On Being Part of the Solution

Today, I would usually repost an annual HELPING GIRLS SURVIVE post in honor of this weekend, which is V-Day weekend in my world. But rather than repost that annual post, I'm sending you to a brand new one.

I don't get political very often (like never) but once a year, I speak up about this because it's really important and someone has to. Frankly, I'm not even sure this is political. I don't think anyone can argue against the idea that girls and women shouldn't have to live in fear, can they? (And if they can, have we really gone that far into the realm of insanity that we're arguing over something so serious? Don't we all have daughters?)

I'm presently involved in my local production of The Vagina Monologues. I know it's a funny name, and it's a very funny play, too, with really serious parts. The Vagina Monologues is a play that benefits women and girls locally and globally, who are dealing with nightmares you don't even want to think about, through an awesome organization called VDay, started by author Eve Ensler. And this year, teens are playing an even bigger part thanks to V-Girls and Eve Ensler's 2010 book, I am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around the World.

VDay is an organized response to violence against women. It's global, yes, but it also benefits the 200,000+ women and girls PER YEAR here in the US who are sexually assaulted, by raising awareness and money to help girls survive. So, even with the funny name (and some VERY HILARIOUS parts) it's for a serious cause.  I know this stuff is hard to think about, but if we don't start to actively denounce and deconstruct this SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE EPIDEMIC, our daughters will continue to become statistics that nobody thinks or talks about.

THIS YEAR I WROTE A NEW PIECE ABOUT MY INVOLVEMENT IN V-DAY. IT'S CALLED A.S. KING IS SORRY IF SHE MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE BUT SHE WANTS YOU TO READ THIS ANYWAY.  I WROTE THAT IN ALL CAPS SO YOU'LL GO HAVE A READ.

This weekend of April 1st, 2nd & 3rd I'll be selling and signing copies of The Dust of 100 Dogs and Please Ignore Vera Dietz in the lobby before our production of The Vagina Monologues and I Am an Emotional Creature. 100% of profits from those book sales will go to VDay. In 2009 & 2010, I raised over $500 through these book sales. It's not huge, but it's something, and every little bit helps. If you live in the Berks County, PA area, you can find tickets HERE. Shows are: Friday April 1st at 8pm (Monologues) Saturday, April 2nd at 2pm (Emotional Creatures) 8pm (Monologues) and Sunday, April 3rd at 2pm (Monologues) and 7pm (Emotional Creatures) at Genesius Theater at 10th and Walnut Streets, Reading. (Break a leg to the entire cast and crew! You guys are utterly FANTASTIC!)

Stop the Violence & Stop the Silence! 

V-Day is EVERYWHERE. Find your local production of The Vagina Monologues or I Am an Emotional Creature and support a great cause!

Have a laugh. 

Share the Joy. 

Help a girl survive. 

Support your local V-DAY.