This weekend my friend and I were at a great event that finds its roots in the porn industry.
At this event I was reminded of the power of sex, and the physical pleasure it brings, as well as the escape from life's stress it offers. With that in mind, it's no wonder that the porn industry is so lucrative!
But I was also reminded that while there are some women and men out there who willing become stars of porn, there are others who have no choice. And sadly, those people are trapped in sex trafficking.
Really, it's a repulsive thing to think about...being forced to let strangers use your body and having no say whatsoever about what they do to you. There's no limit either...there's no stopping point where these girls or boys can call time-out. Even if they experience extreme physical pain to fill someone's fetish; it doesn't matter.
And...where does it all start? With porn and prostitution.
That's right, if no one was willing to pay for explicit photos and videos, if there was no one willing to hand out some cash for a "trick", then there would be no monetary gain for those who pimp, kidnap and traffic.
So, the "harmless" act of watching some smut isn't nearly as harmless as some would like to think.
This is why I went to the event last Saturday: it was a 5k fundraiser and I was there in support of a great organization called 3StrandsGlobal.
This organization works hard to rescue those trapped in sex trafficking. And I can't say enough how important it is for people to rise up and be advocates for those who cannot speak for themselves. If we, as goodhearted people, cannot stand and fight for the dignity of these victims, then who will?
I don't know about you, but I can't help but wonder how I would feel if it were my daughter being forced into prostitution or starring in a porn flick. I can't help but feel outraged at the thought of someone using her like that.
What about your daughters? Sisters?
Because I feel so very passionate about putting an end to this horrific epidemic, I was there at the run. As an author, I had a very special way to contribute...but giving all the profit from my books to 3Strands. Thanks to all the generous 2500+ people who showed up to the event, a lot of funds were raised. But was it enough? No, sadly it will take a lot more.
I'm continuing my quest to raise more funds. If you would like to help me, it's easy, just order some of my books at www.choosejoy.co and the profits will save lives! This would make a great gift for yourself if you enjoy reading, or, it would make a fabulous Christmas present for anyone you know who does!
For those of you who read my earlier blog about having a stalker, you might be interested to know the first book in my series of 4 is an award winning novel based on my own story. I suppose having dealt with a stalker for 12 years, fearing rape and who knows what else, has added fuel to my desire to stop sex trafficking and bring awareness to the violence many women experience. But regardless of our reasons for caring, it's important that we do something!
I would love to hear your thoughts about this topic!