I wanted to share that the trial in Nevada is over and we got a conviction. guilty both counts, mandatory sentence of 10-25 years per count. No parole and he will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

The following is my blog on the whole experience..

I am so very very happy to be able to say the man who has raped and sexually assaulted more than one woman at Burning man was convicted. He will be serving min. 10 years in prison. Thank you so much to the brave women who stuck this out, Winterbamboo, Littlewing you both ar my heroes.

Its funny how sometimes we start on a path because something eats at us, upsets us or makes us mad. For me and a handful of others that’s what happened after the burn in '04. I heard stories that made me mad. Stories f people who were hurt in a place that I did not want to believe could have such things. We started a little idea and we had no idea how this would work, but we had a message. In '05 we put up potty posters and did 3 classes. 2 were held at HeeBeegeebes, they were called how to get laid at burningman. What we did not know then is that we had set in motion many things that would change many lives. I just thought maybe a few yahoos would be more respectful, I didn't know real healing was going to happen. I didn't know that someday this class would be used in court to prove that burning man is not a place that rape is ok and that heebeegeebes was proving they were against this kind of behavior by hosting us... But that’s how it played out. I had to share this from one of those that was there...

"I want you all to know how important BED ended up being in this case.

A big part of the prosecution was to establish the FACT that Heebeegeebee camp was a place that did therapeutic massage and where one could go and be safe that they would get a legitimate massage and the women went there specifically because they knew they would be getting a therapeutic massage, not a sexual massage. HIS lawyer went on the internet and downloaded the HBGB class schedule. He said, well why would you offer classes such as "how to get laid at burning man" given by the bureau of erotic discourse? said with the most salacious tone he could muster. I sent a note up to the DA saying " I know all about that class and it was about teaching respect and rape prevention" We went on the net and printed out BED's mission statement and the blurb about the class that year. These papers were entered into evidence and the BED mission statement, especially that we teach that "silence is not consent" was read at least 5 times during the trial because they kept bringing up the class to prove that HBGB was a sex camp. It was so ironic that the very group formed in response to this guys crime in 2003 ended up helping to discredit their defense. I mean they could have chosen any number of other classes, but that’s the one they picked. Funny eh? But it was important and I was so proud that we put this all together. "

I started crying when I read this. I am in awe of the power we have as individuals to make change. I never felt powerful in this or like I was doing anything amazing. I was just talking.. I do that anyway, and we made some posters handed out buttons and shot straight from the hip on sex and boundaries. It really DID matter. Me taking a step and doing this DID make a difference.

So don't let anyone ever tell you that what you do can't possibly change things, there wrong you CAN change things. If you feel a passion a mission a vision or even if your just plain mad. Take action. It does not have to be huge. It does not need to be fancy. Just do it.

B.E.D was successful because we keep it simple and small. we are not a them camp , we don't have classes every day, we do not have slick presentations.. we would love to but we always come back to what can we do effectively.

You can do the same, just keep it simple.

I will always be proud that I helped make he world a little safer.

NOW who is helping me with B.E.D this year?!?

GiGi