Me Too? Sadly, But Of Course
CW: Discussion of sexual assault. If you need someone to talk to about your experiences, visit RAINN or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673
I’ve been thinking about this a lot. How this post was probably years overdue. How it’s been weighing on me more frequently in the past few months. How this is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to write, and might be the hardest thing to read from me. How, in the #MeToo era, I too am a statistic. A person with a history of being sexually assaulted, more than once, who never reported. Because, what’s the point? Then, and now. Then, because I was scared and didn’t know who to turn to, or even if what transpired counted in some meaningful way. Now, because oftentimes in an ever-connected world, a man accused of sexual assault and rape could be overwhemlingly sympathized with based on his social standing, and the accuser painted as a liar and whore, out to ruin a good man’s life on events that have long passed. At best sharing my stories years after the fact would get me praise and scorn from those I expect to be praised and scorned by, but not much else.
But I feel I need to share them, and now’s as good a time as any.
