Lawrence Taylor: Hall of Shame
Download: Lesson Plans to Combat Sexual Exploitation
 Hall of Fame NFL linebacker, Lawrence Taylor, pleaded not guilty to an indictment that alleges he paid a pimp $300 to have sex with a 16-year-old girl. He was indicted on third-degree rape, patronizing a prostitute, sexual abuse and endangering a child. The pimp is accused of assaulting the teenager before forcing her to Taylor's hotel room. The girl had texted her uncle for help who then alerted the police. According to court papers Taylor admitted to sex acts with the girl but was told she was 19. In 2004 during a tearful 60 Minutes interview, Taylor admitted to spending about $1,000 daily on escort services, often calling six prostitutes a day saying, "It was a hell of an expensive party, let me tell you. That party never ended!" Based on his recent indictment, it seems like the "party" might finally be ending for LT who faces four years in prison if convicted. But I can only imagine what the "party" must feel like for the tens of thousands of young girls and boys who are sold, bought and forced into performing sexual acts. Nationally, the "party" involves hundreds of thousands of children and women. It is estimated that each year up to 300,000 male and female youth are at risk for becoming victims of sexual exploitation and prostitution. Sex trafficking is occurring all around us in massage parlors, spas, strip clubs and urban and suburban streets and homes. Pimps, like Taylors', use a variety of methods to control their victims including starvation, confinement, beatings physical abuse, rape, gang rape and threats of violence. This is not a "victimless" crime! The average age that people are being recruited into the sex trade is now twelve years old.
This human carnage will not end until you and I help eliminate the "demand" for paid sex and educate men to understand their participation is destroying human lives. The demand for prostitution, human trafficking, pornography and all forms of sexual exploitation is created by two culturally accepted beleifs: men's sense of entitlement to sex and the subjugation of women. Men are socialized into believing they have a "right" to sex when they feel the need for sexual release. And since women are often viewed and treated as less than men, men learn to not only dominate women but also to eroticize their dominance.
To end this, Coach for America is committed to helping young men and women and those who coach, lead, teach or mentor them to become champions in fighting all forms of sexual violence. Unless we teach young people the causes and reality of sexual exploitation, the violence and harm experienced by these victims, the "party" will continue. As long as men justify, and our culture glorifies, women as sexual objects dissociated from their humanity, "the party" will continue. Coach for America has partnered with the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation to create 5 lesson plans for coaches, teachers, youth workers and all who speak to the lives of young people, influence young people to speak out and end human sex trafficking. To download these lesson plans, click here and request lesson plans from Coach for America through Brenda at our office.  |
Thanks to Rachel Durchslag, Executive Director at Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, for her commitment and dedication to end human trafficking and sexual exploitation and for her insight and input in creating these lessons. For more information contact her at rachel@caase.org.
Peace,
Joe Ehrmann
President, Coach for America |
