Faith group brings hope and support to women in Indianapolis strip clubs

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]Over the last several weeks, I've been reporting about human trafficking here in Indiana. I've shown you places of healing for survivors and the resources available to them. Tonight, I want to show you the effort to help women in the adult entertainment industry here in Indianapolis.

[00:00:17]>> [music] >> Well, Indianapolis strip clubs are busy at night.

[00:00:23]>> We all pray that you would just give a spirit of bravery to women that are >> A group of women are praying.

[00:00:29]>> Unconditional is an organization that serves women in the adult entertainment and sex industry.

[00:00:34]>> Every third Thursday of the month, volunteers prepare gift bags and visit the women who work in Indianapolis strip clubs.

[00:00:42]>> It feels good to know that I can go in and encourage ladies in a place where I've now been delivered out of.

[00:00:49]>> Erica was a teenager when she got started.

[00:00:51]>> And I danced for the first time and I made $3,000 my first night and I was hooked.

[00:00:57]>> Erica then started grooming other girls to work in strip clubs.

[00:01:01]>> Technically, I was called a madam, where it is the female version of what people know as a pimp.

[00:01:08]>> After 2 and 1/2 years, Erica gave it up, spent 20 years out of the industry.

[00:01:13]Then, she met the founder of Unconditional who had a message for her.

[00:01:18]>> She said to me, you no longer have to live with the guilt or the shame of who you used to be, but you can be exactly who God called you to be.

[00:01:26]>> So, Erica now joins other volunteers who go into local strip clubs.

[00:01:31]>> We're here to offer support, help, and community in whatever way we can.

[00:01:35]>> Unconditional is a faith-motivated organization with shirts that catch your attention.

[00:01:41]>> So, it's true. Like, Jesus loves strippers. He loves people who are in the industry and they're his daughters.

[00:01:48]>> Since 2012, volunteers from Unconditional have built relationships with 190 women in the adult entertainment [music] and sex industry.

[00:01:57]Survivors describe unimaginable conditions.

[00:02:01]>> [music] >> There was a lot of domestic violence involved. There was a lot of control, a lot of manipulation.

[00:02:10]>> Some who've left the business gave their stilettos to Unconditional to signify that part of their life was over.

[00:02:17]>> There's no shame here.

[00:02:19]Um we honor the girl that you were and what you had to do to survive.

[00:02:25]But you don't have to do that anymore.

[00:02:26]>> One woman impacted by Unconditional is someone we're calling Robin to protect her identity.

[00:02:32]>> I first started sex work at the age of 14 in order for me to be able to survive on the streets.

[00:02:42]>> Robin became a dancer and connected with Unconditional when they came into her strip club.

[00:02:47]>> I just felt like I felt like the Lord was tugging my heart to speak to them.

[00:02:53]>> Robin developed a friendship with the ladies.

[00:02:56]>> Every time they came in, it was exciting because I felt like I had someone to talk to. Like I was building family.

[00:03:04]>> Robin left the world of strip clubs nearly 3 years ago.

[00:03:08]>> What made you leave?

[00:03:09]>> I just wanted to be able to move on and to be able to grow in my faith and allow God to lead me in the direction he wants me in instead of doing things my way.

[00:03:24]>> Strip clubs stay busy, but so do the volunteers at Unconditional.

[00:03:29]>> Everything for me is motivated by the unconditional love of Christ. [music] >> Visiting strip clubs every third Thursday of every month.

[00:03:37]>> We're here to meet their needs, whatever they might be.

[00:03:40]>> Providing friendship and hope. [music] >> I want every woman to know how deeply and unconditionally they are loved.

[00:03:50]>> Unconditional provides case management, housing navigation, mentoring, support groups, a food and diaper pantry, free therapy, and they also help with advocacy like connections to free legal help and assisting with protective orders.