LGBT Sex Trafficking Survivor Award
Donation protected
My name is Dr. Kimberly Mehlman-Orozco (www.mehlmanorozco.com) and I am a human trafficking expert. I am reaching out to you through this forum because I want to create a discretionary scholarship for LGBTQ survivors of sex trafficking and I need your help.
The idea for this scholarship came about after I encountered a lesbian sex trafficking survivor, who we will call "Anna." She is a young woman who was internationally trafficked for over ten years before finding refuge in the United States. Like many survivors of sex trafficking, her victimization has extended beyond her rescue. While currently free from physical abuse, she continues to deal with the collateral trauma from her victimization. Anna actively seeks out services to assist with her PTSD, but she and her wife quickly learned that trauma-related services are often limited or nonexistent for the LGBTQ trafficking survivors. Anna's wife told me, "Along our journey in seeking help, I realized that many of these organizations who could help my wife simply didn't because we're a lesbian couple. Many of these faith-based organizations rescue women and men, Bible in hand. When they offer help, it's based on their religious beliefs."
In my work as a human trafficking expert witness and researcher, I have become acutely aware of internationally acclaimed organizations that restrict resources based on a victim's sexuality. This is especially disheartening due to the high rate of victimization within this community. While LGBTQ youth make up only 3-5% of the population, they account for 40% of runaway and homeless youths. In turn, these kids are at an elevated risk of falling prey to human traffickers.
If faith-based organizations are choosing to restrict their funding, public organizations at the federal, state, and local levels need to fill this gap in resources. Surviving human trafficking is arduous, but finding ways to thrive post-rescue should not be so hard.
This is where you can step in and make a difference in someone's life.
100% of the money raised through this scholarship will be awarded to LGBTQ survivors of sex trafficking. The first awardee will be "Anna," who had her story featured in "The Plight of GLBT Sex-Trafficking Survivors" published through the Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide. Thereafter, other LGBTQ survivors of sex trafficking can apply for scholarship funds, which could be used to subsidize housing, pay for transportation, vocational training, or other types of formal education.
Even if you can only donate $1, $5, or $10, you can make a difference. Please take the time to learn more about how sex trafficking impacts the LGBTQ community.
The idea for this scholarship came about after I encountered a lesbian sex trafficking survivor, who we will call "Anna." She is a young woman who was internationally trafficked for over ten years before finding refuge in the United States. Like many survivors of sex trafficking, her victimization has extended beyond her rescue. While currently free from physical abuse, she continues to deal with the collateral trauma from her victimization. Anna actively seeks out services to assist with her PTSD, but she and her wife quickly learned that trauma-related services are often limited or nonexistent for the LGBTQ trafficking survivors. Anna's wife told me, "Along our journey in seeking help, I realized that many of these organizations who could help my wife simply didn't because we're a lesbian couple. Many of these faith-based organizations rescue women and men, Bible in hand. When they offer help, it's based on their religious beliefs."
In my work as a human trafficking expert witness and researcher, I have become acutely aware of internationally acclaimed organizations that restrict resources based on a victim's sexuality. This is especially disheartening due to the high rate of victimization within this community. While LGBTQ youth make up only 3-5% of the population, they account for 40% of runaway and homeless youths. In turn, these kids are at an elevated risk of falling prey to human traffickers.
If faith-based organizations are choosing to restrict their funding, public organizations at the federal, state, and local levels need to fill this gap in resources. Surviving human trafficking is arduous, but finding ways to thrive post-rescue should not be so hard.
This is where you can step in and make a difference in someone's life.
100% of the money raised through this scholarship will be awarded to LGBTQ survivors of sex trafficking. The first awardee will be "Anna," who had her story featured in "The Plight of GLBT Sex-Trafficking Survivors" published through the Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide. Thereafter, other LGBTQ survivors of sex trafficking can apply for scholarship funds, which could be used to subsidize housing, pay for transportation, vocational training, or other types of formal education.
Even if you can only donate $1, $5, or $10, you can make a difference. Please take the time to learn more about how sex trafficking impacts the LGBTQ community.
Organiser and beneficiary
Kimber MO
Organiser
Dumfries, VA
Donna J Weiss
Beneficiary
