I hate what you’ve been through. I hate that most women like us don’t ever feel safe. I hate that even the little sliver of safety we thought we had, has lodged itself in our sides now that this piece of shit is back. With his henchmen.
The only consolation to living in a country that hates women is knowing women like you.
I'm with you, too, friend. 1,000%. Always. I love this line: "The only consolation to living in a country that hates women is knowing women like you." I'm going to keep that in my pocket for the next four years. XO
Thank you and completely agree. I felt this way in 2016….really this is who you feel should be our president!!! Great!! Can I send him over to rape your daughter, mother, sister…. I can and will never wrap my head around women who voted for him!!! FULL STOP!!!
Such a powerful read, Katrina. I'm so sorry that you and so many women have been through this. I count myself fortunate that the abuses I've experienced are tiny in comparison: the guy who pissed on my dress, for instance, just for fun, or the ones who called me fat or a whale. As the parent of a nonbinary kiddo who loves their vintage clothes and fashion, and gives every outward appearance of being female, I'm completely terrified. And I'm devastated that this is who we are as a country. I don't have any answers, but I see you and hear you.
Thank you, Cynthia. And abuse is abuse--there's no competition. I'm so sorry for what you've experienced, too. Why do men derive so much power from their penises and what comes out of them? It's abhorrent. I'm terrified for my daughter. I'm terrified my sons will be drafted into a war we don't want. I'm just terrified. I'm sorry you are, too. I guess we just stand together, hand in hand, in solidarity with those who feel the same way. I'm not sure how else to get through. XO
I've told my sons that we will do anything in our power to get them out of the country before they'd be drafted. I also realize the privilege in being able to say that, and once our sons' safety was assured, we would do everything in our power to help those who lack the resources, too -- if it comes to that, which I hope it won't.
My Unitarian-Universalist church has a reproductive justice committee -- it's been around for a few years -- and I am attending my first meeting with that group tonight. I expect the solidarity and calls-to-action will be help my soul. None of us can do everything, but we can all do something.
I feel every single word of this to my core. Here’s to our mutual survival of the next four years, and to an eventual brighter future. With love, from another survivor who chose to live instead of fight.
We will be lucky if we survive the next four years. It will either be tRUmp, or replaced by Vance, who could potentially be even worse. Because he is backed by DEEP pockets, including Peter Thiel. Like you, I don’t understand even one woman voting for him, and it certainly wasn’t the price of eggs, cause he has less than nothing to do with that! I’m sorry that you have to relive your attack, but it is something that never leaves you, no matter how old you were when it occured.
Our country is so broken. And now the tech bros? They could solve homelessness, poverty, hunger, and they choose instead to build giant rockets that no one wants? How about just some basic healthcare for everyone? And I will never, ever understand women who vote for him. Ever.
Thank you, Katrina Anne. And yes, he's scum, they're all scum, and the fact that women voted for him is appalling to me as well. I'm heartbroken that you were heart so badly.
I've been molested. I've experienced "almost" rapes, lucky that I could fight them off. But they still felt like rape to me, because I was objectified, my personhood wasn't a concern.
That one thing, though, for me is when he was campaigning in 2015 and talked about killing people on 5th Avenue and said nothing would happen to him, when he mocked a disabled reporter, when he talked about grabbing women by the pussy, when he talked about "shithole" countries, when he tried to enact a Muslim ban. He's scum. And I've known that since the 80s because I lived in NYC. I witnessed his brand of evil when he took out full page ads calling for the death penalty for the Central Park 5; 5 teenage boys of color who were falsely convicted of rape and sent to prison for up to 13 years. When he started birther lies about Trump.
So I guess it was more than one thing. But it didn't start with E. Jean Carroll. It started 40 years ago.
Yes. There are so many things that are so incredibly vile about him. SO MANY. It's difficult to even keep track of all the horrifying things he's said and done. And yet, he keeps getting a free pass. I will never understand it.
I too see and feel all this deep within my marrow. I don’t know anything anymore, and this has felt like the harshest whip lash to imagine and endure. I am SO ashamed to live in a country that voted in this orange scum bucket. I will just keep showing up where I can to bring some light and love. It will become my oxygen when the carbon monoxide is being pumped my way. May there be strong push back with everything he thinks he will accomplish. May he GO crazy in realizing that he is NOT the all and powerful Oz. Us witches unite! I’m getting my 🧹 broomstick ready! 🪄🔮In solidarity we stand. With love and care.
I think all we can do is keep showing up. Again and again and again. I have to believe there are more people like us than unlike us, Joanie. Standing hand in hand with you. XO
I’ve never been the victim of rape, but as a lesbian and a feminist, I know countless women who have been. I’m sorry for the pain you experienced, but I even more angry that men are allowed to get away with it. May you find peace for yourself and may we never stop fighting for an end to sexual violence. We have a long way to go.
Such a long way to go. I don't know if we'll ever be able to get there -- not when straight, white men will do anything to keep their wealth and power, including sacrificing women at the altar of their own ambition. It's sickening. But I will never stop fighting. XO
I find myself going into a deeper, darker place as Jan 20 nears. I, too, have my own assault experience that plays through my head when I hear this man’s voice, not to mention his cabinet picks trigger violent memories as well. But it’s the fact that people I know chose him - that is why the pit of gut-wrenching sadness sits inside me, and I’m not sure what to do with it. Coming here to your words helps me remember who’s got my back, and who lives by decency and heart right next to me. I love you, Kat.
I love you so much, Rachel. I'm so sorry you have to relive your experience, too. And yes, it's the people who chose him who hurt the most -- the ones we thought loved and respected us, the ones we thought would protect and honor us. That's the biggest disappointment of all. You know I've got your back. Always. My hand in yours, friend. XO
Thank you, Robbin. I always say I've made peace with what I've experienced because everything I've gone through has made me who I am. But I want it to change... for my daughter and her friends and their friends and all the daughters and granddaughters who deserve so much better.
Oh Katrina, I hate that there would need to be 12 of us in a room for the average to be accurate, and who knows if that’s even the case? It makes me so furious and sad, and I want to punch the walls and scream at the moon and I’ll never in my lifetime understand how so many women could vote for this absolute lowlife. I hate it for my daughter and yours and everyone else’s and I hate it for our sisters and best friends and mothers, too. I even hate it for the women who voted for him because I have to believe they hate themselves on some deep and awful level. But we will get through this because there isn’t another choice, and we’ll do it together. I’m sending you so much love.
I hate what you’ve been through. I hate that most women like us don’t ever feel safe. I hate that even the little sliver of safety we thought we had, has lodged itself in our sides now that this piece of shit is back. With his henchmen.
The only consolation to living in a country that hates women is knowing women like you.
I’m with you. One thousand percent, friend. ❤️
I'm with you, too, friend. 1,000%. Always. I love this line: "The only consolation to living in a country that hates women is knowing women like you." I'm going to keep that in my pocket for the next four years. XO
Fuck em. Let’s just get gayer and more women centric ❤️
Deal. <3
Thank you and completely agree. I felt this way in 2016….really this is who you feel should be our president!!! Great!! Can I send him over to rape your daughter, mother, sister…. I can and will never wrap my head around women who voted for him!!! FULL STOP!!!
I will never understand it, either. Never.
Too true. I am so, so sad, deep in my soul about all of it.
Such a powerful read, Katrina. I'm so sorry that you and so many women have been through this. I count myself fortunate that the abuses I've experienced are tiny in comparison: the guy who pissed on my dress, for instance, just for fun, or the ones who called me fat or a whale. As the parent of a nonbinary kiddo who loves their vintage clothes and fashion, and gives every outward appearance of being female, I'm completely terrified. And I'm devastated that this is who we are as a country. I don't have any answers, but I see you and hear you.
Thank you, Cynthia. And abuse is abuse--there's no competition. I'm so sorry for what you've experienced, too. Why do men derive so much power from their penises and what comes out of them? It's abhorrent. I'm terrified for my daughter. I'm terrified my sons will be drafted into a war we don't want. I'm just terrified. I'm sorry you are, too. I guess we just stand together, hand in hand, in solidarity with those who feel the same way. I'm not sure how else to get through. XO
Hand in hand, yes. That's all we can do.
I've told my sons that we will do anything in our power to get them out of the country before they'd be drafted. I also realize the privilege in being able to say that, and once our sons' safety was assured, we would do everything in our power to help those who lack the resources, too -- if it comes to that, which I hope it won't.
My Unitarian-Universalist church has a reproductive justice committee -- it's been around for a few years -- and I am attending my first meeting with that group tonight. I expect the solidarity and calls-to-action will be help my soul. None of us can do everything, but we can all do something.
I feel every single word of this to my core. Here’s to our mutual survival of the next four years, and to an eventual brighter future. With love, from another survivor who chose to live instead of fight.
I'm grateful you chose to live, Lorri. Standing with you. XO
We will be lucky if we survive the next four years. It will either be tRUmp, or replaced by Vance, who could potentially be even worse. Because he is backed by DEEP pockets, including Peter Thiel. Like you, I don’t understand even one woman voting for him, and it certainly wasn’t the price of eggs, cause he has less than nothing to do with that! I’m sorry that you have to relive your attack, but it is something that never leaves you, no matter how old you were when it occured.
Our country is so broken. And now the tech bros? They could solve homelessness, poverty, hunger, and they choose instead to build giant rockets that no one wants? How about just some basic healthcare for everyone? And I will never, ever understand women who vote for him. Ever.
Thank you, Katrina Anne. And yes, he's scum, they're all scum, and the fact that women voted for him is appalling to me as well. I'm heartbroken that you were heart so badly.
I've been molested. I've experienced "almost" rapes, lucky that I could fight them off. But they still felt like rape to me, because I was objectified, my personhood wasn't a concern.
That one thing, though, for me is when he was campaigning in 2015 and talked about killing people on 5th Avenue and said nothing would happen to him, when he mocked a disabled reporter, when he talked about grabbing women by the pussy, when he talked about "shithole" countries, when he tried to enact a Muslim ban. He's scum. And I've known that since the 80s because I lived in NYC. I witnessed his brand of evil when he took out full page ads calling for the death penalty for the Central Park 5; 5 teenage boys of color who were falsely convicted of rape and sent to prison for up to 13 years. When he started birther lies about Trump.
So I guess it was more than one thing. But it didn't start with E. Jean Carroll. It started 40 years ago.
Yes. There are so many things that are so incredibly vile about him. SO MANY. It's difficult to even keep track of all the horrifying things he's said and done. And yet, he keeps getting a free pass. I will never understand it.
Oh, Katrina. 💔💔💔
<3 <3 <3
I too see and feel all this deep within my marrow. I don’t know anything anymore, and this has felt like the harshest whip lash to imagine and endure. I am SO ashamed to live in a country that voted in this orange scum bucket. I will just keep showing up where I can to bring some light and love. It will become my oxygen when the carbon monoxide is being pumped my way. May there be strong push back with everything he thinks he will accomplish. May he GO crazy in realizing that he is NOT the all and powerful Oz. Us witches unite! I’m getting my 🧹 broomstick ready! 🪄🔮In solidarity we stand. With love and care.
I think all we can do is keep showing up. Again and again and again. I have to believe there are more people like us than unlike us, Joanie. Standing hand in hand with you. XO
I’ve never been the victim of rape, but as a lesbian and a feminist, I know countless women who have been. I’m sorry for the pain you experienced, but I even more angry that men are allowed to get away with it. May you find peace for yourself and may we never stop fighting for an end to sexual violence. We have a long way to go.
Such a long way to go. I don't know if we'll ever be able to get there -- not when straight, white men will do anything to keep their wealth and power, including sacrificing women at the altar of their own ambition. It's sickening. But I will never stop fighting. XO
I’m with you, Sister! We aren’t going back!
I find myself going into a deeper, darker place as Jan 20 nears. I, too, have my own assault experience that plays through my head when I hear this man’s voice, not to mention his cabinet picks trigger violent memories as well. But it’s the fact that people I know chose him - that is why the pit of gut-wrenching sadness sits inside me, and I’m not sure what to do with it. Coming here to your words helps me remember who’s got my back, and who lives by decency and heart right next to me. I love you, Kat.
I love you so much, Rachel. I'm so sorry you have to relive your experience, too. And yes, it's the people who chose him who hurt the most -- the ones we thought loved and respected us, the ones we thought would protect and honor us. That's the biggest disappointment of all. You know I've got your back. Always. My hand in yours, friend. XO
I love you
😢🫂😢
<3
🫂😥🫂
<3
What a great article. I am so sorry for what you endured.
Thank you, Robbin. I always say I've made peace with what I've experienced because everything I've gone through has made me who I am. But I want it to change... for my daughter and her friends and their friends and all the daughters and granddaughters who deserve so much better.
Oh Katrina, I hate that there would need to be 12 of us in a room for the average to be accurate, and who knows if that’s even the case? It makes me so furious and sad, and I want to punch the walls and scream at the moon and I’ll never in my lifetime understand how so many women could vote for this absolute lowlife. I hate it for my daughter and yours and everyone else’s and I hate it for our sisters and best friends and mothers, too. I even hate it for the women who voted for him because I have to believe they hate themselves on some deep and awful level. But we will get through this because there isn’t another choice, and we’ll do it together. I’m sending you so much love.
Thank you, Cindy. I will continue to write. It's what saves me in these dark times. Thank you for being here. XO