May

26

A Simple-Minded Proposal

Filed Under Uncategorized | By Tim Love | 1 Comment

When I was in the airport a couple of weeks ago, the man in the three-piece suit who was behind me in the security line read the back of the my t-shirt which says “Do the right thing – be nonviolent.” Some of the highlights of the brief but painful conversation that ensued included statements such as “You know studies have shown that women are actually more violent than men,” and “I think your proposal is quite simple-minded.”

I could write about the misguided idea that women are more violent than men and my defensiveness regarding the “simple-minded” comment, but that’s not what still has me thinking about that guy two weeks later. I keep replaying my response to him. I tried to go head-to-head, or study-for-study, with him, and I wish I hadn’t. There probably is a study that says that women are more violent than men, just like there’s a study that says that eating too much tofu can make you gay.

Justice and truth are things of the heart, the soul and the head, and I didn’t address all of those. I could have talked about how many of the women, children and men in my life have been the victims of violence at the hands of men, and challenged him to think about the violence that the people he cares about have experienced. I also could have brought his attention to the major societal-level violence (war, police brutality, economic inequity, etc.) and how men perpetrate the vast majority of it, and how it is men (primarily white, wealthy, heterosexual, etc.) who gain the most from it. Shoot, I could’ve even talked about the history of science – traditionally dominated by white men – being rife with misuse in order to “prove” racist and sexist ideals, but that’s a whole different blog. Experience, our own as well as other people’s, shows us the overwhelming truth of men’s violence and its far reaching impact. Next time, I hope I remember to go heart and soul-to-head when someone tries to deny that violence.

Has anyone found ways to talk to people that really resonates and gets people to feel the reality of men’s violence with their hearts and souls?

Share

May

18

Don’t Tell, Cuz I Didn’t Ask

Filed Under Uncategorized | By Tim Love | Leave a Comment

I have to admit it; I can’t stop talking about my heterosexuality. My office has wedding pictures prominently displayed. I never hesitate to talk about my partner and my kids. (I recognize that talking about my kids doesn’t necessarily mean I’m heterosexual, but let’s be real, when I do, many of you think of me as heterosexual.) I don’t really care if it makes you uncomfortable; I’m going to make sure you know I’m a heterosexual anyway.

While this seems a little silly to say, it’s true. I do regularly assert my heterosexuality, whether intentionally or not – it just goes mostly unnoticed because we live in a heterocentric and heterosexist society, where heterosexual is the “norm.” Just how heterosexist became clear to me recently when someone said her husband doesn’t have a problem with homosexuals, except when they tell you about their homosexuality. As someone who identifies as heterosexual, I have the privilege of being able to talk about my life and my identity, all of it, without fear, and I see heterosexuality portrayed all around me constantly. People who identify as LGBT in our society are pressured to hide a part of their identity and their humanity because of the serious repercussions of identifying as anything other than heterosexual. Read more

Share

May

15

An Open Letter to Sexual Assault Victims in Texas

Filed Under Announcement | By Annette Burrhus-Clay | 6 Comments

Recently a Houston television station ran a story about a rape victim who was billed for her own rape exam. The news piece implied this was a common practice in Texas despite being told by several sources, including the Deputy Director of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA), that this was not the case. This news story, riddled with inaccuracies and half truths, was picked up by other news outlets and blogs and it took on a life of its own. Activists, advocates, survivors and other concerned individuals from around the country were justifiably angry and began to demand answers and action. The problem is there isn’t really a problem, just the perception of injustice that is spiraling out of control.

TAASA is concerned that this misinformation will have a chilling effect on a rape victim’s willingness to report the crime and get a forensic/medical exam (rape kit). We want to assure everyone that the cost of a forensic exam is not billed to the victim. This is always the responsibility of law enforcement and they in turn can be reimbursed for up to $700 though the Crime Victim’s Compensation (CVC) fund. If the cost exceeds this amount it is absorbed by the law enforcement agency or hospital, not the victim.

Additional medical treatment is not part of the forensic exam and billed separately. All crime victims, i.e. rape, gunshot, mugging, etc. are billed for medical treatment. They are eligible to apply for reimbursement of these costs through the CVC fund. The CVC fund is statutorily the “payer of last resort,” so if a victim has medical insurance it will be billed first. This is to assure the fiscal integrity of the CVC fund and make certain that funds remain available to crime victims who are uninsured or underinsured. Rape victims are not singled out in this process for reimbursement, it is consistently applied to all crime victims and this process is replicated with few variations across the country.

As with any system there is the possibility of human error. A victim could be misinformed or struggle to make sense of the process. This is the principle reason TAASA believes rape crisis advocates are so valuable to rape victims. Rape crisis advocates are not formally part of the systems or institutions that rape survivors must navigate, but are a valuable ally to victims when they encounter barriers or inconsistencies. I wish the rape victim in the Houston story had an advocate to help her through this very difficult time. Our only interest in this situation is that rape victims are supported and assisted. I encourage rape victims to access the services they so desperately need and not be deterred by the perception that they will be charged for their rape exam.

Respectfully Yours,

Annette Burrhus-Clay, Executive Director
Texas Association Against Sexual Assault

Share

May

7

*UPDATED Action Alert!*

Filed Under Announcement | By Torie Camp | Leave a Comment

Please call your Senator AND Representative TODAY or FRIDAY MORNING.

HB 2070 (the clean-up bill for the adult entertainment fee that TAASA supports) is set to be heard on the floor of the House tomorrow, Friday, May 8.

In addition, it now appears that HB 982 (the strip club industry bill TAASA opposes that repeals the adult entertainment fee) will be heard on the Senate floor on Friday as well.

Call your Representative and urge them to vote FOR HB 2070.
HB 2070 is the long-term solution for Texas in the fight against sexual assault. It has bipartisan support of over 45 co-authors.

Call your Senator and urge them to vote AGAINST HB 982.
HB 982 is a strip club industry bill that guts the adult entertainment fee passed overwhelmingly by the Legislature last session.

If you are uncertain who represents your program, you can find out online. For a more complete list of your legislators, enter your program’s service area.

OR call Nichole Tips at (512) 474-7190 x19 and she’ll walk you through it.

When calling:

*Introduce yourself and your organization, if any.

*Highlight that your organization serves the Legislator’s constituents or that you are personally a constituent.

*If calling your Representative tell them that “HB 2070 is the long-term solution for Texas in the fight against sexual assault. It has bipartisan support of over 45 co-authors. Please vote FOR HB 2070.”

*If calling your Senator tell them that “HB 982 is a strip club industry bill that guts the adult entertainment fee passed overwhelmingly by the Legislature last session. The new tax it proposes will NOT raise money. Please vote against HB 982.”

*Thank the staffer for their time and for passing this message along to the Senator or Representative.

Please contact Nichole Tips at 512 474-7190 x 19 if you have any questions. We would greatly appreciate hearing how your calls go.

Thanks for your immediate attention to HB 982 and HB 2070!

Share

May

6

URGENT Action Alert!

Filed Under Announcement | By Torie Camp | Leave a Comment

Please call your Senator tomorrow (Thursday)!

Now is the time we need your help. House Bill 982 (by Representative Thompson and Senator Carona) repeals HB 1751, the adult entertainment fee! This bill is up for a vote on the Senate floor, Thursday, May 7.

Call your Senator and urge them to vote AGAINST HB 982. Please call before the end of the day Thursday.

To find the phone number of any Senator, visit the Texas Legislature online and click on the Senator’s name. If you are uncertain who represents your program, you can find that information online as well. For a more complete list of your legislators, enter your program’s service area.

OR call Nichole Tips at (512) 474-7190 x19 and she’ll walk you through it.

Talking Points
*Introduce yourself and your organization if any.

*Highlight that your organization serves the Senator’s constituents or that you are personally a constituent.

*State that a bill that is harmful to your program and the community the Senator serves, HB 982, is on the “intent calendar” on Thursday.

*HB 982 is a strip club industry bill that guts the adult entertainment fee passed overwhelmingly by the Legislature last session.

*Encourage the Senator’s opposition of HB 982.

*Thank the staffer for their time and for passing this message along to the Senator.

Please contact Nichole Tips at (512) 474-7190 x 19 if you have any questions. We would greatly appreciate hearing how your calls go.

Thanks for your immediate attention to HB 982!

Share