Survivor of Sex Trafficking; Co-Founder, Organization for Prostitution Survivors; Project Coordinator, Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative
Noel Gomez
Noel Gomez was trafficked by an adult “boyfriend” as a teenager after growing up in an abusive household and becoming pregnant and homeless at the age of fifteen. Every time she escaped her trafficker, he re-abducted her, and barely survived various forms of sexual exploitation, beatings, rape, and death threats by her pimp until she finally managed to exit the sex trade at age 32. Today, Ms. Gomez uses her lived experience to advocate on behalf of survivors of sex trafficking and prostitution.
“If someone weren’t offering money, you wouldn’t have sex with him. You’re choosing the money because you need it to survive. If you don’t have food, if you don’t have a home, you don’t have a choice. The misconception is that prostitution is glamorous, and will get you where you want to go but you don’t realize it is killing your soul. It is so much work to find out who you are, if you ever get out. You become a different person and don’t realize how much damage it is doing to you physically, spiritually, and emotionally. The harmful effects will eventually take over your psyche and soul.”