"Downtown Girls: The Hookers of Honolulu," directed by Brent Owens and scheduled to air Aug. 27, follows transgender prostitutes in the downtown and Waikiki areas.

The documentary follows four male-born prostitutes, with candid interviews and hidden-camera footage of their encounters with clients.

But agencies that work with prostitutes are worried that this 53-minute documentary may glamorize an industry that is by no means glamorous.

Honolulu Advertiser Article: 'Girls' risks glamorizing sex industry, officials say

They are full of it.

What hurts these women is the marginalization that a disapproving society and a prohibition on the sex trade imposes on them.

The more mainstream they are, the less faceless they are. The more identity they are given, the less senseless violence they will endure.

In my humble opinion.