To the editor:

My wife and I attended the sex trafficking informational event co-sponsored by the New Ulm Police Department (NUPD) and the New Ulm Human Rights Commission (NUHRC) held at Martin Luther College (MLC) on January 19. I would like to thank both organizations and the headline speaker for a most eye opening and real life look at this scourge that affects even our small town areas.

A recent January 26 letter to the editor signed by most (but not all) members of the NUHRC took issue with the headline speaker for expressing her personal views on transgender issues. Apparently the NUHRC approved of the speakers presentation on sex trafficking, but was disappointed when the speaker “strayed” from the initial topic during the question and answer portion of the presentation. I would like to suggest it wasn’t the speakers intent to offend the LGBTQ community with her comments. It wasn’t until SOMEONE (I don’t know who) in the audience asked a loaded LGBTQ question that the speaker addressed the issue.

Throughout the speakers presentation, the speaker shared her extremely personal story and opinions. To say her experience was awful would be an understatement. I applaud her for having the courage to live through that, recover, and then share her experience with us and others. The speaker spoke of her childhood challenges, her drug addiction, having an abortion, and being sex trafficked by her controllers. Throughout her presentation she spoke from the heart and gave every credit to our Lord Jesus for eventually saving her from the mess her life had become.

When the speaker was asked an LBGTQ question, I think her initial reaction was of being caught off guard. I think the speaker simply spoke from her heart as she had all evening. She prefaced her remarks by very clearly saying her comments were her own personal views as they related to sex trafficking. The message I received was that sex trafficking perpetrators aren’t concerned with the transgendered issue. They are interested in taking advantage of girls from as young as age 12.

Shame on the NUHRC for critcizing this courageous young woman for simply sharing her personal opinion on LBGTQ issues as they relate to the sex trafficking industry. I would expect more “tolerance” and love from such an organization.

Paul Platz

Lafayette