Heather Latter
Fort Frances will join the “V-Day” campaign this year—a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.
“It’s very new [here] but that’s what makes it challenging and fun at the same time,” said Peggy Loyie of the Rainy River District Victim Services Program, who is co-ordinating the campaign locally.
As part of the event, a presentation of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” will be held Feb. 14 at the Townshend Theatre.
It’s a one-night-only benefit reading, with proceeds going towards the local Victim Services Program.
“It’s a series of monologues that she has written and then so many are released each year that can be performed,” Loyie explained.
Tickets for the “The Vagina Monologues” cost $15 in advance, which are available in various locations around town, and $20 at the door.
More than 5,800 V-Day benefits were held around the world last year, raising funds and awareness towards ending violence against women.
“[The monologues] are read by a number of women,” Loyie noted.
“Initially [Ensler] did the play herself.
“Every monologue deals with some aspect of the feminine experience, including violence [and] rape,” she added.
“Some of the monologues carry themes of war and what it’s like for women in war.
“These are actual people’s stories,” Loyie stressed.
“She [Ensler] interviewed over 200 women and they range in age from young women to old, like in their 80s, in talking about their experience whether it be sex, love, violence, and then put them together.”
Loyie noted “The Vagina Monologues” first were performed in 1996 and she was able to see a performance in Toronto about 11 years ago.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it,” she remarked. “But I’ll admit there were parts of it that I just wasn’t comfortable with.
“We don’t talk like that around here.
“But you have to get it out there; you should be able to talk about it,” she stressed.
Loyie said “V” stands for many things but it’s about female empowerment.
“I think there will definitely be a bit of a mixed response, but I think we’re so much more global now with social media and TV,” she reasoned.
“I think there are a number of people who have heard about ‘The Vagina Monologues’ and I think there will be a lot of interest.”
Loyie noted there is specific requirements from the V-Day organization about running the event.
For instance, the presentation of “The Vagina Monologues” must be held in February and can’t be more than 90 minutes long.
“We chose Feb. 14 with it being Valentine’s Day, as well,” she said, adding it will be
presented by local women.
“We have a number of women who, by word of mouth, have signed up to do certain monologues,” Loyie explained.
“And it doesn’t matter if they have previous experience on the stage,” she added.
“We have people who are comfortable on the stage, with others who this will be their first time.”
Loyie said this special benefit performance is being presented this year as part of V-Day’s campaign, “One Billion Rising: Revolution,” a global initiative that began two years ago as a call for women survivors of violence to rise and demand an end to it.
In 2015, risings will focus on highlighting, creating, and envisioning new, brave, and radical artistic initiatives to bring in the new revolutionary world of equality, dignity, and freedom for all women and girls.
Another event being held in conjunction with V-Day here is an open-mic night, entitled “Outside the Box,” which will be held at From the Grind Up this Friday (Jan. 23).
It will begin at 7 p.m., with admission being $5.
“Everyone is welcome,” Loyie enthused, noting it will be a woman-centric evening of sharing music and the spoken word in support of victims and survivors of violence.
“I’m looking forward to that.”
Loyie also said there will be information about the Victim Services Program at both events.
While the V-Day campaign is a catalyst for mobilizing women and men to heighten awareness about violence against women and girls, locally the campaign will strive to raise awareness and support of the Rainy River District Victim Services Program.
It is a non-profit organization that partners with emergency services in our community to provide immediate emotional and practical support to victims of crime, violence, and other tragic circumstances.
For more information about the campaign, contact Loyie at 274-5687 or visit www.vday.org
You also can visit “VDay Fort Frances-TVM 2015” on Facebook.
