Background:
Pride month is everywhere all month long during June, but how is it connected to human trafficking and why should we care about it as advocates? Today we’re learning the importance of acceptance and shifting culture to better equality and help protect those with vulnerabilities.
Action: Understanding the importance of acceptance
When someone does not feel accepted as they are, they will often go searching for it elsewhere. Pimps and traffickers are ready and willing to accept anyone who needs it so they can use them for their own gain.
Learn from Lived Experience Leader in child sex trafficking, Rayanne Irving where she discusses how acceptance is what led her to her trafficking experience.
Action: How LGBTQ+ community is more likely to enter into an exploitive situation
LGBTQ+ youth face much higher rates of discrimination, violence, and economic instability than heterosexual peers
They are 7.4x more likely to experience acts of sexual violence than their heterosexual peers
They are 3-7x more likely to engage in survival sex to meet basic needs
40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+ and 46% run away because of family rejection
Traffickers seek individuals who
Lack healthy relationships
Are marginalized by society
Lack basic needs, finances, and education
Action: Share these stats and show your support to the LGBTQ+ community!
Share this tiktok or these social cards and share your support to the community this pride month!
Continue raising donations, your fundraising dollars WILL support members of the LGBTQ+ community of survivors we serve!