(Til) It Happened to Me | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

(Til) It Happened to Me

More people face sexual assault than we might realize

22
(Til) It Happened to Me

One of the A Capella groups at my university, The Midnight Ramblers, released a music video they created in which they perform "Til it happens to you" by Lady Gaga. This haunting, visceral ballad about the reality of sexual assault, which earned Gaga an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song at the 88th Academy Awards, came alive in a new way with this college cover, and the music video was equally powerful. In particular, seeing a man being sexually assaulted by a woman in this student-designed video was a refreshing step forward in the conversation about campus sexual assault.

With that said, there was an important component missing from this video that even Gaga would likely notice: queer erasure. In Gaga's music video, a trans person's sexual assault narrative is highlighted alongside the more universally-known cases of sexual assault on women from men. We, the audience, were forced to acknowledge that the layers of gender and sexuality can make sexual assault a multifaceted traumatic experience. I desperately wish that the Ramblers would have taken a page from Gaga's book and gone a similar route.

An article published in September of last year by The Atlantic discusses a recent survey done where they found roughly 75% of LGBTQ college students reported experiencing sexual harassment, and 9% report assault ending in rape (compared to 7% reported by all female college students). LGBTQ people are not the minority when it comes to sexual violence, but their stories are still largely absent from mainstream media.

On a personal note, I wanted to see reflected in this video the trauma that I experienced. I wanted to see one man hold down another man while he struggled to get free. I wanted to hear the assaulter say "I don't really need your permission" when he said he didn't want to have sex. I wanted to see him move through the next few weeks struggling to even comprehend what happened. It's bad enough to be ashamed of your sexuality, how do you begin to address the shame internalized from a sexual assault? I wanted to see that my story, and the stories of so many other queer college students, was acknowledged by those involved in this conversation.

I do not want this to be received as disparaging to the Ramblers or their music video. The fact that we can even make something as direct about sexual assault is a testament to how far we've come.

What I am trying to say is that there is still so far left to go. I am pleading, begging anyone who will listen: don't let the queer survivors of sexual assault go unheard. When you have an opportunity to make a statement about sexual assault, whatever that statement might be, please lift up the voices that never get lifted up. Not only does it help survivors like myself move forward with life, but it may also save people at risk for future sexual assaults.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

182297
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

9099
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

453810
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

24075
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments