ANCHORAGE, Alaska—
Gov. Sean Parnell told the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Monday that while he normally addresses the group on budget and resource issues like oil, gas and mining, he wanted to take up a different issue -- domestic violence and sexual assault. "These may not be natural-resource issues; they are still resource issues," Parnell said. "Our employees are most valuable people, and while we often think of these assaults as personal, not personnel matters, they have real costs, even if they don’t show up on (accounting software like) Quickbooks."
Parnell cited numbers from a recent University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center study, which found that nearly 60 percent of Alaskan women have either been physically or sexually assaulted in their lifetime.
"It is 60 percent of Alaska's daughters, mothers, grandmothers, sisters and aunties," Parnell said.
Parnell told the gathering that boys are also vulnerable, noting that they make up 10 percent of the victims seen by the organization Standing Together Against Rape. He went on to say that the rate is even higher at child advocacy centers in the state, which report that 30 percent of the children victimized are boys.
The most emotional moment of the chamber luncheon came when the governor gave the stage to Monica Lettner, a survivor of rape. Lettner told chamber members she was sexually assaulted by a trusted friend and neighbor 10 years ago.
"I'm scared you'll all stare at me afterwards," Lettner said, admitting nervousness about her speech -- but adding that it was important to break the silence that surrounds the issue.
"The uncomfortable feeling is what keeps victims silent. Until victims start talking, we will never get the scope of the problem,” Lettner said.
Lettner is a musician and performer who played at the Governor's Anchorage Inaugural Ball. She says the man who raped her sometimes attends her performances and she can't speak out at those times, but she told the gathering it's important that she do so now.
"I choose to be here today," said Lettner. "Because victims have the right to be survivors and non-victims have a right to never become a victim at all."
Lettner received a standing ovation from the crowd. There were even a few in the audience who approached her afterwards and said they had been victimized, but had never told anyone.
Parnell asked business leaders to do more to help make violence unacceptable with even a simple gesture like putting links to organizations on their company websites.
According to Parnell, businesses should take an active role in educating their employees about the problem and support them should they become victims of violence.
He also encouraged them to take part in the second annual "Choose Respect” march planned for March 31st.
More than 40 communities are expected to take part in the event this year.
