Ecumenical Conference on Human Trafficking
Multiple Perspectives to Addressing this Complex Issue
Sponsored by National
Council of Churches – Justice for Women Working Group & United Methodist
Women’s Division United Methodist Seminar Program on National and
International Affairs
Open Space Report Title:
How can LGBTQ church members/organizations/allies be involved?
Convener:
Loey Powell powelll@ucc.org
List of participants:
Carmen Vianese, Mary Steufert, participant from Night Light USA
Discussion and recommendations:
- LGBTQ youth are trafficked, may experience further abuse by the systems set up to help victims, or may have difficult times finding safe shelter, safe space.
- Some children/youth who are trafficked for sex exploitation may not – and probably don’t have – a sense of their own sexual orientation or identity but are forced to perform either heterosexual or same-sex acts. If they enter recovery and rehab programs to assist victims, issues of their own sexual orientation/identity may be confusing to them given their experience.
- Churches that are welcoming/affirming of lgbtq members could consider providing safe space/shelter for such youth.
- Gay men could be helpful in discussions about the paradigmatic norm of masculinity and the need to open this up, engage with other men in the discussion.
- LGBTQ and gender issues are often closely related in analysis of why men abuse women or use boys/girls/women for sex.
- Congregations can foucs on their responsibility to those who are most vulnerable. LGBTQ youth who are trafficked, or who run away from home and end up on the streets selling their bodies should be among those who are most vulnerable – but churches CANNOT try to convert or change such youth. No strings! Just love, support, authenticity.
- This is also an issue in rural areas where there is often little visible support for LGBTQ persons/youth.