Thread by @MuellerSheWrote

THREAD: Despite the overwhelming support for telling my story, I want to address some of the pushback I've received from Republicans on this site. First, "This is pure propaganda. Florida has exceptions for rape. You support killing babies so much you’re willing to lie to unsuspecting people about it." 1/

Let me address the "Florida has an exception for rape" point first. Florida does have an exception for rape if you provide a "police report, restraining order, medical record, or other court order." That requires the service member to report their rape. Let me tell you what happened when I tried to report my rape. 2/

I was wrapped in a blanket and bleeding because my rapist's friends had stolen my clothes. It was still dark, around 0400. I snuck out and went to the on-base law enforcement office to report the rape. I was seated in an interrogation room under one of those fluorescent lamps at a metal desk, where I waited for about 30 minutes. 3/

The first man who came in sat across from me and started asking me questions: what was I wearing? Had I been drinking? Was I flirting? Did I have a boyfriend or a husband? That man left and a while later, a different man came in and began listing the perils of filing a false report. 4/

He said I could be dishonorably discharged, or even court martialed for adultery because my rapist was married. He said I could lose my rate and rank, or even my benefits, and possibly have a permanent hit on my record for life. 5/

So he said "Why don't we just chalk this up to what it really is - a series of bad decisions on your part." So no, I did not file a report. Pentagon statistics show 71% of women do not report their rape. 6/

Today, I would not be able to get a rape exception in Florida. Not to mention the doctors that would be less likely to help me even IF I had a police report for fear of running afoul of the law. 7/

Next issue - what about service members stationed - through no choice of their own - in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, or Texas - where there are no exceptions for rape? 8/

Next issue - someone replied "Trump will give the power to the states to have a vote on that issue!!" Let me remind you that many service members don't vote in the states they're stationed in. The Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act (SCRA) allows military members to maintain their legal residence in the state they consider home. 9/

Finally, someone replied: "She says that Trump and Republican in congress would repeal it. Where is her proof on that? I haven't even heard them mention anything of the sort." I guess this person forgot that Senator Tuberville blocked military promotions in an attempt to repeal this travel policy. 10/

So my dear republicans, I hope I've answered your questions. #VoteBlueDownBallot #HarrisWalz END/