We are in the final days of Maryland’s Legislative Session, and we still need your support. We have already advocated for bills that help stabilize legal services funding, improve responses to sexual harassment in mental health facilities, provide privacy when people change their names, and more. But there are still many bills up in the air. We’re still in the final push for bills to improve laws on workplace sexual harassment (SB834), repeal marriage as a defense to sex crimes (HB147/SB250), and create a reasonable response when teenagers engage in sexting (HB180). Our full list of legislative priorities is available on our website here. Thank you to everyone who has already called, emailed, testified and advocated to improve Maryland laws and policies to end sexual violence and support survivors. You are appreciated and your support makes a major difference for survivors.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, where we work to build a connected community dedicated to ending sexual violence and supporting survivors. This April, MCASA launched a campaign to engage our communities and to guide our prevention work in the year to come. Our theme is “Moments Create Movements:” how our small actions can create major change in the sexual violence prevention movement. Read more about SAAM, our campaign, and other resources for service providers in this issue’s Prevention Corner. We are also featuring an article on the need to introduce content on sexting in healthy relationship and healthy sexuality curricula as a form of prevention.
This quarter, we are pleased to feature another of our amazing Rape Crisis and Recovery Centers, CASA, Inc, the Washington County sexual assault program. In our Survivor Safety column, we discuss how societal expectations harm male survivors of sexual assault and ways we can support them. In the College Consortium feature, we share concerns that college sexual assault cases are falling through the cracks during the pandemic. Additionally, we have included an article about safety and consent in online sex work and recent news reports that online platforms have hosted and monetized videos of abuse and exploitation.
This SAAM, consider supporting survivors through purchasing a MCASA membership. Becoming a member is an excellent way to show your support of survivors in Maryland and help us continue to make positive legislative impacts. Donations can also be made by clicking here- donations are used to directly serve Maryland survivors. Wishing you good health and peace!
Stay strong,
Lisae
Lisae Jordan, Esq.
Executive Director & Counsel
Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
