For a woman from Central Alabama, January is more than just Human Trafficking Awareness Month. It’s about sharing her story with those who need to hear it most. Shaylene Burlage says people generally have an idea about human trafficking. “When people think of human trafficking, they think of the big organized business of human trafficking,” Burlage said. “And that men and women are brought into one place and trafficked.” But she says there are actually many levels of human trafficking. For her, she says she was homeless and a drug addict. That makes them an easy target for those looking to make money. “I was laser-focused on drugs,” Burlage recalls. “I wasn’t focused on what was happening. All I wanted was my next hit.” That’s why, she says, she allowed people to arrange sexual encounters in exchange for drugs. Those who did the arranging were paid in cash. “I wasn’t paid cash, so I wasn’t a prostitute,” adds Burlage. “I just did what I had to do to get drugs. I was paid with drugs.” She says she didn’t even know she was a victim of human trafficking for years. She says she’s had a realization over the past few years. Burlage says there is one thing anyone can do when it comes to human trafficking. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a family member of human trafficking,” says Burlage. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a family member or a member of someone who’s homeless on the streets and addicted to drugs. Whether you are a victim of human trafficking, homelessness or addiction yourself, I will look you right into this camera and say, call on Jesus. Pray! Pray first and He will bring you out.” Burlage says her focus now is on public relations. She spends time talking to the homeless and drug addicts, giving them hope and love.
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama —
For a woman from Central Alabama, January is more than just Human Trafficking Awareness Month. It’s about sharing her story with those who need to hear it most.
Shaylene Burlage says people generally have an idea about human trafficking.
“When people think of human trafficking, they think of the big organized business of human trafficking,” Burlage said. “And that men and women are brought into one place and traded.”
But she says there are actually many levels of human trafficking. For her, she says she was homeless and a drug addict. That makes them an easy target for those looking to make money.
“I was laser-focused on drugs,” Burlage recalls. “I wasn’t focused on what was happening. All I wanted was my next hit.”
That’s why she says she allowed people to organize sexual encounters in exchange for drugs. Those who did the arranging were paid in cash.
“I wasn’t paid cash, so I wasn’t a prostitute,” adds Burlage. “I just did what I had to do to get drugs. I would be paid in drugs.”
She says she didn’t even know for years that she was a victim of human trafficking. She says she’s had a realization over the past few years. Burlage says there is one thing anyone can do when it comes to human trafficking.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a family member of human trafficking,” says Burlage. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a family member or a member of someone who’s homeless on the streets and addicted to drugs. Whether you are a victim of human trafficking, homelessness or addiction yourself, I will look you right into this camera and say, call on Jesus. Pray! Pray first and he will bring you out.”
Burlage says she is now focused on public relations. She spends time talking to the homeless and drug addicts, giving them hope and love.
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