SHARED HOPE'S PHOTO OF A SURVIVOR IN THEIR PROMOTIONS

I'm concerned about the photo of this woman being posted. http://sharedhope.org/2016/03/04/3-ways-church-helped-free/#comment-44197  When we were trying to convince the world sex trafficking was real - it was at a time when no one believed this was even real.  We had no choice but to come onto camera showing our eyes so people could hear and feel our pain, fear, and sincerity.   It was also the only way to get out information on the only hotline that existed for victims at a time when they couldn't even call the police or they'd be hung up on.  NOW however, w're hearing about these photos leading to stalking, firing, evictions, social shunning, even to old pimps coming back out of the woodwork after they've been released from jail.  Now when a "fake" does it like Samoly Mam - she has nothing to worry about.   But our point has been made.  The Trafficking Act of 2000 was passed.  We now have task forces, new laws, and even programs exist now where one can get help.  It is no longer necessary to publish the face of us to get our point across this is real.  NOW it's encouraging others to do the same - and then we're hearing how down the road it's caused them great harm.  You're married now and it doesn't matter?  Trust me it will affect your children in school then.  Don't have kids?  Well some do and they see photos like this and they don't realize the long term aftermath.  WE were willing to take this on to get this movement off the ground.  Now it doesn't help - only harm in the long run.  Please take this picture down.  www.sexworkersanonymous.com

PS - we have been hearing the horror stories.  Now if you're married and no children and you want to blast your face all over the internet as a "survivor" then guess what? We've heard from husbands who says they're being taunted at work.  Big deal right?  Just name calling right?  No it's not.  We've heard how it's got men fired, how it's caused them to lose promotions, their home, friends, and even led to a few physical altercations when other men have taunted them about "having been married to a whore".

Got children?  We've heard that children as young as eight years old have been approached, targeted, and literally sought out, because of their mother having been involved in the sex industry at one time.  Do you think "johns" or "pimps" care that you were forced?  That's catnip to some predators.  Who then go after your children.  Would you like to know how many young girls have told me they've been raped because the boys at school "knew mommy was a whore"?  I've seen children negatively affected by their teachers, even doctors, because their mother was identified as a "survivor" which in many jerks minds just means "whore".

Nor do many think it's over and done.  I have done myself TV appearances where I have clearly stated that I have been out since 1985 - only to come home to find "whore" spray painted on my door of my house, an eviction notice from my landlord, and a pink slip from my employer who says "we can't have someone like you working here" once they found out.

We took on all these consequences to get the laws changed to recognize sex trafficking as real, and to get our hotline out there when nothing else existed.  But now today it's not necessary.  Now if you're married NOW and don't feel any negative effect from going into the public eye online and promoting you're a survivor - that's awesome.  You might not be married 10 years from now however, and if you have kids entering school.  I know that I heard from a woman who had done a TV Show with us in 1991 who reported that she was having trouble finding work and friends now today in 2014 because her father had died who was supporting her before.  Now she's out there looking - everyone is finding the news clips about her and it's causing her great harm.

So please, stop publishing photos of survivors please.   It's not necessary any longer and it's causing a lot of people harm.

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