> I stand firmly on the side of freedom of speech and judging people on their actions, not words. If anything, equating words with rape is what normalizes and t

> I stand firmly on the side of freedom of speech and judging people on their actions, not words. If anything, equating words with rape is what normalizes and trivializes rape! I think we're debating two different things: I don't think it should be illegal to brag about (real or imagined) assault, so we probably agree in that regard. However, words, especially from the powerful, affect how we perceive the actions of others, which is a big deal. If Trump approvingly says says that he can "grab 'em by the pussy," that's another voice making sexual assault sound like something people just do, and isn't a big deal. I don't really know what "locker room talk" even is, but when famous people happily tell stories of sexual assault, how could that not contribute to the idea that it isn't a grave offense?