Statewide campaign starts to reduce domestic violence / LJWorld.com

Archive for Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Ten percent of women in Kansas have reported being a victim of domestic or sexual violence. Personal experiences are driving some advocates working for the victims.

J-W Staff Reports

July 1, 2009

Photo by Scott Rothschild

Former Attorney General Robert Stephan on Wednesday speaks with media on Capitol grounds following news conference launching domestic violence awareness campaign. Stephan was honored for championing passage of Kansas Crime Victims' Bill of Rights 20 years ago.

Photo by Scott Rothschild

Joyce Grover, with the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, speaks during news conference to kick off public awareness campaign. Beside Grover, from left, are Attorney General Stephen Six and former attorney general Robert Stephan.

Topeka — Advocates working to reduce domestic violence kicked off a public awareness campaign on Wednesday, hoping to get everyday Kansans to help stop abuse.

“There’s something that everyone can do to make a difference -- something as simple as knowing the Kansas Crisis Hotline number, 888-END ABUSE,” said Joyce Grover, general counsel with the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.

“Someone you know will need your help,” Grover said.

The coalition and Governor’s Domestic Fatality Review Board started a “Believe It. Help Change It” campaign that includes radio and television public service announcements, newspaper and online ads, and a Web site, www.HelpChangeKansas.com, which features information on domestic violence and resources for victims.

“Domestic violence victims need the concern of the public and adequate laws and services to address their needs,” said former state attorney general Robert Stephan, who chairs the governor’s review board. “Without public awareness, justice will never be achieved for victims,” he said.

In 2008, domestic violence advocacy programs in Kansas provided 62,000 shelter nights and answered 45,000 crisis calls, the coalition reported. Nationally, on average more than three women per day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends.

And a recent study found that three of every five victims in Kansas do not know where to go for services.

In Lawrence, domestic violence programs are provided at GaDuGi Safe Center and Women’s Transitional Care Services.

The awareness campaign was launched on the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Kansas Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights, which Stephan championed. During a news conference, Stephan was presented with a proclamation and a plaque in his name that will be placed by a tree that was planted on the Capitol grounds in 1989 to commemorate passage of the victims rights measure.

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1 July 2009
at 2:32 p.m.

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smitty (Anonymous) says…

It is time to move past the hetrosexism attorney JG. This is the same old stale rhetoric from the Ks DV enactment days. Twenty years, a plaque, but there's an elephant in the room you will not discuss.

I would like to see an even approach to this subject. Where are the stats and data on abused men, lesbian abuse, gay abuse? A rather hetrosexist bias, still. Your bias has been in the fore front of several hetrosexist laws for the DV movement in Kansas. Some, particualiarly the stalking laws are flawed.

The following link is one of the more enlightened reads on abuse/domestic violence including the dycotomy of lesbian leadership in DV and lesbian political influence on laws about hetrosexual abuse.

http://books.google.com/books?id=5ZNn…
1 July 2009
at 7:18 p.m.

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Pogo (Anonymous) says…

Excellent commentary, Smitty. This group's approach hasn't changed since it began and this “coalition” hides in secrecy….it's nigh onto impossible to find out about it's budget; where the money comes from; and to whom it's paid.

However, the larger matter at hand is that this is a “safe issue”. As such, it takes the focus away from the real causes of battering which center around economics (as in not having a job/being under employed/not making ends meet; etc., etc., etc.); a familial history of battering carried on from one generation to the next (the “coalition” will say they're addressing this aspect in the school system but all they're doing is feminizing young men and making it darn near a crime to be a boy in today's society…..).

Too, they've set up a whole industry for themselves: Why does it need to be called “domestic violence” when in fact it's battery? It's not legal to beat people, no matter who they're related to. People who beat other people up most likely belong in prison. They can get their warm fuzzies in the joint. But….no…..we have to somehow for some reason differentiate between battery and this thing called “domestic violence” and the ONLY reason is to fund an industry that is full of poverty pimps. Why does “the system” (legal) need to be anymore cluttered than it already is when battery is battery? Why does there have to be a domestic violence battery as oppossed to a “regular” batter? It's whack.

I could keep going….talking about the formation of WTCS here in Lawrence; the February Sisters; and all of the other hocus pocus gender issue pablum that this subject is about, but it'd be a waste of time. One thing: When WTCS was formed in Lawrence (Women's Transitional Care Services) it was a well known reality that the lesbians who controlled the “safe house” openly tried to break apart families; get women to simply abandon their husbands and children; and promoted the “turning” (heterosexual into homosexual) those women who were pliable enough to give it a go. Follow the money is the bottom line and, again, it is nigh onto impossible to find out about, let alone even find an office where these imbeciles sit….let alone work….
1 July 2009
at 8:49 p.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
2 July 2009
at 10:14 a.m.

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smitty (Anonymous) says…

Spot on Marion!!

Not until the lesbians get their abuse out in the arena along with the heterosexual men. This political compromise has gone on long enough for the education of the public.

The national coalition of dv sponsored a task force on lesbian battering that wrote a book on lesbian battering at about the same time as this Ks law has been on the books.

BTW isn't it sad that we even label gay batters in a category of their own since they are men?

Obama has appointed a domestic violence czar.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2…

****The White House said Rosenthal will advise President Obama and Biden and work with government agencies to ensure that violence against women isn't ignored and the perpetrators are held accountable.

A former director of a women's shelter, Rosenthal was executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence from 2000 to 2006. And she worked as director of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Biden said domestic violence was a priority when the Violence Against Women Act was passed in 1994, allowing for increased funding for women's shelters and law-enforcement training. Biden crafted the law during his time on the Senate Judiciary Committee.****

BTW, it's an interesting choice to have the attorney for the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence make the public speech in lieu of …saaaay, Sandy Barnett, the executive director. The next expected political press release is when Grover is hired by Rosenthal to assist in DC. I wouldn't mind being waaaay off base on this prediction though.
6 July 2009
at 12:39 p.m.

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CHANDLER007 (Anonymous) says…

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6 July 2009
at 1:05 p.m.

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dandelion (Anonymous) says…

chandler007 ,
These posters would be the first to call a guy a wimp who is being abused, and that's why many men who are abused by their wives don't do anything about it. Statistically more women are abused, because they are usually smaller than the man. And I wouldn't be surprised if these posters were abusers. They're the ones usually whining the loudest about feminists. Men who whine about not having any rights are sometimes really concerned, but I worked with a guy who joined some men's rights group, because he claimed his ex-wife didn't give him enough visitation and involvement with the kids. He was always ragging about her. Found out later he never showed up for parent teacher conferences, and half of his scheduled visitations. He didn't even call them on their birthdays. Guess he was just too lazy to practice his rights. It's easier to whine.