Men will Again Don Red High Heels to March for an End to Sexual Violence

CHESTERTOWN—It takes a big man to wear a woman’s high heels, and on Thursday afternoon, April 28, an event at Washington College will provide the perfect proving ground. Organized by the Office of Student Development and student interns, the second annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event will send men in bright red four-inch heels wobbling down Washington Avenue to raise awareness of sexual violence issues. Through registration fees and donations, the march also will support the Rape Crisis Center at For All Seasons, a nonprofit that provides mental-health services throughout Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

The event kicks off at 4:30 in Martha Washington Square on the College campus. The actual march begins at 5 p.m., and ends about 20 minutes later in Fountain Park. Organizers stress that, while the heels will be issued only to the male participants who register in advance, everyone is welcome to don sensible flats or sneakers and accompany the men on their perilous walk. Supporters also can gather in Fountain Park to await the marchers’ arrival.

To register for the event, email Director of Student Development Beth Anne Langrell at student_affairs@washcoll.edu or call the Student Affairs office at 410-778-7277.

A $5 fee is required, with all proceeds going to For All Seasons. Each registered walk participant—male, female, heels or no heels—will receive an event T-shirt. Deadline for registering to walk in heels is April 18, however, registrations will be accepted until the start of the walk. (Rain date for the event is May 5.)

The Walk-A Mile events were started 10 years ago in California by Frank Baird, a volunteer with a rape-crisis center who labeled it “The International Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence.” There are now dozens of walks held in communities across the country.