This week, we’ve read story after wrenching story of sexual assault. We’ve heard the old excuse “boys will be boys.” We’ve seen inexcusable behavior brushed off as normal teen hijinks. One thing has become clear: whatever we’re doing to teach our kids about consent—it is not enough. Creating a culture of consent doesn’t come from one awkward sex talk. It’s an ongoing process that starts earlier than you probably think. Here’s how to make consent the norm at every age.
Category: Sexual Equality
The truth about false assault accusations by women – BBC News
According to various academic studies over the past 20 years, only 2-10% of rape accusations are fake (Prof Ford’s lawyer says she believes this was attempted rape).
Two to 10% is too many, but it is not a big proportion of the total. Fake rape accusations get a lot of attention.
Both the Duke Lacrosse team case in 2006 and the alleged University of Virginia gang rape in 2014 were widely covered by the media. They were terrible miscarriages of justice – but they were not representative.
via The truth about false assault accusations by women – BBC News
Desperate gay couple in deportation battle says judge ‘refused to recognise their legal marriage’ – i
It was 12 months before Benjamin’s mother passed away and his husband applied for an extension to his six-month visa on compassionate grounds but this was refused.
Now Benjamin’s father is battling lung cancer and Brian says he refuses to leave his husband who fell into a “deep, dark depression” after the bereavement.
When a house stops being a home – BBC News
Valerie, Rachel, Nancy and Victoria all suffered abuse at the hands of their partners.
They are among the estimated 1.9 million men and women who experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales in the year ending in March 2017. Abuse in all forms – mental and physical – can come from partners, siblings, parents or children.
These four women reflect on the experience of being unsafe in their own homes.
India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling – BBC News
In a historic decision, India’s Supreme Court has ruled that gay sex is no longer a criminal offence.
The ruling overturns a 2013 judgement that upheld a colonial-era law, known as section 377, under which gay sex is categorised as an “unnatural offence”.
The court has now ruled discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a fundamental violation of rights.
Campaigners outside the court cheered and some broke down in tears as the ruling was handed down.
Although public opinion in India’s biggest cities has been in favour of scrapping the law, there remains strong opposition among religious groups and in conservative rural communities.
via India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling – BBC News
UCLA Student Sues Campus Fraternities for Failing to Do More to Prevent Sexual Assault
In 2017, a UCLA student filed a Title IX complaint against another student for sexually assaulting her and won. (Her attacker, Blake Lobato, was expelled.) She is now suing two fraternities and a student group representing the interests of other frats on campus in order to change “a culture of alcohol abuse and sexual transgression,” reports the LA Times.
The civil complaint (filed under Jane Doe) accuses fraternities, especially Zeta Beta Tau and Sigma Alpha Epsilon, with “[doing] little-to-nothing to protect their members and guests from harm.” It also accuses the SAE chapter at UCLA of failing to intervene on the night she was sexually assaulted by Lobato:
via UCLA Student Sues Campus Fraternities for Failing to Do More to Prevent Sexual Assault
(10) Ellen Comes Out As Gay On Oprah – YouTube
LGBT Plaques | English Heritage
LONDON PRIDE: LGBTQ STORIES FROM HISTORY
Many of the famous figures honoured with a London blue plaque lived radical private lives outside the sexual norms of the time. Some were persecuted for it and some helped to challenge public perceptions of gender and sexuality. Below, we explore the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) stories associated with some of London’s blue plaques.
LGBT rights: Malaysia women caned for attempting to have lesbian sex – BBC News
wo Malaysian women convicted of attempting to have lesbian sex in a car have been caned in a religious court.
The Muslim women, aged 22 and 32, were each caned six times in the Sharia High Court in the state of Terengganu.
According to an official, this is the state’s first conviction for same-sex relations and its first public caning.
Human rights activists reacted with outrage. Homosexual activity is illegal under both secular and religious laws.
The caning was witnessed by more than 100 people, according to local news outlet The Star.
via LGBT rights: Malaysia women caned for attempting to have lesbian sex – BBC News
Anne Lister: Plaque wording to change after ‘lesbian’ row – BBC News
The wording on a blue plaque in York honouring a woman described as the “first modern lesbian” is to be looked at again after complaints it had “erased” her sexuality.
The tribute to 19th Century diarist Anne Lister described her as “gender-nonconforming”.
An online petition claimed the description had “nothing to do with sexuality”.
The group behind the memorial said it would change the wording.
via Anne Lister: Plaque wording to change after ‘lesbian’ row – BBC News