People Are Fucking Insane

Taken from Bitch Magazine Winter 08 Issue No. 38:

From the "Things that make us stabby files"

IS RAPE EVEN A CRIME ANYMORE? That's the question many people are asking after a student at Washington, D.C.'s Howard University was denied treatment at various area hospitals after she claimed she was raped. The unnamed 19-year-old reportedly attended an off-campus party, where she was given a date-rape drug and subsequently anally raped. Whe she, accompanied by friends, went to the Howard University Hospital requesting teatment and a rape kit, she was sent home. Why? Because she "appeared intoxicated." The student came back the next day, and - though totally sober - was denied one again an examination and rape kit. D.C. police were summoned (D.C. requires hospitals to obtain a statement from police deeming sexual assault credible before issuing a rape kit) - again, no rape kit. Finally, the woman went to George Washington hospital. You know what happened, don't you? Yep: denied, denied, denied. THIS WHOLE DEBACLE STEMMED FROM ONE OBSERVATION: THAT THE WOMAN CLAIMING RAPE "APPEARED INTOXICATED." GUESS WHAT DATE-RAPE DRUGS DO? THEY INTOXICATE YOU. (All caps are mine, in the article, this passage was in bold.)

The woman in question is filing suit against George Washington University and it's hospital, as well as Howard University Hospital - as well she should. In the meantime, to the long list of things women shouldn't do if they want their claims of rape to be taken seriously - wear short skirts, high heels, or nice underwear; be a nonvirgin; be attractive and/or friendly; stay out late; have a drink; have the temerity to be someplace alone - we can now add, "appear intoxicated, even if the intoxication was utter inadvertent and , hello a crime in itself." Good to know! -Andi Zeisler

Seriously, have we stepped back into a world of moronic pre-feminist idiocy? Unbelievable. I hope she sues them and gets millions. If only. She'll probably be screwered. A hour's worth of compassion (from professionals who are required to be compassion as part of their job description) would have helped this woman and possibly caught a rapist. Now, her life is devastated, she has to beg for compassion, and will likely be left in the dirt of litigation. Like the title of the article says, it makes me want to stab someone!