Art, fashion and community activism will combine when 12 men step into heels to raise awareness for sexual violence.
The third annual Hunks in Heels runway show will take place at the Varsity Theatre at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday and is hosted by STAR, Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response.
STAR began as a rape crisis center in 1975, working through the district attorney’s office for a large part of the organization’s history. In 2012, the organization rebranded into today’s nonprofit.
CEO of STAR Racheal Hebert said she’s assisted the organization with the event since its origin in 2013.
Hebert said the show grew from humble beginnings in The Office bar, with less than 200 people in attendance. The enthusiasm of the “Hunks” led the show to continue, Hebert said.
In 2014, the show moved to the Hartley/Vey Theatres and sold out 325 seats before the show began. Because of the success of last year’s success. Hebert said STAR recognized the Varsity Theatre as an ideal venue to house the show.
“We love the space at the Varsity,” Hebert said. “It has a great stage and it has multiple levels for people to really see the stage and see the men walking in their heels.”
Hebert said finding the “Hunks” begins in February or March, with men who are typically nominated by friends or previous men who walked the runway. Though the “Hunks” are usually nominated, 2015 marks the first year men contacted STAR requesting to take the stage.
Kyle Harless, a 2015 “Hunk,” said he was approached to walk in the event by artist Neily Byrd and will be representing Lock & Key Whiskey Bar, a sponsor of the event.
But the “Hunks” are nothing without their heels. Each “Hunk” meets with an artist to specially design their heels. For the art process, Harless said he was responsible for picking out heels, and worked with Byrd to design a whiskey-themed heel.
While Harless was enthusiastic about the process of decorating his heels, he still recognizes the need for sexual trauma awareness, he said.
“Sex is a great thing, but we also have to respect our partners and other people’s sexual interests,” Harless said.
Harless said our society is highly sexualized and wants young people to have the right idea about sexuality.
Both Harless and Hebert said they recognize the importance of Hunks in Heels starting a conversation about sexual trauma.
Hebert said she hopes associating the dark events of sexual violence with a light-hearted themed event like “Hunks in Heels” will eventually break the stigma of sexual assault.
Hebert said the event is one-of-a-kind, offering a show for art, music and dance fans.
Looking toward the future, Hebert said she hopes the show sells out bigger venues with people showing support for the organization.
“Ultimately, I’d love to get just more awareness for STAR in the community so that survivors know that there are services and they know that there are places to go if they ever need us,” Hebert said.
A man in heels prepares to strut down the runway at the Hunks in Heels event Thursday, September 19, 2013 at The Office Bar in Downtown Baton Rouge.
