Paradigm Shift

ONE BILLION RISING

STRIKE | DANCE | RISE!

TAKE ACTION: The International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict Week of Action

RISE and stand with V-Day in supporting The International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict! The global campaign launched May 6th and kicks off a Week of Action calling on local activists, Nobel Peace Laureates, international advocacy organizations, and groups working at the regional and community levels to demand urgent and bold political leadership to prevent rape in conflict areas (including Burma, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya), protect civilians and rape survivors, and call for justice for all — including effective prosecution of those responsible.

Quick and easy ways that YOU can take action:

Take the pledge today to support the Campaign at www.stoprapeinconflict.org
Use the hashtag #IPLEDGE on Twitter to connect with members and encourage others to join the Campaign
Find the Campaign on Facebook
Visit the website: www.stoprapeinconflict.org
World Premiere of Emotional Creature at Berkeley Rep, Performances Begin June 14

From June 14 – July 15, Berkeley Repertory Theatre will present the world premiere of Eve’s powerful new play Emotional Creature. Staged by Obie Award-winning director Jo Bonney and performed by a talented ensemble of young women, Emotional Creature is made up of original monologues–and irresistible songs–about and for girls. Placing their stories squarely center stage, it gives full expression to their secret voices and innermost thoughts, highlighting the diversity and commonality of the issues they face. Emotional Creature is a call, a reckoning, an education, an act of empowerment for girls, and an illumination for parents and for us all. And it’s receiving its world premiere here at Berkeley Rep!

Exciting Emotional Creature Opportunities!

Berkeley Rep thinks providing young people with access to empowering plays like Emotional Creature is vitally important. They will be donating up to 3,000 FREE Community Access tickets to Bay Area non-profit organizations and government agencies serving young people and at-risk youth.
To apply for free tickets or to help distribute them, check out the details here >

On Sunday, June 24th there will be a special V-Day benefit performance of Emotional Creature followed by Sunday Supper with Eve, the cast, and director Jo Bonney. Tickets are $1,000 for adults, $500 for accompanying teens (ages 13-19). Proceeds will benefit two of V-Day’s newest campaigns: V-Girls, a program providing girls worldwide with a platform for their activism; and ONE BILLION RISING, a campaign that will gather one billion women and men in a global action to end the violence against women culminating on 2-14-13.
BUY your ticket at www.vday.org/ecbenefit2012 >

REMINDER: We Want To Hear From YOU!

YOU are the face of this movement, so show the world what revolution looks like!

Send us your V-Day experiences, whether you were in the audience or on stage, a part of the crew or a passerby, we want to hear how V-Day impacted you. Share your V-Day V-Season stories and images and connect with your fellow activists in over 140 countries worldwide!

One line, one story, one moment – sometimes that’s all it takes to inspire billions to rise up.

RISE UP & SHARE! >

Are you interested in joining an amazing group of dynamic, engaged women seeking to change the conversation in the media?

Progressive Women’s Voices is looking for talented, informed, progressive women willing to speak out about the issues that matter.

Whether your expertise is peace, war, leadership, health care, or technology, chances are you follow the news and realize that progressive women’s voices, like yours, are missing.

We are seeking participants who represent diverse backgrounds, with experience and knowledge of specific subject areas and strong communication skills that we hope to further develop.

Are you ready to change the conversation in the media? Apply for Progressive Women’s Voices today! http://bit.ly/IIjVNo

Progressive Women’s Voices (PWV) is the premier media and leadership training program for women in the country. Representing a range of expertise and diversity across race, class, geography, and generation, participants receive advanced, comprehensive training and tools to position themselves as media spokespeople in their fields, thereby changing the conversation on issues that fill the headlines. Participating in PWV will enable you to master effective interview presentation techniques and improve your skills to serve as thought leaders in the media. By joining Progressive Women’s Voices, you will become a part of a powerful network of women leaders who are changing the conversation on the important issues of the day. Progressive Women’s Voices starts with a competitive application process, with final candidates chosen by a committee that includes WMC Co-Founders Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, Robin Morgan, and our Board of Directors.

This year, WMC will train 20 women from across the country. Our Washington, DC training will be held from August 24-26th and our New York City training will be held from September 14-16th. We are currently accepting applications for both trainings and will close the application process at 11:59PM on June 4, 2012.

As a small non-profit, we require that accepted participants contribute a sliding-scale investment to help cover their training costs to keep the program sustainable.  Fees are as follows (through a self-selected honor system):

$100: Individual or small-non profit rate

$500: Corporate rate

$2,500: Executive

Selected participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging. Be assured that ability to pay is not a consideration in the review process. We will be providing a limited number of scholarships so that the program is accessible to women who need financial support. Women representing diverse backgrounds, areas of expertise, professions, ethnicities, abilities, ages, geographical regions and levels of experience are encouraged to apply (including those who have previously applied).

Amplify your voice. Apply for Progressive Women’s Voices today! http://bit.ly/IIjVNo

With Appreciation,

The Women’s Media Center Team

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

CITY HALL
NEW YORK, NY 10007
(212) 788-7116
**For Immediate Release**
May 9, 2012

_______________________________________________

Contact: 212-788-7116
Release # 82-2012

Statement By Speaker Christine C. Quinn

Re: President Obama’s Support of Marriage Equality

“This is an amazing day, our President coming out in support of marriage equality. President Obama’s declaration that marriage is a right for all people is an act of courage that will go down in history as the moment the tide changed for LGBT Americans.

When the President of the United States validates you, your family, your friends and your loved ones by saying that yes – you are full citizens who deserve full equal rights – it’s a truly American moment.

Today President Obama gave hope to a new generation of LGBT youth who will grow up knowing there is nothing wrong with who they are, and that no matter how bad things may seem, the President, and the United States of America stands with them.

Even with a recent setback in North Carolina, now that we have the support of President Obama, we have never been closer to making marriage equality a reality for everyone, everywhere then we are now.

Today, we are on the cusp of change, and I’m enormously grateful and proud of President Obama, marriage equality advocates and everyone who has worked so hard to bring us to this moment. Thank you for all you have done, and all we will continue to do for equality.”

Please forward to everyone you know who cares about ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking!

THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PASSED A BILL THAT IS DANGEROUS FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND PROTECTS ABUSERS:
TELL THE HOUSE THE ADAMS BILL (H.R. 4970) IS NOT THE REAL VAWA!

On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee marked up and passed the Adams (R-FL) version of VAWA, H.R. 4970. The National Task Force and our thousands of community activists all across the nation have worked very hard in the last few weeks to defeat this harmful bill that sets back the clock on VAWA, hurts and excludes survivors of violence and in some cases gives more rights to perpetrators than victims. In a near party-line 17-15 vote, one Member, Representative Ted Poe (R-TX), crossed the aisle and stood firmly with the field and on the side of victims. As Co-Chair of the Victims’ Rights Caucus, he joined VAWA’s Democratic champions and voted against the bill. We applaud Mr. Poe and the Democratic Members of the Committee for standing with victims. The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women, a coalition representing thousands of organizations, service providers, researchers, educators, religious leaders, law enforcement, advocacy groups and victims all across the nation, continues to have grave concerns about this legislation that contains punitive provisions that will harm victims and exclude key communities.

In the committee markup, a substitute amendment offered by Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI) that closely mirrors the bipartisan Senate-passed bill was not even allowed to be considered or debated. Numerous amendments were offered by our House champions to improve the Adams bill by including vulnerable communities such as Native women, LGBTQ victims, and immigrant victims, and striking mandatory minimum sentencing, but these amendments were consistently defeated by the House Committee Majority. Despite these disappointing results, the National Task Force will now turn our efforts to the full House of Representatives in order to pass an inclusive VAWA that is a real step forward for all victims of violence. That vote could be as early as next week so champions of the “real VAWA” have their work cut out for them.

Several Members of Congress are touting yesterday’s passage as a VICTORY for victims of domestic and sexual violence but it is NOT – the Adams bill, H.R. 4970, harms victims and empowers abusers.  We must tell our legislators that we strongly oppose the Adams bill. Tell your friends, family and loved ones to call too! WE NEED TO FLOOD REPRESENTATIVES’ OFFICES WITH CALLS!

ACTION 1:  CALL HOUSE LEADERSHIP AND TELL THEM THAT YOU THINK THAT H.R. 4970 HARMS VICTIMS AND IS NOT THE REAL VAWA.

Message: “The House Judiciary Committee’s passage of H.R. 4970 on Tuesday is NOT a victory – it HARMS victims of violence and empowers abusers.  We oppose the Adams bill because it is NOT the REAL VAWA, it doesn’t include protections for all victims, and it rolls back protections for victims that have been in VAWA since 1994. It is DANGEROUS for survivors of violence.  We support a bill like the bi-partisan Senate bill that protects Native victims, immigrant victims, LGBT victims and other marginalized communities. We do not think the House Judiciary Committee passed a REAL VAWA. We need the House leadership to support ALL victims”

Contact Information:

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), (202) 225-0600 (Leadership Office), (202) 225-6205 (Personal Office), (513) 779-5400 (Westchester District Office), (937) 339-1524 (Troy District Office)

Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), (202) 2254000

Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), (202) 225-2915

ACTION 2:  CALL ALL THOSE WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF H.R. 4970 AND TELL THEM THEY ARE HARMING VICTIMS AND EMPOWERING ABUSERS WITH THEIR VOTE. Message: “Your vote for H.R. 4970 on Tuesday was WRONG – it HARMS victims of violence.  We oppose the Adams bill because it is NOT the REAL VAWA, it doesn’t include protections for all victims and it rolls back protections for victims of violence. It is DANGEROUS for survivors of violence.   We support a bill like the bi-partisan Senate bill that protects Native victims, immigrant victims, LGBT victims and other marginalized communities.  We do not think the House Judiciary Committee passed a REAL VAWA and we need you to support ALL victims.”

Use the Capital switchboard number (202) 224-3121 to call:

Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX)

Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI)

Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA)

Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)

Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA)

Rep.  Steve Chabot (R-OH)

Rep.  Darrell Issa (R-CA)

Rep.  Randy Forbes (R-VA)

Rep.  Steve King (R-IA)

Rep.  Trent Frank (R-AZ)

Rep.  Jim Jordan (R-OH)

Rep.  Tim Griffin (R-AR)

Rep.  Thomas Marino (R-PA)

Rep.  Trey Gowdy (R-SC)

Rep.  Mike Ross (R-AR)

Rep.  Sandy Adams (R-FL)

Rep.  Mark Amodei (R-NV)

ACTION 3: CALL THESE WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE NOT SIGNED ON TO H.R. 4970 AND URGE THEM TO SUPPORT OPEN DEBATE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR:

Message: “Thank you for NOT co-sponsoring the Adams VAWA bill (H.R. 4970).  We think this bill is DANGEROUS for victims of violence and empowers abusers.  Instead, please support open debate on the House floor when the bill is brought up for discussion and a vote sometime in the weeks ahead.”

Contact Information:

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), (202) 225-2331, Staffer: Katie Poedtke, Renee Doyle

Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL), (202) 225-3515, Staffer: Cade Clurman

Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-NY), (202) 225-5441, Staffer: Elyse O’Brien

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), (202) 225-3536, Staffer: Jessica Wixson

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), (202) 225-3931, Staffer: Guillermo Vallejo

ACTION 4:  CALL ALL OF THE LEGISLATORS WHO VOTED AGAINST ADAMS’ HARMFUL BILL AND THANK THEM – ESPECIALLY CONGRESSMAN TED POE (R-TX) WHO CROSSED PARTY LINES TO DO IT!

Message: “Thank you for NOT sponsoring the Adams VAWA bill (H.R. 4970) and for standing up for ALL victims. The Adams bill is DANGEROUS for victims of violence. It is NOT the REAL VAWA, it doesn’t include protections for all victims and it rolls back protections for victims that have been in VAWA since 1994. Help us support a bill like the bi-partisan Senate bill that protects Native victims, immigrant victims, LGBT victims and other marginalized communities.   Please support open debate on the House floor when the bill is brought up for discussion and a vote sometime in the weeks ahead.”

Use the Capital switchboard number (202) 224-3121 to call:

Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) – Thank him for crossing party lines to stand up for victims!

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)

Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA)

Rep. JerryNadler (D-NY)

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)

Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC)

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA)

Rep. Pedro Pierluisi (D-PR)

Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL)

Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL)

Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA)

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)

###

We’ve had more than 25,000 visits to our website!  Check our website for fact sheets, press coverage, support letters and updates: www.4vawa.org.

We have more than 1,200 “likes” on Facebook!  Check out and “like” our Facebook page where you can find a toolkit and other action and information items: http://on.fb.me/NTF_Facebook_page.

Don’t forget to tweet about VAWA using the hashtags #ReauthorizeVAWA, #RealVAWA and #VAWA.

If you aren’t on one of the VAWA email lists or want to add members of your staff or state/community leaders to our grassroots alerts e-mailing list, send names and contact information including email to Sean Black, sblack@icasa.org.

Girls and young women ages 14-22: Do you want to become a political commentator and strong progressive thought leader in the media? Apply for Progressive Girl’s Voices today: http://bit.ly/I1mQwS

Progressive Girl’s Voices (PGV) is the premier media and leadership-training program for girls in the country. Representing a range of expertise and diversity across race, class, geography, and generation, participants receive advanced, comprehensive training and tools to position themselves as media spokespeople in their fields, thereby changing the conversation on issues that fill the headlines.

Participating in PGV will enable you to master effective interview presentation techniques and improve your skills to serve as thought leaders in the media. By joining Progressive Girl’s Voices, you will become a part of a powerful network of girl leaders who are changing the conversation on the important issues of the day. Progressive Girl’s Voices starts with a competitive application process, with final candidates chosen by a committee that includes Women’s Media Center (WMC) Co-Founders Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, Robin Morgan, and the WMC Board of Directors.

This year, the Women’s Media Center will train 10 girls from New York City area and the training is FREE. Our NYC training will be held from July 20-22. We are currently accepting applications and will close the application process at 11:59 P.M. on June 4, 2012.  Apply here: http://bit.ly/I1mQwS

Girls representing diverse backgrounds, areas of expertise, professions, ethnicities, abilities, ages, geographical regions and levels of experience are encouraged to apply (including those who have previously applied). Apply for Progressive Girl’s Voices today!! http://bit.ly/I1mQwS

With Appreciation,

The Women’s Media Center Team