A Republican lawmaker is battling to have pornography classed as a “public health hazard.”
Republican Jena Powell has spearheaded House Resolution 180, which argues that pornography is a “public health hazard with statewide and national public health impacts leading to a broad spectrum of individual and societal harms."
Citing the negative health and relational effects of consuming pornography, Powell also highlights the clear links between pornographic production and sex trafficking.
“We are saying enough is enough. We’re tired of the exploitation of women and children in Ohio,” she told Dayton Daily News.
Speaking to CBN News, Powell added that some “88% of pornography shows violence towards women, and of that 88%, 95% of it shows a positive or neutral reaction from women.”
“It's increasing a culture of violence,” she added.
But Powell is not alone in this fight against the sordid porn industry, which turns over a staggering $90+ billion of revenue a year.
Lawmakers who have put their name to the non-binding resolution include Nino Vitale, R-Urbana; Candice Keller, R-Middletown; Kyle Koehler, R-Springfield; George Lang, R-West Chester Twp.; Bill Dean, R-Xenia, and J. Todd Smith, R-Farmersville.
But criticism of pornographic material is also being issued from the other side of the political aisle. Indeed, just a couple weeks back, Democratic Presidential hopeful Andrew Yang tweeted:
“As a parent of young kids I believe rampant access to pornography is a real problem. We need to empower families to be able to moderate what our kids see and when.”
As a parent of young kids I believe rampant access to pornography is a real problem. We need to empower families to be able to moderate what our kids see and when.
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) September 20, 2019
Many warned Yang that he’d be lambasted for his courage in speaking out on the issue.
“Thank you for being brave enough to say this and addressing it publicly,” replied Abby Johnson, the former abortion clinic worker who is now a pro-life advocate. “Unfortunately, many people on your side of the aisle will mock you for it...think about that.”
Indeed, the use of pornography has become widespread among young people, leading to many issues as they grow up – notably, the inability to nurture a healthy and loving relationship.
“The use of pornography in the younger age demographic is becoming more and more common,” Powell added to Dayton Daily News. “When you look at people around you, you can see the hardships that addiction to pornography have on families.”
“This has been a big movement around the United States, to declare it a public health crisis, because that is what it is.”
Photo courtesy: Jena Powell Twitter
