Hotel Fanny: A Bordello in the Barrio Cabañas, San Pedro Sula, Honduras. February 1993

My purpose in photographing sex workers at the Hotel Fanny bordello was to make the connection between HIV/AIDS infections and the role sex workers play in the transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus into the general population of San Pedro Sula. (SPS).

Community health workers had informed me that the principle route of the HIV/AIDS virus transmission in SPS was heterosexual. The accepted culture of men and boys using the services of sex workers was common place, also in a country with high levels of poverty, unemployment and poor education, women not in monogamous relationships often supplemented their income as part time sex workers. The virus was therefore transmitted into the general populace from sex worker to male client, then onto his wife or partner. It was also possible that HIV+ pregnant mothers could transmit the virus onto their unborn child.

Sex workers at a bordello or brothel are the most vulnerable group likely to carry the HIV/AIDS virus. Health workers had suggested the bordello Hotel Fanny in the Barrio (district of) Cabañas, a marginal community on the outskirts of SPS could be approached. The women working here had not been tested for HIV, however it was most likely they were all carrying the virus. Their future was bleak as they would continue working at the bordello until they were too sick to work and as their health deteriorated they would most likely be admitted to the San José Hospice, possibly together with their clients.

Access and cooperation to photograph in the bordello was gained after I contacted the Most Reverend Jaime Brufau Maciá, the Bishop of SPS. After explaining my purpose, which he fully supported, he provided me with a letter of introduction that requested the reader to assist me with my project. This letter enabled me to make several visits to photograph at the Hotel Fanny and helped me contact Renée, a transgender street sex worker.

I returned the following year and found that Hotel Fanny had been burnt to the ground by a rival bordello owner.

Web pages that relate to this project:

This work was supported by Panos Pictures, World Health Organisation and UNFPA.

[HON 27] A sex worker outside her room at the rear of Hotel Fanny.

[HON 28] The interior of her room where she brings her clients. She sleeps and lives in this small room which contains all her possessions.

[HON 29] Three sex workers in the largest room at Hotel Fanny.

[HON 30] The women have fun pretending to present themselves to clients.

[HON 31] This woman is known at Hotel Fanny as ‘the crazy one’.

[HON 32] The women prepare to meet the evening’s clients.

[HON 33] It’s 10am and some of the women have just returned from working all night at a cattle ranch on the outskirts of San Pedro Sula. They wash their clothes, themselves, and then sleep until the evening and start work again. One has a cigar given to her by a client.

[HON 34] Renée is a transgender sex worker. He was born male but identifies himself as female. His partner had recently died from an AIDS related illness. Renée is justifiably concerned about his own health and has not been tested for HIV. Renée’s clients are gay men.

[HON 35] The room where Renée lives and brings his clients.