Survivors of sex abuse need reps in Harrisburg who understand
To the Times:
I’m writing to express my support for anyone whose life has been affected by sexual abuse – and for leaders who have the will and courage to justly represent them. Survivors and allies need and deserve unequivocal guidance and support from elected officials at every level, especially now that we have two Supreme Court justices, the president of the United States, and other government officials and members or religious institutions credibly accused yet still in power.
Despite recent setbacks for women and survivors, Kristin Seale – the Democratic candidate running in my district (PA HD-168 – and other progressives on the Delaware County ballot have given me hope for the future of justice in Pa.. The 168th district has never elected a Democrat or a woman to our state Legislature. In Kristin, I finally see a leader who understands the history of silence and oppression and future of life in the #MeToo era.
We are living through the growing pains of a cultural shift in our understanding of gender disparities, power dynamics, and accountability. Leaders who offer courage and clarity on these issues are needed to guide us out of the darkness that has traditionally accompanied them. Kristin can do that. When the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) announced a strict endorsement process for this November’s election that required candidates to sign a petition calling for the resignation of three elected officials, including two from her own party, Kristin signed on without hesitation. The three include state Sen. Daylin Leach (D), state Rep. Nicholas Miccarelli (R), and Philadelphia Sheriff Jewell Williams (D), all of whom have been accused of sexual harassment or misconduct.
It’s easy to say that you’re against sexual abuse. It’s another to actually use your influence to speak truth to power, challenge your own party, and hold peers accountable for their unacceptable actions.
A survivor herself, Kristin understands, as survivors do, that credible allegations are enough to disqualify elected officials from positions of authority and taxpayer- funded benefits. In a society where women and children avoid the pain and stigma of coming forward for long periods of time, and therefore have cases that don’t meet strict legal standards, keeping their abusers out of power is often the only form of justice.
In addition to her willingness to call out officials from all parties by name, Kristin speaks directly to survivors and allies, and uses her platform to echo and amplify our voices. By contrast, I’ve noticed several Republican candidates awkwardly avoiding the issue or putting out tepid, ambiguous statements. Kristin’s opponent, Republican state Rep. Chris Quinn, did not issue one statement during the recent Kavanaugh hearings. Indifference and silence like that from our leaders allows misunderstandings to flourish. Pennsylvanians struggle with the scars and threats of sexual harassment and abuse at home, work, and school – basically in our everyday lives. We need our representatives to address these concerns – and codify our protection into law.
You may think these protections already exist in Pa., but they don’t. A small group of women lawmakers in the Pa. House have proposed bills (1) that include banning non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment cases and prohibiting the Legislature from using taxpayer money to pay settlement costs. Though bills aimed at cracking down on sexual harassment and expanding protections for employees statewide have been introduced, there has been no interest or commitment to move any to a vote by the Republican majority.
Our current state representative offered no meaningful solution for women who’ve been harmed by Pa. politicians. Conversely, Kristin pointed out that each caucus in Harrisburg is responsible for handling its own human resources issues. She proposed an independent commission be formed to handle complaints for both parties. For women and survivors of sexual abuse to gain true liberation and freedom, we need a representative government. What we have now is a small contingent of advocates overshadowed by a majority of status quo supporters. What we need next is firm, unrelenting and outspoken leadership to set the tone for the future. The only path I see to actual progress now is electing a caucus full of courageous survivors and spirited allies like Kristin Seale on Nov. 6. Representation matters.