Slut Walk

I believe it was Margaret Cho who once said, “What about slut pride?”

On Saturday, Aug 18 the sluts of Ottawa will congregate at the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights to show their pride; however, the reason for this event is anything but comical.

Organizing team member Christopher Doyle says the idea for the walk came from a comment made by a Toronto police officer who said that if women didn’t want to be victimized, they should stop dressing like sluts.

“Blaming the victim is a systemic problem that requires a change both in social climate and policy,” Doyle says.

Team member Angie Renwick participates in the walk for extremely personal reasons. She says that last summer she was accosted by a man who exposed himself to her in Sandy Hill. The perpetrator then physically assaulted her before she managed to escape to a male friend’s house.

“As soon as my friend realized I was okay, he started in on me, [saying], ‘What were you expecting leaving the house dressed like that?’ I was really hurt and confided in someone else and got the same response.”

Renwick followed up with police but found that the officers minimized the crime committed against her.

“The Slut Walk advances the position that no one deserves rape, no matter what his or her sexual history is or what he or she is wearing.”

Renwick went on to say men should come out and support the Slut Walk because, chances are, they know a woman who has been assaulted.

“They can march for those ladies and let the rapists know all men aren’t like them. We want guys in our corner showing support.”

2012 Ottawa Slut Walk

Sat, Aug 18

1:30pm, the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights

Visit the Slut Walk Facebook page.