ST. CLOUD - As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, the St. Cloud VA Center is hosting a clothesline project display to support local sexual trauma victims in the military.

The project is a method for those affected by military sexual trauma, sexual assault and sexual abuse to express their emotions by decorating a shirt. Local military sexual trauma coordinator Joy Finkelson says the process can be therapeutic for victims.

Service members sometimes have unsettling and unwanted sexual experiences during their service. Military Sexual Trauma, or MST, is the term used by the VA to describe these experiences. MST includes any sexual activity where someone was involved against their will.

Finkelson says MST is more common for women service members but adds that it can happen to anyone.

Veterans' organizations donated the shirts for the clothesline display.  Shirts are displayed to be viewed by others as a testimony to the problem of sexual trauma in the military.

The shirts will be available for viewing in the VA auditorium on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

 

 

Dan DeBaun, WJON News
Dan DeBaun, WJON News
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Dan DeBaun, WJON News
Dan DeBaun, WJON News
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Dan DeBaun, WJON News
Dan DeBaun, WJON News
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