Opinion: How does a crackdown on child sex trafficking adversely impact the LGBTQ community?

Sherman R. Frederick/Properly Subversive

So, in California legislators are considering Senate Bill 1414, a proposed law that would increase the penalties for child sex trafficking and the solicitation of sex from minors.

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It came to a hearing in the Assembly and this happened. 

Activists opposed the bill because it “impacts” marginalized communities, particularly LGBTQ folk and people with black or brown skin. 

Here is Isabella Borgeson representing the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights:

“I’d like to acknowledge the survivors [of sex trafficking] here today and name that we all have the shared goal of protecting children from harm. We are concerned that the harsher penalties contained in this bill will disproportionately impact marginalized communities, particularly (LGBTQ) black and brown individuals who already bear the brunt of systemic biases within our criminal justice system.”

I’m not sure what, exactly, it is that would make the black, brown and LGBTQ communities more at risk for increased penalties for child sex trafficking. 

Look, I’m not endorsing SB1414. It’s still swirling around the Legislature. If it makes it easier for “the system” to put away legit child sex predators, I’m all for it. 

I’m just challenging the argument that sexual orientation and skin color somehow come into the discussion. It doesn’t. Stop it. 

That’s all I’m saying. 

(If you want to dig more into the issues at hand, here’s an article from Point. And here’s an argument from Reason. Have at it.)

See the full column here.