Lauren from MTMV

Pink frame background with text that reads, listen to survivors the first time. There is a graphic of pink headphones. End description.

Listen to survivors the first time! Imagine if folks listened to Anita Hill, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, the 28 survivors who came forward about Trump, the Epstein survivors, and the many, many survivors who disclose their experiences every single day. #ListenToSurvivors

A failure by the courts doesn’t negate the truth of what happened. Police not pressing charges doesn’t mean someone is innocent. Proving abuse and assault happened in the court of law is extremely challenging with such a very high burden of proof. These types of cases are famously under-prosecuted.

Just because a case gets dismissed or a jury find an accused abuser, not guilty, does not always mean they were in fact not guilty. Not guilty is not the same as innocent.

Sending love to all survivors. A disappointing yet not completely surprising verdict from the hockey Canada trial was delivered today. A verdict against one survivor is a verdict against all survivors. Survivors deserve better.

Teal background with grid. There are two white boxes. The top box reads, "I'm a survivor and if they had really been abused they wouldn't act like that. It's offensive to real victims." The text is all crossed out in orange. The box on the bottom reads, I'm so sorry you were harmed. We all respond to trauma in different ways and no way is any less valid. I believe you." It is not crossed out. End description.

Just because you acted differently or maybe don't understand a survivor's response doesn't mean they are lying. Survivors should support survivors, not denigrate and victim blame. Trying to debunk someone's trauma is not the gotcha moment you think it is.

Please don’t weaponize yet another failure of the courts to frame incorrect narratives for content. It comes at the expense of survivors and our communities.

For folks sharing trial updates, reminder these woman were never on trial. Combs being acquitted of several charges does not mean these brave victims were lying or that he is in fact, not guilty. Our systems are not set up to support survivors, especially Black survivors.

Sending support and care to all survivors especially Cassie, Dawn, and the many other victims of Sean Diddy Combs. You deserve better.

Purple background with white text and yellow accents that reads, Panel: Let’s talk about survivor evidence and documentation. How/why it might be helpful, Safety planning, Unique challenges, How we can better support survivors in relation to record keeping and documentation. Wednesday, June 25th 6:30p - 8p EST on Zoom. Panelists, Kat Marsh, Kat Tenbarge, Lakeydra Houston, Morgyn Chandler, and Sara Selzer.

Purple background with white text and yellow accents that reads, Get your tickets at tinyurl.com/MTMVPanel Donate to go fund me at tinyurl.com/DonateToDawn.

It is important for survivors, professionals, & our communities to talk about documentation, how/why it might be helpful, safety planning, challenges, how we can better support survivors in relation to record keeping and documentation. Join us at 6:30p est for a virtual panel.
Tinyurl.com/mtmvpanel

Being a survivor can be very lonely. You’re not alone in that. It isn’t YOU. There isn’t anything wrong with you. You aren’t doing all this wrong. It isn’t because you are too much. It just can and will be really lonely at times. I’m sorry and I care.

Protect trans kids, adults, and elders.

The amount of survivors, myself included, that have been abused and harmed by attorneys claiming to support us is staggering. I hope that the State Bar of CA takes this seriously and conducts a proper, trauma-responsive investigation.

Exclusive | California State Bar Opens Probe Into Gloria Allred’s Law Firm The investigation is looking at issues raised by women who hired the Los Angeles firm to represent them in connection with allegations of sexual misconduct.

The State Bar of California has opened an investigation into the tactics used by Gloria Allred’s law firm in its dealings with clients. The investigation was prompted by an article in The Wall Street Journal.
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

We Have to Stop Voting for Predators Also, Justin Baldoni's supporters have come up with a new QAnon.

Today was the first day of early voting for New York City’s mayoral primary. New Yorkers have the chance to prove that the left won’t tolerate sexual predators as elected leaders. @spitfirenews.com’s first anti-endorsement: don’t rank Andrew Cuomo.
spitfirenews.com/p/stop-votin...

The day started with tragedy with political violence in MN and instead of being scared, neighbors SHOWED UP to stand together at No Kings Twin Cities. We packed the Capitol Mall all the way to the Cathedral. Estimate 80,000+ right now. So proud of our state. #nokings #indivisible

Our survival is political when many of the avenues to justice and support have a long history of abusing, pathologizing, and criminalizing our very existence. As advocates and trauma support specialist we don't acknowledge it, we are complicit in that harm.

The world we live in is political. Racist, misogynist, classist, homophobic, ableist systems don't just magic themselves into our cultures. People both knowingly and unknowingly uphold these systems of oppression.

It's important to acknowledge that survivorship and trauma are political. For example, survivors of color, LGBTQIA+ survivors, Deaf survivors, disabled survivors, all are harmed at disproportionately higher rates with significantly less access to resources, justice, and care. It's not a coincidence.

SOS! the volunteers on 'Madleen' have been kidnapped by Israeli forces.
Pressure their foreign ministries and help us keep them safe!
E: alertes.cdc@diplomatie.gouv.fr & courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr

...2/

Survivors aren't less than for having been subjected to all they have been. Creating room for a survivor's agency to thrive is so important. They need to be heard, validated, given access to ways that feel healing to them. Supporting survivors means respecting survivors.

We tell survivors to speak up and share what they need but when they do, survivors are often shamed and blamed, made to feel like they're asking too much, wrong, or not trying hard enough. Each survivor is the expert on themselves and their wants, needs, and unique experiences.

Society & those around us act as self-nominated-quite-partial arbitrators to our lived experiences, to our grief, to our growth. When survivors choose their own path or don't reform to the impossible, they're punished by those around them holding their invisible measuring sticks.

People get so angry when survivors don't want advice or a specific kind of support people offer. Like the audacity of these "mere broken creatures" who simply just cannot function unless they do as *I* say. Survivors are encouraged to speak up and share only to be silenced further.

The concept of a credible victim is a social construct. When police reports, rape kits, friend/family corroboration are what supposedly makes a victim credible, it’s clear that means access to support & resources. Not every victim has that. It doesn't make them less believable or worthy of support.

It’s disgraceful how much content I saw yesterday about Jonathan Joss being murdered before reading he was a victim of hate crimes by his homophobic neighbor. He deserves better and queer people deserve safety. Not talking about it is a disservice to the LGBTQIA+ community. RIP Jonathan Joss.

Grey background with text in different colors. “Pride is protest” is in black and brown. “We’re here” is in alternating white, pink, and blue. “We’re queer”, is in alternating red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo. End description.

Queer people have always existed and queer people will always exist. Here is to a Pride full of joy, care, and safety. Pride matters. You matter. 🩵🌈💕✨

I’ll take a look!! Thanks! 😊

Just like prior consent does not equal future consent, consenting now or in the future does not negate any past nonconsensual acts.

Everyone knows what high-profile abusers look like. You don’t have to always post photos of them for your headlines and stories. Survivors, especially their victims, shouldn't constantly have to see them plastered online everywhere.

I’m sorry that’s happening. So vile. You deserve so much better. Thinking about ya.