The Sex Industry and COVID-19
Dear Friends, In this time of economic uncertainty, the sex industry is attempting to benefit from the Coronavirus. Right now, there are cars driving around Los Angeles with roof ads encouraging young women to enter prostitution and pornography. And, according to the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, on Friday, “the largest free pornography website offered free premium services to ‘help those quarantined in Italy.”
As we face this global public health crisis with enormous economic repercussions, it is important to consider the added impact it is having on some of the most vulnerable in our society. The link between poverty and the commercial sex industry has been well documented[i], and vulnerable populations are even more susceptible to exploitation than before. So many of the women of Treasures have fought long and hard to escape sexual exploitation. Despite the necessity of social distancing, we recognize that many will need our support now more than ever. A large majority of the women we serve are already experiencing poverty and even homelessness. In order to arrive for them during these uncertain times, we are moving our support groups to an online forum and will be working with our mentors to ensure their consistent availability. The other day, I posted on social media about some of the things that are helping me navigate all that we are facing. Things like…
Choosing NOT to partner with fear
Leaning In (ie. Kids are home from school, how can I lean in and make the most of it?)
Looking for opportunities (To love and serve others. To use the sudden margin caused by cancelled events and meetings to tackle some creative projects I have been putting off).
“Sometimes, loving your neighbor might look like sharing your toilet paper with them.” ~Lisa Bevere
Can I get a witness!? After watching my video, my dear friend lovingly commented that it was important to remember that I am speaking from a place of privilege. She is right. I know from personal experience that it is much easier to choose peace when there is food in my refrigerator. Even though most of us are being affected by the Coronavirus— school closures, cancelled events, lost income and missed work— there are some among us that are being hit particularly hard. In light of this, at Treasures, we expect that our requests for emergency financial assistance will be on the rise in the coming weeks. We invite you to be a part of supporting women in their fight to stay free from exploitation by helping us meet some of their urgent needs...
HOW YOU CAN HELP THOSE IN NEED
$10 Essential toiletries for one woman
$35 Hope-filled care package for one woman
$50 Babysitting funds for single mothers
$100 Assistance with groceries
$500 Emergency financial assistance for those whose jobs have been affected
I know it can be tempting to give in to fear and to hold back on giving, but if you are able to give, whether it be to Treasures, your other favorite non-profit, or a roll of toilet paper to your neighbor, I encourage you to do so. There is so much that is beyond our control right now. This virus is wreaking havoc on our planet, but there are some things that it can’t take away from us unless we let it. We can still choose kindness, peace, thoughtfulness and generosity, whatever that looks like in our context.
