Once again, men in Washington think they are more knowledgeable about the realities of rape than the victims who survive the crime. In the continuation to oppress women and promote rape culture by blaming the victim, 164 people, 93% of them men, are supporting H.R.7, a bill that would require the IRS to audit rape victims to determine if their rape is “legitimate.” The Senate has 24 members, one a woman, who have signed onto an identical piece of legislation in that body, S.946.

Federal law, through the Hyde amendment, restricts federal funding of abortions. This new legislation is redundant and a waste of time and money, without even beginning to discuss the negative ethical implications it provides for. This forces legal discrimination of a class of people because they are victims of a crime. It intimidates women into not reporting a crime for fear of public criticism. It forces victims to re-live their experiences through invasive interviews with unqualified individuals, who are then entitled to pass judgement on their truthfulness.

What is the inspiration behind this? Consider the magnitude of states who have introduced bills that have limited or restricted access to abortion services. In Iowa, you need the signature of the governor of the state to get the legal procedure provided. In Texas, you may have to drive more than 400 miles, twice, before you can get to the remaining clinics for the procedure. In North Dakota, 6 weeks is the cut for when you can have an abortion in the one clinic remaining in the state.

When I was raped over 35 years ago, no one talked about it. The police investigator asked what I was wearing, but not for a description of my assailant. I thought our society could advance if this crime became understood, so I allowed my name to be published. Instead, I was discriminated and punished by the community I lived in. This law allows us to go further back in time than that – and not only legalizes, but perpetuates – rape culture within our communities and even our tax inspectors.

Enough is enough. Even women in Washington are fighting back, staging protests in the halls outside of the committee hearing room. We need your help to put a stop to this nonsense. Tell your friends to join us in a campaign to tell every politician signing this outrageous legislation that they are on notice. We will give you ideas for messages you can send, just visit our FB page.

The War on Women will be met with a War For Women!

Rape Culture allows stories like these to exist: Steubenville, Maryville, Saratoga.