Understanding Your State Law on Rape Kit Reform

LOOKING FOR THE LIGHT BLOG

END THE BACKLOG is an initiative of the Joyful Heart Foundation to shine a light on the backlog of untested rape kits throughout the United States. Our goal is to end this injustice by conducting groundbreaking research identifying the extent of the nation’s backlog and best practices for eliminating it, expanding the national dialogue on rape kit testing through increased public awareness, engaging communities and government agencies and officials and advocating for comprehensive rape kit reform legislation and policies at the local, state and federal levels. We urge you to learn more about the backlog, where it exists and why it matters. We invite you to take action and support efforts to test rape kits. Help us send the message that we must take rape seriously. 

Survivors’ Voices Drive Rape Kit Reform in Texas

Today’s guest author is Wendy Davis, former Texas state senator and…

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Triple Shot Thursday * We Are One*

LOOKING FOR THE LIGHT BLOG

I had a hard time deciding what to play this week. I let me heart take the lead and I enjoyed the journey. As the show Pickers say “we’re free styling”.

My hope is you enjoy the music and soak in the message.  M

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Keep Students Safe From Sexual Assault & Enforce Title IV

LOOKING FOR THE LIGHT BLOG

Change.org Petition

Ask Betsy DeVos to keep students safe and enforce Title IX

This petition will be delivered to:

• U.S. Secretary of Education
  Betsy DeVos
• Senator
  Lamar Alexander

The current Administration is planning to weaken the enforcement of Title IX, a move that would be devastating for students especially those who are LGBT and of color. Survivors and our allies across the country are coming together to ask Education Secretary DeVos to listen to survivors, keep students safe, and enforce protections Title IX has long provided.

Join Know Your IX and End Rape on Campus and ask DeVos to commit to the following :

• Maintain the Department of Education’s guidance documents clarifying schools’ legal responsibilities to prevent and address sexual harassment under Title IX
• Continue to recognize preponderance of evidence (i.e. “more likely than not”) as the appropriate standard of proof in campus sexual harassment investigations;
• Maintain federal transparency in…

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I’ll Ride My Pony, Today is My Birthday

LOOKING FOR THE LIGHT BLOG

I planned a nice gallery of photos from different times in life. Planned but it is not happening. In this photo I’m smiling ear to ear galloping around the kitchen on my second birthday. My grandparents bought the pony I dreamed of.

I’m overjoyed to have my WordPress friends here, let’s share the day with hugs, best wishes and lots of chocolate and vanilla cake. Sorry Vegans, I can offer a cold bottle of water.

The video reminds me we are all miracles and can do anything we apply ourself to. It’s touching around the World people can relate.

M

Second Birthday

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Male Child Sexual Abuse and Homosexual Confusion

Drop me a line…let me know if you found value in the video. If not be honest with me, tell how off base I am. I’m learning and your input is part of learning. M

LOOKING FOR THE LIGHT BLOG

Blogging started as a coping mechanism to grieve my Granny. Spending years writing about how my grandparents unconditional love saved me from myself. Before long my post centered more around my traumatic background, it was seamless not a conscious decision. I have learned everyone’s trauma is different, even when they appear the same.

I knew nothing of men’s sexual abuse. Five years ago I met several male friends who were sexually assaulted as children and adults. None of my traumatic experiences prepared me for how different boy’s and men process sexual assault.

To all the Men Survivors of Sexual Assault, please know you are loved and supported by those without understanding the pain and trauma inside. You are loved for who you are.

I found this video on YouTube by Mark Sanford. I don’t know him and not endorsing in any way. I am acknowledging his trauma, the pain and deep…

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The Americas

Speaking the truth of the times. M

Art by Rob Goldstein

Carlos Santana – Maria, Maria
Community Audio
The Internet Archives

Save

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Mr. Anguish

Robert’s passion for art runs as deep as the words from his soul. M

Art by Rob Goldstein

An

alliance

of exotic

oils

lulls me

to heat:

waxy,

pointillist,

and

drooping.

She rises

from

an erotic

tableau

of moldy

old

pornography

and begs

the gleam

In my eye

for mercy.

Mateo 2017

Steely Dan – Aja
The Internet Archive

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Exiting Chinatown

Robert, Thanks for the insightful post. M

Art by Rob Goldstein

You see it, don’t you?

You see the way?

You see the way
through?

All the way through?

Yes, it’s this way: the way
is through you.

It’s this way please.

Please follow through.

(c) Rob Goldstein 2017 All Rights Reserved

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Broken English

Robert’s 2017 Blog for Mental Health.
M

Art by Rob Goldstein

attached
to
self-loathing
his
bleeding
never
stops

MG 2017

Marianne Faithfull – Broken English

First published in March 2017 as a status update, I decided to use the image for something else.

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