Me too.

I’ve been lurking upon this movement with admiration all the while wondering if I’d partake. Were my experiences “bad enough” to call out, and did I feel comfortable outing myself as a victim? But as I thought about it longer, more instances surfaced. Repressed memories made their way to the forefront of my thoughts, and even remembering them made me uncomfortable.

Why do parents feel the need to warn their daughters about every male figure that steps into our lives, as if it’s 100% our responsibility to ensure we are treated with respect? Why do most decisions of a woman’s day have to consider her safety, whether the thought be conscious or not? Why did I hesitate to say “me too“ based on the degree to which I’ve been harassed… As if “smaller” acts of sexual harassment or assault are commonplace, acceptable, and don’t warrant pushback?

This needs to change. Everything needs to change.

So yeah. #MeToo. And I am here in solidarity and in power with the women, men, and gender nonconforming who have dug up and relived their pasts just to help make this point - As well as with those who haven’t posted or chimed in. Because as Alexis Benveniste articulated beautifully, “Survivors don’t owe you their story.”

Let’s stop seeing respect as something to be earned and instead start seeing it as a basic human right for everybody. Let’s start with having hard conversations. Let’s listen. Let’s not assume. Let’s ask questions. Let’s stop waiting for someone else to do the right thing. Let’s protect. Let’s make it our problem. Let’s raise people up.

“Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.” - Kid President