The allegations of parliamentarians鈥� sexual misconduct becomes increasingly bizarre as each layer is peeled back, and one can be excused for wondering who will prove to be the real victim in this case.
The recent flood of accusations of sexual assault by celebrities is a reminder of how much work is needed to enable victims to be able to come forward and to ease the ordeal of testifying and being interrogated.
The saddest aspect of the sordid tale from Parliament Hill is that it jeopardizes the scant progress that has been made.
When Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau heard from two female New Democrat MPs that they were targets of sexual misconduct on the part of two Liberal MPs, he booted the men out of his caucus. In effect, he destroyed their political careers.
Apparently, that鈥檚 not what the complainants expected or wanted. It seems they wanted it handled quietly to guard against such conduct in the future.
Trudeau did not give the disgraced MPs the benefit of the doubt, and at least one of the cases oozes with doubt. The female MP involved has said publicly (although still anonymously) that she went willingly to the male MP鈥檚 room, had drinks with him and although she said neither yes nor no to his advances, provided a condom.
If that account is fact, it would not support any charge that would stand up in court. The two parties in the affair were of equal standing, no physical force is alleged, no protest was made at the time and the incident was not reported to the police.
That the woman suffered from morning-after regrets is understandable, but it appears the man involved will have the most to regret.
The questionable nature of the incident blunts legitimate outrage at sexual assault. Countless women have had their pain multiplied because they were not taken seriously when they reported being raped or otherwise forced into having sex.
Many more refuse to come forward because they fear their accusations will be casually dismissed. Many victims of sexual assault have remained silent because they were vulnerable because of personal or career circumstances.
Their cause is not aided by the way the Parliament Hill soap opera has played out.
Consider the alleged victims of fired CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi and comedian Bill Cosby.
Ghomeshi, say those who have come forward, engaged in violent sexual acts. He says those acts were consensual; the women say otherwise.
He was in a position of celebrity and power, and in at least some cases, could wield considerable power over his alleged victims鈥� careers.
About a dozen women have come forward to state publicly that they were sexually harassed or raped by Cosby, sometimes after being drugged.
Celebrities often attract unfounded accusations, but celebrity status can also intimidate victims into silence. Sometimes it takes one victim coming forward to give others the courage to speak out.
Ghomeshi now faces five criminal charges; his case is now before the courts, where it should be. No charges have resulted from the accusations against Cosby, but both men have already been tried in the court of public opinion, and they have suffered as a result. A charge of sexual assault, proven or otherwise, is usually a career-killer.
But so, too, does a sexual-assault complainant suffer. Even if justice is done, healing a wounded life is difficult. Sexual assault inflicts a wound like no other and the wound is often exacerbated by the necessary legal processes.
Yet sexual-assault victims must feel they can speak out, for themselves and for other victims.
And men so inclined must know without any doubt that sexual assault, in whatever form, is a serious crime, not a joking matter or a casual hobby.
