary school and later ventured out on my own, performing in entertainment venues, doing small trades... I've tried various things.
Reporter: When did you start engaging in prostitution? Why did you choose this profession?
Chen: It's been just over the past couple of years. Because jobs were hard to find, I later realized that this line of work brought quick and easy money, plus it aligns with my sexual orientation, so I started doing it.
Reporter: How much do you charge per customer? What is your highest monthly income?
Chen: For someone like me, each transaction fetches only twenty to thirty yuan, but I've earned six to seven thousand yuan in a month at most.
Reporter: How did you learn about this place (the construction site for transactions)?
Chen: A "sister" introduced me to it. They said there's a market here where outdoor business can be conducted. Once I arrived, I found it indeed lively.
Reporter: Do you mean people like you by "sisters"? How many male cross-dressers engaging in prostitution are there in Nanning?
Chen: Yes. There are around forty to fifty in Nanning.
Reporter: Have any customers discovered your real gender?
Chen: To prevent them from finding out, I only solicit customers at night and choose very dimly lit places for transactions. If they discover the truth, they usually curse me and leave.
Reporter: Haven't your family members noticed your sexual orientation issues over the years?
Chen: Probably not. Whenever I go home, I revert to male attire, covering my long hair with a hat.
Reporter: If your family finds out the truth, what reaction do you think they will have?
Chen: They will be very saddened, especially my mother. I'm more worried that they might be looked down upon by others because of me.
Reporter: Have you ever been caught by the police before?
Chen: I've been caught a few times in other places, but they usually educate me and let me go.
Why could Chen escape legal punishment multiple times? Is it difficult for the police to handle male "prostitutes" like him? Director Gao Rong of Mingxiu Police Station stated: "If caught in the act with solid evidence, the police can still administratively detain male 'prostitutes' under the Public Security Administration Punishment Law for 'prostitution offenses.'"