Thread by @LoriSaldanaSD

Not sure who needs to hear this, but:
On July 11 #SanDiego will host a #Pride march and
the theme is #Resiliency

Related: I've learned a person who harassed/threatened me in 2019- until a court issued a restraining order against him- will likely be part of this event.

1/x

It's "likely" because he's been hired by an LGBTQ advocacy organization

Their Exec Director was not aware he's had 3 restraining orders in the last 15 yrs: One for harassment, two for #domesticviolence

I often relive this abuse & harassment since it happened in my home

2/x

I had wanted to attend the march w/friends- But the more I thought of being in public, surrounded by others who have been traumatized in recent years, the less appealing it became.

As a survivor: It's hard feel safe or be "resilient" when an abuser is marching with me.

3/x

Related: In 2018 I discovered a fellow #AFT member had been horribly abused by her spouse. Also: the President of the local AFT sided with the abuser and ignored a court order to provide her with a safe working space, leading to a lawsuit that our union lost. The worst thing

4/x

The abuser was the attorney for our union & still represents other unions!
So our union was sued, an investigation took place, our legal fees/insurance escalated. All because our union president (a man) ignored a court order of protection for an abused woman. I feel tired.

5/x

Tired of being harassed, threatened, & abused
Tired that so many other women treated the same

Tired of hearing of abusers being hired by organizations that claim to stand up for "equality" & "diversity" & "human rights" & "equity."

Haven't they heard of background checks?

6/x

This reminds me: #DomesticAbuse wasn't "really" a crime until more women were elected and changed the laws. Likewise: "spousal rape" wasn't "real" rape

So perhaps employment law needs to change re:people who have had court orders filed re: #domesticviolence or harassment.

7/x

I proposed this to my teacher's union- which is mostly women- and the angry replies from a few men were telling. They don't want transparency about #ViolenceAgainstWomen
Fact: most women are killed by abusers they know- often at work.

So I thought: Can we protect students?
8/x

Example: in 2010 a young woman at San Diego City College was murdered by her husband. He came on campus, dragged her into a bathroom, and killed her as her parents waited in the parking lot near her class because he had previously tried to kill her- and the DA let him go.

9/x

It's hard to think of #Resiliency when so many women continue to be abused & killed by men they know, organizations still don't do #DomesticViolence background checks, and/or employers act like we shouldn't talk about it even though it's a matter of life and death for us

10/10

PS- For those who feel safe and attend this march: Enjoy, have fun, be safe, make great memories.

And if this information made you consider doing things differently at work or elsewhere, to support survivors of abuse- thanks for reading.