April is Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention Month and everyone has an opportunity to learn and do more to prevent sexual assault in the Tucson community.
If you’re looking to do more, you can contact the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault (SACASA) or Su Voz Vale (Your Voice Counts), their affiliate program for the south side of Tucson.
SACASA works toward ending sexual assault by hosting training classes and providing outreach to assault victims. Su Voz Vale aims to reduce violence and the impact of violence specifically on the Latino/Chicano community.
Although SACASA does not focus specifically on sexual violence in the LGBT community, their programs teach that bullying and name-calling are behaviors that can easily lead to sexual harassment, said Rowan Frost, the program supervisor for the Community Prevention, Education and Outreach Program.
“Sexual harassment is bullying,” Frost said. “The intent to harm or injure someone still exists …We should interrupt this behavior every time.”
The classes they offer discuss teaching children physical boundaries at a young age in order to prevent sexual abuse, how to respond to someone who “comes out” as a victim of sexual abuse and what resources are available to victims.
April 12: 5:30-8:30 p.m., Armory Park: Take Back the Night
This youth-led movement is meant to spark conversation about sexual violence and to invite the community to become part of the solution. More information available at www.takebackthenight.org.
April 13: 5-7 p.m., Fluxx Studio and Galley, 414 E. Ninth St.: “Hey Baby! Art Opposing Sexual Violence”
High school students enrolled in SACASA’s Peer Educator program will facilitate discussions with the community.
April 15: National Day of Silence In response to anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and suicides, participate in a day of silence. More information can be found at www.dayofsilence.org.
April 19: 12-2 p.m., Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave: Movie screening of “Liberty and Justice…For All” This movie discusses U-Visas, which are available to certain victims of violent crimes.
April 20: 4 p.m., Epic Café, 745 N. Fourth Ave.: “Hey Baby!” reception.
This event was inspired by the
decision by the Italian Supreme Court to overturn a rape charge because the victim was wearing tight jeans. Wear jeans to support rape victims and to raise awareness of sexual violence.
April 20: Dine Out for Safety Participating restaurants will donate up to 20 percent of their proceeds to ending violence in our community. Find out which restaurants are supporting this cause at www.dineoutforsafety.
com/tucson.
April 27: 4:30-6 p.m., Sam Lena-South Tucson Branch Library, “Hey Baby! Art Opposing Sexual Violence”
This exhibit will be on display at the library from April 24-29. There will be a community discussion and the opportunity to meet the artists from 5-5:30 p.m.
April 29: 5-7 p.m., Sam Lena-South Tucson Branch Library: Movie screening of “Desde las Sombras”
This Spanish movie discusses signs of child abuse and is intended for parents.
