Mr. Trump,

I was watching on Tuesday night when the video of you bragging about forcing yourself onto women and "grabbing them by their pussies" was brought up during the second presidential debate. I was watching when you defined your actions as "locker room talk." Mr. Trump, that is not "locker room talk" that is sexual assault, as many have pointed out to you and I am sure that you do not want to hear it from me.

Mr. Trump, are you aware that millions of Americans are victims of sexual assault, both men and women? That is a huge problem in our country and something that you, as the republican candidate for president, should be very concerned about. That scares me, Mr. Trump, that if you are elected as president sexual assault may not be taken as seriously in this country.

The first question of the second debate came from a teacher who was concerned about America's youth watching past and future debates for educational purposes. During the first republican debate, you felt the need to talk about the size of you penis rather than focusing on actual issues that this great country faces. You may be unaware of the "Trump Effect" that is happening in schools all across America. Bullying has gone up because you are getting so much attention for scrutinizing, humiliating, belittling, and flat out bullying mature adults, Mexicans, Muslims, people of the LGBTQ community, women, people of color and the list goes on. Children think that it is okay to call other children names, as you do; they think it is ok to discriminate amongst their classmates based on the color of their skin or their religious beliefs, as you do; they think it is ok to disrespect people because of their gender or sexual orientation, as you do. What is next, Mr. Trump? Could there be a "Trump Effect" on college campuses where the rates of sexual assault goes up even higher than it is already at? Could thousands of young men and women that want to further their education and make a positive impact in their world have their safety threatened even more?

Mr. Trump, I have dated athletes and I have been told "what happens in the locker room, stays in the locker room." Being the naive person that I am, I always thought that it was said because the men in those locker rooms wanted there to be a band of trust within their team and that they talked about girls that they liked, trash talked their coaches, the other team, etc. Now I am worried that their conversations were entirely sexual, I am worried that untrue statements were made about me, I am worried that whoever was in that locker room now only views me as a sexual object-- not as a human being. Luckily for me, I was comforted with the idea that things like what you said in that video would not have been tolerated in any locker room: from the high school, college to the professional level. Once again, reminding me that it was not "locker room talk" that it was, in fact, sexual assault.

Mr. Trump, unfortunately, I have been sexually assaulted and many people that I love and respect have been as well. Sexual assault and sex trafficking are a huge (pardon me, *yuuuge) problem in this country. Were you aware that human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery? Mr. Trump, I am sure that you are probably aware that some women have come out that you have assaulted, and I understand the feelings of vulnerability, anxiety, helplessness, and many others during and after your actions and the actions of men like you that think that it is okay to objectify a HUMAN BEING.

This country is not "great" when we are taking away others rights when someone is forcing someone else to do something that they do not want to do, this country is not "great" when we are divided, this country is not "great" when people are afraid, this country is not "great" when we are bullying one another. So my final question to you is, how do you plan on making America great again when you are unable to lead by example in a positive way?

If you are ever a victim of sexual assault please call the National Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with someone over the phone that could help.

Also, those in Wood Country, the SAAFE center is available 24/7 and they could be reached at (419) 352-1545.

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." ~ Plato.