Six or seven years ago I came forward with a horrific story of abuse, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I laid out my story for you, the RCMP, the Police, and anyone who would listen.
In return there was a handful of men who said:
- She’s a rat
- She’s crazy
- She made it up
Some of these men are gangsters, some of them cult members, and some of them are members of the community who either raped me or helped cover up the rapes so they could continue. Leading to the only possible conclusion: Protecting rapists and pedophiles, makes you a rapist and a pedophile.
Through it all I have kept saying the same thing: I was raped, abused, traumatized, kidnapped, and hurt, by grown-ass men who thought the truth would never come out because they counted on my silence to protect them.
When I didn’t, suddenly I was the bad guy, but the truth is – the only truth I might add – is that if they had kept their hands and body parts to themselves, there would have been no reason for me to come forward, regardless of what these men think of me today.
You, my beautiful readers, friends, allies, supporters, and loved ones, stayed with me through this whole journey and as we’re about to close up another year of Loud Mouth Brown Girl dot com, I just want to say thank you.
I am so proud of the work I have put into the world, of the books I have written and the friends who have contributed to my work. I am so grateful to all you beautiful amazing readers who read my work, who share my work, and who decide to buy my books and clothing.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
I know that I owe you an essay on my friends who died recently, but please understand that when friends leave us, they leave behind the rawest of emotions, and I am just not ready to explore those yet. What I will say, however, is that I wouldn’t be here without Meg, Andrew, Tinu, and you.
You give me a home to keep coming back to, an anchor to call my own. I know I write on Medium.com a lot, but I also know that my friends and readers are around the world using all kinds of platforms. Eventually, they all find their way here, where they get to see my story and the parts of me I don’t show the rest of the world.
I am so grateful for you. Thank you for reading, loving me, protecting me, keeping my secrets, and being here. Thank you for existing.
Sending all my love,
Devon J Hall, The Loud Mouth Brown Girl
Loud Mouth Brown Girl 