TRIGGER WARNING: re: rape, assault, abuse, ira gray

asvainasiallow:

So I’m sure some of you have noticed/ been following the accounts of ira gray raping/abusing his previous partners. Probably very few of you remember that I had dated him since I have tried very hard to distance myself from him and all his shit. After having talked to the others I’ve decided I’m going to finally tell my side of the story. It might take me a few days to get it all together but I’m sick of being quiet. I’m sick of seeing him in positions of power and I’m sick of being reminded about him everytime I enter a trans* friendly space.

I’m so sorry for what happened to you. You have my full support (and the support of many others).

So many brave people coming out to tell their stories. How many people has Ira’s power silenced? How has he been so protected by activist communities and the hierarchy of them (because, let’s face it, too many activist communities are based on a not-so-subtle-but-too-tabboo-to-talk-about structure happening, and clearly it has provided a way for Ira to silence the people he’s abused and assaulted.

This is what happens when you have hierarchies in activist communities, people.  And now he’s using all this flowery, theoretical language (way to be accessible…) to explain how he’s “not a rapist” and “does his best to practice good consent”.

This is fucking bullshit. We need to start looking around our communities and reconsidering the power dynamics within them more seriously. I’ve heard about too many situations similar to this one in too many activist communities. Please, people. Take a look around and ask yourself who you’re marginalizing. Like, fuck.