markvelasquez

No Excuse.

Added 2016-02-04 22:33:47 +0000 UTC

(From a recent Instagram post, this time with the name unblurred.)

GENTLEMEN: There is NO excuse for this. I get these messages several times a week, which means the models I work with probably receive 10x as many, at least. Yes, the women I work with are attractive and the photos are often provocative. But just because they choose to have their image taken in such a manner in NO way allows you to think of them simply as objects of your desire.

This was sent by someone who, upon investigation, is clearly in high school, but I’m not sure if that makes it better or worse. You could say he doesn’t know any better, but you could also argue that in this era of unsolicited “dick pics” he already thinks he’s entitled to do and say anything he wants in regards to women. And be aware that this is the most simple and extremely tame version of what I’ve received in the past. The more overt, blatant messages are deleted and blocked after the first offensive word.

To put it in a clearer tone: STOP. You idiots/misogynists force males who respect women to get lumped in with the rest of you. You have mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers. You have wives and girlfriends. The trick to impressing them is to treat them with the same level of respect you would anyone else. These women are my friends, my collaborators, my equals. And I will defend their safety and dignity in every way I can.

Now shut the fuck up and get a life.