Thread by @JeremyNoirVA

Considering they gave a reply saying this extends to anyone who's encountered being uncomfortable with men, I figured I'd say something as well

https://twitter.com/beffybadbelly/status/1369664358255652870

I've mentioned it before in a whole statement but I'm a survivor of sexual assault and harassment. All at the hands of men. And not even cishet men at that. So queer men, don't think you're excused from this. You're just as capable of being predatory as straight men.

TW // sexual assault, rape, sexual harassment

As I mentioned last year, I lost my virginity via being objectified & raped by the guy who was my boyfriend at the time. I was hesitant to be too intimate in relationships for a bit after that. And for good reason.

Then, in my first two semesters of college, I faced harassment on two occasions. Things didn't work out with a guy and I told him I didn't want to be involved with him. During rehearsal of the play we were in, he proceeded to grab my ass as he left.

I felt so violated. Being close to him in any capacity was hard and often nearly caused an anxiety attack. I'm pretty sure the biggest reason I got through our scenes in the play was purely cause I got to be angry & antagonistic towards him as a way of venting.

This second occasion I haven't talked about much but there was one guy who became obsessed with me & befriended one of my friends from theatre just to have chances to be around me & stare. He was stalking me plain and simple. Thank god I had two friends that told him to back off.

Despite noticing myself occasionally flinching or shrinking back from a touch, I'm much more comfortable now being intimate in dating and relationships and it's because they were good people and not like the assholes that traumatized me.