(Cover page with picture of cake with 4 & 0 candles) The Resource The National Sexual Violence Resource Center's Newsletter • 2012 Fall & Winter Title IX Turns 40 INSIDE Lessons from the Sandusky case Pages 6, 114, & 31 Going global to end street harassment Page 8 Maine ads address sexism, bullying Page 22 Athletes team up with Jane Doe Inc. Page 24 Cover Story: Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Title IX, Page 18 2012 Fall & Winter Contents Feedback The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) invites your comments: The Resource/NSVRC 123 North Enola Drive Enola, PA 17025 Toll free: 877-739-3895 Fax: 717-909-0714 TTY: 717-909-0715 Email: resources@nsvrc.org www.facebook.com/nsvrc www.twitter.com/nsvrc Editors: Todd Stanford, NSVRC Communications Specialist and Tracy Cox, NSVRC Communications Director Designer: Tracy Cox, NSVRC Communications Director NSVRC Director: Karen Baker, LMSW CEO Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape: Delilah Rumburg NSVRC Advisory Council Victoria Banyard, Ph.D., Durham, NH Peggy Brown, Juneau, AK Sandra Cashman, Atlanta, GA Susan Chasson, Provo, UT Maia Christopher, Beaverton, OR Robert Franklin, MS, Richmond, VA Grace Mattern, Concord, NH Strong Oak, LICSW, Greenfield, MA Holly Ramsey-Klawsnik, Ph.D., Canton, MA Jennifer Rauhouse, Phoenix, AZ Delilah Rumburg, Enola, PA Cassandra Thomas, Houston, TX Rebecca Ward, PsyD, San Juan, PR Nichole Witt, Mission, SD Ellen Yin-Wycoff, Sacramento, CA, Chair This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement #5VF1CE001751-03 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PCAR or NSVRC. About The Cover (Picture of a decorated cake with candles of the numbers 4 0 lit.) TTitle IX just happens to fall in the same year in which American women displayed fantastic athletic ability at the 30th Olympiad in London. However, the landmark law that is Title IX – which mandates equal opportunity in schools that receive federal funding – is about so much more than sports. In fact, athletics was an afterthought when the law was passed in 1972. No, the true legacy of Title IX can be seen at college campuses around the country, where women now earn a majority of degrees at every level. Yes, Title IX has taken us far, and will continue to be a major tool for equality in the years to come. More on Page 18 INSIDE (Picture of all natural bath and body products) (Poster showing pictures of 3 girls at the top; and 3 athletes at the bottom who lost a football game) (Picture of ABC 27 News truck outside the Centre County Courthouse) In every issue 4 Contributors 6 Director’s Viewpoint 20 From the Library 22 Coalition Spotlight: ME 24 Coalition Spotlight: MA 31 Awards & Milestones 35 Coming Up: SAAM 2013 Main Features 7 Washington’s Lindsay Anne Palmer is selected as the 2012 recipient of the Gail Burns-Smith Award 8 Advocate’s hard work makes International Anti-Street Harassment Week a global event 10 Want to talk about healthy sexuality? Here’s tips and tools for sexual violence prevention educators and trainers 12 The Religious Institute works to advocate for faith-based progressive viewpoints on sexuality issues 33 Texas Supreme Court OKs an adult entertainment fee that could generate millions to help a sexual assault program 2012 Fall & Winter Contributors Working in the anti-sexual assault field since 1997, Torie Camp is currently the deputy director of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault. She has been an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Austin and was recently appointed by the governor to the Texas Crime Victims’ Institute Advisory Board. Robin Castle is the child sexual abuse prevention manager at Prevent Child Abuse Vermont. She trains parents, early care and education providers, and others throughout Vermont and across the U.S. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in religious studies. J. Michael Cobb is director of communications and outreach at the Religious Institute. Mr. Cobb has worked for civil rights organizations, state and local politicians, and small nonprofits. He has a B.A. in English from Gettysburg College, and is a certified lay speaker in the United Methodist Church. Rachel Gartner is the manager for Prevent Child Abuse Vermont’s Youth Sexual Abuse Prevention programs. She received her B.A. and M.S.W. from Washington University in St. Louis. She greatly enjoys her work assisting local and national school communities in creating safe and nurturing environments for youth. The Reverend Debra W. Haffner is co-founder and president of the Religious Institute. She is the author of several guides for congregations on sexuality, as well as two award-winning books for parents. She has a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary and a Doctorate of Public Service, h.c., from Widener University. Holly Kearl is the founder of Stop Street Harassment, author of Stop Street Harassment: Making Public Places Safe and Welcoming for Women (Praeger 2010), and also the founder of International Anti-Street Harassment Week. She is a frequent speaker on the topic. Visit www.hollykearl.com for information. For over three decades, Craig Norberg-Bohm has been a national leader in ending men’s violence against women. Craig joined the Jane Doe Inc. staff in 2002 as founder/coordinator of the coalition’s Men’s Initiative. He mobilizes men from diverse communities, works with responsible fatherhood allies, and fosters collaboration for social change. Lydia Guy Ortiz is an independent consultant with an emphasis on community specific strategies and sexual violence prevention. She has been active in the anti-rape movement for 30 years and is a board member of the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence. Brett A. Sokolow, J.D., is an attorney who specializes in high-risk campus health and safety issues. He is the founder and managing partner of the National Center for Higher Education Risk Management (NCHERM). He is a graduate of the College of William & Mary and the Villanova University School of Law. Destie Hohman Sprague is program director for the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault. She works in support of Maine’s sexual assault support centers, bringing training, resources, and peer-sharing opportunities to direct-service providers across the state. She received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University, and holds a master’s degree in public policy. Becca Stevens, Episcopal priest and author of eight books, is the founder of Magdalene/Thistle Farms, a community and social enterprise for women recovering from prostitution, trafficking and addiction. She has been selected as a White House Champion of Change, and has been featured on NPR, PBS, CNN, and The Huffington Post. BE A CONTRIBUTOR The Resource is a semiannual, national newsletter produced by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. To have your voice featured in an upcoming issue, email story ideas to resources@nsvrc.org Director’s Viewpoint KAREN Baker, NSVRC Director For those of us working in the field of sexual violence prevention and/or living in Pennsylvania, the Jerry Sandusky case has been omnipresent during the past year. The sustained media spotlight has provided an opportunity for the public to gain insights into the far-reaching damage of child sexual abuse. In 2010, NSVRC partnered with the FrameWorks Institute to conduct research about the public’s understanding of sexual violence. At that time, significant gaps were identified between public views and the knowledge of experienced advocates in a number of areas, including causes, characteristics, and solutions. A lot has changed in the world since then. What does the public know now that it didn’t seem to know a year ago? • That sex offenders are often regular people who can be likeable, charming, high-functioning community members. • That sex offenders typically use “grooming behaviors” or tactics to gradually overcome resistance from victims. • That other adults often have suspicions or information that, if acted upon early, can prevent sexual abuse. • That vague-sounding words such as abuse, fondle, or horseplay, can sometimes really mean rape. • That adults are responsible for protecting children and can be held legally accountable for failing to do so. What hasn’t the public yet seemed to grasp about child sexual abuse? • How common it really is in families and institutions. In 8 out of 10 cases, the victim knows the person who sexually abused them. • That there is treatment for people who sexually abuse and that it is not helpful to label sex offenders as monsters. That causes more secretive behaviors and reluctance to report or to seek help. • That having a sexual attraction to children (regardless of the gender) is not the same as being gay. They are completely different issues. • That over-reacting is not the answer. It is not a reasonable solution to say that day care providers cannot hug children or that children cannot go to gyms. We still have a lot of work to do to prevent sexual violence throughout the lifespan, but this last year has been a tipping point in our efforts to educate the public, particularly about child sexual abuse. Let’s work together to make sure that next year is a tipping point in meaningful responses and prevention initiatives. Gail Burns-smith Award Honors Washington State’s Lindsay Palmer lauded with national recognition Lindsay Anne Palmer, pictured below, is the 2012 recipient of the Gail Burns- Smith Award, given annually by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. Palmer is the director of prevention at the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center in Renton, Wash. She is also the project coordinator for the Department of Justice's Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. The award is named for Gail Burns-Smith, who workded to strengthen the partnership between sexual assault prevention advocates and those working in the field of sex offender management. THE AWARD (Picture of the award) The Gail Burns-Smith Award recognizes those preventing sexual violence through facilitating partnerships between victim advocates and those working in sex offender management and treatment. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Nominations are due May 14, 2013 Visit www.nsvrc.org/gbs-award for details ABOUT THIS YEAR’S RECIPIENT & HER WORK Lindsay Anne Palmer works at the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC). Check out the press release announcing the award www.nsvrc.org/news/press-releases/16631 and KCSARC’s site at www.kcsarc.org Anti-Street Harassment (Picture of the world map with specific countries highlighted) Week-long event spurs global activism By Holly Kearl Founder of International Anti-Street Harassment Week Did you know that by age 12, nearly one in four girls experience unwanted sexual comments, leers, touches and stalking in public places by strangers? This problem swells to 90 percent of women who have experienced street harassment by age 19 (Praeger, 2010, p. 16). Gender-based street harassment teaches girls that public places are male territory. The harassment restricts their access to public places and impedes gender equality. Street harassment – including scary amounts of violence – also disproportionately and negatively impacts lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. Street harassment falls along the spectrum of gender violence. It implies that harassed people are second-class citizens who do not have the right to go out in public without being verbally attacked. And for rape survivors, it can have triggering effects. Despite its seriousness and how common it is, especially for young women, street harassment is too often dismissed as a minor problem, a compliment, or the fault of the harassed person. In March 2012, as one step toward changing its social acceptability, I organized International Anti-Street Harassment Week. More than 100 groups spanning 18 countries joined thousands of individuals worldwide to collectively bring attention to the global problem of street harassment. The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women even included the week in its calendar of events. Participants chose whatever approach they thought would be most effective at bringing attention to the issue in their community. Here is a sampling of events: In Afghanistan: Young Women for Change hosted a debate and discussion about street harassment and how to respond to it. In Brussels, Belgium: there was a "ChalkWalk" during which women walked to places where they were harassed and wrote, "I was harassed here. I reclaim this space.” Many participants said it was the most empowering act they’d ever taken on the issue. In Canada:In Montreal Women in Cities International released a new report about how to make cities safer for women. They also hosted a Women’s Safety Audit Walk in partnership with the radio station CKUT and Condordia University's 2110 Centre for Gender Advocacy. In Egypt: HarassMap had teams fan ou across Cairo, Alexandria, Assiut, Minia and Mansoura to talk to community members about street harassment. In Germany: Pro Change activists passed out over 2000 "red cards” against homophobia, along with informational pamphlets about street harassment and people’s rights. In India: Safe Delhi organized a street event at Delhi University on the subject and organized a rally of people who were outraged over a gang rape of a woman who was traveling home from work at night. Please see STREET on Page 26 International Anti-Street Harassment Week- Continued (Picture of people on sidewalk) Onlookers read the proclamations written on the sidewalk in Brussels, Belgium, during the inaugural Anti-Street Harassment Week. STREET story from Page 9 • In India: Breakthrough launched an online campaign asking people to be heroes and stand up against street harassment. There were posters, statements, blog posts, and more. • In Malaysia: the Pixel Project added a new section about street harassment to their anti-gender violence website. • In Mexico: Hollaback! Mexico DF distributed information after a cabaret show. • In Norway: Bipper and Aksjon mot voldekt launched a website where people can share street harassment stories (as either the target or bystander). harassment is a worldwide problem for women. • In the United Kingdom: Black Feminists UK posted one story per day on their blog recounting an incident of street harassment in the UK, India, countries in Africa, and beyond to show that street harassment is a worldwide problem for women. • Across the United States: Campus and community groups held discussions, film screenings, and rallies about street harassment. People handed out fliers near transit stations and wrote anti-street harassment sidewalk chalk messages; some groups held art exhibits and self-defense classes. Additionally, thousands of individuals worldwide took part in online activism by tweeting, blogging, creating videos, and posting messages on Facebook about street harassment, and by emailing links to stories to friends and family. I was touched by the outpouring of stories, by the number of people who said, "I no longer feel alnoe," and by the positive media attention. This will be an annual week of action and I hope you’ll join in and help bring global attention to the issue of street harassment. SAVE THE DATE In 2013, International Anti-Street Harassment Week will take place during Sexual Assault Awareness Month on April 7-13. For information, visit www.meetusonthestreet.org Want to know what this year’s theme is for Sexual Assault Awareness Month? Check out the article on PAGE 35 (Picture of people marching in street) In India, Safe Delhi organized a street event at Delhi University for Anti-Street Harassment Week. Healthy Sexuality Making the most of your message: Tips and tools for trainers (Picture of adults in a classroom) Moving adults toward taking steps to protect children is a crucial piece of sexual abuse prevention work. As educators and trainers, we need to give adult caretakers the tools and resources to nurture healthy sexuality and create safe environments that protect their children from sexual abuse. For more on healthy sexuality, please turn to PAGE 35. By Robin Castle, M.A., and Rachel Gartner, M.S.W. Prevent Child Abuse Vermont Parents and professionals can quickly list the unhealthy messages that children receive daily. For instance, consider how messages that convey pervasive gender stereotypes or the sexualization of children overwhelm the available information about healthy sexuality. As sexual abuse prevention educators, we work to share a positive message, but we must also address the challenging influences and traumatic experiences in particpants' lives through our training. Both trainers and participants are filled with anticipation about sexual abuse prevention trainings – even before it begins. As trainers, we feel a sense of urgency to counter every negative message with health-based information. It is our job to nurture a safe, supportive environment in which all participants can take away tools to protect children. Moving adults toward taking steps to protect children is a crucial piece of work. Given the estimates that one in four girls and one in eight boys experience abuse before age 18 (Finkelhor, 2009, p. 170), we expect that some of our training participants will have experienced trauma. In addition to personal victimization, participants may have vicarious trauma if their children or someone close to them is abused. They may also struggle with the negative stimuli coming from our sexualized culture. Effective trainings acknowledge these influences and experiences and work to create an environment of support for the participant. Supporting participants requires that we conduct our work in a trauma-informed manner, which includes:  Establishing a group agreement. With participant input, establish desired group norms such as respect, confidentiality, and permission to take care of ourselves.  Validating participants’ experiences. Acknowledge participants’ trauma, concerns, and anxieties. Provide participants opportunities to speak as experts and to learn from each other.  Creating a plan for possible disclosures. (This could include making yourself available after the training and/or referring to local mental health care providers.)  Maintaining a health focus. Sometimes we think that if adults really understood the problem, they would take action. Spending too much time on the negative can overwhelm people. Focusing on positive action steps allows participants to engage and understand what we are all working toward.  Truly promoting adult responsibility. We need to give adult caretakers the tools and resources to nurture healthy sexuality. They crave tools to create safe environments that protect their children from sexual abuse.  Teaching the stages of healthy sexual development. Provide information about children’s sexual development. Help participants sort out sexual behaviors that are expected vs. concerning behaviors, then practice responses to both.  Promoting communication. Work with adults to find teachable moments in their everyday interactions with children. Help them practice how they will engage children and youth in factual, developmentally targeted conversations about sexuality and relationships.  Teaching boundaries. Children see adults setting boundaries all of the time. Work with adults to explore how we can respect a child's need for privacy, support children when they do not want to show affection, model respect for other people’s boundaries, and speak up as bystanders when we see boundary violations.  Empowering. Include action steps for confronting concerning behaviors, boundary violations, and suspicion of sexual abuse. Help participants to identify community resources and teach them how to make a report. Brainstorm ideas that can counter the commercialization of children's sexuality and the links made between sex and violence in the media. Refer to organizations that promote health, and work toward change. Finally, as trainers, we need to pay attention to selfcare and continue developing our skills as presenters. A self-care plan may allow us to continue to do good, responsive work and avoid burnout. We also want to avoid emotionally detaching from materials that we have presented multiple times – this can lead inadvertently to forgetting that the materials may be new and challenging to our audience. You may not be able to address as many tools and action steps as you would like in a single training. By focusing your efforts on creating a safe space for this important discussion, there is a greater chance the messages you share will impact your audience. Make the most of your presentation by engaging participants with practical tools that you can realistically share within the time allotted or to the size of the group. We have a long way to go to counter the many unhealthy messages and practices in our society. By pacing our messaging so that the conversation stays accessible, we make progress step by step. References Finkelhor, D. (2009). The prevention of childhood sexual abuse. The Future of Children, 19(2), 169-194. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/EJ856320.pdf Faith Communities & Healthy Sexuality Institute offers healthy sexuality message to faith-based groups By J. Michael Cobb and the Rev. Debra W. Haffner, The Religious Institute S ince its founding in 2001, the Religious Institute has created and led a growing multifaith movement for sexual health, educaiton and justice. The network of 5,600 includes religious leaders representing more than 70 faith traditions who advocate for sexuality issues in their denominations, congregations and communities. The Religious Institute (religiousinstitute.org) mobilizes members to work within their own faith communities on a broad range of sexuality issues as well as to advocate for a faith-based progressive viewpoint on sexuality issues in the public square. This work includes:  Developing and supporting a network of clergy, religious educators, theologians, ethicists and other religious leaders committed to sexual justice.  Developing and supporting the Faithful Voices Network, a multifaith network of people of faith who share a commitment to comprehensive sexuality education, sexual health and reproductive justice, and full inclusion of women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons in congregational life and society. Those interested are invited to join the Faithful Voices Network at www.religiousinstitute.org/ faithfulvoices. This provides updates on emerging trends and issues in sexuality and religion, valuable new research, and resources available from leading sexual health and advocacy organizations.  Building the capacity of religious institutions and clergy to provide sexuality education within the context of their faith traditions.  Helping congregations, seminaries, and denominations to become sexually healthy faith communities.  Educating the public and policymakers about a progressive religious vision of sexual morality, justice, and healing. Sexual Justice seeks to uphold the experience and expression of sexuality as life-giving and pleasurable, in a social context marked by mutual respect, equality and accountability. Religious leaders have a special role to play in being prophetic about the right of all adults to make responsible and ethical sexual decisions. Much progress has been made. Growing numbers of religious denominations – and thousands of faith communities - are now providing sexuality education to their youth. Faith organizations are embracing and fully including LGBT persons and families, and actively addressing the needs of congregants. The Religious Institute has worked with staff from more than 15 major demoninations and the National Council of Churches of Christ on such issues as sexuality education, sexual abuse prevention, HIV prevention, full inclusion of the LGBT community, and ordination requirements for religious Please see INSTITUTE on Page 30 Faith Communities & Healthy Sexuality - Continued (Picture of Religious Institute Staff) The Religious Institute staff (from left) J. Michael Cobb, Blanca Godoi, the Rev. Debra Haffner and Marie Alford- Harkey recently launched the Faithful Voices Network. For more information, visit religious institute.org/ faithfulvoices INSTITUTE story from Page 12 professionals. In addition, thanks to partnerships and direct assistance, the Religious Institute has doubled the number of United States seminaries, divinity and rabbinical schools that are preparing the next generation of clergy with the training they need to address sexuality issues in ministry. Twenty seminaries now meet a majority of the criteria for a sexually healthy and responsible seminary, compared to 10 in 2009. In addition, four national denominations nwo require sexuality training for all of their clergy prior to ordination, and others are in the process of doing so. Religious Institute staff provides technical assistance to faith communities and sexual and reproductive health organizations. Staff helps clergy and congregations choose and plan sexuality curricula, develop safe congregational policies, identify local consultants and referral sources, and respond to difficult situations and circumstances around sexuality issues. Those interested can email requests to info@religiousinstitute for more information. In 2000, the foundational document, Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing, proposed a new sexual ethic - an ethic focused on personal relationships, integrity and ?justice, rather than on particular sexual acts. This ethic upholds the right and responsibility of all persons to lead sexual lives that express love, mutuality, commitment, consent and pleasure. Grounded in respect for the body and for the vulnerability that intimacy brings, it fosters physical, emotional and spiritual health. It accepts no double standards and applies to all persons, without regard to sex, gender, color, age, bodily condition, marital status or sexual orientation. (Picture of a church with a rainbow flag outside the main entrance) The rainbow flag flies outside a church. Since 2001, the Religious Institute, based in Westport, Conn., has worked with more than 15 major denominations on issues related to healthy sexuality. SOME RESOURCES  A Time to Build: Creating Sexually Healthy Faith Communities outlines the building blocks of a sexually healthy faith community.  A Time to Heal: Protecting Children and Ministering to Sex Offenders provides tools that faith communities need to develop strategies to keep children safe and prevent sexual abuse.  A Time to Every Purpose is a compendium of progressive theological statements on a range of sexuality issues that enable religious leaders and faith communities to preach, teach and advocate for sexual justice.  A Time to Speak: Faith Communities and Sexuality Education affirms the unique role of congregations in providing sexuality education. For more information, visit www.religiousinstitute.org The Impact of the Jerry Sandusky Trial (Picture of various journalists' cameras and microphones) Hundreds of journalists set up their cameras and microphones on the front lawn of the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., for the Jerry Sandusky trial on June 11. The trial lasted two weeks and ended with Sandusky being found guilty on 45 of 48 child sexual abuse-related charges. Lessons learned in Bellefonte By Tracy Cox, NSVRC Communications Director When news of the Jerry Sandusky case broke in November 2011, we knew the months ahead would be busy. Working for the National Sexual Violence Resouce Center (NSVRC), we knew we'd be fielding phone calls, writing letters to the editors and doing interviews. What we didn’t fully realize was the scope of all of this work and the impact it would have on us – personally and professionally. With State College about two hours away, we quickly found ourselves in the eye of the storm. The newspaper that broke the story, The Patriot-News, is literally less than five minutes from our office. Local and national media were all in our backyard. And suddenly, we realized how important it was to be available to them. People were FINALLY talking about sexual violence. Everywhere we went, everyone was talking about it: at work, at home, and even at the hairdresser. That same month, Penn State reached out as well, and we forged a partnership to assist them in developing policies/protocols and changing cultural norms that contribute to perpetuation of sexual violence. We never experienced such an outpouring of questions, comments and opinions on a topic. This was a teachable moment for everyone, and we were up for the task. Navigating through this storm was exhausting at times, but we stayed the course, knowing this was THE moment to talk about prevention. From the beginning of the case, our message was clear. This was NOT about a university, a football program or a legacy. To us, it was about so much more – the victims and the silence that condoned abuse. Throughout the investigation and trial, NSRC and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) worked closely with our colleagues to keep the focus on the victims and offered insight on how to prevent sexual violence. We conveyed this stance through press conferences, interviews, editorials, blogs, social networking posts, press releases and statements. Once the trial began, we went to Bellefonte, Pa., and were in the courtroom. We wanted to support the young men who bravely came forward to tell what happened to them. And we wanted to support the media in their efforts to inform the public about child sexual abuse. Along with PCAR, we worked with The National Center for Victims of Crime, National Crime Victim Law Institute, The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and The Victim Rights Law Center to release an Amicus Biref urging that victims’ identities be protected during the Sandusky trial. Although this motion was not accepted by the judge, subsequent appeals made directly to journalists to protect the victims’ identities were (Picture of protesters outside Centre County Courthouse showing support for the victims) A woman in front of the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., shows her support for the victims in the Jerry Sandusky case. honored by the more than 300 media outlets present. Since there was a gag order in effect during the trial — preventing direct participants from commenting, and since Pennsylvania law at that time did not allow for expert testimony in rape cases - PCAR/NSVRC seized the opportunity by engaging the media and the public in discussions about common misconceptions. Please see SANDUSKY on Page 28 The impact of the Jerry Sandusky Trial SANDUSKY story from Page 15 We shed light on topics such as how people respond differently to trauma, why victims often delay disclosing sexual abuse, and what are red flags that may signal abuse is occurring. It was our mission to educate communities, because we know that sexual violence can be prevented. Preventing these crimes begins with public awareness, so NSVRC worked with the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) to launch a Letters to the Editor Campaign to spark local conversations about how to prevent child sexual abuse. These letters spread across the country and were published in numerous newspapers. We continued to engage journalists in conversations about sexual violence, and thanked them for diggiing deeper. The public’s sustained interest in this case, and the volume of reporters covering it, afforded a rare opportunity to provide meaning and context. Sexual violence and the accompanying betrayal of trust are not easily explained in a sound bite or a crime report. We talked with reporters about prevalence, prevention and engaging bystanders. They turned to us for context and information, and we trusted them to report on topics accurately. ? During the trial in Bellefonte, Pa., NSVRC/PCAR had a team inside the courtroom hearing first-hand testimony, passing written notes to colleagues during court recesses, who were then able to blog, do additional research, and provide background resources to reporters. To aid reporters, many of whom had never covered this topic before, we created a media packet that explains the complexities of reporting on sexual violence (www.nsvrc. org/publications/nsvrc-publications-information- packets/media-packet). All of this strengthened our relationship with the media, thus granting us the perfect platform to promote social change. Even after the verdict was rendered, the conversations continued. We were invited to participate with journalists in a two-day workshop about reporting on child sexual abuse presented by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and The Poynter Institute in (Picture of Jerry Sandusky) Former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky is met by news crews as he leaves the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., on June 11. MEDIA RESOURCES To aid reporters, NSVRC created a media packet that explains the complexities of reporting on sexual violence. To download it, visit http://tinyurl.com/9c74ex3 (Picture of people filing outside the courthouse) People file out of the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., and are swarmed by members of the media during a recess in the Jerry Sandusky trial. Meanwhile, lead prosecutor Joseph McGettigan III, at right, takes a smoke break. St. Petersburg, Fla. We talked with reporters about why language choices matter and how reporters should go beyond scandals when writing about sexual violence. The content of this workshop will morph into an eLearning course which will be released in December. In the meantime, resources related to the workshop can be viewed online at www.newsu.org/resources/sri/child-sex-abuse. In the wake of the Sandusky verdict, we saw so many things happen - the Freeh Report, removal of the Joe Paterno statue, the NCAA's unprecedented sanctions against Penn State and the legal proceedings for former univeristy officials. Looking back on this past year, it has been a whirlwind of emotions, advocacy and teachable moments. We always know sexual violence thrived in silence, but this year, that silence was broken. Let’s not stop there. We need to keep this momentum by having ongoing conversations. Conversations that support victims. Conversations that promote healing. Conversations that prevent sexual violence. RELATED NEWS Reporter wins Pulitzer and Visionary Voice Award for coverage of Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse case. PAGE 31 Champion of Change Award Tennessean honored by White House for helping change women’s lives By Becca Stevens, Founder of Thistle Farms I walked up the steps at the White House in Washington, by myself. That wasn’t the plan. The plan was for Katrina, a graduate of the Magdalene Program and director of sales for Thistle Farms, to come with me. I was going to accept the Champion of Change Award for my work in creating residential communities for women who have survived lives of trafficking, addiction, and prostitution. Magdalene has been serving women for 15 years and running a social enterprise for 11 years. When the White House called about the award, I knew I wanted Katrina to come with me. She embodies the same challenges so many women served by the Magdalene Community face. She was sexually abused at a young age, hit the streets as a teenager, has seen the inside of prison walls, the underside of bridges, and the short side of justice. She has a powerful and clear voice that reminds the world that while the weight of the universal issues of sexual violence are borne on individual backs, women can become free to heal and to speak their truth in love. Katrina has helped many women find freedom and has helped make our social enterprise a huge success. But four hours before the plane was to leave, she called to tell me she couldn’t go. She had broken her ankle the week before, and on top of that, she had the flu. She felt awful and we both became a bit tearful on the phone. I told her I would miss her, but I felt her heart would be with me. As I walked up the steps alone, I was thinking, "It makes sense that I am doing this by myself." This journey began for me alone. After my father died when I was 5 years old, a friend of his, whenever he was able to find me by myself, began to sexually abuse me. I endured that abuse alone, without telling anyone. And while what I went through is just a fraction of the horrors some of the women I serve have experienced, it was enough to change the course of my life. It was enough to ABOUT THE AWARD Created by President Obama, the Champions of Change program honors people and organizations that are doing important work in their communities. Each week, a different topic is addressed. In Oct. 2011, Becca Stevens was feted at the White House along with 13 others who were recognized for their work within the domestic violence/sexual violence field. To learn more about Champions of Change, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions (Picture of woman at computer) Katrina Robertson, a graduate of the Magdalene Program and director of sales for Thistle Farms, intended on joining Becca Stevens on a trip to Washington, D.C., to accept the Champion of Change Award at the White House, but a sudden injury prevented her from attending. In October 2011, Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms, was honored by President Obama for her work. give me passion for this work – passion to desire sanctuary and justice for women. When I think back on those times alone with my abuser, my heart for healing was being forged into cast iron. When I stood, all alone, on the steps of the home of our nation’s presidents, I said a silent prayer. I said a prayer for Katrina and the multitude of women who have come to live for years in the community. I said a fervent prayer of thanksgiving for the communities of Magdalene and Thistle Farms who continue to be witnesses to the truth that love is the most powerful force for change in our world. I was so grateful to be on those steps, knowing I was not truly alone, but embraced by colossal love and gratitude. ABOUT BECCA Becca Stevens is the founder of Magdalene, a residential community for women who have survived lives of violence, prostitution and addiction. She is also the Executive Director of Thistle Farms, a social enterprise that creates all-natural bath and body products. For more info, visit www.thistlefarms.org 40th Anniversary of Title IX Landmark law goes beyond athletics to promote equality and change By Brett A. Sokolow, National Center for Higher Education Risk Management On June 23, 2012, the Association of Title IX Administrators (www.atixa.org) joined the country in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the signing of Title IX legislation into law. Title IX prohibits sex (and gender) discrimination in federally funded educational programs; in short, it ensures equal access to education. It has an impact on 99 percent of schools and colleges and has had a serious impact on gender equity in educational programs, especially athletics, over the last 40 years. The impact on athletic opportunities for women has been so great that most people commonly associate Title IX solely with athletics. Yet, the language of the statute never even mentions athletics. And, while the legacy of Title IX in athletic opportunities, participation and facilities will be lasting, a new chapter opened for Title IX in 2011. On April 4, the U.S. Department of Education issued a "Dear Colleague Letter" (DCL) from its enforcement arm, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). This leter (which can be rad at nsvrc.org/ publications/dear-colleague-letter-sexual-violence) had a great impact - targeted by Vice President Joe Biden and the Obama Administration – on college campuses. The DCL was an unprecedented clarion call for colleges and universities to understand the implications of campus sexual violence as a form of sex discrimination, and to achieve compliance with the mandates of OCR specific to Title IX. Coupled with stiff consequences for (Picture of fan holding sign) Fans celebrate the 40th anniversary of Title IX during the WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and the Minnesota Lynx on June 23, at Target Center in Minneapolis. The law was written to ensure equal access to education. As such, it’s become a powerful tool in the fight against sexual violence on college campuses. noncompliance, OCR's call is clear and its enforcement intentions are real. Thus started a new era, one in which colleges and universities have shifted to applying a civil rights lens to the issue of campus sexual violence. At the same time, anti- sexual violence advocates have been working to address sexual violence as a social justice, public health, and human rights issue. While it is was too long in coming, the mandates of the DCL are largely of immense benefit to victims of campus sexual violence, empowering in ways that have led over the last 14 months to a wave of reporting by victims that campuses have never before experienced. It is fascinating to watch a sea change happening. But the ?DCL might represent a tipping point or catalyst for change that many campuses wanted for many years, but needed a push to embrace fully. Courts have long held that Title IX impacted sexual harassment and could be used to hold schools liable for a failure to adequately remedy reported acts. Yet, nothing to date has been as prescriptive as the DCL or directed to sexual violence as a form of egregious sexual harassment. The reality, as we all know is that rape does occur at colleges and universities. that rape does occor at collegs and universities. Acts of sexual violence deny eduacational access and opportunities to thousands of female and male victims on college campuses every year. Now, serious tools can help to address serious problems. Here are a few examples of the transformative mandates in the DCL: • Colleges and universities must use a preponderance of evidence standard in hearings on campus sexual misconduct allegations, removing a Please see ANNIVERSARY on Page 34 Q&A WITH: SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION SPECIALIST LYDIA GUY ORTIZ What are your thoughts on the Obama Administration’s "Dear Colleague" letter? LGO: I thought that the letter provided direction and leadership to colleges that may have been … unobservant in recognizing their responsibilities to Title IX. … It helped reframe Title IX as not being about just athletics. And it reiterated that Title IX coordinators had to have correct expertise and authority for compliance. More than anything, what the “Dear Colleague” letter did was put people on notice about Title IX. Is it a good or a bad thing that Title IX is so often associated with athletics? LGO: I don’t think it’s good or bad. If it wasn’t for athletics, most people wouldn’t have any idea that Title IX exists. … The fact that Title IX is known to the public is a good thing. Please see TITLE IX on Page 34 40th Anniversary of Title IX TITLE IX story from Page 18 How has the implementation of Title IX helped victims of sexual assault on campus? LGO: It makes colleges investigate allegations. [Schools are also] increasing victims’ services. Primarily what it did was to state unequivocally that [women] have a right to an education. If you’re looking at prevention-type activity, you have to have that paradigm shift that says sexual assault is unacceptable. Historically, on college campuses, there’s always been that idea that it’s not that big a deal, that you should just get over it. Title IX is saying, no, it’s profound, it’s not OK. There’s no way it should be tolerated. The failure of Title IX is not about Title IX itself, but about implementation. Legislation, alone, is not going to change people’s thoughts and hearts. How has the implementation of Title IX helped sexual assault advocates on campus? LGO: Advocates are not particularly powerful in the education field. They're not tenured professors; they’re not administrators. They’re the lone voice hanging out there saying this is wrong. Title IX helped to prove [to education officials] that a framework was needed to handle critiques of the system. It affirmed the right to an education and said these crimes against women are an impediment to women getting an education. …. Advocates are calling it out because they should be. … It gave advocates better tools to support survivors. If you could, how would you change the wording of Title IX? LGO: I would change two things. It talks about sex instead of gender, I would change it to gender. I would also add sexual orientation. From a philosophical standpoint, it seems like adding sexual orientation would be a good thing. What is one thing people need to know about Title IX? LGO: People need to know it’s not just about athletes. It’s fundamentally a civil rights law. ANNIVERSARY story from Page 19 historic disadvantage to women posed by campuses that used higher evidentiary standards  Colleges are required to appoint a Title IX coordinator to insure that reported acts of sexual violence are equitably remedied  Colleges are required to formulate equitable processes for grievance resolution, affording to victims rights that are equal to those afforded to those who are accused  Colleges are required to take complaints seriously; with a mandate to investigate all reported incidents; and confidentiality privileges are better now for victims  Athletes must be subject to the same rules and discipline as every other student While there are many more key areas of compliance specified in the DCL, these five, considered in combination, affect a fundamental shift in the practices of campuses: Institutions will be held accountable now for failure to comply. Resolution processes are more victim-friendly, complaints are more likely to be taken seriously, and serious consequences are more likely to result when offenses are committed. We have much work to do to further the inherent good that gender equity represents, but let’s take a moment to be grateful that a major leap forward has been empowered by OCR, making Title IX a major tool in the fight against sexual violence. From the Library Ancient Ways: Indigenous Healing Innovations For the 21st Century By Geral Blanchard Ancient Ways invites us to reconnect with an aboriginal part of ourselves that already knows that all healing is self- healing. Geral Blanchard posits that healing is best served through a combination of shamanic healing ceremonies as well as western techniques. Knowledge about quantum physics makes the linkage between the two approaches. In an age focused on establishing best practices through research and proven effectiveness, Blanchard provides research that indicates the efficacy of placebos and compares it to the apparent efficacy of myth, faith and belief in positive-healing results. Words and thoughts have energy, and how they are intended and expressed can be a powerful healing force informing the mind- body- spirit connection. Blanchard learned first-hand from indigenous healers in Africa and the Americas about the harnessing of the powers of earth and sky in shifting patterns of disease into patterns of healing and Wel-being. Blanchard invites readers to "re-story" their lives and to suspend their ideas of reality to include the power of dream in creating a life of wholeness, purpose and joy – no matter what their old script may have been. For those who are recovering from having been sexually violated and for those who have committed violent acts against others, this book provides knowledge that can change the energy of those experiences to hope and healing. RECOMMEND A RESOURCE Have you read a recent book or report that you’d like to share? What about a new DVD or eLearning tool? We’re always looking for innovative resources to feature. Email your suggestions to resources@nsvrc.org and your suggestion could be reviewed in an upcoming issue of The Resource. NSVRC LIBRARY Although the NSVRC library is a non-lending collection, we can provide you with selected resources from our library through interlibrary loan. Visit www.nsvrclibrary.org for more information. Out In America - DVD By Two Cats Productions Out in America, which debuted on PBS in June 2011, chronicles the historical and cultural journey of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movement in the United States. The documentary includes personal interviews and accounts of activists, faith leaders, retired professionals, musicians, and individuals willing and able to share their experiences. These interviews convey hope, disappointment, and joy, but one of the most compelling elements taht runs throughout the film is love. Love as powerful. Love as defining. Love as a tool to bring about social change. The film begins with the multiple ways people can self-identify, not just in terms of sexual orientation and gender identity, but also as a person of color or a person of faith. Words like "proud" and "out" further cement the themes of  resiliency and complexity. Each interview reveals more about the relationships and connections tht helpe each person come to identify their sexual orientation or gender identity, to find community and for some to find a life’s passion. The film does a phenomenal job of recounting the injustice and violence committed against people who identify (or were perceived) as LGBT, but also highlights the coalitions and leaders that emerged from those struggles. From police violence and harassment in the 1950s, to the Stonewall Riots, to the emergence of the gay rights and feminist movements, to HIV and AIDS activism, the film shares how these events brought together communities to create social change. Routledge Handbook of Critical Criminology Edited by Walter S. DeKeseredy and Molly Dragiewicz This book is packed with information and research related to a broad spectrum of criminology. The essays which make up this book are written by a number of professionals, most of whom work in academic settings. Although this compilation represents a wide array of topics related to criminology and specifically addresses sexual violence in a handful of essays, sexual violence is not the focus of the book. The range of essays specific to sexual violence issues is limited: campus sexual assault, a brief section within an essay on intimate- partner violence, and a few mentions in other essays. This is not a criticism of the book, as its intention is to provide a broad perspective of critical criminology, including historical, theoretical and political approaches. A few essays do look specifically at criminology and gender, one of which may be of particular interest entitled "Anti-feminist Backlash in Critical Criminology", by Molly Dragiewicz. All in all, this is a helpful reference book for anyone with an interest in criminology. Coalition Spotlight In Maine Campaign encourages youth to confront stereotypes, sexism By Destie Hohman Sprague, The Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault “That’s so gay.” "She's such a 'ho.'" Gender bias and gender oppression is so deeply rooted in our culture that it is present in the everyday language of schoolrooms – and boardrooms – across the country. Young people in particular bear the burden of the sexist and homophobic languare that surrounds them. In Maine, as across the country, students report experiencnig offensive sexual comments and harassment or attacks based on perceived masculinity or femininity (Maine Department of Health and Human Services & Department of Education, 2010). Gender-based bullying and harassment play a crucial role in student safety and their ability to learn, and is part of the spectrum of violence that our movement seeks to end. In Maine, luckily there are programs that address primary prevention of sexual violence by taking on sexist and homophobic cultural norms. Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA) member centers bring anti-violence messages to tens of thousands of Maine students each year, and we work closely with organizations such as Boys To Men and their Reducing Sexism and Violence GET INTO THE ‘ZONE’ The Backbone Zone is a project to help students find theirs, and to give them tools to confront gender-bullying, sexual harassment, and sexist and homophobic language when they see and hear it. For more info on the campaign, visit www.mecasa.org/backbone/index.html Program. Yet we know that the most effective programs are comprehensive, and even by combining our programming, gaps remain. So MECASA and Boys to Men partnered to answer this question: How could Maine develop a tool that echoes the messages that we were already delivering, that could be used by a variety of organizations doing anti-violence work, and that would allow us to expand our programming to a new level? Out of this (Picture of the posters that were created) The Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA) helped create these designs as part of their “Backbone Zone” campaign. MECASA partnered with the group Boys to Men to produce the posters. collaboration, "The Backbone Zone" social marketing campaign was born. "The Backbone Zone" is an innovative project to to help students confront gender-bullying, sexual harassment, and sexist and homophobic language. With a quick tagline - "Everybody has a backbone. Use yours” – and witty and provocative photos and messages, The Backbone Zone uses real language to highlight harmful gender stereotypes and help students identify actions that they can take to change the world they live in. In recent years, there has been an exciting increase in violence prevention tools, yet there are still relatively few messages that address harmful gender stereotypes in everyday language, and which focus on bystander behaviors related to those stereotypes. "The Backbone Zone" is designed to fill that gap. "The Backbone Zone" is not a comprehensive bystander program. But it is a powerful social marketing tool that can be employed in a variety of settings, in concert with many different antiharassment and anti-violence programs. As we work to expand prevention programming, tools such as "The Backbone Zone" can provide a unified message to collaborating groups, while giving students an immediate recognition of gender bullying and how they can use their backbones to shift community norms. References Maine Department of Health and Human Services, & Department of Education. (2010). 2009 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS): Results of the high school survey. Retrieved from http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/attach.php?id=101987&an=1 Coalition Spotlight In Massachusetts Jane Doe Inc. engages men by aligning with ice hockey players By Craig Norberg-Bohm & Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Cold air rushed up through the stands as fans gathered for the 60th annual Beanpot Tournament. Players from the four competing teams (Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern) warmed up on the ice in the storied "Garden" - home of the Boston Bruins and Celtics. What seemed like just another in a six-decade long ice hockey tradition was in fact quite unique: The four Beanpot teams were demonstrating their commitment to be part of the solution in ending violence against women. Players wore white ribbons on their helmets as part of the White Ribbon Campaign (started in Canada by a group of men in 1991 on the second anniversary of the massacre of 14 women in Montreal), a public service announcement featuring the team captains and our lieutenant governor played on the JumboTron, and fans were invited to get involved in the White Ribbon Day Campaign. The Beanpot Tournament’s connection to the Massachusetts White Ribbon Day (WRD) Campaign (whiteribbonday.janedoe.org) was an outgrowth of a statewide primary-prevention effort spearheaded by Jane Doe Inc. (JDI, the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence) over five years ago. JDI's WRD built on the momentum of the international White Ribbon Campaign and a handful of local men’s engagement activities in the Commonwealth. JDI was drawn to the campaign's human rights framework as a means to engage men in a social norms change effort to help end violence against women, men and children. In choosing a target audience, JDI opted to focus our efforts on mobilizing what we believe is the largest group: Men who care but have not been engaged. Our approach celebrated positive masculinity, fostered community among diverse groups of men, and empowered them to take definite steps to prevent and end violence against women. While the WRD Campaign was in the works, two of the players from Boston University were charged and arrested in separate incidents for sexual assaults of female students. While it was tempting to crawl under the covers and hope no one asked about the meaningfulness of teh WRD campaign in light of these charges, we knew a different strategy was called for. In fact, we recognized that responding to acts of violence has long been the modus operandi of community engagement. By staying centered in (Picture of people standing in front of a banner) Jane Doe Inc. (JDI) Executive Director Mary R. Lauby speaks during a press conference about the partnership between JDI and area colleges for White Ribbon Day. Behind Lauby are, from left, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families Commissioner Angelo McClain and Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers Executive Director Paulo Pinto. the prevention framework, we were able to shift our orientation to take proactive steps towards change. Understanding how the coalition arrived at this collaboration provided JDI a compass in addressing this challenging and demanding scenario and offered many lessons about engaging men in this work. We took the opportunity to draw out lessons about how the nature of some aspects of male culture can foster violence, to focus on the community’s response to the victim and to the alleged perpetrator, to talk about bystander accountability, and to celebrate the best of what healthy masculinity can be. When Boston College went on to win the national championship some weeks later, the players continued to wear their white ribbons. We call that a success. WANT TO SPOTLIGHT YOUR COALITION? The Resource would love to hear about all the great prevention work happening in your state. Tell us about it, and it could become an article in an upcoming edition. Email us at resources@nsvrc.org Awards, celebrations and Milestones OVC honored for SART toolkit The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) would like to congratulate the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) for receiving one of the 2012 Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Awards from the National Association of Government COmmunicators (NAGC). The NAGC annually honors agencies for creating high-quality government communication products. The OVC received the Award of Excellence in Educational Programs for its development of the Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART) Toolkit. The SART Toolkit", is available at ovc.ncjrs.gov/ sartkit/, is a comprehensive online toolkit on all aspects of SARTs, including the common organization of a SART, the history of SARTs, and the basics of starting a SART in your own community. As one of the OVC's partners in the fight against sexual violence, the NSVRC says "Bravo!" to the OVC for winning this pretigious honor. Ganim awarded for breaking Sandusky case (Picture of Sara Ganim) In April, reporter Sara Ganim won a Pulitzer and a Visionary Voice Award for her work on the Jerry Sandusky case. On April 16, Sara Ganim became one of the youngest winners ever of the Pulitzer Prize. The 24-yearold reporter for The Patriot-News earned the prestigious honor by breaking and tirelessly reporting on the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse case at Penn State. Sandusky, the long-time defensive coordinator for Penn State’s football program, was charged and ultimately convicted of 45 counts of child sexual abuse involving 10 boys. Through Ganim’s reporting, millions of people around the country and the world learned how a prestigious institute failed to properly address accusations of child sexual abuse involving a beloved former coach. Penn State has subsequently partnered with teh Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the National Sexual Resource Center to provide training for thousands of staff, faculty and volunteers throughout the commonwealth. In addition to her Pulitzer, on April 4, Ganim and the paper's executive editor, David Newhouse, were awarded Visionary Voice Awards, given annually by the NSVRC in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month. National Sexual Assault Conference 2012 Snapshots from Chicago Tahnks to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault for hosting the 2012 National Sexual Assault Conference (NSAC) in August. This year’s keynote speakers included the Houston Area Women’s Center's Cassandra Thomas, Donna Brazile, and Angela Rose from Partnerships for Action Voices for Empowerment (PAVE). Next August, NSAC heads to Hollywood. The California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA) will host the event. Each year, the conference is co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR), the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and CALCASA. (Picture of conference room) This year, nearly 1,250 people attended the conference in Chicago. (Picture of Donna Brazile) “Hold onto hope. Foster hope and believe it will foster change,” says Donna Brazile during her speech at NSAC on Aug. 23. (Picture of Lynn Rosenthal) White House Advisor on Violence Against Women Lynn Rosenthal says “Rape is rape” as she addresses the crowd at NSAC on Aug. 23. Adult Entertainment Fee Texas Supreme Court upholds new law By Torie Camp, deputy director of Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) In a world wrher sexual assault is a common occurrence, we have an obligation to assist survivors and put a stop to this crime. It’s time to put funding behind an effort to mitigate sexual assault. Last year, the Texas Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a $5-per-patron fee on establishments that offer nude dancing and alcohol consumption (strip clubs) is a legitimate exercise of state regulation. With the ruling, Texas cleared the largest hurdle toward realization of the fee which would direct revenue to the state's Sexual Assault Program Fund. The Bureau of Business Research at the University of Texal estimates the annual revenue generated by the fee to be approximately $30 million. the clubs subject to the fee can either absorb the cost or pass the cost on to their patrons. Society cannot ignore the negative secondary effects, including sexual violence, of the combustible combination of drinking and nude dancing. While a person doesn’t walk into a strip club and become a rapist, strip clubs aren’t bastions of responsible behavior either. At their very best, strip clubs promote the objectification of women, at their worst, they promote violent behavior. Rape crisis centers and state sexual assault coalitions cannot be shy about pointing fingers. An industry that makes millions, if not billions, annually off of women's bodies and their sexuality should provide funding to assist victims of sexual violence. STAY CONNECTED. CHECK US OUT ONLINE. (Various QR Codes displayed with the following captions) Use your smartphone to scan the QR Codes above for more information online Read the latest news and information online at www.nsvrc.org Post your event on our national calendar at www.nsvrc.org/calendar Check out the latest products at www.nsvrc.org Find Sexual Assault Awareness Month info at www.nsvrc.org/saam Sexual Assault Awareness Month Coming up It’s time to talk about April 2013 By Laura Palumbo, NSVRC Prevention Campaign Specialist In April 2012, communities across the country joined the conversation on sexual violence prevention by declaring, "It's time... to talk about it!" Specifically, many shared a message about the importance of understanding healthy sexuality and how promoting healthy behaviors is essential for interactions and relationships that are consensual, respectful and informed. A healthy sexuality framework approaches sexual violence prevention through promoting positive expressions of sexuality and healthy behaviors. This prevention model looks beyond the message of "no means no" and explains what safe, equitable and respectful relationships look like. For many working in sexual violence prevention, exploring healthy sexuality through materials that focused on consent, child development, challenging gender norms and sexuality in later life wa a natural progression of their efforts. It was also exciting to see many communities approach the healthy sexuality framework for the first time and to learn the challenges and rewards of starting the conversation about healthy sex. Now that the conversations have started, it’s clear that there is a lot to say about how healthy sexuality supports our work, communities and individual lives. The theme for the Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) 2013 campaign continues this discussion. The upcoming campaign, "It’s time to talk about it! Talk early, talk often. Prevent Sexual Violence", builds MORE ONLINE For updates on the Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign, visit www.nsvrc.org/saam Be sure to check out “The SAAM Blog” for insider details about upcoming resources and materials at www.nsvrc.org/blogs on this conversation by focusing specifically on healthy sexuality in relationship to child sexual abuse prevention. The Day of Action will be April 2, 2013. Child sexual abuse has been an essential topic for programs in partnering with parents, engaging community members as bystanders and prevention education efforts. SAAM 2013 resources will explore how the healthy sexuality framework can strengthen these efforts by equipping adults to start the conversation as parents, community members and partners in prevention. NSVRC National Sexual Violence Resource Center 123 North Enola Drive Enola, PA 17025 Toll Free: (877) 739-3895 Email: resources@nsvrc.org www.nsvrc.org facebook.com/nsvrc twitter.com/nsvrc Send a card & make a difference. ‘Cards that care’ aid disaster relief. 100% of proceeds aid victims & services in disaster areas. For info or to purchase, visit www.nsvrc.org Sexual Assault Awareness Month Save the Date 04/02 Day of Action 2013 GET INFORMATION AT WWW.NSVRC.ORG/SAAM