Sexual Abuse Survivor-Turned-Advocate Lambasts NY High Court Ruling on Child Pornography

Submitted by Ellen Hochschwender of the Alpha House of Tampa:

Sexual abuse survivor-turned-advocate Lauren Book lambasted a recent New York high court ruling that it’s not illegal to “merely” view child pornography. She called it “an alarming outrage that will open the door to increased acceptance of child sexual abuse.”

“Child pornography is a multi-billion dollar business that profits from the exploitation and spiritual devastation of children. This court ruling is an egregious assault on children’s rights that gives a lewd and lascivious license to pedophiles. By making it OK for adults to view child pornography on a computer, the sick industry that profits from the sexual exploitation of children just got a powerful legal boost,” Book said while visiting the this week. “A ruling like this only emboldens child pornographers and the twisted individuals who are their market. Unwittingly, the court has aided and abetted the porn industry.”

The mission of Lauren’s Kids is to prevent sexual abuse through awareness and education, and to help survivors heal with guidance and support. Armed with the knowledge that 95 percent of sexual abuse is preventable through education, Founder and CEO Book has worked to turn her horrific personal experience of sexual abuse into a vehicle for prevention, awareness and healing.

Lauren’s Kids educates adults and children about sexual abuse topics through in-school curriculum, a 24-hour Crisis Hotline and speaking engagements around the country. Lauren’s Kids holds an annual, statewide 'Walk in My Shoes' event, which brings together survivors and advocates, including residents of Alpha House of Tampa, on a walk across Florida to raise awareness and promote supportive legislation. Lauren is a People Magazine “All-Star Among Us” and published author of It’s Ok to Tell.

The picture portrays Book in the bedroom she sponsored in the “” project in the maternity residence in South Tampa.

The Alpha House of Tampa, 201 S. Tampania Ave., is a licensed maternity home providing residential services to pregnant women, foster care teens, young mothers and their children, including victims of sexual abuse, assault or exploitation.

The Alpha House of Tampa has 20 dormitory-style bedrooms in its maternity ward. Each room has a design team and an “adopter” that sponsors the room for a year. Lauren’s Kids is serving as an “adopter” for one room undergoing a renovation on Tuesday. The Lauren’s Kids design team will have 48-hours to implement their designs and completely make over the room.

In 2011, Alpha House created the " project in conjunction with its 30th anniversary. The initiative was started to make the dormitory-style housing into a more comfortable atmosphere that felt like a home.