jessica maccormack

Something super awful happened to one of my roommates over these past few weeks. Three times in two weeks she was detained by U.S. boarder officials, held against her will, and threatened because officials found "damaging" evidence in her bags such as condoms and lingerie. 

The first time this happened to her, we were all seething with anger, but I assumed that it was a randomized incident from some jerks who had something to prove. But apparently not. Apparently because Clay is a young woman, who states on her personal website that she poses for nude modelling (why do they even have access to that information?), and the fact that she was travelling with someone who was married, means that they can deny my roommate access to the states under suspicion of prostitution.    

Clay, by Michael Cordiez

I am blown away. I travel to the states all the time, and I used to believe that the fact that I had a clean criminal record meant that I was allowed to go where I pleased. But now I have to worry about some sexist assholes not allowing women into the country whenever they feel like it, based on things that are supposed to be private. Like whether I'm carrying condoms or not.

Luckily Clay isn't someone who will roll over for this type of icky sexist behaviour. As well as a model, she also happens to be an author who is currently writing a book on rape culture and sexual assault. She is widely publicizing her story. She was on CBC daybreak this morning, as well as CJAD, interviewed in Metro News as well as publishing her own story in Rabble. Despite such horrible online comments such as "this isn't a feminist issue", or "she's making it all up to get attention for her book", Clay is bravely publicizing what has happened to her in hopes that this could change for women everywhere.  

If you want to read Clay's testimony, go here.

If you want to fund Clay's book, check out  here.

jessica maccormack