Hundreds of men marched a mile in women’s high heels Sunday to raise awareness for sexual abuse.
The Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response Center hosted the second annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” at North Boulevard Town Square.
“We need to be aware of the violence that is taken against women,” said Sid Newman, Crime Stoppers executive director. “We need to stand up. We can’t turn our heads.”
Robert James, anthropology freshman, walked on behalf of the Student Health Advocates.
“This brings a little bit of humor to such a dark issue,” he said.
Community leaders like District Attorney Hillar Moore, Sheriff Sid Gautreaux, Coroner Beau Clark and U.S. Attorney Don Cazayoux spoke to the crowd before donning their own high heels.
“This is something that is so needed in this community,” Gautreaux said.
Men marched alongside wives, girlfriends, daughters and friends, chanting slogans like “Yes means yes; no means no, whatever we wear, wherever we go.”
They raised signs that read “Put yourself in her shoes” and “Rape hurts all of us.”
Dusty Guidry winced across the finish line with his daughter. The two wore matching hand-decorated shoes, complete with purple and gold flowers and rhinestones.
“We also painted our toenails together,” he added.
Guidry said he estimated that the event’s participation doubled from last year’s march.
“They need to have more events like this,” Guidry said. “In a big parish with three
major universities, a lot of stuff can
happen.”
Numerous organizations like Planned Parenthood and the LSU Student Health Center had booths set up to display information.
Painted T-shirts hanging across the boulevard, bearing messages like “Your ignorance is more scandalous than my promiscuity” and “Don’t hurt my mommy,” were part of The Clothesline Project by LSU Women’s and Gender Studies Organization and Women Organizing Women.
Ashley Baggett, history graduate student, said the shirts were created by survivors and friends of survivors of gender abuse.
“The people who decorate them feel empowered and relieved,” she said.
Women and men in high heels read the messages with concern, and some even made their own shirts. Baggett said the shirts prompt a discussion, which is needed for awareness.
“It’s a community issue,” Newman said. “Violence can strike and affect everybody.”
____
Contact Danielle Kelley at [email protected]