Press Release: Billboard to Expose Harms of Pornography Goes Up in Alabama

Public Awareness Raised About Public Health Crisis of Porn

Washington, DC – The Alabama Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation (ALACESE) and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) recently created a billboard on 65-South overlooking downtown Birmingham, AL, in order to raise awareness about the multi-faceted harms of pornography. This billboard highlights the links between porn and sex trafficking, child exploitation, and lifelong addictions, and links to the website PornHarms.com.

“This billboard represents the ability of grassroots efforts to make a significant difference in a community,” said Dawn Hawkins, Executive Director of NCOSE. “While pornography is an epidemic that reaches nearly every family in America, too few people have done the research necessary to recognize the far-reaching damages that pornography causes. The ALACESE billboard will serve a vital purpose by educating the public about the truth of porn, and how it contributes to a culture of sexual violence, while also harming all of those who take part in it.”

Due to her growing concern about children becoming addicted to pornography as well as
the sex trafficking epidemic, Birmingham-based marriage and family therapist, Melea Stephens, along with others, formed the Alabama Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation.  ALACESE is an extension chapter of NCOSE opposing sexual exploitation and indecency through public education, community activism, and application of the law. Billboards, radio interviews, awareness events, and school prevention programs are just a few of the ways ALACESE is working to interrupt the problems associated with sexual exploitation.

In 2013, another billboard revealing the harms of pornography was raised on I-20, leading to an increase in public awareness. A picture of the latest billboard is attached to this email.

If you would like to schedule a local Alabama interview, Melea Stephens (205) 746-6967 or [email protected]. For interviews with NCOSE please contact Haley Halverson at (202) 393-7245 or [email protected].

About National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE)

Founded in 1962, National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) is the leading national organization dedicated to opposing pornography by highlighting the links to sex trafficking, violence against women, child abuse, and addiction. Our scope and mission to expose the seamless connection between all forms of sexual exploitation.