V's Version

By request of my beloved Dani, I am posting information here about the 10th Anniversary of the V-Day Campaign. For the few that might not know what the V stands for - it is for Vagina, Victory over Violence and, often, Valentine because mid-February is when the Vagina Monologues are most often performed on college campuses and communities around the globe. The money raised at these thousands of performances are used to help that particular community end violence against women.

Eve Ensler wrote the play "The Vagina Monologues" (funny, disturbing, sad and silly stories about the lives of women and their vaginas) 10 years ago and events associated with the play have since raised over 50 million dollars in an effort to end violence against women - with positive and lasting results so far. I brought my father one year and was so glad that I did! This year the play will be performed at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival under the direction of Alix Olson and I look forward to seeing it.



There are events spanning the globe to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the play. Maybe one is near your town. There is a handy map and schedule here. And here is an article on the Katrina Warriors where the events at the Superdome in New Orleans this weekend are being hailed as "Super Love".

If you want to hear a fairly recent interview with Eve Ensler (it is somewhat graphic as she briefly describes the life of one girl who did not escape violence in the Congo) - it is worth the few minutes to be inspired by her work. As a survivor of domestic violence myself (as are several members of my family) and the daughter of a woman who did not survive it - the movement to end violence against women (and children) is very near to my heart. Let us do what we can - celebrate where we can and be outraged as is fit.