Free Speech / Justice for Laura Lee

Hi! My name is Brooke, but you may know me better as the writer formerly known as Belle de Jour.

In February 2018, my friend and inspiration Laura Lee, an outspoken sex work and abortion rights activist, was taken from us far too soon.

In the last months of her life, I and others supported Laura as she did one of the most difficult things she ever had to do: reported an abuser to police in Dublin. Those of us who knew the story from her knew how extremely traumatic this was. How brave she was to put her hand up, and say #MeToo.

After Laura's death, I promised her friends and family that I would speak out about what had happened. The incident itself, but just as importantly, the ways in which she was disregarded and not supported because she was a sex worker.

And now I'm being punished for telling that truth.

For months now, the man named as her abuser has been stalking me online, trying to get all mentions of the incident removed from public view. Journalists have found doors shut on their stories and pitches, even though it is a legitimate public concern. Medium took down the original piece without telling me; he has even served Irish nationals with lawsuit threats simply for RTing my tweets about what happened to Laura. I can't believe that particular angle hasn't been made public by the press (the recipients of his legal threats are in no way unknowns) but well, threatening women and keeping them down seems to be kind of his thing.

I am based in the US, so technically, a direct libel threat against me would probably not go anywhere. So he's trying to go over, around, and under the law: getting lawyers to attempt strongarm Twitter into restricting my account, deluges of comments and threats through Medium and Maggie McNeill's blog (she mirrored my original post, and continues to support the cause ). I have refused to remove the offending tweets and content, and will continue to do my utmost to defend it.

Nothing changes this fact: he hurt Laura. It's even touched on in her Times obituary. And if I can do one last thing for my friend, it's to never back down.

I've been hit with these kinds of nuisance threats before, and they're no walk in the park. Everyone from vicious radfems to bitter exes have tried (and failed) to extort money from and silence me. It's cost me a lot financially and emotionally over the years just keeping ahead of six-figure legal bills because I would rather give everything I have to a lawyer than one penny to a thin-skinned abuser. And that's been exactly how it's gone unfortunately. Until now I've been able to handle my expenses on my own, but I can't do that anymore. So I'm asking for your help.

The man who hurt Laura has even been on Facebook, bragging about "substantial" damages he expects to get out of me! Um, what now? I guess he can try and get my secondhand Subaru if he's really keen...

I have an agreement with a respected First Amendment lawyer here in the US to represent me, but his work does not come cheap.

Laura was a true hero, a candle that burned at both ends. Her death was not only a great loss to those who knew and loved her but also to activism worldwide. Any and all donations above my relevant bills will be donated directly to SWAI Ireland the outreach and activist organisation Laura so loved.

Thank you for having a look at this page, and THANK YOU for your support.