#MeToo is trending on Twitter (sexual assault/harassment)

[fleur-de-lisa]

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Faux pas]

1. Me too

[Chemisse]

2. Me too.

[Siwsan]

3. Me too.

[redstatebluegirl]

4. Me too

[nolabear]

5. Me too.

[B2G]

6. Me too.

[fleur-de-lisa]

7. Me too.

[Adrahil]

8. I admit I sometimes feel isolated at times like these....

I've mentioned it here before, protected by a certain internet anonymity.

But as a boy, I was raped and abused by a young man.

Let me be clear... I do NOT want horn in on what these women are saying. And I don't this issue to become about me, a man, yet again.

But sometimes it feels lonely.

There are "male survivor" communities. But the ones I participated in have become overrun with MRA nutters.

In any case, here at least, I will say, "Me too."

And this has to stop.

[fleur-de-lisa]

9. I'm so sorry, Adrahil.

You aren't horning in. You need your voice to be heard just as much as we women do.

[Adrahil]

10. Thanks! That really means a lot! NT

[B2G]

11. Anyone who thinks this only happens to women

is being willfully ignorant.

Hollywood is also a cesspool when it comes to children, both male and female.

I'm so sorry this happened. Your voice is every bit as important as any woman's.

[Adrahil]

12. Thank you very much! NT

[Ms. Toad]

15. It's not a competition -

and it is not the same as claming all lives matter, for example, as long as you are not claiming rape culture equally affects men and women.

Sexual abuse is, by and large, about power. The weapon happens to be sex. And yes, it happens more frequently to women than men - which is why it would be completely inappropriate to claim rape culture equally burdens men's lives.

But just as race is irrelevant when your loved one is murdered, your gender is irrelevant when you, are the target of rape or sexual abuse.

#MeToo, starting around age 11, including two rapes and too many gropings and too much street harassment to recount.

[Adrahil]

16. I'm so sorry that happened to you!

I was "shamed" into silence. My rapist/abuser threatened to tell my parents that I was a "pervert" and I was afraid of that. My mom has her own mental health issues and she would not have handled it well. After getting to know my Dad better in later life, I think he actually would have actually been a help, but both of them died before I could tell them.

And yes, it IS about power. And it makes me SO ANGRY that so many men feel like it is perfectly natural to exploit that power to predate women, and sometimes men.

And as a father of a 15-year-old girl, I want the world to be different for her!

[handmade34]

18. ...

[davsand]

13. Me too.

To everyone that has chosen to stand now, remember that blame does not belong on you--it is not your guilt or shame. You were victimized.

To anyone who does not choose to step forward, please know that is your right--your decision. One of the especially cruel aspects of this discussion is not only the removal of your right to say no at the time, but also a continued victimization if you are pressured to say or do anything you don't want to do later on.

Peace and healing to all.


Laura

[demmiblue]

14. Me too

Patricia Arquette posted a tweet that reminded me of the first time I experienced harassment.

I was @15 years old, walking home with friends on a weekend night after hanging out (10:00/11:00 ish). A male jogger, naked, sees us and starts jacking off. We ran as fast as we could to my friend's house. We laughed it off, yet still felt totally creeped out.

Months later, I was walking home from school and looked up at a house on the corner. Same scenario... naked dude jacking off. I believe it was the same person, but didn't tell anyone.

I believe he was eventually busted by the cops for exposure in his car.

[ellie]

17. Me too

[handmade34]

19. ...

me too

[demmiblue]

20. Michigan's next governor:

Link to tweet

[demmiblue]

22. Her 'Me Too' speech to the Michigan Senate (@ 7:30):

[Maeve]

21. Me too

And hugs to all who were abused and choose not to speak of it, as is their right. (Guys, too; your experiences are just as valid and need to be acknowleged.)