Shelley Lubben
Shelley Lubben (May 18, 1968 – February 9, 2019) was an American author, singer, motivational speaker, and pornographic actress. As a performer in the adult film industry, she was known professionally as Roxy.[1] After she left the sex industry, Lubben became a born-again Christian and anti-pornography activist.[2] From 2008 to 2016, she was the Executive Director of the Pink Cross Foundation, which reaches out to women and men in pornography and speaks in public forums, sharing about the hazardous working conditions that she experienced in the porn industry.[3][4] In January 2016, she closed the Pink Cross Foundation. She was also an ordained Chaplain with the Order of Saint Martin with a degree in Theological studies.[5]
Shelley Lubben | |
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![]() Shelley Lubben in 2011 | |
Born | |
Died | February 9, 2019 50) | (aged
Nationality | American |
Other names |
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Occupation | Nonprofit Executive Director |
Known for | Former pornographic actress turned anti-pornography activist |
Children | 3 |
Early life
Lubben was born on May 18, 1968 in Pasadena, California. In an interview with Howard Stern and Deseret News, Lubben stated that when she was nine years old, her brother and sister sexually abused her. Lubben worked as a prostitute from age 18 to 26. During this time, she became pregnant by one of her customers, and later gave birth to a daughter.[3]
Career
Adult industry
Lubben entered the adult film industry, while working as a prostitute, when she was 24 years old. During her time in the sex industry, she contracted herpes and HPV, which led to cervical cancer,[2][6][7] and resulted in the removal of half her cervix.[8] During and after her life in the sex industry, she battled alcohol and drug addictions.[2][9] During her pornographic career, which lasted from 1993–1994, Lubben appeared in about 15 hardcore movies. Lubben stated that the sex acts that women perform on film sets are physically harmful (including anal and uterine hemorrhaging), and psychologically traumatizing.[10]
Advocacy
Motto | Addicts Find Healing, Porn Stars Find Hope |
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Formation | 24 January 2007 |
Founder | Shelley Lubben |
Extinction | January 24, 2016 |
Type | Incorporated 501(c)(3) |
Purpose |
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Location |
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Region | United States |
Services | Advocacy for adult industry performers |
In 2005, Lubben initiated an aggressive online marketing campaign, utilizing social networking web sites in order to reach out to the sex industry. In 2008, Lubben established a faith-based organization called the Pink Cross Foundation.[11] The group concentrated on outreach to and evangelism of those in the porn industry, especially performers, and offers support to those wishing to leave the industry.[12][13] The organization solicited donations online and offered an online support forum for individuals that are addicted to drugs, sex, and pornography. When Lubben identified interested individuals, she sent care packages filled with religious literature, bibles, Christian music, local grocery and department store gift cards, and other spiritual and practical supports.[14] A secondary focus of Pink Cross was outreach to individuals seeking recovery from pornography addiction. Pink Cross attended pornography conventions to educate fans about how porn is not glamorous and also reaching out to porn stars and reminding them that they have options.[15]
The Pink Cross Foundation also lobbied against pornography and the adult entertainment industry.[16] Lubben supported California legislator Charles Calderon in his effort to tax the pornographic industry by speaking to lawmakers about her experiences.[17] Lubben indicated that the scenes on the set of a hardcore porn film often involve a woman and several men who are doing degrading acts to the woman.[14][18] Lubben described the scene of a hardcore porn film as devoid of intimacy, and described it as "all mechanical and beastly". She further wrote that "women are vomiting off the set, and most of the actors are doing drugs and alcohol."[14] In June 2010, she spoke to U.S. House and Senate members and their staffs in Washington DC about the damage that was done to her body from her time in the porn industry.[19] Moreover Lubben was outspoken regarding the illegal and hazardous working conditions in the industry, with sexually transmitted diseases being a workplace safety issue and public health concern.[20]
As of 2012, Lubben was presenting her personal experiences in the adult film industry in public forums and speaking out about her recovery process and the emotional, mental, and physical effects of pornography on performers.[21] In February 2011, she spoke at Cambridge University, where she presented on the harmful effects of pornography and debated the issue with advocates speaking on behalf of the pornography industry.[22]
In January 2013, Swiss recording artist and model Patrick Nuo publicly claimed that Lubben helped him deal with his pornography addiction.[23]
In January 2016, the Pink Cross Foundation shut down.[24]
Media appearances
Lubben appeared in various international media outlets, including radio, television, and film. An overview of her life has been featured in the documentaries Traffic Control and Out of the Darkness, the latter of which was selected to be the opening film for the John Paul II Film Festival in 2011.[25][26]
Lubben was also in the 2012 documentary After Porn Ends, which is about life after being in the porn industry. In February 2011, she became the subject of a documentary entitled, The Devil and Shelley Lubben, created by porn industry advocate Michael Whiteacre. According to Mark Kernes of the adult industry trade journal AVN, the film disputes Lubben's experiences in pornography and the trauma she says can be traced to those experiences.[27][28] In June 2012, Lubben shared her life story in Slovakia to local media outlets.[29]
Recording background
In January 2011, Lubben released a rap/hip hop album with the proceeds going to the Pink Cross Foundation to help women and men recover from porn. The first single, titled "Killer Fantasy", features the message of a porn star speaking to the porn fan about the truth behind the adult industry.[30]
Death
Lubben died on February 9, 2019, in Springville, California at the age of 50. No cause was given.[31]
Published work
- Lubben, Shelley. Truth Behind the Fantasy of Porn: The Greatest Illusion on Earth, CreateSpace, 2010. ISBN 978-1-4538-6007-6
See also
- Anti-pornography movement
- Crissy Moran, another former pornographic actress who advocates against the adult industry
References
- "roxy – internet adult film database". iafd.com. 1968-05-18. Archived from the original on 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
- "Shelley's Story". ShellyLubben.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- "Colin quinn hits broadway – The Howard Stern Show". Howardstern.com. 2010-11-08. Archived from the original on 2010-12-27. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
- "Shelley Lubben Exposes Secrets of the Porn Industry". 2010-11-08. Archived from the original on 2010-11-12. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
- "AfterPornEnds". Archived from the original on 2013-08-10. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
- David Nelson. "Truth Behind the Fantasy of Porn". RELEVANT Magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
- "Ex-Porn Star: Porn Destroys Human Lives and is Destroying Our Nation". CNSNews. 2010-06-16. Archived from the original on 2011-04-06. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2014-03-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Shelley Lubben, Former Porn Actress and Prostitute". Indirimbonshya.net. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
- Chris Hedges (2009-10-07). "The illusion of love". National Post. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
- Chris Hedges (2009-10-07). "The illusion of love". National Post. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
- Chris Hedges (2009-10-07). "The illusion of love". National Post. Archived from the original on 2009-11-19. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
- Chris Hedges (2009-10-11). "The Victims of Pornography". Truthdig. Archived from the original on 2009-11-29. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
- "Out of Pornography and Into the Light". CBN. Archived from the original on 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
- "Religious organizations set up shop at the Adult Entertainment Expo". News 3 Las Vegas. 2011-01-08. Archived from the original on 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
- Marcia Armstrong Chidester. "'Finding redemption; Pain in pornography'". Wasatch Woman magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
- "California mulls steep tax on adult entertainment". Reuters. 2008-05-12. Archived from the original on 2009-02-15. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- "The Truth Behind the Fantasy of Porn" (PDF). Shelleylubben.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-09. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
- Byron Tau Contributor (2010-06-15). "Activists Urge Government Crackdown on Pornography, Obscenity". Aolnews.com. Archived from the original on 2011-03-05. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
- "Health advocates, porn industry representatives debate workplace protection". LA Times. 2010-10-26. Archived from the original on 2011-04-02. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
- "Do porn and mothering mix?". HLN TV. 2012-05-02. Archived from the original on 2012-11-15. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
- "This House believes pornography does a good public service". CUS.org. 2011-06-22. Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
- "Roxy has cured my porn addiction". blick.ch. 2013-01-25. Archived from the original on 2013-01-30. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
- ManWin Thompson (24 January 2016). "Shelley Lubben Shuts Down Pink Cross Scam". YouTube. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- Rosalie Westenskow (2007-02-16). "Provo film calls porn epidemic". Deseret Morning News. Archived from the original on 2007-02-26. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- Tim Drake (2011-02-15). "John Paul II International Film Festival Set for Miami". National Catholic Register. Archived from the original on 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
- Kernes, Mark (2011-02-21). "AVN – New Documentary Exposes Shelley Lubben's Lies-UPDATED!". News.avn.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
- "The Devil And Shelley Lubben". The Devil And Shelley Lubben. 2008-10-31. Archived from the original on 2011-05-28. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
- "Veriaca pornoviezda". Markíza. 2012-06-12. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
- "Former Porn Star Shelley Lubben Launches New Rap Album". Sfgate.com. 2011-01-02. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
- Rhett Pardon (February 9, 2019). "Anti-porn Crusader Shelley Lubben Passes Away". XBIZ. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
External links
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