I want media outlets to stop using the phrase ‘sex allegations’ when they mean ‘rape allegations.’ I want them to stop using the phrase ‘priest sex scandal’ and instead use ‘child rape scandal.’ These headlines minimize and mislead and they are CONTRIBUTING TO RAPE CULTURE.

Consider this headline from The Star:

CBC fires Jian Ghomeshi over sex allegations

This sounds like they think he cheated on his wife, or visited a sex worker, or engaged in some sort of kinky but still perfectly acceptable sexual behavior. Nope! They think he raped people. Because that’s what multiple women, unrelated to one another, have come forward and said that he did.

When you write headlines like this about accused rapists, you make rape sound like something that is sort of titillating and fun. Something uptight people might have a problem with. Something sexual, that is necessarily between consenting adults, and is private.

That’s not what rape is, fuckfaces. Rape is not sex. It is rape.

Other headlines. I fixed them for the outlets; my additions in red. You’re welcome, assholes:

Jian Ghomeshi reveals details of sex scandal rape allegations after threatening to sue CBC for $50 million

Jian Ghomeshi Says CBC Split Came After Sex Life Details Threatened To Emerge; Actual Details Were Rape Allegations

— Huffington Post

Ghomeshi defends sex life despite the fact that he was fired for rape allegations, plans to sue CBC over firing

The Globe and Mail

Gawker is the only easily googleable headline that actually makes sense:

Report: CBC Radio Host Jian Ghomeshi Attacked Three Women During Sex

After the ‘catholic priest sex scandal’ that was actually a ‘catholic priest child rape and massive coverup scandal,’ then comes this. I’ve had it.

STOP THE BULLSHIT. YOUR VERY HEADLINES ARE RAPE APOLOGIES. STOP IT.

As my friend Naomi put it: “Dear Media People: YOU CAN BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.”