Latest news with #StrengthThroughStrides
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas Passes First-in-Nation Law Defining Sexual Consent To Protect Assault Victims
(The Center Square) – Several bills strengthening protections for sex crime victims and penalties for perpetrators nearly unanimously passed the legislature and are headed to the governor for his signature. HB 3073, filed by state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, amends the state penal code addressing sexual assault to explicitly define consensual sex. It was carried in the Senate by Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney. It passed the House earlier this month, passed the Senate this week with amended text, and passed the House nearly unanimously again on Friday with amended changes. It heads to the governor's desk. Once the governor signs it, Texas will be the first state in the U.S. to have an explicit legal definition of sexual consent. In addition to other provisions, stipulates that sexual assault occurs without the consent of the other person when 'the other person has not consented and the actor knows the other person is unconscious or physically unable to resist;' when the other person 'has not consented and the actor knows the other person is unaware that the sexual assault is occurring;' or 'is intoxicated or impaired by any substance to the extent that the other person is incapable of consenting.' The bill is named after activist Summer Willis, founder of Strength Through Strides. Willis ran 29 marathons in one year to meet and uplift sexual assault survivors. In February, she crawled the Austin half-marathon and state lawmakers joined her at the finish line. 'I crawled the Austin half marathon in February for a world record attempt to begin raising awareness about the bill, that's when it was named after me by the politicians who joined to cross the finish line with me,' she said. 'Our bill got voted out on the final day, in the final hour. I'm excited about our story of hope and fight for survivors.' Another bill heading to Abbott's desk is SB 835, filed by Paxton, the companion bill to HB 748, filed by state Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano. Known as Trey's Law, it amends state law to prevent perpetrators or institutions involved with child sexual abuse from creating and engaging the victim in nondisclosure agreements (NDA) as a part of a lawsuit settlement. It's named after Trey Carlock, who was sexually abused by a former camp counselor in Branson, Missouri, and later took his own life. Carlock 'experienced severe mental health problems after enduring years of sexual abuse and was coerced into signing an NDA, are further prohibited from speaking out about their abuse or discovery in a settled case,' the bill analysis states. The federal Speak Out Act of 2022 prohibits the use of NDAs for adult cases of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. Trey's Law ensures that child sex abuse survivors are no longer silenced by NDAs, Leach argues. Passage in Texas marks 'a major victory for victims and survivors of sexual abuse' and delivers 'a blow to their perpetrators hiding in the shadows,' Leach said. 'Texas it's taking a long overdue stand against the cover up of sexual abuse and the silencing of victims. For too long, powerful institutions have escaped public accountability' while survivors and their families were left to suffer in silence, he added. 'This law ends that practice and changes the public policy of the state forever. In doing so, we have sent a clear message: if you abuse a fellow Texan or if you harbor or assist an abuser at the expense of the victim, you will be held to account.' SB 1621, filed by state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, is also heading to Abbott's desk. It was filed to bring Texas' child pornography statutes up to date to address deepfake technology and artificial intelligence being used to create sexually explicit visual material of a person or a likeness of a person, including children, Huffman's bill analysis states. State Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo, carried the bill in the House. It passed unanimously in the House and Senate. It amends state penal code by creating a new offense for computer generated child pornography, including material containing a visual depiction of a computer-generated child engaging in sexual conduct. Offenses range between first- and third-degree felonies. Penalties for possessing child pornography carry a sentence of between 25 years and life in prison; penalties for promoting child pornography carry a minimum sentence of 15 years; penalties for promoting computer-generated child porn carry a minimum sentence of 10 years, all depending on a range of factors, according to the bill language.
Perth Now
01-05-2025
- Perth Now
Virginia Giuffre's family share final handwritten note she penned before suicide
Virginia Giuffre's family have released a handwritten note from the sexual abuse survivor which calls for 'mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers' to 'fight for the future of victims'. Giuffre, a prominent accuser of Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew, was found dead at her home in Neergabby in Western Australia on Friday. The family have confirmed she died by suicide. Prince Andrew has consistently denied any allegations against him. Guiffre's sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, opted to share the note after learning survivors and supporters of non-profit Strength Through Strides had met with Senators at the US Capitol. The family of Virginia Giuffre has released her final handwritten letter which was a call to arms for abuse survivors. Credit: AAP The meeting was related to Denim Day, an American protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual harassment, abuse, assault, and rape, according to Newsweek. Roberts shared a copy of the letter on Facebook, saying: 'Hello world. We found a handwritten note that our sister Virginia wrote. 'I think it's important that the survivors know that she's with you and her voice will not be silenced. 'I know that it's so important, and her wish is that we continue to fight.' The handwritten note says: 'We are not going to go away. 'Mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers need to show the battlelines are drawn and we stand together to fight for the future of victims. 'Is protesting the answer? I don't know, but we've got to start somewhere.' Giuffre was one of the earliest and loudest voices calling for criminal charges against Epstein and his enablers. Other Epstein abuse survivors later credited her with giving them the courage to speak out. She provided critical information to law enforcement that contributed to the investigation and conviction of Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as other investigations by the US attorney for the Southern District of New York. Virginia Giuffre was a prominent accuser of Prince Andrew - who denies the allegations - and help to convict Jeffrey Epstein accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. Credit: Seven 'It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia,' her family told NBC News on Friday. 'She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking. 'Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors. 'In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight.' Raised primarily in Florida, Giuffre had a troubled childhood. She said she was abused by a family friend, triggering a downward spiral that led to her living on the streets for a time as a teenager. She was attempting to rebuild her life when she met Maxwell, Epstein's close confidante. Maxwell groomed her to be sexually abused by Epstein, and that abuse continued from 1999 to 2002, according to Giuffre. Giuffre also alleged that Epstein trafficked her to his powerful friends, including Prince Andrew and French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel. Epstein, a wealthy financier, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while he was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Maxwell, a former British socialite, was found guilty on five counts of sex trafficking in 2021 for her role in recruiting young girls to be abused by Epstein. Giuffre filed a federal lawsuit against Andrew in 2021, alleging that he sexually abused her when she was 17. Andrew, who stepped back from his duties as an active royal as controversy related to Epstein swirled around him, agreed to settle the case for an undisclosed amount in 2022. He has denied having sex with her. Brunel, who headed several modelling agencies, was charged with sexual harassment and the rape of at least one minor in December 2020. He denied wrongdoing and died by suicide in his jail cell in February 2022. — With AAP If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust. If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit In an emergency, call 000. Advice and counselling for men concerned about their use of family violence: Men's Referral Service, 1300 766 491.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Virginia Giuffre's Family Shares Old Note Found After Death by Suicide
Originally appeared on E! Online Content warning: This story discusses suicide and sexual abuse. More details of Virginia Giuffre's fight are coming to light. Four days after news that the 41-year-old—who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse and of trafficking her to King Charles III's younger brother Prince Andrew for sex when she was 17—had died by suicide, her family shared an old note from Giuffre that they found 'while spending time with family and celebrating our sister.' 'We were going through journal entries that Virginia had written over the years,' Giuffre's sister-in-law Amanda Roberts, along with her brother Danny Wilson, wrote in an April 29 Facebook post, 'and stumbled upon this quote and thought it was a beautiful moment to share with you all.' Included in the post was a handwritten note by Giuffre from sometime before her death that read, 'Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, and Brothers need to show the battle lines are drawn, and stand together to fight for the future of victims. Is protesting the answer? I dont know. But we've got to start somewhere." More from E! Online Malia Obama and Sasha Obama Make Rare Appearance Together in Party Photo The Masked Singer: Oscar Winner Revealed in Shocking Twist Michelle Obama Says Keeping Malia Obama and Sasha Obama's Smoking Out of Tabloids Was 'Nightmare' The family also shared words of encouragement to people who have connected with Giuffre's story, including the activist group Strength Through Strides who marched April 29 in Washington, D.C., in Giuffre's honor. (A spokesperson for Giuffre told People April 30 that the march's organizers did not know Giuffre and that the event was planned before her death.) 'Survivors should know that she's with you and her voice will not be silenced,' her siblings continued in their Facebook post. 'I know that it's so important, and her wish is that we continue to fight. To all survivors and those protesting. We stand with you in solidarity and know the fight is not over!' Since news of Giuffre's passing on April 25, her dad Sky Roberts has cast doubt on his daughter's cause of death being suicide and has called on authorities to investigate the matter more deeply, he told TMZ. Meanwhile, Prince Andrew—who has denied any wrongdoing and reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022 in response to a sexual abuse lawsuit she filed against him—was seen outside of his home in Windsor on April 27. Epstein died in 2019 by apparent suicide while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges. If you or someone you know needs help, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit for additional resources.
7NEWS
01-05-2025
- 7NEWS
Virginia Giuffre's family share handwritten letter the Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivor wrote before her suicide, aged 41
Virginia Giuffre's family have released a handwritten note from the sexual abuse survivor which calls for 'mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers' to 'fight for the future of victims'. Giuffre, a prominent accuser of Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew, was found dead at her home in Neergabby in Western Australia on Friday. The family have confirmed she died by suicide. Prince Andrew has consistently denied any allegations against him. Guiffre's sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, opted to share the note after learning survivors and supporters of non-profit Strength Through Strides had met with Senators at the US Capitol. The meeting was related to Denim Day, an American protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual harassment, abuse, assault, and rape, according to Newsweek. Roberts shared a copy of the letter on Facebook, saying: 'Hello world. We found a handwritten note that our sister Virginia wrote. 'I think it's important that the survivors know that she's with you and her voice will not be silenced. 'I know that it's so important, and her wish is that we continue to fight.' The handwritten note says: 'We are not going to go away. 'Mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers need to show the battlelines are drawn and we stand together to fight for the future of victims. 'Is protesting the answer? I don't know, but we've got to start somewhere.' Giuffre was one of the earliest and loudest voices calling for criminal charges against Epstein and his enablers. Other Epstein abuse survivors later credited her with giving them the courage to speak out. She provided critical information to law enforcement that contributed to the investigation and conviction of Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as other investigations by the US attorney for the Southern District of New York. 'It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia,' her family told NBC News on Friday. 'She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking. 'Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors. 'In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight.' Raised primarily in Florida, Giuffre had a troubled childhood. She said she was abused by a family friend, triggering a downward spiral that led to her living on the streets for a time as a teenager. She was attempting to rebuild her life when she met Maxwell, Epstein's close confidante. Maxwell groomed her to be sexually abused by Epstein, and that abuse continued from 1999 to 2002, according to Giuffre. Giuffre also alleged that Epstein trafficked her to his powerful friends, including Prince Andrew and French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel. Epstein, a wealthy financier, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while he was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Maxwell, a former British socialite, was found guilty on five counts of sex trafficking in 2021 for her role in recruiting young girls to be abused by Epstein. Giuffre filed a federal lawsuit against Andrew in 2021, alleging that he sexually abused her when she was 17. Andrew, who stepped back from his duties as an active royal as controversy related to Epstein swirled around him, agreed to settle the case for an undisclosed amount in 2022. He has denied having sex with her. Brunel, who headed several modelling agencies, was charged with sexual harassment and the rape of at least one minor in December 2020. He denied wrongdoing and died by suicide in his jail cell in February 2022. — With AAP If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust. In an emergency, call 000.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Virginia Giuffre left handwritten note to abuse survivors before suicide
Virginia Giuffre penned an inspiring message to survivors of abuse before her death by suicide, empowering them to fight for themselves and to fight for change. 'Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, and Brothers need to show the battle lines are drawn, and stand together to fight for the future of victims,' it reads. 'Is protesting the answer? I don't know. But we've got to start somewhere.' Giuffre's sister-in-law Amanda Roberts shared a portion of the handwritten note to Facebook, saying the family discovered it while going through journals left behind at Giuffre's Australian farmhouse. They decided to share the passage after learning that supporters and survivors through the nonprofit Strength Through Strides had met with senators at the U.S. Capitol and held a march in Giuffre's honor, People reported. 'Survivors should know that she's with you and her voice will not be silenced,' Roberts said. 'I know that it's so important, and her wish is that we continue to fight.' Giuffre, who accused Britain's Prince Andrew and U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein of sexually exploiting her as a teenager, was found dead in her home near Perth on Friday. 'She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking,' her family said in a statement, going on to describe her as 'a 'fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking.' They also praised Giuffre's 'incredible courage' for being one of the first to speak out against Epstein and his chief assistant Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein was arrested on July 6, 2019, on federal charges for the sex trafficking of minors in Florida and New York. He died by suicide in Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Center in August 2019. Maxwell, meanwhile, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for a 2021 child sex-trafficking conviction related to Epstein. Prince Andrew has strongly denied having any sort of relationship with Giuffre while she was underaged. He privately settled a lawsuit with her in 2022.
