Women’s basketball head coach Beckie Francis has taken her halftime talk off the court and to the capitol.

After breaking her own silence as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse in October, Francis testified in Lansing in December to help pass Erin’s Law, which is designed to protect and inform children about sexual abuse.

“Testifying was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done…I almost felt like I was this little girl telling for the first time,” Francis said. “I treated the testimony like a halftime talk and the committee members like my players. I said, ‘It’s halftime and I’ve got five minutes to reach you. We’re down 20 in this state because we don’t have this law passed.’”

After much support and coordination, Erin’s Law was signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder Jan. 9.

Erin’s Law

The legislation requires school boards to implement age-appropriate education for children grades pre-K through fifth grade, and creates a one-time task force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children to review the state’s existing laws.

Merryn testified in the State Senate and the law was unanimously passed there July 18. From there, the legislation went to the House, where it was ultimately passed Dec. 13.

Senator John Proos sponsored the legislation, along with Senators Rebekah Warren and Judy Emmons. Tori Rexford, Gov. Synder’s Deputy Director of Scheduling and an Oakland University alumna, was also key in the lobbying efforts.

“When I heard Erin’s story and started some research, I was stunned as a father of three to learn of the horrific numbers of children who have been impacted by child sexual abuse. It’s an uncomfortable thing but it’s very real. 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are abused by age 18 and more than 90 percent know their perpetrator,” Proos said. “Michigan couldn’t stand by another year and potentially allow thousands of kids to be abused.”

Michigan is the fifth state to pass Erin’s Law, following Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Maine. It is pending in New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Mississippi, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada and Tennessee.

The law was named for Erin Merryn, an advocate and survivor of childhood sexual abuse who began testifying in support of the law in her home state of Illinois. In addition to speaking engagements and writing about her experiences, Merryn plans to testify in support of the law until it is passed in all 50 states.

Fighting for a place on the ballot

Erin’s Law reached the House at the end of the legislative cycle, and according to Proos if it was not completed and signed by the governor, it would die and the process would have to begin again.

When she found out the legislation was not on the agenda for Dec. 13, Francis drove to Lansing, vowing to speak to every single legislator about its necessity.

“We lobbied from 9 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., calling the representatives out and giving a 90-second speech about being abused,” Francis said.

“There were 280 bills on the agenda and about 800 requests to be added to it. I was not going to take ‘I’m sorry, there’s just no time.’ Everyone had worked too hard for that.”

After 18 hours of lobbying efforts, Erin’s Law was added to the agenda.

Transcending party lines in a divisive environment

Erin’s Law was passed, almost unanimously, two days after the controversial Right to Work legislation.

“The board was half green and half red all night, but when Erin’s Law came up, it just lit up green,” Francis said. “I remember looking at Senator Proos, and he had tears streaming down his face because he had gone back and forth all day and when it passed there were Democrats and Republicans taking photos together in the lobby and smiling.”

Proos thinks Erin’s Law passed because the safety of children transcends party lines.

“Right to Work was one of the most divisive issues in decades in Lansing. As the debates continued, those on the opposite side were infuriated and threatened to pull all support for everything, whether good or bad, in protest,” he said. “It was a concern that good and solid bipartisan legislation could fall by the wayside and die. This law, however, was bigger than all of that.”

‘For such a time as this’

Francis credits the timing on Erin’s Law to a higher power. She found comfort in religion during her own healing process and encountered a parallel she could not ignore in October.

“I turned it (speaking out) into an analogy of a Bible study I was doing on Esther,” Francis said. Esther’s strength inspired Francis to do more and use her voice.

Esther was inspired to speak up when her people were endangered. She wasn’t supposed to say anything, but her uncle Mordecai urged her to use her voice for others, citing, “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”

For Francis, Merryn was “Queen Esther” and the timing on the legislation was controlled by a higher power.

“This is all way above me, above any one person. Erin’s strength, the coordination, the support — this was all God’s timing,” she said.

Raising awareness, funds

In addition to Oakland University’s awareness day in October when Merryn spoke on campus, the Athletic Department hosted an event titled Awareness Without Fear at the women’s basketball game against North Dakota State University Jan. 12.

Francis said Jean Ann Miller, Director of Student Activities, Athletic Director Tracy Huth and Tim Dameron, assistant athletic director for marketing and promotions, were integral in planning the event.

Merryn was invited as a guest coach for the day, and was presented a copy of the legislation by Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley. Senators Proos, Warren and Emmons were also in attendance, in addition to Michigan Senate majority leader Randy Richardville.

The event was also a fundraiser for CARE House and Haven. The organizations, which are dedicated to support and awareness for abuse, were presented with a check.

In addition to serving as a board member for CARE House, Francis plans to continue raising awareness by testifying in support of Erin’s Law in New York, where her abuse occurred, and South Dakota, where she spends a lot of time with the team.

“It’s all about helping people heal. It’s not about wins and losses, despite what society tries to tell you,” she said. “We get caught up and judge by wins and losses, and really it’s about life and being healthy.”