It’s December 18, 2017. Time Magazine just published their “Person of the Year” article, and the sexual harassment stories of multiple strong women come to light (though men and gender nonconforming people deal with sexual harassment with strength as well). The article truly exudes beauty through photographs and stories of unity.

It helps give sexual harassment the attention it needs and holds perpetrators accountable; it discusses the threats involved and the intricacies of barriers that minorities and women of lower socioeconomic status face. Could anything be more beautiful, necessary, empowering? We have one problem, though: one of the strongest celebrities I know, Kesha, doesn’t make the list. I’m deeply disappointed and utterly confused.

It’s October 14, 2014. Kesha just filed a lawsuit against her producer, Dr. Luke, on account of problems such as gender-based violence and emotional distress. He had threatened her career, called her “a fat f*cking refrigerator,” and abused her nonstop. He then proceeded to file a lawsuit for defamation. Both parties received some sort of gain, but in June 2015, Dr. Luke essentially won.

I realize that these events did not occur in 2017, explaining one reason why Kesha may not have been featured. But here’s the kicker: August 11, 2017, Kesha’s album Rainbow released. The songs could not portray her strength better. She sings songs like “Woman,” in which she shows her confidence and feelings of proudness surrounding her womanhood, despite Dr. Luke’s gender-based violence.

She sings songs like “Praying,” in which she depicts her inexplicable strength by telling how she prays for her perpetrator. These songs represent only a couple of the stories and insight she shares throughout her album. It’s incredible. Kesha humbly shows us her courage, strength, ability to forgive, and resilience.

She shares openly about the abuse she dealt with for years, despite the fact that her perpetrator is still out there somewhere. She writes songs of empowerment and light that can apply to any tough situation. She gives us hope.

On a more personal note, these songs came out at a time when I was dealing with my own similar issues. I remember walking to the office of one of the Gender Violence Services Coordinators, listening to “Praying,” nearly in tears.

When I needed something to help me feel, when I needed to try to understand, when I wanted to know I was not alone, and when I needed empowerment when someone stole all of mine, you gave it to me, Kesha. For that, I am eternally grateful.

All of the women -- the actors, the hospital workers, the former dishwashers, the singer-songwriters, et cetera -- in Time’s 2017 “Person of the Year” article are my people of the year too. But Kesha, so are you. You are, and always have been, the Person of Multiple Years. Thank you.