Items written by Michelle Madden Dempsey

• A Damaging Distortion of Human Trafficking: Sound of Freedom

  Date: May 7, 2025

  When Sound of Freedom was released in July of 2023, the film earned nearly $20 million its first week in theaters. It has since grossed over $250 million worldwide.  Sound of Freedom tells the “true” story of former US Special … Read more about A Damaging Distortion of Human Trafficking: Sound of Freedom »

• A Fairy Tale or False Hope?: the Romanticization of Commercial Sex in Pretty Woman

  Date: May 5, 2025

  Released in 1990, the movie Pretty Woman is widely regarded as a classic romantic comedy that portrays the unlikely love story between a woman in prostitution and a wealthy businessman. Earning over $400 million in box office sales worldwide, it … Read more about A Fairy Tale or False Hope?: the Romanticization of Commercial Sex in Pretty Woman »

• New York Man Arrested by Throop Police for Prostitution Charges

  Date: May 1, 2025

  On April 4, David Hartman, 56, of Rochester, was arrested after allegedly attempting to exchange money and drugs for sex. As a result, Hartman was charged with manufacturing, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, criminal use of … Read more about New York Man Arrested by Throop Police for Prostitution Charges »

• Sanitizing the Sex Trade in Film: Anora

  Date: April 30, 2025

  The portrayal of prostitution in cinema has traditionally been filled with depictions that overlook or avoid the problematic nature of commercial sexual exploitation. Over the years, these portrayals have generally fallen into four main categories: normalization,  sensationalization, glamorization, and sanitization. … Read more about Sanitizing the Sex Trade in Film: Anora »

• Staged for the Male Gaze: the Objectification of Women in Music Videos

  Date: April 21, 2025

  In the captivating realm of music videos, where artistic expression is paramount, a concerning trend consistently appears across various genres: the objectification of women. Whether in pop, hip-hop, R&B or rock, the portrayal of women in music videos frequently reduces … Read more about Staged for the Male Gaze: the Objectification of Women in Music Videos »

• Beyond The ‘Happy Ending’: The Truth Behind Illicit Massage Businesses

  Date: April 15, 2025

  The commercial sex industry has evolved in many troubling ways in recent years, with the illicit massage business being one of the most widespread forms of exploitation in the United States. Behind what is often a flippant reference to a … Read more about Beyond The ‘Happy Ending’: The Truth Behind Illicit Massage Businesses »

• Dauphin County Man Charged with Orchestrating Human Trafficking Operation

  Date: April 10, 2025

  On March 25, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the arrest of Michael C. Choma, 45, of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania for allegedly orchestrating a human trafficking operation for several years throughout Dauphin County and Cumberland County. According to the Attorney General’s … Read more about Dauphin County Man Charged with Orchestrating Human Trafficking Operation »

• Minnesota Ex-Senator Charged with Soliciting Sex from a Minor

  Date: April 10, 2025

  Earlier this month, Bloomington Police arrested former Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn after he allegedly attempted to solicit sex from a minor. Following his arrest, Eichorn, 40, of Grand Rapids, was formally federally charged with attempted coercion and enticement of … Read more about Minnesota Ex-Senator Charged with Soliciting Sex from a Minor »

• Law Enforcement or Law Corruption: Shifting the Focus in Police Paid-Sex Stings

  Date: April 9, 2025

  At the time this article is being written, both buying and selling sex is illegal under Pennsylvania law. One way that law enforcement attempts to identify individuals endeavoring to solicit or engage in illegal sexual activity is through the use … Read more about Law Enforcement or Law Corruption: Shifting the Focus in Police Paid-Sex Stings »

• Three Philadelphia Hotels to Pay $17.5 Million to Trafficking Survivors

  Date: April 8, 2025

  On March 13, 2025, the owners of a Motel 6, Days Inn, and North American Motor Inn in Philadelphia agreed to pay $17.5 million to three women who were sex trafficked at the hotels. The plaintiffs, who were between 14 … Read more about Three Philadelphia Hotels to Pay $17.5 Million to Trafficking Survivors »