PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Sexual violence affects us all
by J Sunday, Jan. 26, 2003 at 2:10 PM

TEACH-IN, FEB. 1-2 CONFRONTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITY: A CLEVELAND CONFERENCE

Sexual violence affects us all. The damage done to a survivor of sexual assault may never fully be realized. It’s likely that if you were to ask around you’d find that the statistics are all too horrifyingly true; so many, many women are survivors of sexual assault. It’s time that we took a stand as men who want nothing to do with the oppression of women and everything to do with playing the role of comrade and brother in our human struggle for liberation. Confronting the painful reality of sexual violence is a necessity of this.


When I think of how much sexual violence has affected the women (and therefore the men) around me, I sometimes shudder at the thought of so many friends and family members having to endure the physical and emotional turmoil I’ve seen first hand. Whether it’s my mother retelling stories of childhood abuse, a comrade coming to me and letting me know how someone violated her, or my best friend questioning humanity itself because of how many people she knows that have been sexually assaulted, I can only think of one thing: it’s time for this shit to stop!


The upcoming conference on sexual violence is a step in that direction. By listening to women tell their stories of outrage and pain, by discussing the way society covers up or ignores the reality of sexual violence, and by recognizing that men have a special responsibility and ability to fight against it we have a chance to move beyond mere frustration and rage. It’s essential that we use these two days to strengthen our hatred for sexual violence and our love for those who have survived it while building bonds capable of one day stopping it.


The Women and Allies who organized this conference have put their hearts and souls into it, so it is very important that we (especially men) get there on time, stay for the entire two days, and make it a priority to learn and participate as much as possible. For more information you can check out http://www.clevelandmas.org.

-J

URGENT: TEACH-IN, FEB. 1-2

CONFRONTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN
OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITY:
A CLEVELAND CONFERENCE

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 & SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2
PILGRIM CHURCH
2592 WEST 14 ST. (W. 14 & STARKWEATHER, TREMONT)

**STARTS 1:00 PM ON SATURDAY, 2:00 PM ON SUNDAY

--------------------
Because no one is immune from sexual assault, or
sexist behavior.
Because progressive communities also harbor
perpetrators.
Because we have to challenge the violence within
ourselves to trust each other, to work together, to
change the world.
Because in Cleveland, activists have assaulted
activists, and we will not tolerate it�€�

This conference will focus on activist communities and
the devastating impact of sexual violence on
ourselves, our loved ones, our communities and our
movements. This is an opportunity for everyone �€“
male, female, trans, queer, straight, brown, white,
black �€” to look into ourselves and challenge our own
violence. This is important, it is about our lives.
Please make attendance a priority.

Since we have been taught to treat and we often do
treat sexual assault and rape as womyn�€™s issues, we
especially encourage men to attend.

---------------------
FEATURING
---------------------
FISHBOWL: The fishbowl session is an opportunity for
female-identified people and survivors to voluntarily
share their experiences with sexual violence to the
larger group. Women will be the only ones speaking
during this time, and male-identified people will have
what is a privileged opportunity to hear the raw
effect sexual assault, sexism, and patriarchy has on
NE Ohio women. All will have support and safe spaces
to go if it gets overwhelming. On day two, there will
be an opportunity for men to talk about their role in
sexual assault and sexism, as perpetrators or
survivors.

WORKSHOPS ON:
- RAPE CULTURE
- HOW TO SUPPORT A SURVIVOR
- SPECIAL CONCERNS FOR ACTIVIST SURVIVORS,
PERPETRATORS AND COMMUNITIES DEALING WITH ASSAULT
- SELF-DEFENSE

BREAK-OUT SESSIONS ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE FOR MEN, WOMYN
AND TRANS

--------------------
CHILD CARE AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT WILL BE PROVIDED.

BRING SNACKS TO SHARE AND ALL ELSE YOU NEED TO BE
COMFORTABLE FOR THE WHOLE AFTERNOON.

SPONSORED BY THE WOMYN OF 922: clevelandwas@yahoo.com
--------------------

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR:
Food: durgaldur@juno.com
Housing: schism216@hotmail.com
Set-up/Clean-up: reciprocity27@yahoo.com, 614-431-0610
Child care: core@mutualaid.org

For information visit http://www.clevelandmas.org or call
216.491.4513.

add your comments