An Open Letter from Trafficking Survivors to Presidential Candidates
In this letter, more than 350 survivors of sex trafficking and prostitution speak out against decriminalizing pimping and sex buying. Candidates for political office have been asked about their views on decriminalizing the sex trade and several cities and states around the country are now debating the issue. Survivors are the real experts. It’s high time we listened to them.
Dear Presidential Candidates,
We, the undersigned survivors of prostitution and sex trafficking, have experienced years of abuse, violence, objectification, and dehumanization in the sex trade. We know first-hand the devastating harm and long-term trauma that happens as a result of being exploited in an industry predicated on racial, gender, and income inequality.
We are aware that candidates running for President are being asked for their positions on proposals to decriminalize the sex trade, and we are deeply alarmed, honestly horrified, by recent statements that suggest an openness to decriminalizing the sex trade in its entirety. We urge presidential candidates to learn from survivors the truth about the pervasive harms and suffering perpetrated by sex buyers, pimps, traffickers, and other exploiters before issuing statements about the sex trade.
At a time when we are culturally taking a stand against violence and harassment towards women and marginalized groups, creating spaces of inclusion and opportunity, why would we take a step backward by allowing these very groups to be further exposed to the harms of prostitution as long as it is monetized?
To be clear, we support decriminalizing people sold in prostitution, as we care deeply about their safety and well-being. We know all too well that marginalized groups are at higher risk for exploitation and therefore are especially vulnerable to the harms of the sex trade. But decriminalizing the sex trade in its entirety would have disastrous consequences. Do not be confused- full decriminalization means allowing pimps, sex buyers, and brothel owners to operate with impunity. Sex trafficking (including that of children) and organized crime increases when pimping and sex buying are legalized.
As survivors, our voices and lived experiences are essential to these discussions. We are eager to share our perspectives and have a productive dialogue with all Presidential candidates and others running for elected office. However, we will not be spoken for or have our voices hijacked by anyone claiming that trafficking survivors support full decriminalization of pimps, buyers, and brothel owners. We will no longer stand by while our truths are misunderstood or misrepresented to support the misguided aims of the pro-prostitution “de facto” progressive political agenda.
The vast majority of survivors of prostitution and trafficking want to put an end to the buying and selling of vulnerable people and know first hand that the best way to do so is to ensure that pimping and sex buying remain behaviors that aren’t encouraged or tolerated.
Respectfully,
Rev. Dr. Marian Hatcher, Survivor Leader
SPACE International U.S.A. — Member
Ambassador-At-Large, United Nations
Rebecca Bender, MACT
CEO & Founder: RBI, Survivor Leader
Signees:*
Abbey Brooks-Derzay
Account Manager
A.L.
Development Consultant
Alexandra Wright
Operations Specialist
The Samaritan Women
Alexine Solis
Alexis Flores
Survivor
Alicia Ley
Director of Safe Housing
RAHAB Ministries
Alisa Bernard
Director of Education and Partnerships
The Organization for Prostitution Survivors
Allana Bearse
Founder
The Little Tree Project, LLC
Allison Franklin Hogg
Policy Fellow and Survivor Leader
Texas Criminal Justice Coalition
Ally-Marie Diamond
Survivor
Amanda Casey
Director of Advocacy
Trafficking Justice
Amanda Gale Forest
Founder, Survivor Advocate
OCEANS
Amelia Tiganus
feminist activist and abolitionist of prostitution
Amy Cornelius
Founding Director
Sidewalk Soldiers
Amy Engle
LAMFT
Amy Smith
Amy Wing
Andrea Benson
Andrea Lavigne
Sex Trafficking Think Tank
Angel Jade
MachSpeed
Angela R. Clark
Survivor Consultant
National Survivor Network
Angelica K.
Angie Conn
Survivor of HT and commercial exploitation
Ann Marie Jones
Anna M. McDonald
Qualified Mental Health Specialist
Allwell Behavioral Health Services
Anneke Lucas
President
Liberation Prison Yoga
Annie Lobert
President & Founder
Hookers For Jesus
April De Los Santos
Survivor Mentor
One More Child
April Scarborough
President and Founder/ survivor
Victoria’s Lighthouse
Arcie
RunawayGirl Inc
Aron Katrina Massey
Founder
MPower
Arthi Sachdev
Accounting Clerk
Awaken
Ashlie Bailey
Survivor Leader
Henry, Leroy, Oscar Call Your Mom! Campaign
Aubrey Lloyd
Audra Hill
Survivor leader
Into The Jordan
Audrey Morrissey
Associate Director
My Life My Choice
Autumn Burris
Founding CEO
Survivors for Solutions
Barbara Amaya
Author, Advocate
BASMARTGIRL
Barbara Graham
Bernie Weigand
Brandy Funk
Support Staff
Aspen House
B.C.
E-Commerce Specialist
Free Our Girls Rebecca Binder Initiative/Elevate Academy/Free Our Girls
Brenda Marcos
Brenda Myers-Powell
Executive Director
Dreamcatcher Foundation
Brenda V
CLOYD
Bridget Perrier
Co-Founder/First Nations Educator
Sextrade101
Brittany Dobson
Brittany Maynard
1999
Brittany Meyer
Advocate
Brittney Garcia
Admissions Coordinator
Aspen Magdalene House
Brook Parker Bello PH.D
CEO
More Too Life
Bunny Singleton
The Organization For Prostitution Survivors
C. Daniels
Callie Sheard
Cara Clark
Survivor
Rebecca Bender Initiative-Elevate Academy
Carissa Phelps
CEO “Creating Employment Opportunities”
Runaway Girl, Inc.
Carli
Carmen
Consultant
Survivor
Caroline Lambert
Table on Delk, Inc
Cassandre
Exited
Catherine Elizabeth Geren
Survivor Leader
CourageLIVES
Cecilia
Cecilia Lopez
Founder
A21 Freedom Chasers
Chanel Dionne
Charlene Flynn
Chelsea Anderton
Survivors Angels / Survivors of the Sex Trade
Chelsey Buckley
Survivor Leader and Mentor
Bags of Hope and We Rise
Chelsie Ann Lancaster
Elijah Rising
Cheri Crider
Outreach Survivor Leader
Amirah, Inc.
Cherie Jimenez
Survivor, Director
EVA Center
Chris Stark
Author, Educator, Consultant
Survivor
Christine Cesa
Survivor Advocate
Cindy Hathcock
Executive Director
My Safe Haven
Corina Hernandez
Advocate
Courtney Alihelisdi
Survivor Advocate
Cristian Eduardo Nava Lopez
Crystal Touchstone
Survivor Leader
One More Child
Dallas Seibert
Dana Levy
Self Employed
Darlene Pawlik
Speaker
The Darling Princess
Dasha
Debra Haltom
Debra Rush
Founder/CEO
Breaking the Chains
Delores D. Day
Executive Director
Restore Innocence Ranch
Denise Roman
Treasures Ministry
Desiree J Trail
Mother, Artist, Public Speaker
Diane Campbell Bridge Hope
dmrdel
Donna E. Bruce
Peer Counselor
Dorothy Hurley
Case Manager
Cedar Ridge Behavioral Health
Dr. Alexandra (Sandi) Pierce
Othayonih Research
Dr. Ingeborg Kraus
Founder
Scientists for a World without prostitution
Dr. Jennifer Lovenstein
Pharmacist
Dr. Vednita Carter
Founder/CEO
Vednita Carter Ministries
Drea Douglas
Ebony Linker
Survivor
Eileen Martinez
Coordinator
Em Ann
Emily Grace
Emily Hollerbach
Growth and Support Specialist
Emily Shore
Author/Advocate
Women At Risk, Int/Independent Author
Emmy Myers
Founder
Lacey’s Hope Project
Eric Harris
Consultant
Indiana Trafficking Victim Assistance Program ITVAP
Erin Wright
Founder CEO
SHE Survivors for Hope by Empowerment
Esther
Estrella Sanchez
Evelyn Chumbow
Baker McKenzie LLP
Felicia J Hyde
Fiona Broadfoot
CEO
Build A Girl Project
Gabriela Lozano
Gabriella
Waitress
Bags of Hope
Geneviève Gilbert
Founder and CEO
Pink Cross Foundation Australia
Gina M Salazar
Victim Advocate /Survivor Leader
Grizelda Write
Survivor Exit
Hailey Grace
Survivor
The Underground
Hannah Bedwell
Hannah Blair
Hannah Jones
Intake Specialist
Heather Hammerstrom
Heather Johnson
Hunter Lang
Huschke Mau M.A.
Netzwerk Ella
Iain Martin
Oilfield truck driver
Hookers for Jesus
Jackie Lynne
Co-founder
Indigenous Women Against the Sex Industry (Canada)
Jacqueline Lea
Area Retail Sales Manager
Veronica’s Voice, Inc.
Jacquelynn Loos
Community Advocate Supervisor
REST
Jane
Founder and executive Director
Glory House
Janine Montgomery
Executive Director
Youth Trust Project
Jasmine
Director
Jasmine Road
Jasmine
CEO/Founder
SAFE Network Inc
Jasmine Grace Marino
Founder & Director
Bags of Hope Ministries
Jasmine Hall
Jasmine Holcomb
Case Specialist
J. B.
Child Sex Trafficking Survivor
Jeanette Chamberlain
Jeanette Westbrook
MSSW
SPACE International
Jenifer Hankel
Deputy
Jenn Martin
Survivor Mentor
Jenni S. Jessen
CEO
Compass 31
Jennifer A Murphy
Founder, CEO & Clinical Director
Fabulous Faithful Freedom Fighters, Inc.
Jennifer Heard
Sidewalk Soldiers
Jennifer Tucker
CSE Survivor and Advocate
Esteem Outreach, Life Center Church — Tacoma
Jeri Moomaw
Executive Director
Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative
Jerome Elam
CEO and President
Trafficking in America Task Force
Jerry Thomas
Jes
Jess
Jessica Benke
Jessica Brumley
Server
Jessica Kay Halling
Program Director
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Jessica L. Kim
Vice president
Survivor Leader Network of San Diego
Jessica Lindner
Free Our Girls
Jessica Patton
Victim/Survivor of Sex Trafficking
Jessika
Survivor
Jewell Baraka
Writer
Exodus Cry
Jill Martin
Jim Gibbs
CEO
Jodie West
Julie Medeiros
Program Director
Kailee Diaz
Kasie Robbins
Kat Wehunt
Executive Director
The Formation Project
Katarina MacLeod
Founder
Rising Angels
Kathi Hardy
Founder/ Executive Director
Freedom From Exploitation, Inc.
Kathleen Mitchell
Retired Founder
DIGNITY Phoenix AZ
Kathy Bryan
Director of Operations
Rebecca Bender Initiative
Kathy McGibbon
Director of Outreach
Street Grace
Katrina Taylor
Awareness Cordinator
Katy
Kayla Ravanelli
Kayti Batya
Survivor Leader
Street Grace
Keelin Washington
Keisha Head
Founder
Project 360 Degrees
Kelley Alsobrook
Kelly Dore
Executive Director
National Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition
Kelly Patterson
Life Treasures LLC
Kelsie Lawson
Kendra
Survivor speak/advocate
Lavished Ministry
Kim F
Kimberly S
Caregiver/ survivor ambassador
Lotus Legal Clinic
Krishonda Arnold
Freedom Calling
Kristen Tebow, LMSW
Founder Youth Trust Project
Kristine H.
Kristy Childs
Founder, President
Veronica’s Voice
Krystal Mach
Kyra Doubek
CSEC Behavioral Health Specialist
Kent Youth & Family Services
La Toya Gix
Executive Director
Divine Interventionz L.P.
Laura D
Healthcare Professional
Laura Jimenez
Laura Mancuso
A21 Campaign
Laurin Crosson
Founder /Director Rockstarr.org
LB
LeeAnn Lemke
Leprêtre
Leslie Evans
Leslie F. King
Founder/CEO
Sacred Beginnings
Leticia Reyes
PTA president
Sanctuary for Families
LeTishia Miers
Food service
Survivor SWLA Abolitionist
Liletha Williams
CoFounder
Survivor Impact Group
Lily Rivera
Lina
Sex trafficking survivor
Linda
Teached
Catholic
Lindsey Hass
Survivor advisory Consultant
South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force
Lisa Hughes
Advocate
Liz Kaney Myntti
Social Services Program Manager
RBI
LJ Owen M.A., J.D., Esq.
Loretta Gale
1959
Lucy Bloom
Veronica’s Voice
Lydia Lawson
Lynn Schirmer
M Hines
One Amarillo
M Williams
Survivor
Madonna Collins
College student
Survivor
Makia
SWKA
Marie Merklinger
Member SPACE International
Marjorie Saylor
Founder/CEO
The Well Path
Marlene B Laxina
Legal Advocate
Marti MacGibbon
Author, Comedian
Martin Dufresne
Translator
Montreal Men Against Sexism
Mary Ann McGann
Mary Parrish
Mary Skelly
Registered Nurse
Mary Tibbetts
Chief Advisor and Survivor Lead
Just Love Worldwide
Matthew Morgan
Megan Lundstrom
Executive Director
Free Our Girls
Melanie Thompson
Survivor Advocate
Mercedes Pickard
Sex-Trafficking Victims Advocate
Community-Works
Michele Dailey
Office Administrator
Survivor
Michelle Abel
Michelle Johnson
Survivor Engagement
Empower225
Michelle Lew
Mrs. Mickey Meji
Member SPACE International
Mikala Kay
Nurses Aide
Mindy Best
C-CHW NA
Missy
Misty
Misty Hall
Resident Director
Transformation Garden
Mitchell Hellum
Molly Cole
Monica Gary
Pastor
Monya Davis MA CATC IV
INTERVENTION PROFESSIONALS
Myjah Williams
Nancy C Dodd
Missoula Human Trafficking Task Force
Natasha Falle
Director of Services
Sex Trade 101: Public Awareness & Education
Ne’Cole Daniels
Member SPACE International
Nichole Burrell
Nicole
Bartender
Valiant Hearts
Nicole Azaán
Certified Coach & Behavioral Consultant
Life After Trafficking Empowerment
Nicole Bell Chief
Executive Officer
Living In Freedom Together-LIFT
Nikki
Recovery specialist
Bags of Hope Ministry/ Survivor
Nikki Gonzalez
Nikki Musgrave
Cashier
Nola Kesia Brantley-Harris
CEO
Nola Brantley Speaks
Paige Starcher
Pamala M. Pilkington
Pamela Grace
Poppy Jean Romero
Rachel
Survivor
Beloved
Rachel Moran
Founder
SPACE International
Rachel Niemiec
Nurse Practitioner and Survivor
New England Coalition Against Trafficking (NECAT)
Rachel Pointer
Movement Liaison
Free The People Movement
Rebecca Bender
CEO & Founder, Survivor Leader
Rebecca Bender Initiative
Rebecca Mott
Writer
Nordic Model Now and blogger
Rebekah Charleston
Executive Director
Valiant Hearts
Rebekah Smiltneek
Communication Director
Freedom Cry Inc.
Regina Dao
LGBTQ+ Adolescent Health Specialist
Renae
Renee Galvan
Teacher
Rev. Dr. Marian Hatcher
Ambassador-At-Large United Nations
SPACE International U.S.A. — Member
Robin Levasseur
Advocate for Sexual Assault Miss
Robin Miller
Survivor and Advocate
Roslynn Gallegos
Russell Glenn Wilson
Human Trafficking Subject Matter Expert/Consultant
Ruth Rondon
Retired
Michigan human trafficking Health Advisory Board
Ruth Scanlan
Ruth-Ann Moody
Ryn Hammontree
Ambassador
4Sarah and Atlanta redemption ink
Sabrinna Valisce
Member
SPACE International
Samantha Hardy
Bayside Christian Church
Samantha Houghtaling
Sandra Norak
Sandy Storm
Author, Speaker & Abolitionist
Sara
Elevate Academy
Sarah
Sarah Barbot
Executive Director
Be the Light, Inc
Sarah Eytalis
Survivor
Sarah Vegas
Founder and Executive Director
Stand 4 Justice Movement
Sarah Zalonis
Consultant/Research/Data
Polaris Project and Courtneys House
Sari Hunt
Savannah Parvu
Survivor Leader & Speaker
September Trible
Shamere McKenzie
Chief Executive Officer
Sun Gate Foundation
Shandra Woworuntu
CEO Mentari
Shanna Parker
CEO
Angels Go To Work
Shawnee Love HHD, PhD
Founder/Owner, Doctor, Legal Adviser, Survivor Leader, Investigator, Activist, Visionary, Writer, Advocate, Social Worker, Ethics Monitor, etc…
Purple Hearts Missions Possible & Healthy Horizons {The Original}; Native American Warriorz Task Force
Shay Carter
Sheila Rivera
Volunteer Recovery facilitator Survivor — many affiliations
Sherry Lynn Dooley
Simone Watson
Director
Nordic Model Australia Coalition
Sonia Dunlap
Shade
Stacie Spriggs
Stacy Reed
Supervisor of Mentoring Services
RIA House
Stanna Wieclawska Kyriakou
Consultant Forensic Pathologist
talkFREEdom
Staysha Hackmann
Survivor Leader, Sex Trafficking Intervention Coordinator
Community Works
Stephanie Anderson
Advisor, Consultant
Traffick Refuge, Salvation Army, LWM Reentry
Stephanie Stansberry
süna
disciple
Sun And Flowers Music Survivor Warrior Victim Advocate Volunteer Victim Advocate
Susan Munsey
Director of Programs
GenerateHope
Tam blaikie
Children social Care
Tami Reichert
Executive Director
Anchor of Hope
Tammy Bitanga
Peer Support Specialist, Advocate, Community Outreach Coordinator
Ho’ola Na Pua
Tanja Rahm
Member
SPACE International
Temple Woodrum
Church Laison
Lavished Ministries
Teresa Tally
Minister
RBI
Terry Forliti
Executive Director
Breaking Free
Theresa Flores
CEO
The SOAP Project- Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution
Tiffany Ducksworth
Crew member
Damascus Road
Tina Dixon
Tina Frundt
Executive Director
Courtneys House
Tina Kadolph
Survivor leader
501c3 President
Love Missions
Tracy
Advocate
Tracy Rowland
Lived experience expert
Trinity Schumann
Trinity Schumann Awareness Program
Trudee Able-Peterson
Survivor/Social Services Professional
Independent Consultant/Homeless Youth Services
Twana Lucas
Survivor
Ursel Hughes
Mentor
Vicki Daharsh
Voter/Taxpayer
Vicki Wooten
Victoria Hagstrom MD
President/CMO
anew Medspa.clinic
Wanda Fisher
Stop the Traffik (Elevatelife Church)5
Wendi Westmoreland
Wendy “Renee” Berry
Rebecca Bender- Elevate Academy student
Willow Kennedy
Survivor/ Founder
Sunray’s of Grace
* Disclaimer: An additional seven survivors expressed support for the letter, but wished for their names to remain private and confidential. (Subject to audit.)