Mikel Walters The Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative's April 2009 Real Woman is Mikel Walters, who is working to make a difference by preventing intimate partner violence. Mikel is especially concerned about domestic partner violence in lesbians, because lesbian survivors often don't know where to turn for help. She says the misperception that lesbians don't engage in domestic violence makes the problem even worse. Mikel will complete her PhD in Sociology this summer, focusing her research on domestic violence. She has a fellowship with the CDC, working in the National Center for Injury Prevention. She is particularly proud of her service on a state task force established to partner with other providers to support domestic violence survivors where services are not readily available.

Mikel grew up in Winder, Georgia, the youngest of four children. She described the challenge of coming out as a lesbian in her teens in a small town, where everyone knew everything about each other. Now she calls Atlanta home, where she lives with her partner, their three children, two dogs and two cats.

In addition to her work in domestic violence prevention, Mikel is drawn to social justice causes in general, citing human rights and gender equality as being specifically important to her.

In closing, Real Woman features Mikel's answers to nine questions adapted from the well-known Proust Questionnaire:

1. What is your idea of happiness?
   A quiet Sunday afternoon, having coffee and talking with her partner
   
   
2. What quality do you most admire in a person?
   Genuineness and honesty.
   
   
3. Who are your heroes in real life?
   I have no specific heroes. I take what I like and leave the rest.
   
   
4. What is it that you most dislike?
   Arrogance
   
   
5. What natural gift would you most like to possess?
   To be more socially outgoing
   
   
6. What is your favorite occupation?
   Student
   
   
7. What is your favorite exercise?
   Walking
   
   
8. What is your favorite color?
   Blue
   
   
9. How would you like your tombstone to read?
   I don't want a tombstone. I would like for each person to make up a mental tombstone.