This year, over 110 million men and women tuned in to watch Super Bowl XLIX.
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That means, that among those watching the “big game” there may well have been as many as nine and a half million men who had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood. That’s nine and a half million men with a shared experience.
But of course, they blended right in.
They included men from all walks of life: athletes and team owners, attorneys, firefighters, factory and service workers, construction and agricultural laborers, college students and retirees. There were fathers and sons, brothers, uncles, nephews, grandfathers, best friends and maybe some men who keep to themselves.
And if all those men, and all the people who care about them happened to be watching during the first quarter of the game, they saw a PSA for the NO MORE campaign, sponsored by the NFL. The PSA encourages everyone to listen to women and men, boys and girls who find it difficult to speak up about sexual and domestic violence. They were directed to the NO MORE website, which includes a link to the1in6 website, where those nine and a half million men and their loved ones can find information, resources and support to live healthier and happier lives.
Our partnership with NO MORE and with The Joyful Heart Foundation have time and again given us the opportunity help put the “NO MORE, ‘that doesn’t happen to men”’ message front and center. And we couldn’t be more grateful. This year our partnership with both organizations should allow more men at one time than ever before to know that they are not alone and that help is available.
Were you watching the Super Bowl? I was. And I hope that you’ll join me in applauding this unprecedented appeal to end sexual and domestic violence.
Steve LePore
Founder/Executive Director 1in6
So I’m confused as to how abused men were to get the message that abuse happens to everyone by watching the PSA.
Well now I feel sort of guilty for being one of those outliers who didn’t even realize the Super Bowl was this weekend up until Friday.