Marie Fortune

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and I’m making a list of my favorite activists speaking out against sexual violence.  Some are old-school activists working on the ground in non-profit organizations; some are artists; some are writers – all are committed.  I’ve been speaking out against sexual violence for the last 15 years – beginning slightly more than a year after I survived an experience of rape.  The people I mention this month are friends and comrades.

The FaithTrust Institute is one of the oldest – if not the oldest – organizations that addresses sexual and domestic violence for, with and in faith communities.  Founded by the amazing and committed Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune (I’ll highlight some of her books in later posts), The FaithTrust Institute offers training, consulting and educational materials for Christian, Buddhist, Jewish and Muslims communities.  They pay attention to and have distinctive outreaches for people of color too.  While they resist sexual and domestic violence – including sexual abuse by clergy – they also give attention to the development of safe and healthy faith communities, healthy teen relationships and healthy boundaries for religious leaders.

On a personal note, I knew Marie Fortune by her work for years before I met her – when I began to act like a fan asking for a signature.  She has a gentle unassuming presence that commands respect, while remarkably open to collaborating with others committed to this work. A real gift to the world and faith communities.

See others on my list:

25 Top Sexual Activists: #4

25 Top Sexual Violence Activists: #3

25 Top Sexual Violence Activists: #2

25 Top Sexual Violence Activists: #1

Men Stopping Violence

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and I’m making a list of my favorite activists speaking out against sexual violence.  Some are old-school activists working on the ground in non-profit organizations; some are artists; some are writers – all are committed.  I’ve been speaking out against sexual violence for the last 15 years – beginning slightly more than a year after I survived an experience of rape.  The people I mention this month are friends and comrades.

Men Stopping Violence based in the greater Atlanta community. And you thought that the only people resisting sexual violence were women?!  Not so. Men Stopping Violence works locally, nationally, and internationally to dismantle belief systems, social structures, and institutional practices that oppress women and children and dehumanize men themselves.

I have encountered this organization and its staff several times in the last 15 years of my own activism.  They are current, relevant, bold and astoundingly powerful in their commitment to social justice and their advocacy of the violence against women’s movement. Check them out!

See others on my list:

25 Top Sexual Violence Activists: #3

25 Top Sexual Violence Activists: #2

25 Top Sexual Violence Activists: #1

What About Her?

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and I’m making a list of my favorite activists speaking out against sexual violence.  Some are old-school activists working on the ground in non-profit organizations; some are artists; some are writers – all are committed.  I’ve been speaking out against sexual violence for the last 15 years – beginning slightly more than a year after I survived an experience of rape.  The people I mention this month are friends and comrades.

Tamar’s Voice is a small national non-profit that focuses specifically on ministry to those who have experienced clergy sexual abuse.  This is actually a significant problem that doesn’t get nearly enough attention.  While church denominations will deal with this issue when they find themselves in legal quandaries, Tamar’s Voice is a reminder of the way clergy sexual abuse affects people, their lives and their faiths.  They also highlight the book, What About Her?: a True Story of Clergy Abuse Survival, which gives one first-person account of how clergy abuse happens.

I met Director Jan Tuin at a conference years ago, and was impressed by the dedication that she and her husband have to this work. They are diligent and brave!  Check them out.

See others on my list:

25 Top Sexual Violence Activists: #2

25 Top Sexual Violence Activists: #1

A Long Walk Home

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and I’m making a list of my favorite activists speaking out against sexual violence.  Some are old-school activists working on the ground in non-profit organizations; some are artists; some are writers – all are committed.  I’ve been speaking out against sexual violence for the last 15 years – beginning slightly more than a year after I survived an experience of rape.  The people I mention this month are friends and comrades.

The Chicago-based non-profit A Long Walk Home founded by sisters Scheherazade  and Salamishah Tillet.  They have a ton of important programs, but I have two favorites.  Story of a Rape Survivor (SOARS) is an award-winning multimedia performance that can go on the road and come to a campus or organization or church near you.  I also love the Girl/Friends Leadership Institute that empowers teenage girls to become youth leaders speaking out against sexual violence in their high schools and communities. Art and young people!

I’ve never met Scheherzade or Salamishah Tillet – although we have many friends and colleagues in common.  But when I make my list of where my charitable giving goes, they are on the list.  Amazing work!

The Resurrection

The story does not end with crucifixion.  That’s the message I need to hear this Easter.  In the last weeks, wider American has become more conscious of what African Americans have always known: crucifixion can happen at any moment . . .

I’m not preaching on Easter this year, but this is what I would say if I were.

Every so often, the religion website Patheos.com does what they call a “theoblogger challenge” asking people – like myself – who blog about religious stuff if we will answer a question with a particular word limit.  This year they asked us how we were preaching the resurrection – if we were preaching it.

Click here for more of what I would say.

No! The Rape Documentary

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and I’m making a list of my favorite activists speaking out against sexual violence.  Some are old-school activists working on the ground in non-profit organizations; some are artists; some are writers – all are committed.  I’ve been speaking out against sexual violence for the last 15 years – beginning slightly more than a year after I survived an experience of rape.  The people I mention this month are friends and comrades.

Aishah Shahidah Simmons’ No! The Rape Documentary.  This documentary is not only filled with great images, stories and analysts (including some on religion), but it also has wonderful poetry and overturns heterosexist assumptions about rape.  Did I mention that it comes with a workbook?

I met Aishah via phone for years before we met in person.  We were orbiting the same world in our activism and had many friends and colleagues in common.  We supported each other’s work as much as we could.  Years later, we were both featured keynote speakers at a sexual violence awareness event at Mount Sixth Baptist Church in Richmond, VA.  We’ve since become good friends, and I can say that she’s committed to this work in her speaking, writing, lifeand art.