Text of PA HR 94 (2023)

PRINTER'S NO. 1087 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE RESOLUTION No. 94 Session of 2023 INTRODUCED BY McNEILL, PROBST, MADDEN, SCHLOSSBERG, HILL-EVANS, FREEMAN, MERSKI, KINSEY, MALAGARI, SANCHEZ, GILLEN, MAYES, HOWARD AND CERRATO, APRIL 28, 2023 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, APRIL 28, 2023 A RESOLUTION Designating the month of April 2023 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. WHEREAS, April is nationally recognized as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" to call attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and impacts every community; and WHEREAS, April 2023 is the 22nd anniversary of the first recognition of "Sexual Assault Awareness Month"; and WHEREAS, Prior to the first "Sexual Assault Awareness Month", social activists brought the realities of the prevalence of sexual violence to the forefront of public perception; and WHEREAS, During the civil rights era, although the realities of sexual assault and domestic violence all too often went unspoken, challenges to social injustices opened the door to begin tough conversations about the intersections of race-based and gender-based violence; and WHEREAS, The 1970s saw the establishment of the first rape crisis center in San Francisco and the first Take Back the Night 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 event which protested all forms of sexual violence; and WHEREAS, The reality of sexual violence received nationwide recognition with the passage of the Violence Against Women Act in 1993; and WHEREAS, Before the first nationally observed "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in 2001, advocates held events and observances related to sexual violence, including "Sexual Assault Awareness Weeks," during the month of April; and WHEREAS, The National Sexual Violence Resource Center has designated the theme of "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" 2023 to be "Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity" to recognize the inherent connections between systems of oppression and sexual violence; and WHEREAS, Sexual violence, which includes rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment, continues to have a deep physical and emotional trauma on those who have experienced it; and WHEREAS, Rape in the United States occurs more frequently than the public realizes, as 1 in 5 women and 1 in 67 men have been raped in the United States; and WHEREAS, Someone in the United States is the victim of sexual assault every 98 seconds; and WHEREAS, On postsecondary campuses, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men are sexually assaulted at some point in their educational career, and 90% of sexual assaults on college campuses go unreported; and WHEREAS, Young people experience disproportionate rates of sexual violence with close to 70% of all reported incidents of sexual violence involving a child under 18 years of age; and WHEREAS, One in six boys and one in four girls experience some form of sexual violence before they turn 18 years of age; 20230HR0094PN1087 - 2 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 and WHEREAS, Close to 30% of non-Hispanic Black women in the United States are survivors of rape; and WHEREAS, More than 80% of American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced some form of personal violence in their lives; and WHEREAS, More than 30% of Hispanic women have reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact; and WHEREAS, Lesbian and bisexual women experience sexual and physical violence by intimate partners at a significantly higher rate compared to straight women; and WHEREAS, Gay and bisexual men are up to 15 times more likely than heterosexual men to report having been sexually assaulted; and WHEREAS, Nearly half of all transgender people experience some form of sexual violence throughout their lifetime; and WHEREAS, More than 90% of individuals with a developmental disability experience sexual violence at least once in their lifetime, and 49% experience 10 or more sexually abusive incidents throughout their lives; and WHEREAS, Only 27% of all incidents of sexual violence end in arrest; and WHEREAS, Communities can support survivors by believing their stories, showing respect and championing their individual support networks; and WHEREAS, Individuals speaking out against inappropriate jokes, offensive gestures, harmful attitudes and unwanted actions make a positive impact toward ending sexual harassment, abuse and assault; and WHEREAS, Consent and boundaries can be violated online in a 20230HR0094PN1087 - 3 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 number of ways; and WHEREAS, Individuals can work together to make their communities safer by providing prevention education and increasing public awareness to avoid future harm from sexual violence; therefore be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the month of April 2023 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it further RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the 22nd anniversary of "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" to empower more survivors and their loved ones on their journey to help, hope and healing; and be it further RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage communities to understand their role in ending sexual violence in Pennsylvania and the United States; and be it further RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage communities to commit to making a difference to ensure that online platforms are safe and respectful for everyone by practicing consent, keeping kids safe and supporting survivors. 20230HR0094PN1087 - 4 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19