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To whom it
may Concern:
My name is
Anne Bissell. (www.annebissell.com, Voices for Justice).
Since 1997, I have helped women who are survivors of the sex industry
make the necessary changes so that they can be a productive participant
in their lives post-sexual exploitation, post-sex industry.
I have heard many heart-breaking stories. Wendy Barnes is one
of them. Wendy Barnes was victimized, terrorized by a notorious
Pimp. He forced her and other women into years of what we are
now calling "Modern Day Slavery."
Recently,
Wendy told her story for the first time on the April 26th KCET
(PBS) Life and Times program about former prostitutes. But the
term that more aptly applies is "prostituted," or "trafficked."
Unfortunately,
because of the way the system is now set up, Wendy is being forced
to register as a sex offender. She is NOT a sex offender. For
years, she had a gun held to her head, and her pimp threatened
to kill their mutual son if she didn't either turn tricks, or
do whatever else he commanded. He is getting out of prison in
2007 and Wendy is scared...very scared.
Wendy is a
loving, honest, hardworking woman, who is now a member of Sex
Industry Survivors in Orange County. Every Tuesday she drives
two hours each way in rush hour traffic to lead on of SISA's survivor
programs in a house for disadvantaged women in Pasadena.
We must begin
to realize that women are being trafficked right here in the United
States. We must fight for women like Wendy. I intend to. Please
support me in helping Wendy change these laws that re-victimize
women forced into prostitution. Keep in touch with us...the more
SISA meetings we can launch around the United States, and worldwide,
the stronger we will all be to fight against the insidious aspects
of commercialized sexual exploitation.
There are
now meetings in 25 cities, and we have a national hotline. Why
not call us, or email us...we can send you meeting formats and
other info....
Contact me
at:
sisasurvive@yahoo.com
Voices for Justice
Together we can make a difference.
Sincerely,
Anne Bissell
Executive Director
Voices for Justice/SISA
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