James Landrith is...Taking The Gloves Off: syndicated

left-libertarian blogger, publisher, Marine and civil liberties activist

 

Hillary Crosley, writing for Parlour, on Pennsylvania's 'Prove Your Rape' Bill Proposed:

I maintain that all of these vagina-policing laws wouldn’t be an issue if the topic of conversation was male rape, which also happens and few people want to discuss. *throws up hands*

Of course none of that would be an issue because even many female rape survivors and quite a few women in general arrogantly believe that men can't be raped, that erections = consent and that if we couldn't fight them off then we secretly wanted it. We are apparently all supermen and lack the ability to provide meaningful consent, given that we all want sex all the time. Period.

When will people stop assuming that male survivors are treated better than female survivors? Every time someone says something stupid about female survivors or a politician uses their position to attack women, this ridiculous assertion that male survivors wouldn't be treated this way is bandied about as some sort of ultimate wisdom.

No, we are not treated to discussions that our genitalia should be regulated. We are told that we will all become predators - often by those charged with helping us recover from our traumas. We are outright told by men AND women that we can't be raped, laughed at and outright mocked - often by people who should be our natural allies.

Being told that you will become the very thing that hurt you, denied access to survivor services, mocked for even mentioning what happened and told it isn't even a real crime is oh, so much better.

When I was raped 18 years ago, it wasn't even a crime as men were not even included in the statutes where it happened. But yeah, it wouldn't be an issue.

Please, can we stop with the false equivalency already? Is that asking too much?

Scalzi, Rothfuss, and Whedon are—right now—wealthy(ish) white men writing about problems only women face. They are exhibiting the male control they castigate by fighting our fight. I’m not ungrateful, but I’m frustrated that the strongest plays in the feminist fight are coming from men… and even these men don’t seem interested in what women have to say.

They’re taking away our right to fight the good fight.

When women write these posts, they’re quietly applauded, loudly criticized, or just ignored as regurgitating feminist vitriol. So when men like Scalzi step up to the plate, we praise them high and low, and the merits of their argument ring across the internet.

All because they have the lucky position of being a privileged white man writing on behalf of women.

Bullshit.  They are not taking away anyone's right to fight the good fight.  They are opposing an injustice that pisses them off personally.  In some cases, such men may have loved ones who have experienced sexual violence or be survivors themselves.  I'd say that affects them as well.  The fact that they have a gigantic bully pulpit is not the same thing as suppression of another's efforts.  I can empathize with the desire for women's voices to be stronger, but there is a gigantic world of difference between the two concepts.  Claiming one causes the other is an utter logic fail.  There is room for more than one voice on this planet.

Alyssa Rosenberg on John Scalzi And What Men Talk About When They Talk About Rape:

I would be delighted to live in a world where men trusted women and didn’t treat our concerns like second-order needs, and we didn’t need prominent male allies to validate that sexual assault, abortion access, and privacy are important issues. But as long as we do, I’d rather have Scalzi and company in the conversation than not. And I’d note that while pregnancy as a result of rape may be a terrible event particular to cis women, I don’t think that rape is an issue that only women face. Men are sexual assault victims, too, and the taboo around discussing those assaults is in some ways even more profound for men than it is for women.

This issue is a fuckload bigger than what some dimbulbs on the right have been saying.  It is representative not only of systemic attacks on reproductive rights, but also of how all sexual violence survivors are treated by the knuckle-dragging troglodytes and zealots.  Everyone has something to lose if hate, intolerance and narrow minds continue to control the debate.

Interestingly enough, whenever male rape survivors speak out on our own experiences, there is a similarly loud chorus complaining that we are drowning out womens' voices - simply by speaking at all, anywhere (even on our own websites or discussion threads dedicated to our issues).  When we are silent, we are told that our silence enables rapists and fosters rape culture and that we should speak out - but then only on behalf of women.  Then we are criticized for opening our mouths again.

Then male survivors are told that if we will only work to end sexual violence against women, then we can work to help ourselves after that, but until then we are a big distraction from the real problem - violence against women. We are urged, often in mocking tones, to create our own networks, organizations and use our own voices to advocate for ourselves while simultaneously being told that we are hurting women by talking about our own experiences and promoting healing for male survivors. We can't win no matter what we do and will often be vilified, criticized or outright mocked for our trouble.

I'm done asking for permission to talk about something that affects me and millions of other men and women personally. No one, regardless of gender or ideology, has the moral authority to demand my silence - especially if that person has no firsthand experience with sexual violence.

I'm over that ignorant mess and I have no time for those preaching suppression and silence.  They are as much a part of the problem as the wingnuts on the right who seek to restrict the rights of women and wish to narrowly define sexual violence as to make it impossible to prove or prosecute.

If you don't want to work with us, at least stop working against us.  Why is that too fucking much to ask?

 About James Landrith

James Landrith is a healing rape survivor, public speaker, internationally syndicated blogger, civil liberties activist and the notorious editor and publisher of The Multiracial Activist (ISSN: 1552-3446) and The Abolitionist Examiner (ISSN: 1552-2881). Landrith can be reached by email at:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  or at his personal website/blog.

A Simple Gesture of Hope, Strength, and Courage

by Natasha Hagan

Showing support to Rape and Sexual Assault survivors can be shown from a simple gesture of ‘Hope’ and willingness to help, with encouraging words such as: ‘Hope’, ‘Strength’, and ‘Courage’. Thanks to an inspirational young 13 year old Penn State girl named ‘Kelsey Hirsch’, the once started ‘simple gesture’ of wrist bands, to show support to the US Nation’s largest Anti-Sexual Awareness Organization named RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network), gives the reassurance of HOPE to survivors as a token of appreciation.

“I made the decision to create Bands4RAINN after my parents talked to me about the Jerry Sandusky abuse case.” Says Kelsey Hirsch, creator of Bands4RAINN

Not only can survivors wear these as a reminder of how strong they are to have overcome their attack, but they can also wear them as a symbol of advocacy and bond they share with other survivors. However, you do not have to be a survivor to wear or have one of your own wristbands. To those who are not survivors, by having your own RAINN wrist band, it is not just showing your support to survivors, but is a symbol of your love to know that there is HOPE for them and that they are worthy of being loved back.

“If you look at the RAINN wristband you immediately see the words HOPE, STRENGTH & COURAGE. Those words described, sum up what RAINN is all about because  it really gives survivors HOPE STRENGTH and COURAGE. Even though I am not a survivor, RAINN still gives me those things because I know that if it happened to me then I would get help!” says Vicky Beran

There are many great people who are going the extra mile to help RAINN, by becoming official ‘RAINNmakers’. However, it is from the influence of the young  Kelsey Hirsch with her bands4RAINN project, that it didn’t just bring survivors across the nation together to help support this worthy cause, but has gone across the globe. It has reached awareness to countries as far as Austria, United Kingdom, France, Australia, and even New Zealand.

“It symbolizes that no matter how bad things are, they will only get better, and that survivors are never alone and we are all in this together.” says Andrew Morrison, RAINN Supporter from Scotland

There has been a significant amount of interest to help Kelsey’s phenomenal RAINN efforts so she can succeed past her new goal of $25,000 by next April. This gave the incentive for RAINN supporters and survivors from around the world, to come together and make a Bands4RAINN video. It was their way to reach out and show the world  that no matter who you are or where you are from, you will always have ‘Hope’, ‘Strength’, and ‘Courage’. With over 70 people showing off their wrists wearing their RAINN wristbands for support to Kelsey’s Bands4RAINN project in the video, the amazing support from Jennifer Toof (reality TV star) and Kyler England (solo music artist and band member in ‘The Rescues’), they are heading in the right direction to having the Bands4RAINN goal reached.

“Currently, I have switched my goal to raising at least $25,000 by next April. I am coming out with a new t-shirt to help raise the totals quicker, but really just want EVERYONE wearing Bands4RAINN.” says Kelsey Hirsch“I know for myself music gives me strength.  In the lowest times of my life it's helped me to not feel alone and to release the pain in a constructive way.  In those two ways I think music and RAINN have similar offerings to survivors who are working towards healing and moving forward with their lives.”  - says Kyler England

Kelsey’s Bands4RAINN project has many supporters and each of them are as important as their own. However, it is from the support of Reality TV Star, ‘Jennifer Toof’ that has given Kelsey the drive to carry on and make even bigger goals for her future RAINN efforts. Jennifer has been a big supporter of RAINN for many years, but it was only until recently after seeing Kelsey’s determination to making a difference, that is has given her a clearer picture on the urgency of helping RAINN. Other celebrities who show their support to RAINN are: KaDee Strickland (actress), Mick Foley (pro-wrestler), Christina Ricci (actress), Cybil Shephard (actress), Tori Amos (singer), and many others who have featured themselves on RAINN PSA’s.

“RAINN is a great charity that I have been supporting for years. I am so impressed by Kelsey's Bands4RAINN campaign because she is only 12-years-old and selflessly wanting to do something so good for others. Kelsey's philanthropy and dedication to the cause is definitely a huge motivator for me to want to do whatever I can to help.”  says Jennifer Toof, reality TV star

Not only has Kelsey been receiving positive and very moving feedback of appreciation from survivors and supporters of RAINN, but she has even been getting well-deserved praise from the CEO of RAINN, Scott Berkowitz and his RAINN co-workers too. In fact recently, they were so impressed with Kelsey’s bands4RAINN project and her efforts for helping RAINN, that they honored her with this year’s HOPE Award. This award is not given to just anyone, but to very special recipients that have gone above and beyond to help their charity. Previous recipients have been: KaDee Strickland, Mick Foley, and Shonda Rhimes (creator of ABC’s Private Practice and Grey’s Anatomy).

“Scott Berkowitz thanked Kelsey, calling her an “inspiration to all of us,” and presented her with the “Hope Award” for her dedication and support of sexual abuse survivors.” says RAINN

Because of Kelsey’s RAINN efforts with her  Bands4RAINN project, not only has it given more survivors  support, formed international friendships, and brought more awareness about Rape and Sexual Assault Prevention, but it has also given survivors the ‘Hope’ to get help, the ‘Strength’ to keep going, and the ‘Courage’ to speak up and be heard.

So support Kelsey and survivors today, by buying a RAINN wristband for just $3 because with your support, you are giving survivors ‘Hope’, ‘Strength’, and ‘Courage’.

To buy a RAINN wristband: https://store.rainn.org/product.cfm?pid=27

To become a RAINNMaker: http://rainnmakers.rainn.org/