The Thing About Being Heard
When I initially broke my silence in 2008, I was scoffed at, belittled, victim-shamed, and mocked…by alleged allies involved in anti-sexual violence activism. Yes, really. Activists are not necessarily trauma-informed nor empathetic. That’s just a myth.
Over the years, I’ve told my story via print, internet and broadcast media, spoken before military and college audiences, filmed a PSA for the Department of Defense, and lobbied for change on Capitol Hill.
Even after all of that, I was still humbled to meet Senator Barbara Boxer after I spoke before the Congressional Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus in 2016. Sen Boxer sought me out afterward to tell me she heard me when I spoke. She emphasized that HEARD me. For a survivor taking the time to tell their story in public, in a vulnerable way, that’s a big thing.
A really big thing.
https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=dks19910313-01.2.16&e=——-en-20–1–txt-txIN——- Mr. Landrith could you please announced this evil and fortunately now deceased, black psychiatrist named Francis Cress Welsing for outrageously, repeating the rape myth that men can’t get directions if they’re scared, and therefore women can’t rape men?! She was the one who didn’t know anything about physiology!