All 99 current members of the Arkansas House attended or are signed up to attend a voluntary sexual harassment prevention training course, according to House staff.
Three 1.5-hour courses were offered to House lawmakers Wednesday, and a fourth session will be held next week for those who did not attend, said Cecillea Pond-Mayo, a spokesman for the House.
Sign-in sheets were provided to reporters after the meetings concluded late Wednesday, and Pond-Mayo provided the names of a dozen members who were scheduled to attend next week.
While the training was voluntary, House Speaker Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, said lawmakers were told ahead of time that the sign-in sheets would be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act, so lawmakers who did not attend would be able to be publicly identified.
Still, Gillam said he had always been confident the members would attend without being “coerced.” The speaker, who attended the second session Wednesday, said he found the class helpful.
“The biggest takeaway was you have to put yourself in someone else’s shoes,” Gillam said. “Even in the simplest gestures of kindness.”
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He said one example that resonated with several lawmakers was how some people may be “huggers” while others may feel uncomfortable with the gesture.
The training came as prominent people in government, business and entertainment have been embroiled in accusations of harassment and sexual misconduct.
Across all industries, the “Me Too” movement has led to women pointing out their experiences with harassment, or in some cases, alleged sex crimes.
Because of a vacancy, the House has 99 members, instead of 100.
Gillam said in the future, he will incorporate the training into regular House orientation, which occurs as members are sworn in after election years.
The 35-member Senate, which is not offering the training, will look to do so in the future, Senate President Pro Tempore Jonathan Dismang, told the Associated Press.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.