Until Deval Patrick got into the 2020 presidential race, there had been almost no attention paid to #MeToo issues in the 2020 presidential race. It hasn’t come up in any of the debates and none of the Democratic (or Republican) candidates has a plan to reduce and prevent sexual violence. Only
Bernie Sanders
But within hours of former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick announcing his candidacy for president, we saw a flurry of #MeToo-related stories. All focused on Patrick’s decision as governor
to fire two members of the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board
Patrick’s brother-in-law, Bernard Sigh, has twice been tried and convicted of raping Patrick’s sister. The second conviction
took place this past summer
The two officials Patrick fired tried to overturn a decision that found that Sigh didn’t have to register as a sex offender because he had been convicted in California of “spousal rape.” The officials
implemented staff training
Thanks to #MeToo, the public is much more aware of the ways in which perpetrators are protected, survivors are punished, and truth-tellers are
retaliated against
The wall of power and protection that many offenders can rely upon perpetuates cycles of violence. Patrick, who was a tremendous advocate for
LGBTQ equality
How will candidates restore the Title IX protections once afforded to people of all genders? The 1972 law prohibits sex-based discrimination at schools that receive federal funding. But changes to the law proposed by the Trump administration would effectively eliminate its effectiveness by requiring proof that schools have been “deliberately indifferent” to the law.
What do candidates think about the Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (BE HEARD) in the Workplace Act? Filed by Massachusetts Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley and Katherine Clark, the measure would
enact sweeping workplace protections
Will candidates invest political capital in moving Congress to reauthorize and expand the Violence Against Women Act? The landmark 1994 law has been instrumental to improving law enforcement’s response to sexual assault and ensuring survivors receive the services they need to heal. The law is up for reauthorization this year. The
House has passed
How are candidates planning to address rampant sexual harassment and assault in the military? Over the last 15-plus years, the military has made
significant progress
Last, what do the candidates think of political leaders who use their power to retaliate against government employees seeking to improve the systems by which perpetrators are held accountable?
Gina Scaramella is the executive director of the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center.