So you’re out on the town with a few friends, just looking to dance and have a good time, when Some creep starts harassing you and just won’t quit. Sound familiar? Want it to stop? Enter: Layla Tov.
Hebrew for “good night,” the nonprofit aims to minimize sexual harassment by providing specialized training to local bars and clubs. The end goal, says Aviv Hochbaum, one of Layla Tov’s board members, is to “create a shared responsibility amongst club goers and owners, ”so patrons can have a great night out knowing that the club cares about their safety.
© Layla Tov
To keep sexual harassment at bay, Layla Tov promotes a zero tolerance policy, where “experiencing anything uncomfortable is not acceptable!” Without a formulaic approach for what constitutes discomfort, each club considers the specific, circumstances of complaints and acts accordingly. “There are a multitude of things that can happen each night,” Aviv explained, “and our training gives clubs tools to sensitively address each situation. They need to listen to both parties and decide the best plan of action. Sometimes, it’s to remove the person from the club, other times it’s to call the police.” She admitted, however, that some clubs are not quite ready to take on this responsibility.
© Layla Tov
Additionally, part of Layla Tov’s aim is for club goers to take responsibility for their behavior. “Drugs and alcohol are not an excuse,” Aviv explained, “but, unfortunately, historically they were, and women assumed they’d be harassed.” For club goers to act appropriately, but with no standardized rule defining this, she emphasized that patrons need, with extreme sensitivity, to consider the specific preferences of each woman and how she wants to be approached individually.
© Layla Tov
Though, “sexual harassment is not specific to heterosexual behaviour; it’s experienced by anyone, everywhere.” Local hangouts like Alphabet, Ana LouLou, Shafa, and Kuli Alma, are active and Layla Tov is currently integrating into music festivals, universities, and establishments in other cities.
Its next goal, is lofty: “we want to lobby the municipality or the Knesset to require this for all nightlife spots, by law.” The solution starts by doing your share of the job to save the night.
Check out laylatov.org and reach out if you’d like them to collaborate with your organization, whether small or large.