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Tolson 4 TEARS Testifies 2 State Senate

by Lynn Tolson on February 22, 2010

in Activism,Advocacy,Justice

On February 10, 2010, I (Lynn C. Tolson) gave personal testimony to Colorado State Senators. The testimony pertained to a bill clarifying the requirement that certain persons report child abuse and neglect.

The support for the bill included Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Abuse (CCASA), including RAAP, COVA, NASW-CO Chapter, WINGS, Project PAVE, and RAINN (me- speaker’s bureau). I was the only personal testimony, providing a voice for the words referring to victims, such as “client” “they” “him” “her” and a live body behind the statistics.

I’d been silenced (hypnotized) while abused, so it took me 30 years (after the most heinous experience of incest) to tell my truth. One of my perpetrators committed suicide. Another would never consider paying for my therapy, medical expenses, and lost wages,  and there is a statute of limitations on filing charges. So, speaking out  is my vindication, my justice, and a representation of others in similar situations who had to wait to tell, for whatever reason, such as fear of retaliation. I’m doing exactly what they told me not to do: telling!

Do you need justice? Can you thrive without it? I think so. I am. But to get justice in a way that empowers your self and others feels powerfully good! What would be justice for you?

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Tagged as: Activism, Justice, testify, Tolson

Article by Lynn Tolson

For nearly twenty years, I engaged in careers in retail, real estate and property management. Every working day left me feeling unfulfilled, as if I was living a false life. My real life began not by changing jobs, but by putting pen to paper in journal writing sessions. Themes emerged regarding the impact of my sexual abuse, drug addiction, and suicide attempts. By using the journal to write about the problems and solutions discussed in my counseling sessions, a story of transformation evolved. My desire to share a message of healing from trauma became too strong to ignore; the book (Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor's Story) became a mission. I left the corporate environment to write my story about personal yet universal emotional issues. Although journal writing was a cathartic experience, the book was written with the courage to face my fears, with compassion for myself and others, and a conviction to tell the truth.

Lynn has written 27 awesome articles.

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  • http://ladyjztalkzone.com LadyJtalks

    Justice 50 years down the line wouldn’t mean anything to me, Validation of just some of it from my family would be ok. I’m sure when it’s all safe for them to validate they might yet at my age, even that would never make up for all the years of their denial. It just wouldn’t and it has nothing to do with not being able to forgive and all that stuff some professionals say. It has to do with them “once again” thinking that they have some control over the situation. Nothing they could ever do would change the facts as they are. They and what they think, does not matter to me any more. I for one do think that this statue of limitations should be lifted in many cases. I know that you know exactly what it feels like to not be able to speak out until you find your voice. My family thought when I found mine that I shouldn’t try to ruin the lives of others for any mistakes they made when they were younger, which was farthest from what I was doing. My story was not about them, it was about me, how I survived and how I could help other person know that they were not crasy and not alone.

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