Mira Sorvino has opened up about being date raped during a press conference in New York State where she’s lobbying alongside Governor Andrew Cuomo for stronger sexual assault laws.
“Not only was I a sexual harassment and battery victim at the hands of Mr Weinstein,” Mira explains, “but I’m also a sexual assault victim and I’m also a survivor of date rape. I have never said that in public.”
Mira understandably begins to tear up as she continues:
“I don’t want to go into detail but I have never said that last part in public because it is impossible to share these sorts of things and I am doing it to try and help. Because there are all these survivors out there right now who need justice, who need to feel that they can take the time that they need to sort through the trauma to sort through the shame. “
The actress and #MeToo campaigner wants to see the statute of limitations either abolished or at the very least extended for 2nd and 3rd degree rape cases.
Right now, what this means is that if a person who was incapable of giving consent has been raped (2nd degree) or gave no consent at all (3rd degree), he or she has up to five years to bring criminal charges against the attacker.
Mira bravely continues to explain how like many other survivors, she felt ashamed and blamed herself when it happened:
“In situations of 2nd degree rape which is what mine would constitute, you feel shame. You feel like somehow it was your fault. You should’ve protected yourself better. You should’ve not taken that drink, who knows what was in it.”
Others advocating alongside Mira also want to see sexual harassment laws tweaked to make it easier for victims to prove their claims.
Watch her full speech below:
