AUSTIN (Nexstar) — On Wednesday, three Republican Texas senators announced new initiatives aimed at raising awareness of sex trafficking among men and boys in Texas.
In collaboration with Bob’s House of Hope, the Texas Trucking Association has launched a campaign featuring posters on the rear windows of trucks to provide the wider Texas community with resources.
“Sadly, as Texans, we always want to be number one in everything, but this is not a category we want to be number one. Technically we’re number two,” Texas Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, said at the conference at the Capitol. “It’s the second-worst state in the country for stopping human trafficking.”
The announcement of this initiative comes a day after Sexual Assault Survivors Day. While awareness of sex trafficking often centers around women and girls, Parker and fellow Senators Brent Hagenbuch, R-Denton, and Adam Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi, hope these posters will draw attention to the often-overlooked young men and boy victims. Parker noted that the victim demographic is about 50-50.
“We know we have an opportunity with our highway angels out there to really work with our communities to see something, say something,” said John Esparza of the Texas Trucking Association.
Each poster reads, “Boys are Sex Trafficked Too,” and includes a barcode where people can get more information along with a phone number to call for help. It also lists the Bob’s House of Hope website.
Bob’s House of Hope was founded by Bob Williams in 2021, and is the first safe house in the U.S for male sexual assault survivors.
“I think the most important thing we do is put God in these young men’s lives,” Williams said. “To let them understand that there is a chance at having a better life.”
Along with this initiative, Parker announced four new bills to continue the fight against human trafficking in Texas. They are as follows:
- Addressing bail reform to prevent traffickers from exploring loopholes
- Increasing penalties for traffickers who recruit victims in jail
- Sealing records for victims of trafficking to aid in their recovery and reintegration
- Increasing penalties for repeat offenders targeting vulnerable populations
“Essentially, folks, this is modern-day slavery, and we should not have that. No one should be subjected to that,” Hagenbuch said. “We have to all do our part and I’m glad the trucking industry is involved.”
