When men in high heels parade through the streets of Dowagiac Saturday during the city’s annual Summer in the City festival, there is sure to be a lot of giggling.

The cause the participants will be supporting, though, is no laughing matter.

Participants of both genders will be raising money to help with the operational costs of Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services, a cause very worthy of fundraising efforts, and which impacts a large amount of people in Cass County.

While the cause is a grave one, we appreciate the event’s leadership for coordinating an event that is family-friendly that draws a large crowd.

By inviting men to symbolically don the high heels that women are often ridiculed for wearing, participants are proving that so-called provocative clothing is not an invitation for assault.

There is no better lesson DASAS could teach.

Offering a light-hearted event that adults can bring their children to opens the conversation about a topic that is undoubtedly difficult for parents to talk about. As with all serious situations, any opportunity that facilitates discussion within families has the potential to make a huge impact.

If children hear about domestic and sexual assault from their parents, they will learn much earlier on that it is wrong, which could prevent children from forming abusive relationships in the future, or encourage them to bring any abusive behavior they have witnessed to an adult’s attention.

As the streets fill this weekend with people from all over Michiana celebrating summer and witnessing DASAS’s popular event, we encourage everyone to take the opportunity to reflect on the underlying cause of the walk and help how they are able to put an end to the violence.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.