Jeremy Loveday’s YouTube message implores men to speak up and act against sexual violence, generating thousands of views, links from political leaders, and some controversy

Performance poet, community builder, change agent. Those are the words Victoria poet Jeremy Loveday uses to describe himself on Twitter and Facebook. And recently, with one YouTube video, Loveday has drawn on all three of those callings.

Masks Off—A Challenge to Men [opens to video] is a passionate call to action from a man, to other men, to end sexual violence against women. As noted in the Victoria Times-Colonist, “the video’s appearance online is timely given recent reports about the use of chants advocating rape at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax and the University of B.C. during frosh events, but Loveday penned the poem months ago.” Loveday wrote the challenge to men for the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event in Victoria in May 2013.

As the video reached 2500 views Jeremy wrote on his Facebook page:

Thank you for the incredible support, all the shares, and the kind and open words. I truly appreciate it. Masks Off stands on the shoulders of the women and men who do anti-violence work everyday. They are the courageous ones that truly deserve recognition. Thanks again everyone!

As of Tuesday, October 1, 2013, “Masks Off—A Challenge to Men” has been viewed over 12, 000 times.

We speak with Jeremy Loveday.

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RELATED | Jeremy Loveday on Twitter | Jeremy Loveday on Facebook |

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Masks Off: A Challenge to Men (September 14, 2013)