Prostitution In OKC

[BBatesokc]

Sad day for Oklahoma and the fight against human trafficking. Received a message today that Oklahoman's Against Trafficking (OATH) is being dissolved immediately. They really helped create awareness to this problem.

[Jim Kyle]

Did they give any reason?

[BBatesokc]

Did they give any reason?

From their Facebook page and an email I received.....

"It is with sadness that we announce the resignation of Mark Elam as Executive Director of OATH, Inc. After much deliberation the OATH Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to dissolve OATH Inc. The primary reasons for our decision are the lack of funds to pay an Executive Director and lack of required board members needed to lead OATH initiatives.

We want to thank Mr. Elam and OATH’s many volunteers for their hard work in the fight against human trafficking; because of them, statewide awareness and training on the issue of human trafficking has increased. While the work of OATH Inc. is coming to an end, it is our hope that awareness may continue to grow in order to assist victims caught in the trap of trafficking, whether foreign or domestic, labor or sexual, adult or minor.

Because OATH is in the process of being dissolved, we are asking all agencies and organizations to PLEASE REMOVE OATH INC from their websites and future events. We are concerned about victims or other individuals seeking information from a resource that no longer exists. Should a person need to contact the OATH Inc. Board during this transition period an email has been set up for official business: oath.board@gmail.com.

NOTE: The OATH facebook page will remain up as the OATH Board works through the details of dissolving OATH Inc. over the next month. All websites and phone numbers are in the process of being taken down."


I posted this in response....

"While I am very saddened to see an organization such as OATH dissolved - It would have been the right thing to do to have left the OATH website up with a message directing individuals to other resources in their area. Also, it would have been possible to have coordinated this dismantlement with other non-profits so as to continue to take steps forward and not a step back in the fight against human trafficking. Volunteers and resources could have been dispersed and shared amongst those organizations that will have to fill the void OATH has left.

This seems sudden and not well thought out as many of OATH"s activities could have been continued with a base of volunteers (a paid executive director is not a necessity).

Not trying to be abrasive, but this is a topic close to my heart and I would have preferred to have seen it handled differently.

I wish Mark well on his future endeavors."

[Jim Kyle]

Sounds as if they ran out of funds and volunteer board members about the same time. As I'm sure you are aware, maintaining a web site costs money, so if they became flat broke they would not be able to maintain it. Non-profit groups operating under 501-C-3 are not allowed to display advertising except for themselves, so the route of having a site supported by click-through charges would not be available to them (I'm assuming that they were, indeed, such a non-profit organization). That's rather unfortunate, but the universe doesn't always allow us to do things as we would prefer...

[BBatesokc]

Sounds as if they ran out of funds and volunteer board members about the same time. As I'm sure you are aware, maintaining a web site costs money, so if they became flat broke they would not be able to maintain it. Non-profit groups operating under 501-C-3 are not allowed to display advertising except for themselves, so the route of having a site supported by click-through charges would not be available to them (I'm assuming that they were, indeed, such a non-profit organization). That's rather unfortunate, but the universe doesn't always allow us to do things as we would prefer...

Are you sure? I know some that allow advertising and they simply claim it as 'unrelated business taxable income' and fill out a 990-T. Even then not all advertising is taxable.

Also, a website such as their's can be maintained FREE via numerous providers (weebly being just one) or for as little as $5/month.

No Boundaries has over a dozen full time staffers and not a one receives a dime in salary.

[Jim Kyle]

I'm on the boatd of a 501-C-3 organization (volunteer, just as are all the other officers and board members) and our legal beagle insists that we cannot even advertise back issues of our quarterly magazine, or surplus copies of class yearbooks, for sale without endangering our non-profit status. Additionally, we cannot solicit contributions for other charitable organizations.

Perhaps our legal adviser is being a bit over-conservative; I haven't studied the regulations myself.

[BBatesokc]

I think he's/she's being very conservative, and possibly to your organization's detriment. I just asked a CPA friend of mine and he said non-profits do this sort of thing all the time, but they need to keep very good records. The examples he used where advertising in church bulletins, neighborhood newsletters, and advertising on event t-shirts and ever sponsorships that specifically provide advertising for the 'sponsors.' Also mentioned that tons of non-profits run basically retail stores either in brick and mortar buildings or online. Don't know if that falls into what you were referring to.

[jerrywall]

Sad day for Oklahoma and the fight against human trafficking. Received a message today that Oklahoman's Against Trafficking (OATH) is being dissolved immediately. They really helped create awareness to this problem.

This is a shame. I feel like there could have been plenty of options that they didn't possibly pursue. I know I work on the board of several non-profits and it seems like there are always options. My grandfather founded orgs such as Oklahomans Against Pornography so I grew up in that world (although I didn't always agree with his goals).

[Bunty]

And so apathy ruled in the end. I think most activist organizations find this a big problem. For another example of how that goes: Stillwater Watchdogs | Citizens for Fiscally Responsible City Government

[BBatesokc]

And so apathy ruled in the end. I think most activist organizations find this a big problem. For another example of how that goes: Stillwater Watchdogs | Citizens for Fiscally Responsible City Government

I wouldn't agree with that. The topic of prostitution and human trafficking has never been so popular. Conferences that used to barely draw an audience are not packed and often standing room only. Churches used to refuse to address this topic and are now donating large sums to combat this problem and embracing communities suffering from it. The FBI named the OATH director as Citizen of the Year.

There is more at work with OATH's demise than is being made public.


Fox25 did a brief piece on them last night.... Pioneering Anti-Human Trafficking Group Shuts Down

[Bunty]

I wouldn't agree with that. The topic of prostitution and human trafficking has never been so popular. Conferences that used to barely draw an audience are not packed and often standing room only. Churches used to refuse to address this topic and are now donating large sums to combat this problem and embracing communities suffering from it. The FBI named the OATH director as Citizen of the Year.

There is more at work with OATH's demise than is being made public.


Fox25 did a brief piece on them last night.... Pioneering Anti-Human Trafficking Group Shuts Down

What an odd shame they had to stop while interest in it had apparently been building up. Sounds like they didn't have enough money to hire a new director, so they shut down. Probably no one wanted to volunteer to be a director for little or no compensation as well. I think only large non profit organizations need or can afford a paid director.

[BBatesokc]

Last week OKC participated in a nationwide federal crackdown on organized prostitution and human trafficking. Dozens arrested for charged ranging from aiding and abetting, to solicitation to even human trafficking.

Most likely will be all over the news today. Several juveniles were taken into protective custody.

[MsProudSooner]

Last week OKC participated in a nationwide federal crackdown on organized prostitution and human trafficking. Dozens arrested for charged ranging from aiding and abetting, to solicitation to even human trafficking.

Most likely will be all over the news today. Several juveniles were taken into protective custody.

FBI arrests 150 in three days in sex-trafficking sweep

[BBatesokc]

Might not get any press - but a high profile pimp and human trafficker - Mario Diaz - pleaded guilty on Tuesday and was sentenced to 10yrs in prison (far too light in my opinion - same judge gave a woman LIFE for shoplifting handbags).

OKC pimp featured on America?s Most Wanted pleads guilty to prostitution related crimes | JohnTV

He was previously featured on Lifetime and AMW....



The woman depicted in the AMW is most likely the shorter woman in the photo below I took on S. Robinson Ave. (Heather).

[kelroy55]

She looks cute, at least from the back.

[Bunty]

Might not get any press - but a high profile pimp and human trafficker - Mario Diaz - pleaded guilty on Tuesday and was sentenced to 10yrs in prison (far too light in my opinion - same judge gave a woman LIFE for shoplifting handbags).

Maybe the judge got sick and tired of seeing her back in his courtroom for repeated criminal charges, so he thought he would just get rid of her for the rest of his life.

[BBatesokc]

Maybe the judge got sick and tired of seeing her back in his courtroom for repeated criminal charges, so he thought he would just get rid of her for the rest of his life.

She - the handbag thief - I don't believe was ever in front of Elliot previously. He simply looked at her page2 (priors) and made an irrational call (IMO). I personally don't care how many times you steal from a retailer - it never deserves life in prison if violence was never a factor.

However, Diaz the pimp also had a lengthy page2 but got a slap on the wrist. The difference between the two IMO is that Diaz's criminal activity creates a large wake of victimization upon individuals and the community. The handbag thief - not so much.

[BBatesokc]

Some here might find this interesting. This is a montage of interviews featuring a woman who was prostituted in Oklahoma from the age of 12.

Some here have already seen part of this video, but other parts are new. I think it gives an interesting and local insight to one woman's journey from since I've known her (2001 - 2013).

Its a 38 minute video, so get comfortable.

[ThomPaine]

Don't really have an opinion on this one way or the other, but a good example of another country's take on the problem.

Zurich opens drive-in 'sex boxes' in a new experiment with its legal prostitution trade | Fox News

Fashionably teak-colored open wooden garages, popularly called "sex boxes" by the Swiss media, will be open for business for drive-in customers. The several dozen sex workers who are expected to make it their new hub will stand along a short road in a small, circular park for clients to choose from and negotiate with. The park was built in a former industrial area nestled between a rail yard and the fence along a major highway.

The publicly funded facilities — open all night and located away from the city center — includes bathrooms, lockers, small cafe tables and a laundry and shower. Men won't have to worry about video surveillance cameras, but the sex workers — who will need a permit and pay a small tax — will be provided with a panic button and on-site social workers trained to look after them.

[Bunty]

I'd sooner have it has a motel converted into a big whore house. The hookers would pose in the room windows.

[kevinpate]

OKC has publicly funded locations for the sex trade to hold their meet and greets. Of course, these are not dedicated spaces and are simply called parks, alleys and parking lots.

[kelroy55]

OKC has publicly funded locations for the sex trade to hold their meet and greets. Of course, these are not dedicated spaces and are simply called parks, alleys and parking lots.

Parking lots? I knew I was forgetting to check somewhere.

[kevinpate]

Parking lots? I knew I was forgetting to check somewhere.

Parking lots, stop lights, slow moving multi-lane roads. One down side to driving a taller vehicle is sometimes learning TMI about other travelers. Over the years it's been fairly clear there's more than a few folks who lack the capability or willngness ito just go and get a room.

[kelroy55]

Parking lots, stop lights, slow moving multi-lane roads. One down side to driving a taller vehicle is sometimes learning TMI about other travelers. Over the years it's been fairly clear there's more than a few folks who lack the capability or willngness ito just go and get a room.

or tinted windows on their car.

[MonkeesFan]

I am probably the only one here who thinks paying for sex as a crime is ridiculous and stupid, it is just sex, there is alot of worst crimes out there than paying for sex