#MeToo

Watching the #MeToo campaign over the past few weeks has been painful. Seeing the stories of sexual harassment from so many other people makes you realise that you're not alone in this world and just how widespread the issue is.

#MeToo was started over ten years ago by actress Tarana Burke and has gained traction in the past month due to the ongoing confessions of celebrities who've been attacked or assaulted. Those two words have spread like wildfire, opening a can of worms that no one thought existed.

Except that we, deep down, we knew that the unopened can was there. We knew that buried deep within the confines of every industry there's a black hole of sexual assaults, rapes, and misogynistic behaviour. For so long we've chosen not to speak its name for fear of being ridiculed, shamed, or fired. We've feared for our lives, our families, and our security. Speaking out doesn't pay the bills. Staying silent does.

#MeToo – I've been followed through towns and cities more times than I can count.

#MeToo – I had a stalker for 6 years. He would travel hundreds of miles to stand outside my house and follow me. Wouldn't take no for an answer. The police didn't want to know until he hurt me. Yet if I lashed out at him I'd be the one getting arrested. My family eventually had to tell him that I was dead in order to get him to leave me alone.

#MeToo – The man who insisted on grabbing me every day on my way to work. The police took me seriously and the man was arrested.

#MeToo – The complete stranger who grabbed and choked me at a concert.

#MeToo – I was drugged and raped when I was 19.

There are so many people who are hurting right now. There are so many people who are still scared to step forward. Wherever you are, don't be afraid. Everyone is here for you. They will support you and love you and hold your pain. They will be there for you during your darkest moments. They will encourage you to step forward and tell your story. They will walk with you through whatever comes next. We are there for one another. We have to be because without an army of brave women and men nothing will change.

The time for change has come. This change has been brewing for many years and it's now time to storm the castle and drag these people from their ivory towers to face the justice that's long been denied to the victims. For so long they've threatened to blacklist and finish those that they've abused, using the power that they know they wield in order to keep the victims quiet.

No more. This can no longer happen. It's time for that power to be removed from them and returned to those who've lived through decades of pain. It's time for them to fear for all that they've accumulated through intimidation and threats. It's time for changes to sweep through these industries and for transparency and morals to take over. It's time for the climate of fear to become a climate of hope. No more should anyone have to fear for their security, life, or family because they were wronged by someone else.

Stand strong, my friends, for you are helping others to do the same. 

Please Don't Suffer Alone

The recent trials of Rolf Harris, Jimmy Saville, and Max Clifford have left me thinking about my own experiences. The first time it happened, I was a naïve teenager and the police, despite their obvious concern, made me feel like I was the criminal. It didn't help that the case was dropped thanks to the real criminal's friends and family giving him an alibi.

Because of it, I made myself as ugly as possible. I refused to play the “Skinny is pretty” game. My wardrobe, even now, consists mainly of band shirts and jeans. I rarely wear make up. I turned to drink and drugs to mask the pain and darkness (Been clean for 10 years in August!). In all, I've subconsciously wanted to blend into the background and make myself as invisible as possible.

Over the years, it's happened several more times. Random men grabbing and groping and thinking it's okay because, you know, no woman is going to report it because no one's going to believe them. And, if they do report it, they'll either be made to feel like a criminal, the case will be dropped, or they'll have to dredge up memories they really don't want to dredge up. It takes a strong person to say “Yeah, I'm happy to go to court, see my abuser again, and be cross examined by a bunch of people who think that I'm lying”. Because, if I'm frank, it's a really fucking harrowing experience and can set back any recovery by months, if not years. We always say that it's men assaulting but, unfortunately, women can just be as bad as men. The pain and agony is no different if the sexes are reversed.

It happened again recently to me and, while I won't go in to details, it was enough to leave me shaken up and crying. As one friend said, “You're a tough cookie, so this has got to be bad for you to be this nervous”. I didn't want to call the police. I didn't want to face the questioning and the doubts and the feeling that I was the criminal. I didn't want to feel like I was the one being accused of something because I'd dared to report someone who'd done something wrong. I didn't want to feel like I was wasting police time because, as the news likes to repeatedly tell us, they're doing more policing with less money.

But I had to do because what if the next girl wasn't so lucky? What if she couldn't run? Or something else happened?

However, this time the police outdid themselves. They were supportive and kind and, for the first time in a long time, I felt as though I wasn't the one under suspicion. Faith in the police = restored.

If you've been through something similar and feel that you can't report it, please know that you can. Policing has changed a lot in the last few years and there are specially trained officers and support personnel. They'll accompany you through the whole process and make any time in court easier. You'll be able to give evidence without even being in the court room. Please don't think you have to keep it quiet. Tell someone, anyone. There's phone numbers you can call if you feel like you can't talk to family or friends. My email address is in the contact page of this website. Please don't suffer alone.

National Child Abuse Helpline: 1-800-422-4453
National Domestic Violence Crisis Line: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
National Domestic Violence Hotline (TDD): 1-800-787-32324
Center for the Prevention of School Violence: 1-800-299-6504
Child Abuse Helpline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-548-2722
Healing Woman Foundation (Abuse): 1-800-477-4111
Child Abuse Hotline Support & Information: 1-800-792-5200
Women’s Aid National Domestic Violence Helpline (UK): 0345 023 468
Sexual Abuse Centre (UK): 0117 935 1707
Sexual Assault Support (24/7, English & Spanish): 1-800-223-5001
Domestic & Teen Dating Violence (English & Spanish): 1-800-992-2600
Rape Crisis England & Wales: 0808 802 9999 1(open 2 - 2.30pm 7 - 9.30pm) e-mail info@rapecrisis.org.uk
Rape Crisis Scotland: 08088 01 03 02 every day, 6pm to midnight

Full list of support phone numbers (including suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, LGBTQ, and others) can be found here:

Helplines Master List