Tell the House of Representatives to Protect Survivors from Weaponized Defamation Lawsuits

The petition to the U.S. House of Representatives reads:

I am your constituent, and I am asking you to support the Speak Your Truth Act, key legislation to protect survivors of sexual violence from perpetrators who use defamation lawsuits to silence them. 

Sexual violence is a health epidemic that takes a real toll on survivors' mental health, well-being and spirit. Yet, almost no survivor reports their perpetrators for abuse, and a major reason--especially if the abuser has money, fame, power, or influence--is the real fear of costly, retaliatory lawsuits for defamation. 

Defending a defamation suit can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many survivors stay silent rather than risk it. The Speak Your Truth Act puts the cost of a frivolous, failed defamation lawsuit where it belongs: on the person who filed it.

Please defend survivors and help disrupt the health and moral scourge that is sexual abuse.

Professor Victoria Burke, Esq., of Southwestern Law School, is our hero. After being drugged and sexually assaulted by a colleague, she was told not to come forward with her allegations, or she'd be slapped with a defamation lawsuit. 

You read that right. Right now, the law provides alleged abusers with tools to silence their accusers. But Burke refused to accept the status quo.

In response, Burke has worked to change the laws so that no survivor would be silenced for telling the truth. Already, Burke has changed the law in five states with bipartisan support. U.S. Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) has introduced Burke's Bill, the Speak Your Truth Act, at the federal level. 

Let's have Burke's and all survivors' backs by passing it! Sign this petition to let your House Representative know you want them to pass the Speak Your Truth Act.