Thread by @MuellerSheWrote

THREAD: Content Warning: abortion, Texas, rape, and the military.

As someone with PTSD, sometimes it can take time for me to put words to emotions.

I believe I have the words now.

1/

As most of you know, I was raped while on active duty in 1995. That rape resulted in a pregnancy, which resulted in an abortion. Then AND now, we did not usually report our assaults because we are required to report to the chain of command 2/

The chain of command does not want assaults on their record. The chain of command includes your rapist. The chain of command is Chad from Florida who has no training in advocacy or law. The chain of command often retaliates against you for reporting. 3/

Currently, @SenGillibrand and @SenJoniErnst are trying to get a law passed that allows us to report OUTSIDE the chain of command. Despite having overwhelming bipartisan support in the senate, @SenJackReed blocked it and @SenSchumer didn’t bring it to the floor for a vote 4/

Instead, it’s being put through the long NDAA process. There are approximately 30K active duty women in Texas, who do not have a safe place to report rape, and can now be bounty hunted in Texas by anyone including their rapist if the rape results in a pregnancy. 5/

I realize this is only one small group of women impacted by this, but this is the group I am in and where my rage is born. But I rage for ALL of you today, and I’m asking @SenSchumer to bring the MIJA to the floor to give active duty assault survivors a safe place to report. END

UPDATE:

https://twitter.com/scotusblog/status/1433281871555833859