TWATS: We need more TWATS

TWATS: Trust, Witness, Accountability, Truth, Support

Our Alberta communities are struggling right now; with people, groups, organizers and bystanders each adding their own perspective... Needless to say things are somewhat tense.

Accusations, blaming, defensive retorts, advocacy and debate appear to be focused on a very important but touchy subject -> Consent, predators, and violations.  So many voices (I see this as a positive thing even when I do not completely agree with everything being said), so many emotions.

We simply need more TWATS in our communities, to facilitate positive change and community growth. 

TWATS

TRUST We need to  have leaders who we can trust to help us navigate these changes.  Trust that all reasonable measures are taken to help our community be healthy, trust that our truths will be heard without blaming and silencing.

WITNESS When a survivor shares their truth they are bearing witness to the abuse they survived-by their very existence they show that their experience is true.  Every victim of abuse needs you to stand up and bear witness to what you saw, what you heard, what you experienced. 

ACCOUNTABILITY Our community is in desperate need of accountability.  Abusers and perpetrators of assault need to be held accountable for their actions.  The more 'authority' the person's position in the community carries, the more tightly they need to be held accountable-not looser.  We each need to be accountable for our actions.

TRUTH  We need to learn the truth about rape and abuse.  We need to speak the truth about the very minute risk of false reports.  We need to hear the painful truth of the experiences had in our community without seeking to blame anyone other than the perpetrator, without reacting defensively.  We need TRUTH, not personal attacks, name calling, victim blaming, rape myths, buzz words and finger pointing.  We need people to share their truth.

SUPPORT We need to support victims and survivors of assault, violations, abuse and harassment by HEARING their truth, by BEARING WITNESS to their pain, by advocating for positive change, being willing to support the choice those victims make in HOW they choose to cope with their abuse.


Let's see more TWATS, shall we, in our leadership, in our individuals and in our day to day kinktastic lives.