“Kyler”
Survivor of Sex Trafficking; Activist; Educator
Kyler grew up in an upper middle class family in South Dakota. Duped by traffickers who plied him with drugs and alcohol, he quickly became ensnared in their prostitution ring, with threats of violence against both him and his parents keeping him in “the life.” Only after ten years as a victim of sex trafficking, and following a gang rape and torture by three men on an adult film set, did he find the courage to reach out to his family and come clean. Today, Kyler owns and runs his own health center, is a frequent speaker at universities, and regularly trains counselors, police, first responders, and others working with sex trafficking victims. A passionate volunteer, Kyler is dedicated to helping those who have been sexually exploited exit the sex trade and rebuild their lives.
“Never blame the prostituted person. You don’t know what they went through as a child. You don’t know if they were molested. You don’t know if they’re being forced into it. I was tricked. I was coerced. I was lied to. I was drugged. I was sold. My story is the story of millions of kids. If I could prevent one more child from becoming a victim—or inspire even one victim to find the courage to seek help—then I did what I came here for! It’s time never again to be silent! I’m here to tell you that this can happen to anyone—including boys. My buyers were husbands and fathers who had good careers—”straight” married men. I had everything taken away from me—my innocence and a healthy adolescence. As a survivor, I want you to know that you are loved and that you can survive whatever situation you are in!”