To many people sex trafficking can be a distant issue. Something that sounds extreme or far-fetched, a rare occurance, and surely not a thing that would ever hit close to home. But for those of us here at Red Light Rebellion, it is personal. It does not sound extreme or far-fetched because we have seen it. It does not seem like a rare occurance because we have met countless survivors. It is something that hits close to home because our friends have lived it.
One of our good friends who has is Leah. A survivor, mother, advocate, speaker, and author, Leah has dedicated her life to being a TRANSFORMER: changing her past into a bright future and paying it forward by helping others transform.
Growing up impoverished, having an absent father, and a mother who struggled with substances and abusive relationships, Leah faced challenges a young girl never should. At six years old Leah was molested for the first time, but not the last. By the time she turned 18 she felt that her only value was in her body and what it could do for others, so when she saw the advertisement to dance at a strip club it seemed like a good opportunity.
One of our good friends who has is Leah. A survivor, mother, advocate, speaker, and author, Leah has dedicated her life to being a TRANSFORMER: changing her past into a bright future and paying it forward by helping others transform.
Growing up impoverished, having an absent father, and a mother who struggled with substances and abusive relationships, Leah faced challenges a young girl never should. At six years old Leah was molested for the first time, but not the last. By the time she turned 18 she felt that her only value was in her body and what it could do for others, so when she saw the advertisement to dance at a strip club it seemed like a good opportunity.
Leah then met a man who showed great interest in her and began investing time and money into romancing her. It was not until they went out of town that Leah discovered he was actually a pimp. Leah's personal account of how her pimp posed as a boyfriend reveals the devastating power pimps have in how they target and manipulate their victims.
In the beginning I had been very short with him. As we became close, he became more vulnerable in our conversations. Late night texts fluttered into my inbox and he became more vulnerable with his words. "I need you, I need you in my life," he'd say. "You're perfect for me."
Seeing him gave me comfort, and I began to feel that maybe he was just like other "normal" men. He acted interested in me and constantly complimented me. Being persistent was what built my trust in him. He was the perfect man any woman could ever dream of. He was physically in great shape, smooth with his words, sensitive to my needs, financially pursued me, took me out and was spontaneous.
His compliments snuck through the cracks of my broken heart and he fluttered my ears with sweet words. Most importantly, he showed me that he cared about my feelings and listened to me. Thus I adored his companionship even more... It was like a fairy-tale that could potentially come true.
Excerpts from "Game Over", by Leah Rogers
Leah would later describe this grooming period as her first introduction into sex trafficking, or "The Game."
The unofficial kickoff to The Game for me was the very moment he laid his eyes on me at the strip club. He was set on recruiting me from that very moment. The way he had looked at me and treated me, was my subliminal introduction and I was completely unaware of it at the time.
Pimps are posers. They fake romance, fake wanting good things for you, fake who they are to you.
Check out Leah's viral video below, and her full story in her book "Game Over".
Check out Leah's viral video below, and her full story in her book "Game Over".
What You Can Do
The more we understand what sex trafficking looks like, the more equipped we will be to keep ourselves and friends safe. Share this post and the check out the Red Flags of sex trafficking to spread the word!
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