Chessy Prout’s call to other survivors of sexual assault was heard throughout the country Tuesday as people from all backgrounds took to social media to proclaim their rights.
“There’s no doubt when people in these situations come forward to share their story, survivors everywhere are impacted,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, public policy director for the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “I think the family is really poised to make a huge difference.”
The hashtag #IHaveTheRightTo was trending on Twitter after Prout’s interview on NBC’s Today show, where she embraced her identity while discussing the high-profile trial of her attacker, Owen Labrie. Throughout that trial, Prout’s face was shielded from the cameras and her voice muffled so that her identity would remain concealed.
But on Tuesday, the cloak of anonymity fell. Victims rights advocates and other survivors described a poised, articulate and courageous young woman, ready to share her story. And the bravery Prout showed, they say, could empower others to come forward, either publicly as survivors or to report a sexual assault for the first time.
Prout remarked during her Today interview about the support her family has provided her and noted that not all survivors are as lucky.
Grady Sexton echoed that sentiment after the interview aired Tuesday, noting that while young people are resilient, not all of them have the same level of support as Prout.
“We know that some survivors will never disclose the abuse they endured and that is such a personal, highly individualized choice that each survivor needs to make on their own,” Grady Sexton said. “It’s really important that we acknowledge the bravery of this young woman but also be clear that she is not more brave than a young woman who decided not to reveal her identity or reveal it in a public forum.”
Paula Wall of the Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire said it’s difficult to measure whether one survivor’s story has prompted another survivor to share his or her story. That said, she said more people are speaking out, and that could be due to a combination of factors, including the national news media coverage of the issue.
Prout teamed up with Angela Rose, founder of Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment, a national nonprofit organization that works to speak out against and prevent sexual violence. Rose, who was sexually assaulted at age 17, said she was inspired by Prout and her idea to use social media, including the unique hashtag and a new website, to encourage solidarity.
Rose said she worked on the initiative with Prout for less than a week before it launched.
“She really is my hero,” Rose said. “She’s bringing something positive to the internet where there’s so much cyberbullying.”
The campaign also gained the attention of New Hampshire politicians, including U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, who tweeted, “Incredibly proud of Chessy Prout for bravely sharing her story & letting sexual assault survivors know they are not alone.”
(Alyssa Dandrea can be reached at 369-3319, adandrea@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @_ADandrea.)