If true, his conduct is horrible, disgusting and inexcusable in itself, and is also incredibly dangerous. As a celebrity, Sheen serves as a role model and thus runs the risk of teaching other boys and men that its okay to beat their partners.

But, in the airport today, I heard something that challenged this in a small but powerful way. Two burly men were sitting behind me reading the paper and one said “Charlie Sheen is a wife-beater – fucking asshole.” And the other responded, “Yeh, I would never hit any woman I’m with.”

We need more men denouncing domestic assaulters and professing themselves committed to ending sexual and domestic violence. Props to all men who know that strength is not for hurting.

]]> http://www.revivingliberalism.com/action-left/denouncing-charlie-sheen/2009/12/feed/ 0 http://www.revivingliberalism.com/action-left/men-must-speak-out-against-rape/2009/10/ http://www.revivingliberalism.com/action-left/men-must-speak-out-against-rape/2009/10/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:41:27 +0000 Jordan http://www.revivingliberalism.com/action-left/?p=1542 Roman Polanski drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl, fled the country and has been living free as an acclaimed film director for over 30 years.

I don’t really know what to say about Roman Polanski. Well, okay yes I do. He’s a scum-sucking rapist who has managed to evade justice for 30 years. What I don’t know is how on earth so many people could be defending him after all of this.

There are some wonderful posts by people who can express their outrage and share their experiences with sexual assault much more eloquently than I…check some of them out on Tari Rocks! and Feministe.

But one thing I can speak about is the need for men to speak out against rape. As many of you know, I’m Transgender, meaning that, in my case, i was born female but for most of my life felt more like a man, and I am now transitioning to living as a man. One of the most difficult parts about my transition is the fact that we live in a horribly sexist culture and some men commit incredible crimes against women.

Doesn’t it make you sick to your stomach to know this man drugged and raped a child? That is not what being a man is about! This is precisely why men must speak out against rape. In addition to needing to unite with women against sexual assault, we also need to provide other boys and men with positive role models. And a big part of being a role model is speaking out against injustice.

Governments and celebrities protecting rapists because they are famous is clearly an injustice, which is why I’m grateful for role models like Jay Smooth and Dwight Furrow who call it out while so many others were silent or, even worse, defended him.

For Jay Smooth’s vlog post calling out Polanski’s celebrity defenders, check out Ill Doctrine

For Dwight Furrow’s post tearing apart media and governmental defense of Polanski, visit Philosophy on the Mesa

To take action against sexual assault, visit RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network).