Human trafficking is in Wyo. -- including at CFD

BY DENISE PARRISH

No matter how often locals want to deny it, human trafficking happens in Wyoming. It has occurred for decades, and it continues in not so subtle ways. 

Many of these denials are expressions of naivete. Others are from those who do not want to admit to any stain on our community. Instead of denying the existence of this

heinous crime, we should seek it out and shout it out from the rooftops.  

Only when we admit a problem can we begin to eliminate it.

Facts, statistics and plain old common sense tell us human trafficking occurs in Wyoming. Consider the following:

1 – Two major interstate highways make it easy to move victims from city to city and state to state.  Just look at some of the human trafficking crimes that have been prosecuted in Wyoming with victims originally from other states – many of them runaways.  It is estimated that 1 in 6 child runaways will be a victim of sex trafficking.

2 – A rank of the 7th highest state in terms of the percentage of missing persons.Law enforcement statistics show missing persons of 7.8 for every 100,000 people in Wyoming. Many of the missing are young runaways or teens taken in nefarious circumstances.  It is estimated that 28 percent of the youth living on the street have survival sex – most of it falling in the category of sex trafficking. 

3 – Oil and gas development.Texas and North Dakota oil and gas industries, as well as government officials, have admitted there is a problem with increased sex workers in their drilling areas. And many of those are victims of sex trafficking.  Do we think Wyoming is any different? 

4 – Cheyenne Frontier Days.  It is not the rodeo itself that creates the problem. Rather, it is found at any large event where money from illicit activities is to be made – major sporting events, large trade shows or conventions, major motorcycle rallies. With tens of billions of dollars made each year from human trafficking, there is a motive to go where the crowds go. The total money made worldwide from sex trafficking is ranked third in criminal activities. It is exceeded only by that associated with drugs and arms trafficking. 

5 – Craigslist ads for afternoon delights. Many were relieved when Backpage (a major website for sex ads) was shut down. The presumed that human trafficking would become harder. Yet take a look at Craigslist. It doesn’t take much imagination to see what people are buying and selling – throughout Wyoming. 

6 – Calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.  In about a 10-year period, calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline about activities in Wyoming identified more than 56 cases of sex and labor human trafficking. That included an estimated 60 to 100 victims. For a crime that is significantly underreported, this is a lot. One is too many. 

Human trafficking in Wyoming exists. It is OK to admit it. The next step is to give up complacency and acceptance. Bring it out of the shadows.  

If you believe you are a victim of human trafficking or suspect human trafficking is occurring, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888, available 24/7. Help is available in English or Spanish and many other languages. 

Denise Parrish is a Cheyenne resident and a member of the Zonta Club of Cheyenne which, with other Zonta volunteers, has focused over the past few years on raising awareness about human trafficking in our community.