Taping began today! A Women Against Registry and Metamora Films Project

www.womenagainstregistry.org

A message from the Women Against Registry (WAR) National Directors:

W.A.R. is Becoming a Major Player

For those of you who might not be aware, Women Against Registry is taking part in the 4th International Conference on Hate Studies in October, 2017. The conference, sponsored by Gonzaga University, will be held on the school’s campus in Spokane, WA. WAR’s participation, following on the heels of our own successful conference, signals an increase in our visibility and our influence within the community. This exposure will ultimately further our ability to affect change. This is a very good thing.

WAR will create a 90-minute podcast that will be shown at the conference. It will be followed with a question and answer session. While sex offenders, registrants, and family members have historically had to deal with hate in various forms, this specific audience is never-the-less, not very familiar with the nuances of our topic. We intend that our podcast be a revelation to these viewers. We intend for them to leave wondering why they didn’t know more about such a serious and disturbing topic.

We recognize that hate is expressed in many forms and for many reasons. But we are making an important distinction between hate and stigma. Hate typically disrupts our lives when someone lashes out in an ugly, hurtful manner, with or without actual facts, in the name of protection or fear. Stigma is something we feel; stigma is heaped on us by haters, employers, landlords, society at large, and, yes, by ourselves; and stigma is that pervasive haunting feeling that can envelop someone slowly, break their spirit, and ultimately, if allowed, destroy their lives and the lives of their families. Hatred and stigma are topics equally worthy of study…….and change.

For our podcast, we have solicited three respected academics/researchers and the sheriff who investigated the brutal murder of a married couple at the hands of a vigilante. They will be interviewed by our own Matt Duhamel. We will intersperse quotes from several high-profile politicians as well as the thoughts of national advocates and organizers. And we may show film footage, news articles, and photographs to drive home the absolute need to increase research, education and conversation about the unintended consequences of the registry, our draconian laws, and the permanent exclusion of an entire subclass of criminals in this country. We need to drive home the point that this kind of treatment does not allow for redemption or rehabilitation; that this kind of treatment is inhumane.

I hope it is clear to you, as it is to us, how important this podcast is to our plight. We will submit the podcast by August 31st. Then, we need to get our presenters to Spokane, WA for the conference. We are humbly asking for donations to accomplish these goals.

Yes, WAR is becoming a substantial player in this arena, but like so many organizations reliant on donations, our membership and fundraising lags behind our desire for change.
Please make your tax deductible donation at the link below. We thank you in advance for your continued efforts no matter how large or small. We are all in this together.

www.womenagainstregistry.org