The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Haley Halverson: We Must Stop Minimizing the Sexual Abuse of Boys

By Haley Halverson 

Stephanie Peterson, a former middle school teacher in New Smyrna Beach Florida, has been arrested after she was accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy.

However, if you go by most major news coverage you will find headline after headline characterizing this crime as “having sex,” a “sexual relationship,” or even a “sex romp.”

This 14-year-old boy was not “having sex” with his teacher. He was being sexually abused.

The 14-year-old boy in question was first in Peterson’s class when he was in 7th grade. In 8th grade, he worked as a teacher’s aid for her. Peterson began sending him nude images on Instagram and Snapchat and buying him marijuana, in addition to sexually abusing him.

Read the whole article here.

The Numbers

300+

NCOSE leads the Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation with over 300 member organizations.

100+

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation has had over 100 policy victories since 2010. Each victory promotes human dignity above exploitation.

93

NCOSE’s activism campaigns and victories have made headlines around the globe. Averaging 93 mentions per week by media outlets and shows such as Today, CNN, The New York Times, BBC News, USA Today, Fox News and more.

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