Local anti-child sexual abuse activist Jenna Quinn has been chosen as the new national spokesperson for the anti-human trafficking organization Untrafficked.
“Jenna Quinn revolutionized the fight against child sex trafficking by authoring Jenna’s Law, and trained hundreds of organizations,” Untrafficked announced in a press release provided to The Dallas Express. “Having Jenna as our National Spokesperson brings [together] two iconic names that are mutually dedicated and highly committed to ending child sex trafficking in the United States.”
“This new relationship happened last week,” Quinn explained to The Dallas Express, noting that “it’s really exciting because it’s also Human Trafficking Awareness Month.”
Quinn noted that Untrafficked has “collaborated with law enforcement alliances and other organizations across the nation to successfully complete hundreds of rescues.”
“They are also helping lead in domestic child sex trafficking prevention with their Guardian Program, a really cool, very creative, kid-friendly, hands-on guide that tactfully and effectively equips parents on how to protect their children from the dangers of child sex trafficking,” Quinn highlighted. “It also equips them on how they can protect their neighborhoods and communities from being groomed online and through other methods.”
“They are going to be really strong partners in helping promote resources for people,” she asserted in reference to Untrafficked.
Quinn, a survivor of child sexual abuse, has led initiatives in Texas and other states, as well as before the U.S. Congress, to pass laws designed to prevent the abuse of children.
Legislation pioneered by Quinn, known as “Jenna’s Law,” was first passed in Texas in 2009, with state Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) leading the package through the process.
The law mandates that “each school district shall adopt and implement a policy addressing sexual abuse of children,” which requires “methods for increasing teacher, student, and parent awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse of children, including knowledge of likely warning signs indicating that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse.”
Since then, 27 states have passed similar laws, including Oregon, Utah, Missouri, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina.
The federal version of the legislation, named the “Jenna Quinn Law,” has been introduced by Texas Senator John Cornyn (R) in two different sessions of Congress and unanimously passed the Senate twice, in 2020 and 2022, before being halted in the House, where it has not been brought to the floor for a vote.
“I believe it’s been politicized … so, unfortunately, it never even got a hearing,” Quinn suggested. “The House just simply didn’t prioritize it.”
“The Jenna Quinn Law is really important federally for two reasons,” Quinn explained. “One, it is helpful because it will promote these trainings for child sexual abuse prevention, intervention, and response. But then also the second equally important piece is the funding.”
“There’s very little funding out there for prevention,” she said. “So this federal funding is going to allocate resources from the Department of Health and Human Services specifically for awareness and prevention training for communities.”
“We have very high hopes federally going into this session,” Quinn expressed in light of the newly Republican-controlled House.
Quinn credited the success and impact of her efforts to God, noting, “The only reason I’m able to do this is because of my faith in God, because of my faith and the hope that has carried me.”
Untrafficked and Quinn will be headlining the upcoming Night of Hope event in Tempe, Arizona, on February 10 to raise awareness and help prevent the sexual exploitation that occurs surrounding the Super Bowl.
“We are going to partner on Night of Hope, which is on Super Bowl weekend,” she said. “The Super Bowl is, unfortunately, the Super Bowl of trafficking as well.”
Previous estimates from the McCain Institute have suggested that upwards of 10,000 people are trafficked during Super Bowl Weekend. Untrafficked and Quinn are working to be a part of the solution by both preventing it from happening and assisting survivors.
