AmoraYour reminder that sexual assault not only happens to cis women, it also happens to nonbinary people, cis men, trans men, trans women, and people of other gender identities. All survivors of sexual assault deserve to feel understood and safe, and be able to access care and resources.
Johanny OrtegaNew Year, Same Me—But Better: Lessons from Audrie & Daisy
#saturdayreads #saturdaywatch
As we step into 2025 with a commitment to growth and reflection, I want to share my thoughts on a documentary that shook me to my core: Audrie & Daisy (2016). This heartbreaking film spotlights the stories of two teenagers who became victims of sexual assault, only to be further victimized by a society that prioritized protecting perpetrators over seeking justice for those harmed. It’s a story that lingers, sparking a deep conversation about systemic failure and the urgent need for change.
A System Rigged for Perpetrators
Watching the documentary, I was struck by how much effort and institutional power is directed toward shielding perpetrators. Daisy Coleman’s case, in particular, revealed an unsettling reality: the judicial system is often incapable or unwilling to deliver justice for survivors of sexual assault.
The prosecutor’s statement—“Daisy’s case was just too hard to prove within the court system”—wasn’t just an excuse; it was a chilling reminder of how ingrained biases and structural inadequacies perpetuate harm. This isn’t about individual perceptions or isolated incidents. It’s about a judicial framework that places an unbearable burden of proof on survivors, while perpetrators benefit from loopholes, societal complicity, and the unspoken presumption of innocence.
An Epiphany About Change
This realization led me to an epiphany: justice for survivors cannot begin and end with public outrage or individual accountability. It must start with laws. Comprehensive legal reform is needed to:
- Remove Barriers for Survivors: Simplify reporting processes and provide trauma-informed resources.
- Shift the Burden of Proof: Ensure the focus is on evidence of the crime, not on discrediting survivors.
- Enforce Strict Penalties for Cyberbullying: Recognize and address the devastating impact of online harassment that so often follows survivors of sexual assault.
We also need widespread education on consent, digital responsibility, and bystander intervention—starting at a young age. Change isn’t just a legal battle; it’s a cultural one.
Remembering Daisy Coleman
Daisy Coleman’s tragic death in 2020 added another layer of heartbreak to her story. Her passing reminds us that the trauma of sexual assault and the subsequent victim-blaming can have lasting effects, often leading to mental health struggles. Daisy’s advocacy work and bravery deserve to be remembered, not just as a cautionary tale, but as a rallying cry for action.
As you reflect on the year ahead, I encourage you to watch Audrie & Daisy. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s a necessary one. The documentary forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about how we, as a society, handle sexual violence. Let’s take that discomfort and channel it into meaningful action.
Where Do We Go From Here?
We can start by having these hard conversations in our communities. Support organizations like RAINN that provide resources for survivors and push for legal reform. Hold schools, workplaces, and online platforms accountable for their roles in perpetuating harmful environments. Most importantly, let’s commit to raising the next generation to value empathy, respect, and justice.
2025 is the year of learning and growth. Let’s make it a year where we show up for survivors, challenge the status quo, and work toward a world where justice is not an exception but the rule.
#AudrieDaisy #justiceForSurvivors #lawReform #mustWatch #NetflixDocumentaries #SaturdayReads #saturdaywatch #sexualAssaultAwareness #survivorSupport #systemicChange
wyvernsroseTherapy Natters Acceptance & Sexual Assault: Send us a text
Although obvious from the title today's episode does talk about sexual assault, which might be triggering to some people.
So, feel free to give this episode a skip if the time's not right for you just yet or hover over the pause button and take a few breathers.
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The Richard Nicholls Podcast
The Brookhouse… #AcceptingHelp #SexualAssaultAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #PodcastCommunity #TraumaSupport
NonilexThough a [douche bag #misogynist #racist] judge initially dismissed the #teen’s claims that the city improperly supervised Vicknair, he reversed his decision after a #WasPo investigation revealed #NOPD’s top ofcl at the time, Shaun Ferguson, had been texted about “potential #SexualAbuse of a #minor by an officer” 5 days before Vicknair LOCKED NICOLE IN HIS TRUCK & SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER.
#NOLA #Louisiana #law #SexualAssault #rape #SexualAssaultAwareness #MentalHealth #NOPD #BelieveSurvivors
“Growing up, you’re taught in schools ‘officers are always there to help,’” Nicole testified. “The trust that I had has been taken away from me.”
Much of the 3-day trial centered on the steps #police leaders took — & didn’t take — after learning of concerns about #Vicknair’s behavior.
#NOLA #Louisiana #law #SexualAssault #rape #SexualAssaultAwareness #MentalHealth #NOPD #BelieveSurvivors
When she had a serious kidney #infection, she said, she avoided going to the #hospital because that was where Vicknair began grooming her. Though she once wanted #children of her own, she no longer feels equipped to be a #parent because she is #afraid she won’t be able to keep her kids safe.
#NOLA #Louisiana #law #SexualAssault #rape #SexualAssaultAwareness #MentalHealth #NOPD #BelieveSurvivors
#RodneyVicknair, who died in prison earlier [🎻] this year, spent months grooming the #teen after being dispatched to her home for a #SexualAssault investigation when she was 14.
WaPo does not identify victims of sexual assault w/o their #consent. W/her permission, The Post is referring to the teen by her middle name, Nicole.
DARLENE RYAN 🇨🇦April is #SexualAssaultAwareness month.. ya, why can’t men be held accountable?? 👇
U.S. Politics in Real TimeTrump Will Offer No Defense in Rape Trial, His Lawyer Says
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/03/nyregion/e-jean-carroll-trump-rape-trial.html
#NYTimes #TrumpRapeTrial #EJeanCarroll #LegalNews #MeTooMovement #SexualAssaultAwareness #Politics #News
AutisticWomenNonbinaryNetworkApril is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
On our blog, Kayla Rodriguez shares her story as an autistic disabled Latina survivor, how marginalized people are more vulnerable to sexual assault, and how to prevent sexual assault:
https://awnnetwork.org/an-autistic-womans-experience-with-sexual-assault/
#SAAM2023
#sexualassaultawareness #SAAM #autism #autismacceptancemonth #disability #sexualassault #survivor
An Autistic Woman’s Experience with Sexual Assault - Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Being a sexual assault survivor and disabled autistic Latina means I understand at a very personal level the connections between the discrimination my communities face, and how that makes people like me more vulnerable to sexual assault.