GEMS, Netflix, and the One and Only Beyonce

You might remember a post I wrote last year about the work GEMS (Girls Educational & Mentoring Services) is doing and the film "Very Young Girls." Thanks to @cfpdx for alerting me to the next development in the program--something that the likes of Beyonce, Halle Berry, and Netflix have teamed together for.

On July 7, Netflix will begin streaming the Showtime documentary "Very Young Girls," and high profile musicians and actresses will be using live events and "e-activism" to draw more attention to the fact that between 100,000-300,000 American children are victimized by child traffickers and pimps each year.

Beyonce says that she saw the documentary 6 months ago and has been inspired to try to help in whatever way she can. Besides visiting the girls at GEMS, Beyonce is inviting a group of the girls to be her special guests at an upcoming concert in New Jersey. She says,

"I realized that they were no different than I am. If I grew up with some of the struggles and challenges they have had to deal with and live with every day, I could have possibly been them and vice versa. After hearing the shocking stories of what those young ladies have gone through, I want to use my voice to do what I can to bring awareness to this horrific sex trafficking that happens right here in America."

You can find more information at The Council of Daughters and GEMS websites, and show your support by becoming a fan of Girls Are Not for Sale on Facebook here.

Between Beyonce's support for GEMS, and Paramore and The Fray spreading the word for Love146 at their concerts, it's good to see the music world taking an active interest in fighting child sex trafficking in America around the world.