Thread by @TaranaBurke

So now he’s making jokes? This is disrespectful and inexcusable. People have been asking me all week if what @LucyFlores experienced was worth coming forward about. My answer is YES. I support her wholeheartedly. And here is why:

washingtonpost.com/amphtml/politi…

What she experienced, in her own words, made her feel embarrassed, shocked and confused - at the hands of the VP of the United States. She described her deep discomfort with this level of intimacy and most important she described how *powerless* it made her feel.

Remember, it wasn’t a lingering hug, it was an embrace and kiss on the back of the head from a powerful man who she didn’t feel the power to say no to. In a situation with ‘less stakes’ like teacher/ student or coach athlete maybe we could see it more clearly.

He has *not* been accused of sexual assault. No one is calling for him to be incarcerated or sent away. He has been called to task for deeply problematic behavior that many folks, particularly men, engage in regularly - and that’s a GOOD thing.

Anyone in a leadership position, especially someone seeking to gain more power, should have to answer questions about inappropriate behavior. But more than that they should be accountable - and accountability starts with understanding what kind of harm you caused.

It’s not that people become more ‘sensitive’ over time as Biden suggested. And it’s not just about personal space or intention - it’s about bodily autonomy, it’s about power and leadership, and it’s about living into who we say we are and who we want to be.

Yes, Biden has been instrumental in work to support women. No, that doesn’t mean he’s above reproach or can’t course correct - but FIRST - he has to do some personal work and not just ‘being mindful’ but apologizing and using the tons of resources available to him.

I honestly think this moment is a gift for Biden. It puts him in a position to do what so many of his peers and colleagues have not. Set an example: be accountable, be transparent and be proactive.

We can’t only get up in arms when it’s a Weinstein situation. These lesser talked about, often ignored violations and indignities are what help deepen a culture of silence around all sexual harassment and violence.

Bottom Line: it’s not that times are changing, it’s that the spotlight is finally on those who have been made to stand silently in the shadow of powerful men. It’s on them to step out of the way.