Just as the trial for the Wayland teen accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, began last week, H.U.G.S. Sharon (Help Us Get Safe) sponsored a powerful play about TDV for the Seniors at SHS. 

The one woman play, "The Yellow Dress", which is a compilation of actual stories of victims of Teen Dating Violence, was performed by an actress from Deana's Educational Theater.(www.acttoprevent.org) She took the audience on a journey of her relationship with her boyfriend, from the wonderful, fun times, to the dark times. She explained that he became verbally, emotionally, sexually and physically abusive, as well as very controlling and possessive. At the conclusion of the play, the actress interacted with the audience and talked about the red flags in this relationship, how friends could have helped, available resources and the safe way to leave a relationship. In the U.S. alone, approximately 1 in 3 adolescent girls is a victim of interpersonal violence.

Eighty percent of teens say they know someone who has been controlled by a partner, 29 percent of teens say that they themselves have been physically abused by a dating partner, and 54 percent report some form of abuse, 80 percent of young women who have abeen in an abusive relationship continue to date their abuser –Yet only 37 percent of parents are aware that their child has been abused in some way. 

Know the warning signs for yourself and the people in your life. For more information, please visit our website www.HUGS-Sharon.org.

Special thanks to the Sharon Credit Union who generously funded the play.Also, thank you to the students of S.A.D.D., (Students Against Destructive Decisions), who introduced the play, made informational bookmarks, purple ribbons and red flag warning signs around the school.