Abuse, photo by Kat Jayne

2 Lies that Enable Abuse in the Church

My mom knew that my dad was a pervert with a violent temper who never apologized for anything. She thought that if she submitted to him and was a good Christian wife, he would eventually become a good Christian man, repent of his sin, and love her. Her background included catholic, charismatic, and reformed doctrines, and there was a copy …

What To Expect When You Come Out As An Abuse Survivor

If you follow me on Twitter, you know I’ve been very vocal lately about my past experiences with child abuse and domestic violence. However, I originally came out about my victimization long before #MeToo or #TimesUp ever swept the internet. In fact, I came out during my early marriage, in 2006, when I publicly denounced my dad as a violent …

Trump Clinton

Here’s What It’s Like Witnessing Sex Abuse Scandals As A Child Abuse Survivor

As a child, it was weird watching the news and seeing the media abuzz with Bill Clinton’s sex scandals. I was probably about seven years old. I remember how my parents, staunch Republicans and conservative Christians, were disgusted by the parade of lurid accusations and shameless lies. “He’s an embarrassment,” they said. “He’s a sick pervert.” Even then, long before …

#MeToo vs. the Danger of Blaming White Men for Abuse

Yesterday and today an incredibly empowering yet harrowing hashtag has been trending on Twitter. #MeToo is being used by sexual abuse and harassment survivors to share their stories and highlight the magnitude of the abuse epidemic throughout the US and the world. It’s not only women posting either. A good number of male abuse survivors joined in the conversation, along …