As a rape survivor, I’m having a really hard time this election cycle. The constant talk about rape by Republican men in a way that is misogynistic, stupid, and insensitive is triggering. I’m sick and tired of all this triggering talk about rape and I really wish they would just shut up!

The latest in the long list of Republican rape apologists to speak about rape and abortion is John Koster, the Republican nominee for Washington’s 1st district. When asked about his opposition to abortion in the cases of rape and incest, Koster first noted that incest is extremely rare because forcing only a couple of 12 year olds to bare their father’s baby is no big deal and everyone should just calm down about it already.

Koster then when on to call rape a “thing” more than once:

“But the rape thing…you know I know a woman who was raped and kept her child but gave it up for adoption, she doesn’t regret it. In fact, she’s a big pro-life proponent…But on the rape thing, it’s like, how does putting more violence onto a woman’s body and taking the life of an innocent child that’s the consequence of this crime, how does that make it better? You know what I mean?”

I don’t have any interest in hearing the opinion of a man who has never been the victim of sexual assault. And I don’t have any interest in hearing what he thinks about my choices. None. I don’t even know why these anti-choice Republicans think they are entitled to speak about the topic. This is about the power of women as independent actors to make choices about their own bodies. A rape survivor has already lost power and control over her bodily autonomy and now Republican men want to let us know what they think we should be allowed to do after the rape?

No, Mr. Koster you do not get to have say.