I’m a rape survivor, I’m familiar with the sexual assault allegations against Joe Biden, I find them entirely credible, and I plan to vote for him. (Though he was not in my top five at the start of this.)

The two are not inconsistent in my mind because I don’t see the presidency as an award for righteousness or moral purity. I don’t see the vote as an endorsement of the candidate’s life. You don’t become president because you’re a ‘good person.’

Voting is simply a mechanical action that pushes for one person to become president instead of another. Biden will make better decisions than Donald Trump, so I’m voting for Biden.

Voting for Biden does not require dismissing the allegations against him. It does not require demonizing or discrediting the woman who made the allegations, and I hope my fellow Democrats take that to heart.

Similarly, for the few people on the left and the many on the right who want to use this as a lever to get people not to vote at all, they can all kiss my ass. You vote how you like. I’m not going to pretend I know everything that goes into your decision.

But shouting at people that voting for a possible abuser disrespects victims is high fucking bullshit that a thinking survivor spots from miles. We are fully aware of having been left out in the cold by mainstream society forever. It doesn't suddenly start with a vote in 2020.