Issues, Etc. A New York Times Story on Human Trafficking and Exploitation of Children in Los Angeles – Nathanael Blake, 10/31/25 (3044)
Oct 31, 2025
Nathanael Blake, a Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and senior contributor to The Federalist, dives into a poignant discussion on child sex trafficking in Los Angeles. He highlights how policy decisions, particularly around defunding police and repealing loitering laws, have exacerbated the issue. Blake critiques the prioritization of LGBT activism over child protection, linking it to the political landscape. He emphasizes the need for a compassionate Christian response and discusses the dangers of normalizing sex work.
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Loitering Law Repeal Enabled Traffickers
- The New York Times exposed expanding child sex trafficking on L.A.'s Figueroa Street known as The Blade.
- Repealing loitering-with-intent laws removed a key police tool to identify and rescue trafficked minors.
Policy Framed As Rights Had Harmful Effects
- State Senator Scott Wiener spearheaded the repeal citing profiling concerns tied to LGBT and minority communities.
- Blake argues the law's removal practically handed control of the streets to sex traffickers and increased exploitation of children.
Why Critics Fear Challenging The Lobby
- The LGBTQ lobby exerts influence via money and ideology, creating reluctance to critique its agenda.
- Blake says questioning parts of sexual-liberation orthodoxy risks unraveling the larger ideological structure.
