*every life is beautiful* ~ part 1

"I chose these women, because they were the ones no one cared about" - loosley quoted from Gary Ridegway, the "Green River Killer", during his trial. He was convicted to life in prison for the murders of  49 women (but confessed to a much higher number). This man, who methodically sought women in lowly places in order to kill them, speaks a haunting truth in his statement. "They were the ones no one cared about"...


I have to admit that growing up my understanding of prostitution was what Hollywood portrayed - Pretty Woman, bad girls living it up party style, having fun, and eventually getting to have their fairytale ending. On the other hand, as I got a little older I also understood that prostitutes were nobody to want to be. These women who were usually addicted to drugs, riddled with STD's, always alone in life - Hollywood painted the picture that they lived free to themselves, chose the career as a way to get rich quick, and never report to anyone. Maybe that's so in Vegas, where prostitution is protected and almost promoted. Any other city's streets though and that is not the case. Hollywood's pretty woman painted picture was trying hard to hide the ugly underbelly of the sex trade, where the only one that cared about the woman on the corner was her pimp when she stopped turning tricks. Her family had long ago given up hope of seeing her again, the law was only after her if she was selling herself for sex, so who would care if she was just...gone.

That's how he got away with it. The people who cared had stopped looking long ago, the pimp who did care only cared about his dollar, not the woman, so there would be no one to file a missing persons report until it was long after the fact.

Are we just blind? Do we really not care? Ashamedly, I think it is a little of both, along with a big helping of ignorance.



I recently attended an event celebrating the accomplishments of the organization Shared Hope International 's efforts to set in place stricter laws dealing with human trafficking. Annually they release a report card showing how the United States are doing in making life tough for those who would force someone else into the sex trade. The Associated Press released this video explaining a little bit about what the organization does, as well as bringing to light what a dismal state our nation is in when it comes to addressing this great problem.

Washington State received a B grade. We are one of 4 states with that grade. Over half of the United States received an F grade, meaning human trafficking isn't even on their radar, seen as a third world problem only. Our state Attorney General, Rob McKenna hopes to see that change. As president of the National Association of Attorneys General he has made it his primary focus to put an end to Human Trafficking through his campaign, Pillars of Hope. I'd like to go down his list of Pillars and give my thoughts and additional observations on things that were said at the Shared Hope event in relation to each one.

"Make the Case". How does your state measure up? There isn't a uniform system in place for states to report cases being brought against "Johns" and "Pimps", let alone cross state reporting so if someone has a case in one state authorities can be on the lookout for him in another. There needs to be more awareness brought to the Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) so that victims of sex crimes can know they have help!

"Prosecute Traffickers" - This one is near to my heart because my husband had a hand in writing  the legislation that was passed in the 2010 Legislative Session to make pimps and "johns" pay for their crimes trafficking minors. Before SB 6476 (also see Shared Hope's breakdown) was signed into law, a buyer ("john") who was caught in a sex crime with a minor would face a prison term of as little as one month; a pimp (seller) as little as only 21 months, and while the buyers would receive a fine of $550 (there are higher traffic tickets!), a seller didn't pay anything. The new law changes the buyer's prison term to be from 21 months to 144 months (11+yrs), and a seller's prison term from 93 months (min. 7.5 yrs) to 318 months (26+ yrs!), as well as slapping each of them with a $5,000 fine (not high enough in my opinion, but a start in the right direction I'd say). It also provides that a minor cannot be charged with the crime of prostitution (previously they were), but treated as a sex victim and provided with the necessary assistance to get back on their feet.

I vaguely remember Nathan being on the phone with former congresswoman Linda Smith as well as other state Legislators about this bill and what needed to be done, while he was on paternity leave, just mere days after I gave birth to Steven (born during the height of legislative sesson in 2010). That's devotion folks! Linda Smith even referenced that little fact at the dinner, thanking Nathan publicly for his work on the bill at such a crucial time in his personal life. (This little wife's face was beaming with pride!).

We're already beginning to see these laws at work as a handful of pimps have already been taken off the streets and going to prison for the maximum sentence. The first day one of these guys went behind bars on the highest sentence, Nathan was ecstatic, as was I. It is a huge step in the right direction, but our laws could still be tougher. This article in the Seattle Times gives the story and a great look into the new law in action.  

"Rescue Victims" - No longer can the minors who are picked up for prostitution be charged for their crimes. The average age for a minor to be forced into sex crimes is 13. There is something so sick and disgusting about a man forcing a young child into such activites against their will. I love how Rob McKenna puts it, "Let's be clear, there are few people in prostitution who are volunteers. With respect to those under 18, we should have no tolerance for arguments that they have given consent...Slavery is morally reprehensible and should not be tolerated by anyone, yet it is." It is so easy for us to pretend that it doesn't exist, since it isn't happening in plain view. But there are too many stories of innocent children being taken by force, or enticed by talk of money for things they can't even comprehend, whose lives are forever marred by it, and their families left to wonder why, and if given the opportunity, to try and pick up the pieces.

Some of the youth may escape. They may even make it home. But when they make it home, what is left for them but questions from their family, hating themselves, and not knowing how to get their lives back together. Sadly, many of these girls, hopeless for a way up, return to the sex trade seeing no other options for their lives now that they've hit the bottom. Slavery should never be their only option.

Of the 300,000 girls who are trafficked every year, there are only 100 beds nationwide to take in the ones who escape and offer shelter. That is pathetic and so disheartening. Slowly though, people are starting to take notice of this problem and do something about it. Here are some local Puget Sound Organizations you should know about:

Youth Care in Seattle provides a shelter to boys and girls being sold in sex trafficking after they have been rescued off the streets. They provide specialized care to help these use deal with the trauma of all they have faced, provide a safe place to sleep and live and be educated to slowly enter everyday "normal" life again. This organization has been such a tool for families who don't know how to answer the questions and deal with the trauma their loved ones who have been trafficked have faced, yet desperately want to see them rescued from their personal hell.

The Genisis Project was started by Deputy Andy Conner in the South Puget Sound area. His organization takes a very proactive approach in rescuing girls off the street. Here is an incredibly moving clip promoting their documentary "Rape for Profit" with just a peek into the gravity of the situation in Seattle and the amazing work they are doing for these girls.

At the Shared Hope event I attended, a woman named Sheila shared her personal story of being forced into the sex trade, escaping, and eventually having a career and family of her own (she boasted over 20 yrs of marriage to her husband!). Sheila is now beginning an organization called Rare Coins Ministries to bring healing and restoration to the lives of girls affected by sex trafficking. Sheila, once a "throwaway" as she put it, someone who had fit the criteria for the women that Gary Ridgway sought after for his dispicable purposes in the 80's, the one "no one cared about" had become somebody. Her life was restored. And now she is on the path to help others who have shared her same story. I was so moved by Sheila's story, and went and thanked her for being a vessel to be used by God to bring restoration to hurting children and young girls.

By the grace of God and organizations and ministries like these, girls are able to move from a place of being "throwaways" that no one cares about, to realizing their value, their worth, and their potential for a better life once again. These girls need to be told by people who care, over and over again until they can say it themselves, that their life is beautiful. Even in the mess of what they've been through...they are beautiful. Despite what's been taken from them by ugly men, and the ugly things they've been forced to do...they are beautiful. Every one of them is beautiful.

"Public Awareness and Issue Advocacy" - People only change things when they know about there being a problem. When the issue is invisible, when it isn't flashing across our tv screens or effecting us personally is is no wonder nothing happens.

If you visited my blog today, and didn't know about this problem, you can leave and pretend you didn't know...or you can do something.

Ways YOU can put an end to human trafficking:

- Visit Shared Hope International's site to find out how you can get involved in their effort

- Write your State Representatives and Senators and tell them to make ending human trafficking their number one priority in your state by passing strict laws

- Volunteer your time at a local shelter, show you care to the women who need care the most

- Vote. Your vote makes a difference. Put it behind candidates that are fighting and have a record of fighting to end human trafficking. Start with putting Rob McKenna in the Governor's office.

- DONATE. Any of these organizations would gladly recieve any financial support you can give. Every bit of it goes to rescuing these minors out of their desperate situations and giving them hope and tools for a better life.

What are you going to do today to make sure these girls hear that they are worth the fight? That they matter? That they aren't forgotten, but are cared about. That they aren't "throwaways"...that their life is beautiful?