lightspeedsound:

sadomasochisms:

If you haven’t been living under a rock, I’m sure you’ve at least heard about the Steubenville Rape Case. Though completely horrific and inhuman, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

My girl friend was date-raped at a house party by Raymond Iazzi. That night, he was playing the bartender. He brought enough mixed drink material to ensure that the attendees, including the victim, were severely intoxicated. It is still unknown if Raymond drugged any of the drinks. Everyone in attendance was quickly intoxicated, as was I, but after hearing a thud upstairs, I found myself sober enough to realize that the sound was my best friend falling into a pile of her own vomit, barely conscious.

I was scared that our night had taken a turn for the worst, so I ended the party early. I was relieved to see my friend sit upright. Assuming the worst part of the night was over, I sent the crowd home. 

I immediately changed her clothes, rinsed her face, fed her water, and helped her to settle in my bed. We dosed off, but I woke to snoring multiple times. The first time I awoke, I saw Raymond cradling my friend in my bed. I asked him to leave. Not much later, I woke up to him standing near the foot of my bed, and went back to sleep, accepting that he was going to be crashing in my bed with us that night. I wish I’d locked my bedroom door. 

Upon later knowledge, after I went back to sleep, Raymond carried my friend out of my bed downstairs to the couch and proceeded to sexually assault her underneath a throw blanket. He was clearly cognitive enough to understand that he had to tuck her back into bed to seem like she went untouched throughout the night. He was cognitive enough to ask the only other witness, who was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, to “mind her business”, and “back off”. I awoke to the victim and Raymond in my bed that morning. She frantically looked around for her pants. She asked me if I remembered her taking them off (willingly) at any point. I said no, and we got breakfast. 

As friends, we discussed how drunk we had been. He blatantly stated with a chuckle and a tinge of pride that they “did things”, and wouldn’t specify what. Horrified, she asked again, but he laughed, refused to tell, and continued eating,  completely unmarred by his actions the night before. Later that evening, he would send a text message to her stating that he fingered her and ate her out; excused because they were both severely intoxicated.

This was not a drunken, mutual mistake.

It took a couple hours to sink in that what he had done was date-rape. The both of us tip-toed around using the word because it was too real to be true. After much deliberation on our part (because of the technicalities of underage drinking), my friend decided to speak up. 

Apparently, the evidence (confession) was not substantial to hold up in court, and the statements from the two who saw his raunchy behavior are null and void; their intoxication transcending their ability to judge if she “wanted it or not”.

Our school officer spoke to us again in regards to the case, keeping us up to date, stating that at most, Raymond could have a couple months of probation, if we’re lucky, because he was 17 at the time of the crime. 

He said the defense would bring up that she didn’t say “no”. He mentioned that people saw him kiss her that night. I told Officer that in the past, Raymond has made advances towards my friend and she has constantly been able to turn him down, yet the one instance she wasn’t able to verbalize her decision, he made it for her. Ray has tried to excuse his actions to the victim by saying that he was too drunk to know what he was doing. He has simultaneously tried to gain sympathy in his defense by acting remorseful.

My other friend called him a rapist in the hallways, and he messaged her to defend himself:

He did something irreversible, and is going about his normal life. I’ve watched my friend endure this entire process, solely to get the justice she deserved for committing to the long haul for speaking up, but the longer the case is open, the less likely it is that his actions will have any repercussions. Countless times, she has had to retell her vague recollection of that night for nothing.They were close friends, and he took complete advantage of her that night despite how long they knew each other. It’s hard to watch our mutual acquaintances communicating with him in the hallways, taking pictures with him, and even drinking with him. 

Please reblog this and don’t be afraid to spread awareness. The concrete proof was dismissed and now, as young women (or men) we need to come together and spread awareness that not saying “no”, is not the victims fault, drinking too much was not the victim’s fault; It was his fault, and now he continues to drink and go about his normal life, getting accepted into the college of his choice… now we have to take matters into our own hands. Please reblog. 

Reblogging for a special request signal boost. 

facethemusic14:

creepy-rulebreakingmoth:

erissaid:

bookling-stormborn:

cocothinkshefancy:

awesome-everyday:

blkgirlblogging:

str8nochaser:

ghdos:

thepoliticalfreakshow:

“The state Supreme Court Monday threw out the conviction of a city man found guilty of sexually assaulting a severely handicapped woman.

In a 4-3 decision, the high court ruled that despite evidence the 26-year-old woman cannot speak and has little body movement, there was no evidence she could not communicate her refusal to have sex with the defendant, Richard Fourtin Jr. As a result of the ruling, Fourtin goes free and cannot be tried for the case again.” READ THE FULL ARTICLE - “Supreme Court sets accused rapist free”

UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE!!!

WTF?

So by this supreme court’s decision, I’m currently consenting to sex by sitting at this computer typing and drinking my chai latte. 

I’ll be consenting to sex when I run this meeting in 30 minutes. 

I’m consenting to sex while taking a shit. 

I’m consenting to sex while out cold on the operating table. 

FUCK THAT SHIT ENTIRELY. 

i can’t express exactly how angry i am about this ruling.

not only does it deny that rape even happens, but it also implies that women are to be always ready and willing for sex— an idea that i reject.

I think they just spelled it wrong. Connecticut women are in a constant state of malcontent.

i wish i was surprised. I wish

I am sickened by this. 

I feel like even with the current roster, the US Supreme Court might be able to point out why this is overreaching, dangerous, unconstitutional, and flat out vile.

i literally had to put my laptop down and scream into my jacket. this is completely ridiculous. my mere existence is not to give sex to ANYONE who comes knocking. NO ONE’S existence should be boiled down to that.

i hate all the things

I can’t even begin to enumerate my hatred for Connecticut’s Supreme Court right now

This is fucking awful. 

(Source: reddit.com, via anotsosadsong)

mistressofmyfate:

Author Seanan McGuire was asked a question last night.

‘When is one of your female protagonists finally going to be raped?’

This is her response.

(Source: tygermama, via thereisnosaintellen)