For several months this year, Exodus Cry was able to lend its voice to a critical bill that would make it a felony to buy a child for sex in California.
SB 1414, authored by California Senator Shannon Grove, would have made it a prison felony for an adult to purchase sex from anyone under 18.
Unfortunately, a group of California legislators softened some of the bill's language, removing strong penalties for buying 16 and 17-year-olds.
After lots of pushback, some of the penalties were restored, but prosecutors will still need to prove that the 16-17-year-olds were being trafficked. This is insufficient justice.
And yet, considering that up till now it’s only been a misdemeanor to pay for sex with a child, we have to acknowledge that huge progress has been made this year in the fight to protect California’s children from sex trafficking!
Through mass emails, social posts, and other mobilization efforts, Exodus Cry joined with other key allies across the state to help reach millions of people through this campaign.
We were even able to do a screening of our film Buying Her in the state Capitol, for state leaders, educating them on how sex buyers are fueling sex trafficking in the US.
A district attorney who has been a key mobilizer for the bill shared this about the screening:
“How awesome is it to see a human trafficking film and education taking place in the halls of the state Capitol!... I'm so grateful and proud... We ARE changing how California sees and addresses this problem. We ARE winning in the fight.”
While we celebrate this partial victory, we know there’s more work to be done and we’re ready to continue advocating for strengthening this legislation in the coming months.
Thank you to all of you who added your voice to this campaign, whether through social media or by calling California’s legislators.
Our collective voice has resounded amidst the leaders of America’s most populous state and we are seeing historic breakthroughs!
Exodus Cry’s Freedom Gala
If you want to help support more campaigns like these to protect children, create films that impact lawmakers at the highest levels of government, and provide services to trafficked women so they can find freedom, consider attending our freedom gala next month!
You’re cordially invited to this elegant evening of celebrating victories and casting vision for how, together, we can further the fight to uproot trafficking in 2025.
Demi-Leigh Tebow, who helps lead the Tim Tebow Foundation with her husband Tim, will be joining us as a guest speaker this year, and you’ll also hear from survivors and Exodus Cry leaders about how you can play a critical role in this fight.
Celebrate with us on Saturday, October 26 at the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point, California!
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