Sex + Money

It is estimated that there are currently somewhere between 100,000 and 300,000 children in the United States who are being sexually exploited. (Imagine two professional sports stadiums, filled.)  For those who are rescued, the resources are sadly lacking.  There are currently about 100 (yes, a mere 100) beds available for rescued children in the United States.  So even if these children are rescued, they have nowhere to go.  Somewhere between one quarter and one third of these children are never reported missing.  They are “throw away kids” from families that don’t want them, so they have no homes to return to.

On Tuesday evening, I went to the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill to watch the film, Sex + Money, sponsored by Carolina Against Slavery and Trafficking (http://yleads.unc.edu/cast).  The documentary film was created and produced by a group of five young photojournalists, and it follows them across the United States as they conducted interviews and researched the sexual exploitation of children in this country.  The enormity of the problem is overwhelming, the facts heartbreaking.

But Mother Teresa reminds us: “There is a light in this world, a healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometimes lose sight of this force when there is suffering, too much pain. Then suddenly, the spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways.”

And so there is hope – because there are people like these film makers who are dedicated to making the world a better place.  Because there are organizations like Streetlight USA — www.streetlightusa.org —   in Phoenix, who will soon open a new facility and increase the number of available beds for rescued children to 148.

And you can help support this worthy project by purchasing items from the Sex + Money store at www.sexandmoneystore.com.   The crew of Sex + Money is donating to Streetlight USA 75% of the proceeds of the first 100,000 sales of Sex + Money merchandise – with the goal of raising $1.1 million for Streetlight.

 The film is currently on a 50-state tour. It’s an important piece of work, and I urge you to get out and see it.  If you can’t make it to a stop on the tour, please visit the Sex + Money online store and buy a copy of the film.  And perhaps a T-shirt, sweatshirt, or book.  In doing so, you just might be helping to restore a child to a life of freedom.

I am increasingly convinced that it will be the efforts of individuals and grass-roots organizations like Streetlight USA that will ultimately put an end to this horrific crime.  It’s up to us – each one of us – to do whatever we can to eradicate slavery and trafficking.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”  Well said, Margaret Mead.

Tags: Sex + Money, sexually exploited children, slavery, Streetlight USA