As a nonprofit in Greater Grand Rapids, MI, that focuses on social issues, we want you to know that no one has the right to touch you without your consent. Period. We don’t care if you’ve consented in the past to have sex with an intimate partner. We don’t care if you’re naked in bed and change your mind at the last second. We don’t care if you’ve had what society considers “a lot” of sexual partners in the past.
“No” only has one meaning.
There is no reason or excuse that could ever justify sexually assaulting another human being. At Text Pledge, we stand with victims and do everything in our power to hold predators accountable.
Get the Facts
As a nonprofit organization that works to raise awareness, we know that sexual violence is more common than people want to think about. Below are some recent statistics from the .
1 in 2WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE INVOLVING PHYSICAL CONTACT DURING THEIR LIFETIMES
1 in 3MEN IN THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE INVOLVING PHYSICAL CONTACT DURING THEIR LIFETIMES
4 in 5FEMALE SURVIVORS WHO REPORTED THEY WERE FIRST SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BEFORE AGE 25
Please keep in mind that many incidents of sexual violence never get reported due to victims feeling shame, embarrasment, or fear of retaliation.
Dispelling Myths About Sexual Assault
It’s a misconception that most people are sexually assaulted by strangers. The truth is that people are more likely to be sexually assaulted by someone they know, such as a friend, acquaintance, family member, or partner.
Not only is this a betrayal of trust, but sexual assault can also affect a person’s long-term physical health if they contract a sexually transmitted disease or become pregnant. Survivors of sexual assault may also experience post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.
Resources for Survivors
If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assualt, please know that there are resources available to help you. After a sexual assault, it’s important that you get checked by a heath care provider for possible injuries and/or pregnancy. You may also require treatment for sexually transmitted infections. You’ll also need to learn about your legal options and rights.
The hotlines listed below will help direct you to the proper resources in your area.
Michigan Sexual Assault Hotline
- Call: 1-855-864-2374
- Chat: www.mcedsv.org/hotline/hotline-chat/
- Text: 1-866-238-1454
National Sexual Assault Hotline
- Call: 800-656-4673
- Chat: online.rainn.org
Teenage Pregnancy
Some teenage pregnancies may be the result of sexual assault, but this isn’t always the case. Nonetheless, we want to take this moment to talk about what can happen if you choose to have sex as a teenager.
According to the , teenage pregnancy is a major contributor to the high school dropout rate. Only about 50% of teenage mothers get their high school diploma by age 22. This is significantly lower than the 90% graduation rate for women who don’t give birth during their teenage years.
Abstinence is the only birth control method that gives you 100% protection against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. If you do plan on being intimate with a partner, it’s important that you practice safe sex by using condoms, birth control pills, or other types of contraceptives.
If you have questions about or sexual health, we recommend that you schedule an appointment with your primary care physician.
Pledge to Prevent Sexual Assault and Teen Pregnancy
Text Pledge is proud to serve as a nonprofit in Greater Grand Rapids, MI. To learn more about the causes we support, please check out our 10 pledges. If you have any questions, be sure to fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
