Rachel Lloyd’s “Girls Like Us” is coming to the big screen. EveryWhere Studios has acquired the screen rights to the critically acclaimed memoir, Deadline reports. Lloyd’s harrowing account details her experiences in the commercial sex trade industry, as well as her eventual role as an activist and counselor.
In 1998, Lloyd founded GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring), an organization dedicated to offering services to girls and women who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking.
“Girls Like Us” was published by Harper-Perennial in 2011. A screenwriter isn’t attached to adapt the work yet, but the source notes that EveryWhere Studios’ Head of Development Julia Eisenman will oversee the project.
“We are honored to bring Rachel Lloyd’s emotional journey to film — from commercial sexual exploitation to the U.S. White House, her story is one of bravery, inspiration, and personal achievement,” said EveryWhere Studios CEO Tom Mazza. “Rachel’s ability to overcome the greatest of personal odds has led her to pursue a successful career full of activism and education.”
According to GEMS’ website, the org provides “intensive services and support to over 350 girls and young women, preventive outreach and education to 1,500 youth, and training to over 1,300 professionals each year.”
Lloyd appeared on-screen in the 2007 Showtime documentary “Very Young Girls,” which she also co-produced. Check out a TED Talk she gave about human trafficking below.
