SJR 87 Summary

• Recognizes pornography as a public health crisis in Alabama requiring systematic efforts to prevent exposure, addiction, and develop recovery programs.

• Identifies harms to children including hyper-sexualization, low self-esteem, eating disorders, problematic sexual activity at younger ages, and increased risky sexual behavior due to internet accessibility.

• States pornography normalizes violence and abuse of women and children, equates violence with sex, and increases demand for sex trafficking, prostitution, and child sexual abuse.

• Cites detrimental effects on users including emotional, mental, and medical illnesses, deviant sexual arousal patterns, relationship difficulties, altered brain development, and addictive behaviors.

• Acknowledges need for education, prevention, research, and policy changes at community and societal levels to address the epidemic in Alabama and nationwide.