Junior year of high school, for an English class, I gave a presentation on sex trafficking. Doing the research for that speech floored me.

21 million people are slaves and victims of human trafficking with about 4.5 million is related to the sex industry.

Every time I hear it my heart sinks into my gut. Yet, I did not yet realize that this speech, thenceforth fueled by a passion to end trafficking, was the beginning of a new, more broad passion.

Ending pornography.

Thankfully, I'm not the only one who has this mindset; there is a brilliant organization dedicated to fighting the porn industry. They are Fight the New Drug. It is quite possible that you've seen their ads or products. They make shirts bearing the bold and correct statement "Porn Kills Love," and "Stop the Demand," and "Love Can't be Clicked," and my personal favorite, "Fight for Love." They also produce videos discussing the harmful effects of pornography. They focus very much on the heart and love, while of course touching on the science of it. However, there is another group that primarily does research on what happens psychologically, they are Your Brain on Porn.

So, how does this relate to 21 million victims of human trafficking and 4.5 million victims of sex trafficking, you ask? Well, along with the emotional problems that porn causes both in our minds and relationships, pornography also creates a demand for sex trafficking victims that are then forced to "star" in this destructive entertainment empire. It's time we do something about it. It's time we became active and unified for the welfare of more than just our internet privacy, but the good of millions around the world.

As a Christian, I was against pornography because of my beliefs about how and why God created humans and our bodies, but this goes beyond this, so much so that even those who are not affiliated with any specific religion acknowledge the harmful effects of the pornographic industry and have teamed up with these groups and a plethora of others to combat the industry of pornography. Porn is something that many of us, men and women, have been around or struggled with. But now, I do not write this article to you only as a Christian man who has struggled with pornography and overcome it by the grace of God, but I also write as a fellow human being concerned with the welfare of others.

I am not here to write out all the facts of why it is a problem in our society. You can find all that information on Fight the New Drug and Your Brain on Porn, as well as the websites of other like-minded organizations.

I am writing this to call any and all those who read this and see the problem we are facing as an online and offline community, both men and women, to understand the effects pornography has on us all. Join the cause to fight for love and reestablish healthy understandings of sex, love, and relationships. The fantasy of porn is not the reality we have or need.

Together we can fight for love. Will you?

Here is the video that first showed me the connection between pornography and sex trafficking. It is also the first video by Fight the New Drug that I saw.

They have more at their website! Visit both Fight the New Drug and Your Brain on Porn to read more about how pornography affects us all!

Join the fight, refuse to click!