Transitioning Times

Revenge porn is a term used to describe sexually explicit media that is published online for the general consumption of the public.  This content is distributed without the consent of the individual pictured in the image or video.   The use of the term “revenge porn” stems from the fact that, in many cases, this sexually explicit content is posted by ex-lovers as a way to shame, humiliate, or otherwise harm the victim. In February 2015, Kevin Bollaert was convicted in the state of California for identity theft and extortion, crimes committed for the purpose of operating a revenge porn website.  Bollaert would accept nude or otherwise sexually explicit images/videos from jilted exes, post the images on his website, and then demand that the victims pay him to remove the content from the site.  Bollaert’s conviction followed shortly after Noe Ineguez’s conviction in December for posting a topless photo of his ex-girlfriend on Facebook, calling her a slut, and...

Local news outlet, Newswatch 16, covered the phenomenon of revenge porn , that we recently posted about. We appreciate their coverage of an important topic, and their respect for victims' privacy by not sharing the names of any websites.  PCADV's Ellen Kramer put it best when she said the practice is used solely to smear and intimidate women.  We hope that increased coverage and awareness of this type of behavior, specifically revenge porn and forwarding sexts to bully others, makes people more cautious of both taking and sharing these types of pictures. 

We are living in a fast moving, digital world.   Currently, there is a form of abuse or harassment being conducted on the internet called revenge porn.   Last week, there was an article in the New York Times asking for states to criminalize this behavior.   Prior to that, CNN ran a news story this summer, asking for the same. “Revenge porn” is a term given to explicit or pornographic photographs or videos that were sent to significant others when the two parties were involved in a consensual relationship, but are then distributed or posted online after they break up.   We have seen this type of behavior in juvenile sexting cases and have seen legislation passed criminalizing this behavior for children, but not for adults.   Victims and advocates (including Transitions) are calling for this behavior to be criminalized. Currently, victims can sue the perpetrators of this type of behavior with a civil suit, but beyond that, their behavior often...