An open letter from Survivors of Prostitution and Trafficking

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
• 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
• Filcaise
• 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.)