THE VISIONARY VOICE

SEXUAL TRAUMA AWARENESS & RESPONSE SPRING 2014 NEWSLETTER

The Scarlett R Stigma, Shame and Speaking Out

"When I returned to work [after I was raped] and was on the elevator with people I knewI felt like I had a scarlet R' in the middle of my forehead. I felt branded by my assault and was confident that my scarlet R was all they saw." Putting the Focus on Victims Stigma, simply defined, is a mark of disgrace. Yet this doesnt tell the whole story. Not nearly. Stigma can be overwhelmingly oppressive. It can squeeze the breath out of you, bring debilitating anxiety, cause you to see yourself differently and feel like others will never look at you the same way again. It engenders feelings of shame, self-blame, worthlessness, and intense fear, all of which conspire to force you into silence, even perhaps toward those to whom you thought you could tell your deepest, darkest secrets. This internalized shame appears to come from within, but it actually comes from years of existence in the external world. It comes from a cultures common knowledge that masquerades as truth for instance, that people allow themselves to be victims or that a womans worth is tied to her sexual purity. Stigma says nothing about an individual, rather it is a mirror that reflects our culture and its norms those collective expectations we hold for ourselves and others. When an individual experiences stigma associated with sexual violence, it must be viewed as the mark of a culture in which vulnerability is more shameful than committing violence, as is true in our culture. This is why we admonish people for their nonviolent behaviors rather than working to challenge violence and dominance as cultural norms. We shame victims for what they were wearing, how they were dancing, what they were drinking, where they were walking, or why they didnt lock the deadbolt. We conveniently forget that a person is only vulnerable when there is a violent threat present. We ignore the violent threat and focus on the vulnerability. Survivors of sexual violence experience trauma from the violation itself, yet many will experience greater trauma in its aftermath. The stigma of sexual violence magnifies any other stigma associated with an individual. Offenders often target victims who they know can be easily stigmatized in our culture, such as women, girls, gay or gender nonconforming men, trans people, substance abusers, sex workers, homeless individuals, and people who are chronically mentally ill. Women are vengeful liars, adolescent and teen girls are fair game, gay men and trans people ask to be raped, sex workers cant be rapedthese are only a few of the pervasive myths that condemn survivors to repeated re-traumatization by keeping us focused on what the

victim did (violated social norms) rather than on what the offender did (violated law and another human being). This is how stigma functions as a barrier to accountability, justice, and social change it is a key ingredient in the rape culture recipe that pressures survivors into silence, blames them for the violence that others have committed against them, and prevents us from holding offenders accountable for this violence - because how do we hold someone accountable for violence that we refuse to acknowledge? The result is that offenders remain free to continue committing violence and abuse against others. We at STAR see this happen time and time again.

Story continued on page 5 inside

8281 GOODWOOD BLVD., STE I-2 | BATON ROUGE, LA 70806 | (225) 615-7093 | WWW.BRSTAR.ORG

News from the Center

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mary Erlingson
Erlingson-Banks, Attorney at Law President

Onward to a New Year of Change

STAR is one of Louisianas longest operating sexual assault centers. As the only specialized sexual assault service provider in the Capital Region, we serve hundreds survivors of sexual trauma and their loved ones through our free and confidential counseling and advocacy services each year. In recent years, STAR has experienced a number of critical changes. Known as the Rape Crisis Center, a division of the 19th Judicial District Attorneys Office, since 1975, the agency incorporated into a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in August of 2011. That same year, the agency rebranded itself into STAR, broadened its scope of services and expanded its geographical area to begin serving the entire Capital RegionEast Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, East Feliciana and West Feliciana parishes. Since our transition into a non-profit three years ago, STAR has seen an overwhelmingly supportive response from our partner agencies, donors and clients. In addition, STAR has seen a huge increase in services provided though our 24/7 hotline, hospital and criminal justice advocacy, individual and group therapy, and prevention education programs. This increase informs us that our free and confidential services continue to be important to the overall health and well-being of our community members, many of whom are survivors or have been personally affected by sexual trauma. In August of 2013, the STAR Board of Directors began a formal strategic planning process with direct involvement of agency staff to ensure a healthy, focused future. Throughout this process, the Strategic Planning Committee identified seven strategic goals to implement over the course of 2014-2016. Our three-year strategic Plan for Change, represents STARs ongoing commitment to strategic thinking, targeted resources and services, and performance outcomes. I invite you to join us for STARs Open House on Wednesday, April 16th from 4:30-6:30 p.m. where we will officially unveil our Plan for Change to the community. This Plan for Change is a roadmap to the future. It will help guide us through the next three years of our commitment to serving survivors of sexual trauma and promoting prevention among members of our community. Sincerely,

Stephanie Jacque
Department of Public Works Vice-President

Mark Dumaine
19th Judicial District Attorney's Office Secretary

Thomas Naquin
Postlethwaite and Netterville Treasurer

Randall Brown, M.D.

LA Womens Health Associates Medical Director

Captain John Attuso

Baton Rouge City Police

William Clark, M.D.

East Baton Rouge Coroner

Margaret Hart
Community Activist

Kathi Gill
Neighbors Federal Credit Union

Ann Guedry
Community Activist

Sid Newman
CrimeStoppers

Jane Wood
Community Activist

STAFF
Racheal Hebert, LMSW
Executive Director

Nicole Gillum, LMSW

Director of Client Services

Rebecca Marchiafava, MPP

Director of Education and Outreach

Portia Gordon, MA
Counselor

Crystal Kazik
Prevention Educator

Morgan Lamandre, JD
Advocacy Coordinator

Laneceya Russ
Administrative Coordinator

Cathy Thurmond
Outreach Coordinator

Racheal Hebert, MSW, LMSW Executive Director

The Visionary Voice

Trending Issues

STAR Unveils Consent Campaign

Did you know that alcohol is considered the #1 date rape drug? More than GHB or Rohypnol, alcohol use among rapists is common and often overlooked. While drinking alcohol does not cause someone to rape or to be raped, it is often used as a weapon of control to incapacitate potential victims. This issue is magnified on college campuses, where alcohol is often a pre-requisite to any social activity. In a speech given by President Obama on January 22, 2014, he said: It is estimated that one in five women on college campuses has been sexually assaulted during their time there. These young women worked so hard just to get into college; often their parents are doing everything they can to help them pay for it. So when they finally make it there only to be assaulted, that is not just a nightmare for them and their families, its an affront to everything In a community that houses two large universitiesLSU and SUBRBaton Rouge is no exception to these alarmingly high numbers of sexual assaults among college students. As part of an initiative to bring awareness to this issue, STAR, with the help of several LSU undergraduate students, has developed a social messaging campaign targeted at young adults aged 18-28. The campaign includes images and messages meant to impact In response to the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses, President Obama created a White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. A White House report also concluded that because many attacks occur at parties, victims are often abused while theyre drunk, under the influence of drugs, passed out or otherwise incapacitated. The image below is a sneak peak of our messaging campaign. Join us on Wednesday, April 16th for our Open House, when STAR unveils the complete poster campaign. theyve worked so hard to achieve. Its totally unacceptable. young adults thoughts and behaviors regarding alcohol and sexual activity.

Survivor Retreat Offers Healing Space for Survivors

STAR and The Red Shoes are hosting the 5th annual Survivor Retreat. This retreat is for female survivors of sexual and relationship violence, and will include yoga, sound healing, labyrinth walking, meditation and art therapy. With events like the Survivor Retreat, STAR hopes to create spaces for survivors to come forward and find support. Survivors that do not seek therapeutic intervention often face numerous health consequences, including increased risk of substance abuse and dependency, depression and anxiety, sleep disorders, problems The Survivor Retreat will take place on Saturday, March 29th from 10:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. at The Red Shoes. There is no cost for this event, but participants must pre-register by calling (225)615-7093. Space is limited. with intimacy and relationships, suicidal ideation and reoccurrences of domestic and sexual violence later in life.

The Visionary Voice

Upcoming Events

April is
April is national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The purpose of SAAM is to bring awareness to the prevalence of sexual violence in our communities. STAR is partnering with several organizations in the community to host a month full of events and activities to help spread awareness, connect those in our community who have survived rape and abuse, and help end sexual violence in our community. Join us for these exciting and empowering events.

The Vagina Monologues & Silent Auction

Thursday, April 3rd | 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. The Manship Theatre | 100 Lafayette Street The Vagina Monologues is a unique theater experience that combines art and activism to help end violence against women and girls. This collection of stories is written by Eve Ensler, a playwright and author, who traveled the world asking women to talk about their experiences with love and sexuality, the obstacles they face in being women, and, of course, their vaginas. The Vagina Monologues is a benefit for STAR. Tickets are priced at $30 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Visit manshiptheatre.org to purchase tickets.

STAR Open House

Wednesday, April 16th | 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. STAR | 8281 Goodwood Blvd., STE I-2

FREE EVENT!

Join us for a tour of STAR and learn about the ways we serve the Greater Baton Rouge community through supporting and advocating for survivors and promoting prevention through educational programs. At our Open House, we will unveil our 2014 social messaging poster campaign and present on our strategic Plan for Change 2014-2016.

Denim Day
Friday, April 25th | All Day

Shine the Light

Thursday, April 10th | 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

FREE EVENT!

Denim Day is a global movement that evolved from the infamous 1999 Italian Supreme Court case that overturned a rape conviction based on the victims choice of clothing on the day she was raped; she was wearing jeans. Individuals and businesses can join the Denim Day campaign by wearing jeans on Friday, April 25th and contributing a suggested donation of $2 to STAR. Involvement in the Denim Day campaign will support STARs vision of a Baton Rouge community that is free from sexual trauma. Contact us at (225)615-7093 or info@brstar.org to request a Denim Day packet for your organization today!

Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge | 427 Laurel Street The inaugural Shine the Light performance art event seeks increase community awareness about the complex aspects of sexual health and help reduce stigma and promote healthy sexuality, healing, and empowerment. Shine the Light will feature poetry, spoken word, artwork, dance, and music performed by local artists. This event is FREE and open to the public. Sponsored by STAR and HAART, HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two.

The Monument Quilt Workshop

Sunday, April 13th | 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. STAR | 8281 Goodwood Blvd., STE I-2

FREE EVENT!

Krav Maga: Self-Defense Training Seminar

Saturday, April 26th | 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. 10231 Patriot Dr Suite A | Baton Rouge, LA 70816 Krav Maga is focused on creating a hand-to-hand combat method that is based on natural reflexes and body mechanics, making it quick and easy to learn, and not dependent on size or strength, so it can be used effectively by people of all ages. The seminar will be conducted by Baton Rouge Krav Maga Lead Instructors. This class has a limit of 25 participants and is open to females only ages 12 and up. Cost of the seminar is $20 and participants must pre-register at www.brstar.org. Proceeds will benefit STAR.

The Monument Quilt is a project created by a Baltimore-based collective FORCE: upsetting rape culture. The Monument Quilt is collection of thousands of quilts and stories from survivors of rape and abuse from across U.S. At this workshop, participantsboth survivors and allieswill make quilt squares and then share and reflect. It will provide a space to talk openly about rape and abuse without shame or judgment. Participants will have a chance to contribute their quilt square to FORCEs Monument Quilt project to be displayed at the nations capitol this summer. Space is limited; all participants must pre-register by visiting www.brstar.org.

The Visionary Voice

Upcoming Events
Continued from front page

When survivors speak out, they risk a lot. They risk not being believed or being blamed for someone elses violent behavior. They risk being unfairly scrutinized and judged for nonviolent behavior while others violent behavior goes unchallenged. In some cultures, survivors risk being murdered for having provoked sexual violence and bringing shame to their families. In our culture, many survivors are simply blamed for having provoked sexual violence, then are bullied, intimidated and shamed sometimes to the point of suicide. This is more than regrettable, it is unconscionable. It is time for all people to recognize and challenge the stigma that we have all perpetuated at one point or another. This

us. It starts with us ceasing to act as accomplices to offenders, playing right into their hands by heaping shame, blame, and judgment on those they have abused while ignoring their unacceptable violence and traumatizing boundary violations. The time for change is now, and it starts with all of us. It starts with you. starts by listening to, believing, and supporting survivors. It starts with educating ourselves on the true dynamics of sexual violence so that we no longer buy into the rape myths and misconceptions that drown us in ignorance and bring others down with

This article was written by Rebecca Marchiafava, STARs Director of Education and Outreach. Contribute to the conversation about stigma by visiting STARs blog at brstarcenter.wordpress.com.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Charles Lamar Family Foundation as administered through the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.

The Vagina Monologues is proudly sponsored by:

Womens Center

The Visionary Voice

Spotlight on Service

Reflections from a STAR Volunteer

By Donna Fontenot, STAR volunteer since 2013

I don't know when you may read this, but I'm writing this on February 14, 2014, as I reflect back over the past year. A year ago today, on Valentine's Day, I attended STAR's One Billion Rising event. Many came together that day in Baton Rouge in a shared experience with one billion people in over 200 countries who rose and danced, demanding an end to violence against women and girls. This event was my first introduction to STAR. Not long before, I'd met Elizabeth, a woman who, as it turned out, was a volunteer for STAR. She was at the One Billion Rising event that day as well, and she pleaded with me to become a volunteer. She told me that the next training would start the following week, but if I hurried, I could probably get into the class.

I took Elizabeth's advice, and a few days later, I nervously walked into my first training class. I thought, "who am I to tackle this kind of work?" I had no experience with social work in any capacity. I was just an average woman with a desire to be there for someone in need. I worried that I would be incapable of handling a crisis phone call, or that I might possibly do more harm than good. The training STAR gave over the next few weeks went a long way towards alleviating those fears, providing me with the confidence and skills I needed. Don't get me wrong. Even with my newfound confidence and excellent training, I was petrified to take my first real hotline call. But I used my training to handle that call, and over time, the panic turned to mere nervousness, which lessened more and more with each succeeding call. Have I helped any of the callers over the last year? That's tough to know in most cases. A lot of callers may never

give feedback to STAR or myself. For those survivors, I can only hope that I made a positive impact. A few callers do give feedback to STAR, and I've been told that they appreciated the time I spent with them on the phone. That is, of course, very gratifying to hear. But my volunteer experience with STAR has helped me as much as I might have helped others. I've become a part of a group of people who are simply amazing. STAR's presence is like a light shining over the greater Baton Rouge area. The organization's staff and volunteers are some of the most beautiful souls I've ever met. Each is dedicated to serving others, and all are wonderful, caring human beings. My life has been enriched by becoming a volunteer for STAR, and on this Valentine's Day, my heart belongs to each of the people who work so tirelessly to help sexual trauma survivors, and to all of the survivors who struggle to overcome their pain.

STAR Awards Criminal Justice Impact Award

STAR works closely with law enforcement agencies throughout the Capital Region in response to sexual assault. We are grateful to the many officers, deputies and detectives that work tirelessly to fight crime and ensure that sexual assault victims are treated with respect and dignity. To honor their commitment to victims, STAR created the Criminal Justice Impact Award to express appreciation for the invaluable and important work performed by those in the criminal justice field. Recipients are selected based on feedback that STAR receives directly from victims. We are pleased to announce that Detective Monahan of the East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office is the first recipient of STAR's Criminal Justice Impact Award, which is awarded to a criminal justice professional who has provided excellent service to victims of sexual assault. Congratulations to Detective Monahan for her outstanding work!
Detective Monahan of EBRSO

The Visionary Voice

Invest in Social Change

Invest in Social Change

We envision a world free from oppression and sexual violence. Make a taxdeductible donation today and help us get there.
Sexual trauma survivors face numerous barriers to achieving safety, self-sufficiency and emotional and social well-being in the aftermath of an assault. Whether its finding the courage to report the assault to the police, or pick up the phone and call someone for help, we at STAR know how difficult it can be to take the necessary steps to recover from sexual trauma. Many survivors are shamed into silence, so its no surprise that the U.S. Bureau of Justice reported that only 28% of rapes were reported to law enforcement in 2012. Research shows that without support and advocacy from agencies like STAR, many survivors are unable to cooperate with the investigation and prosecution processes, due to the stress of repeatedly revisiting their victimization and, at times, working with agents who do not understand the nature of what they experienced. When survivors are able to assist in holding offenders accountable, those offenders are not able to commit future assaults; thus, the overall incidence of sexual assault in the community is reduced. Across the country, sexual assault centers are closing their doors due to lack of funding or severely limiting the services they provide in order to cut costs.

Here in Baton Rouge, STAR is thriving. We have a community committed to ensuring that competent, quality and free services are available to sexual trauma survivors no matter what the circumstances of their assault. Your continued financial support is vital to ensuring that we continue to fulfill our mission to provide support, education and advocacy to empower all individuals and families affected by sexual trauma, and engage and mobilize the community to prevent sexual trauma. An investment in STAR is an investment in social change. It is our vision to end oppression and sexual violence in our community. We cannot achieve this without your help. We put your dollars to work and we impact peoples lives everyday.

$100 provides training and materials for a STAR volunteer who responds to our 24/7 crisis hotline and provides hospital accompaniment for sexual assault victims during exams. $250 provides 5 sessions of group counseling to 10 survivors. $500 provides 10 hours of individual counseling for sexual assault survivors from our licensed counselors. $1,000 provides training and materials for 500 middle and high school students who take part in violence prevention education programming each year. Contribute today and invest in STARs work. You can mail in your donation (payable to STAR) or make a secure online donation through PayPal on our website at www.brstar.org.

The Visionary Voice

SEXUAL TRAUMA AWARENESS & RESPONSE (STAR)

8281 GOODWOOD BLVD., SUITE I-2 BATON ROUGE, LA 70806 OFFICE: (225) 615-7093 24/7 HOTLINE: (225) 383-RAPE

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8281 GOODWOOD BLVD. SUITE I-2

BATON ROUGE, LA 70806