Shelley Lubben

{{Short description|Author, singer, motivational speaker, and former pornographic actress}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Shelley Lubben

| image = Shelley_Lubben_in_2011.jpg

| alt = Photo of Shelley Lubben

| caption = Shelley Lubben in 2011

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1968|05|18}}

| birth_place = Pasadena, California, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|02|09|1968|05|18}}

| death_place = Springville, California, U.S.

| nationality = American

| other_names = {{ubl|Roxy|Shelley Lynn Moore}}

| known_for = Former pornographic actress turned anti-pornography activist

| occupation = Nonprofit Executive Director

| children = 3

| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/200411/http://www.shelleylubben.com/ ShelleyLubben.com]

}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.iafd.com/person.rme/perfid=Roxy/gender=f/roxy.htm |title=roxy – internet adult film database |publisher=iafd.com |date=1968-05-18 |accessdate=2012-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113081935/http://www.iafd.com/person.rme/perfid=Roxy/gender=f/roxy.htm |archive-date=2012-11-13 |url-status=live }} After she left the sex industry, Lubben became a born-again Christian and anti-pornography activist.{{cite web|url=http://www.shelleylubben.com/story-former-porn-star-shelley-lubben|title=Shelley's Story|work=ShellyLubben.com|accessdate=July 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620012308/http://www.shelleylubben.com/story-former-porn-star-shelley-lubben|archive-date=June 20, 2012|url-status=dead}} From 2008 to 2016, she was the executive director of Pink Cross Foundation, which reached out to women and men in pornography and spoke in public forums about the hazardous working conditions that she experienced in the porn industry.{{cite web |url=http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?d=1289192400 |title=Colin quinn hits broadway – The Howard Stern Show |publisher=Howardstern.com |date=2010-11-08 |accessdate=2011-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227133135/http://howardstern.com/rundown.hs?d=1289192400 |archive-date=2010-12-27 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.thirdage.com/news/shelley-lubben-exposes-secrets-porn-industry_11-8-2010|title=Shelley Lubben Exposes Secrets of the Porn Industry|date=2010-11-08|accessdate=2010-12-03|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112013651/http://www.thirdage.com/news/shelley-lubben-exposes-secrets-porn-industry_11-8-2010|archivedate=2010-11-12}} In January 2016, Lubben closed Pink Cross Foundation.

Lubben was also an ordained chaplain with the Order of Saint Martin with a degree in theological studies.{{cite web|title=AfterPornEnds|url=http://www.afterpornends.com/Interviews/Shelley_Lubben.html|accessdate=2013-07-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810145528/http://afterpornends.com/Interviews/Shelley_Lubben.html|archive-date=2013-08-10|url-status=dead}}

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, a female classmate and her teenage brother sexually abused her in a swimming pool. 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.

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,{{cite web |author=David Nelson |url=http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/books/reviews/23925-truth-behind-the-fantasy-of-porn |title=Truth Behind the Fantasy of Porn |publisher=RELEVANT Magazine |accessdate=2011-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928010830/http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/books/reviews/23925-truth-behind-the-fantasy-of-porn |archive-date=2011-09-28 |url-status=dead }} and resulted in the removal of half her cervix.{{Cite web |url=https://www.shelleylubben.com/bio |title=Bio | Ex Porn Star Former Porn Actress Shelley Lubben |access-date=2014-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330141934/https://www.shelleylubben.com/bio |archive-date=2014-03-30 |url-status=live }} During and after her life in the sex industry, she battled alcohol and drug addictions.{{cite web |url=http://www.indirimbonshya.net/spip.php?article6&lang=fr |title=Shelley Lubben, Former Porn Actress and Prostitute |publisher=Indirimbonshya.net |accessdate=2012-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426012736/http://www.indirimbonshya.net/spip.php?article6&lang=fr |archive-date=2012-04-26 |url-status=dead }} During her pornographic career, which lasted from 1993 to 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.{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2073591|title=The illusion of love|last=Chris Hedges|date=2009-10-07|work=National Post|accessdate=2009-10-07}}

= {{anchor|Pink Cross Foundation}}Advocacy =

{{Infobox organization

|name = Pink Cross Foundation

|image =

| predecessor =

| merged =

| successor =

| formation = {{start date|2007|1|24|df=y}}

| founder = Shelley Lubben

| dissolved = {{end date and age|2016|01|24}}

| merger =

| type = Incorporated 501(c)(3)

| tax_id =

| registration_id =

| status =

| purpose = {{bulleted list|Emotional, financial and transitional support for adult industry workers|Education and resources to victims of sex trafficking and violence in the workplace|Support for those struggling with pornography addiction}}

| headquarters =

| location = Bakersfield, CA

| coords =

| region = United States

| services = Advocacy for adult industry performers

| products =

| methods =

| fields =

| membership =

| language =

|website = [https://web.archive.org/web/201102/http://www.thepinkcross.org/ ThePinkCross.org]

}}

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 Pink Cross Foundation.{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2073591|title=The illusion of love|last=Chris Hedges|author-link=Chris Hedges|date=2009-10-07|work=National Post|accessdate=2009-10-07}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2073591 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20091119131737/http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2073591 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-11-19 |title=The illusion of love |last=Chris Hedges |date=2009-10-07 |work=National Post |accessdate=2009-10-07 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.truthdig.com/arts_culture/item/20091011_the_victims_of_pornography/|title=The Victims of Pornography|last=Chris Hedges|author-link=Chris Hedges|date=2009-10-11|work=Truthdig|accessdate=2009-11-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129104648/http://www.truthdig.com/arts_culture/item/20091011_the_victims_of_pornography|archive-date=2009-11-29|url-status=live}} 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. 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.{{cite web | title = Religious organizations set up shop at the Adult Entertainment Expo | url = http://www.mynews3.com/story.php?id=35293&n=5037 | publisher = News 3 Las Vegas | date = 2011-01-08 | accessdate = 2011-01-12 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110111042401/http://www.mynews3.com/story.php?id=35293&n=5037 | archivedate = 2011-01-11 }}

Pink Cross Foundation also lobbied against pornography and the adult entertainment industry.{{cite web | work = Wasatch Woman magazine | title = Finding redemption; Pain in pornography | url = http://www.wasatchwoman.com/article.php?id=44 | author = Marcia Armstrong Chidester | accessdate = 2009-06-02 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716031003/http://www.wasatchwoman.com/article.php?id=44 | archivedate = 2011-07-16 }} Lubben supported California legislator Charles Calderon in his effort to tax the pornographic industry by speaking to lawmakers about her experiences.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSN1232562620080512|title=California mulls steep tax on adult entertainment|date=2008-05-12|work=Reuters|accessdate=2008-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215232921/http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSN1232562620080512|archive-date=2009-02-15|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite news | title = Out of Pornography and Into the Light | url = http://www.cbn.com/700club/guests/bios/shelley_lubben050506.aspx | publisher = CBN | access-date = 2009-09-22 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091216115048/http://www.cbn.com/700club/Guests/Bios/Shelley_Lubben050506.aspx | archive-date = 2009-12-16 | url-status = live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.shellylubben.org/articles/thetruth.pdf |title=The Truth Behind the Fantasy of Porn |website=Shelleylubben.org |accessdate=2011-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009001525/http://www.shellylubben.org/articles/thetruth.pdf |archive-date=2011-10-09 |url-status=dead }} 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." In June 2010, she spoke to U.S. House and Senate members and their staffs in Washington, D.C., about the damage that was done to her body from her time in the porn industry.{{cite news |author=Byron Tau |url=http://www.aolnews.com/2010/06/15/activists-urge-government-crackdown-on-pornography/ |title=Activists Urge Government Crackdown on Pornography, Obscenity |publisher=Aolnews.com |date=2010-06-15 |accessdate=2011-05-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305145939/http://www.aolnews.com/2010/06/15/activists-urge-government-crackdown-on-pornography/ |archivedate=2011-03-05 }} 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.{{cite news | title = Health advocates, porn industry representatives debate workplace protection | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-oct-26-la-me-porn-20101026-story.html | date = 2010-10-26 | newspaper = LA Times | access-date = 2011-01-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110402074825/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/26/local/la-me-porn-20101026 | archive-date = 2011-04-02 | url-status = live }}

{{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.{{cite web|url=http://www.hlntv.com/video/2012/05/01/can-you-do-porn-and-be-good-mother|title=Do porn and mothering mix?|date=2012-05-02|publisher=HLN TV|accessdate=2012-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115234736/http://www.hlntv.com/video/2012/05/01/can-you-do-porn-and-be-good-mother|archive-date=2012-11-15|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.cus.org/connect/debates/2011/this-house-believes-pornography-does-a-good-public-service|title=This House believes pornography does a good public service|date=2011-06-22|publisher=CUS.org|accessdate=2012-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016053045/http://www.cus.org/connect/debates/2011/this-house-believes-pornography-does-a-good-public-service|archive-date=2012-10-16|url-status=live}}

In January 2013, Swiss recording artist and model Patrick Nuo publicly claimed that Lubben helped him deal with his pornography addiction.{{cite web|url=http://www.blick.ch/people-tv/tv/dschungelcamp/roxy-hat-meine-porno-sucht-geheilt-id2183599.html|title=Roxy has cured my porn addiction|date=2013-01-25|publisher=blick.ch|accessdate=2013-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130173930/http://www.blick.ch/people-tv/tv/dschungelcamp/roxy-hat-meine-porno-sucht-geheilt-id2183599.html|archive-date=2013-01-30|url-status=live}}

In January 2016, Lubben shut down Pink Cross Foundation.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z-jMLIRYlQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/9z-jMLIRYlQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Shelley Lubben Shuts Down Pink Cross Scam|last=ManWin Thompson|date=24 January 2016|accessdate=11 February 2019|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

= Media appearances =

{{Infobox YouTube personality

| name = Shelley Lubben

| logo =

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| channel_id = UCcAGIt2_ACffHyVlkAaPejQ

| channel_display_name = Shelley Lubben

| location = California

| channel_website =

| creator = Shelley Lubben

| years_active = 2006-present

| genre =

| subscribers = 55 thousand

| subscriber_date =

| views = 22 million

| view_date =

| silver_button =

| silver_year =

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| stats_update = March 8, 2024

| extra_information =

}}

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.{{cite web | author = Rosalie Westenskow | title = Provo film calls porn epidemic | url = http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660196104,00.html | publisher = Deseret Morning News | date = 2007-02-16 | access-date = 2008-06-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070226112731/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0%2C1249%2C660196104%2C00.html | archive-date = 2007-02-26 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | author = Tim Drake | title = John Paul II International Film Festival Set for Miami | work = National Catholic Register | url = http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/mystery-of-love-goes-to-the-movies/ | publisher = National Catholic Register | date = 2011-02-15 | accessdate = 2011-03-08 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110302112124/http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/mystery-of-love-goes-to-the-movies/ | archive-date = 2011-03-02 | url-status = live }}

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.{{cite news |last=Kernes |first=Mark |url=http://news.avn.com/articles/New-Documentary-Exposes-Shelley-Lubben-s-Lies-426673.html |title=AVN – New Documentary Exposes Shelley Lubben's Lies-UPDATED! |publisher=News.avn.com |date=2011-02-21 |accessdate=2011-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707194108/http://news.avn.com/articles/New-Documentary-Exposes-Shelley-Lubben-s-Lies-426673.html |archive-date=2011-07-07 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.thedevilandshelleylubben.com |title=The Devil And Shelley Lubben |publisher=The Devil And Shelley Lubben |date=2008-10-31 |accessdate=2011-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528024411/http://www.thedevilandshelleylubben.com/ |archive-date=2011-05-28 |url-status=dead }} In June 2012, Lubben shared her life story in Slovakia to local media outlets.{{cite web|url=http://reflex.markiza.sk/clanok/veriaca-pornoviezda.html|title=Veriaca pornoviezda|date=2012-06-12|publisher=Markíza|accessdate=2012-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616015421/http://reflex.markiza.sk/clanok/veriaca-pornoviezda.html|archive-date=2012-06-16|url-status=dead}}

= Recording background =

In January 2011, Lubben released a rap/hip hop album with the proceeds going to 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/01/02/prweb4933824.DTL |title=Former Porn Star Shelley Lubben Launches New Rap Album |publisher=Sfgate.com |date=2011-01-02 |accessdate=2011-05-23 }}{{dead link |date=March 2016}}{{cbignore}}

Death

Lubben died on February 9, 2019, in Springville, California, at the age of 50. No cause was given.{{cite web |url= https://www.xbiz.com/news/242048/anti-porn-crusader-shelley-lubben-passes-away |title= Anti-porn Crusader Shelley Lubben Passes Away |publisher= XBIZ |date=February 9, 2019 |accessdate= February 10, 2019 |author= Rhett Pardon}}