Let's Stop Sexual Assault

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It's time to speak out against rape and other forms of forced sex.

To give you some perspective on the problem of sexual assault, here are just a few startling facts provided by Terri O’Brien, executive director of Sunrise of Pasco County and co-chairperson of the Pasco Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force:

• 44 percent of sexual violence victims are under age 18
• Every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted
• 15 of every 16 rapists will never spend a day in jail

"No!" means "No!" No consent means it is rape!  If you are incapacitated and cannot consent, it is rape.  We need to pull together as a community and stop this. 

Here's what's horrifying:  If we start counting the minutes that pass while reading this article, how many will have been sexually assaulted by the time you get to the end?  How many mothers, sisters, daughters, cousins, nieces, friends? Rape is one of the most under-reported crimes. It knows no age or gender boundaries. Children, teenagers, women, men, seniors and college students can all succumb to this horrific plague.    There is still in this day and age a lot of social stigma attached to the person who has been victimized by rape and other sexual assaults. 

The Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force is working with a national agency to create a public service announcement to help educate the community about getting rid of the myths surrounding sex assault, for instance, that it is usually not a stranger to the victim that perpetrates this crime.  That and other myths they are working to dispel in our community will be airing later this month.

This year, in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, one of the key events in the Tampa Bay area is the Take Back The Night March. Men are asked to participate and make a stand for the women in their life and take the Men’s Pledge at the event.

Here's a press release from Crisis Center of Tampa Bay about the event. You can find other Sexual Assault Awareness Month resources below it.

 Take Back the Night: Our Voice is Our Strength

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Hyde Park Village- 742 South Village Circle, Tampa, FL 33606

On April 16, 2011 in Hyde Park Village, the Sexual Violence Task Force of Tampa Bay in collaboration with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay will host Take Back the Night, an interactive event that creates awareness, empowers survivors and educates the community about sexual violence. Commissioner Hagan, Chief Jane Castor and Mayor Bob Buckhorn are just a few of the influential community leaders who will be sharing their message of support for sexual violence survivors.

In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, there will be a “Take Back the Night (TBTN)” event scheduled in Hillsborough County on 4/16/11.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Men, we are asking that you take a stand for the women in your life. A very special part of Take Back the Night is the Men’s Pledge- a spoken promise to speak out against sexual violence, listen, empower and encourage women to be strong. Join us and former Buccaneers player Ian Beckles at at Take Back the Night and become a part of the solution to end sexual violence. For every man that attends Take Back the Night and participates in the Men’s Pledge Gary Weisman of Older, Lund and Weisman Attorneys at Law will donate $5.00!

Please click on the blog for more information http://blog.crisiscenter.com/2011/04/01/gary-gives-5-00-for-every-man-who-participates-in-the-mens-pledge-at-take-back-the-night-on-april-16th/

To support ending sexual assault in our community, here are some ways you can get involved and find out more:

1. Come by and visit the Sunrise booth at the 2011 Celebration of Arts event at the Wiregrass Mall in Wesley Chapel on Saturday 4/9 from 10am-6pm or Sunday 4/10 from 11am-6pm. Arts and crafts for kids and lots of give-a-ways! http://www.wesleychapelchamber.com/about/calendar/8-4-11-2010/
2. Become a fan on the Sunrise Facebook Page located at http://www.facebook.com/#!/SunriseofPasco
3. Visit the Sunrise website for more information http://www.sunrisepasco.org 
4. Review these great Myth Busters on Sexual Battery and campus safety tips from the University of Florida Police  http://www.police.ufl.edu/csd/csd_safetytips_sexualbattery.as
5. Sexual Assault Awareness Month has a Rally in Tally on April 26, 2011, and includes childhood sexual abuse survivor Lauren Book Lim in a statewide march for justice. http://www.fcasv.org/professionals/event-calendar/rally-tally-2011-04-26

The National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-HOPE