Gabrielle Union holds herself up so poignantly. She carries herself with grace and strength. I never knew she was a sexual trauma survivor. Not sure of the timeframe. I remember watching a tv show that was doing her “life story” or something and it was mentioned that she was a survivor of a sexual trauma.
When she was 19 years old she worked at a retail store. It was closing time and a man was in the store. He pulled a gun and robbed the store. He ended up forcing her to the back of the store and raping her. She said the following quote that still resonates with me to this day.
“When I was 19, laying on the floor after being raped on the floor of a Payless shoe store at gunpoint, I decided never again,” Union said. “I decided I was going to use my celebrity, my platform … to talk about the horrors of sexual violence and what it does to your soul and to your psyche and to your sanity and to your family and to your relationships.”
I respect Gabrielle so much for making that decision to be the voice for others. She is one of my heroes. She speaks openly about her sexual trauma but she does not let it define her. She still carries her head high. Handles herself with grace.
The way that she can still live her lives has been a great example for me. My traumas are a part of my life but they do not define me. They do not dictate how I live my life. I appreciate Gabrielle coming forward to give a voice to a silent epidemic. Thanks Gabrielle for inspiring others to speak up
Take Care Much Love
