Alderman Matthew Petty Downplays Sexual Assault on Women

By: Protect Fayetteville Anonymous Blogger 8/9/15

In a TV interview [Channel 5 News June 24th, 2015

[http://5newsonline.com/2015/06/24/fayetteville-alderman-matthew-pettydiscusses-civil-rights-ordinance] Alderman Matthew Petty claimed that 1

in 16 transgendered people were murdered. He also said that most

women are assaulted by someone they know. Alderman Petty made
these two comments in response to the TV reporter who mentioned that
1 in 3 women are sexually assaulted. Pettys argument was meant to
skirt the issue of 5781 allowing men in womens bathrooms, locker
rooms, and shelter areas. Petty did not mention how horrible the 1 in 3 statistic was and that it is important
to do everything in the City Councils power to lower crime, especially assaults against women. What Petty
did do is compare his gay murder statistic to be more relevant than our women sexually assaulted statistic
because he just wants so bad to win the argument and sway peoples votes. Really?! Have we come this far in the
debate that we are comparing who gets murdered more than those who get assaulted? Perhaps we have, so here
are a few more things to consider.
We have scoured the Internet and have not yet found the statistic Alderman Petty announced. However, IF true,
is a sad detail that we do not downplay in the slightest. Our concern is for all citizens. Our own city statistics
[http://www.city-data.com/city/Fayetteville-Arkansas.html] shows that in 2013 Fayetteville had a total of 3 murders
per 100,000 people. The census for 2013 shows 78,960 citizens living in Fayetteville. Furthermore, Fayetteville
suffered 33 reported rapes (many rapes go unreported) and 270 assaults. So, murders in our area, though
saddening, are few.
As for Matthew Pettys argument that women are assaulted by people they know, we would like to put this
comment in a clearer context. Of the 65% of women who were murdered by people they know, 25% were
murdered by acquaintances and 10% were killed by a stranger. About 1 in 10 of all victims were stalked by a
stranger, and nearly 3 in 4 of all victims knew their offender in some capacity. Knowing a person in some
capacity can be a neighbor or an acquaintance of some kind or someone who works in the same building, not
only a family member, friend, or partner. Just because a woman may or may not know her attacker does not
make the crime any less serious. Again, take into consideration that many women are stalked by
strangers. We do not think that making it easier for stalkers to enter female areas is a smart way to go.
Anyone who has ever been stalked would agree. These stats came from http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/fvv.pdf
the U.S. Department of Justice, Female Victims of Violence, September 2009.

Lastly, lets not forget about voyeurism and indecent exposure- a crime that
is hardly ever talked about or reported. Voyeurism is a sexual activity where
a person watches others undress and may engage in undressing themselves or
flash their naked parts (indecent exposure) with crude gestures. Even if a
male is not engaging in voyeurism and is simply undressed, women and
children do not want to cope with exposed male genitalia in female
bathrooms, locker rooms, or shelters. Additionally, this type of crime may go
unnoticed or happen so quickly that victims are not sure how to process or vocalize what happened to themespecially children. Yet, this type of activity is harmful and causes emotional scaring. For starters read Peeping
Toms Voyeurism Scars Victims Psyches. [http://www.npr.org/2012/08/29/160256476/peeping-toms-voyeurism-scarsvictims-psyches] As a city, Fayetteville citizens should not allow any law that gives greater opportunity for

stalking, voyeurisms, and assaults to happen- and we havent even gone into the greater dangers for
kidnapping. We certainly should not pass a law, like 5781, that makes indecent exposure legal (not
prosecutable) by way of a man, claiming to be a woman in his own mind, justification to show his parts to
other females. What is our city council thinking?! Lesbians dont want makes in female areas either.

Alderman Matthew Petty Downplays Sexual Assault on Women

By: Protect Fayetteville Anonymous Blogger 8/9/15

While scouring the Internet we did find statistics of crimes against the LGBT all of which are saddening, of
course. In fact, most crimes against the LGBT happen within their own community by other LGBT they know.
Whats at stake? Should the city council really be advocating sexual preferences versus the safety of women and
children? We do know that there are more women and children than there are transgender- does that count? We
do know that since the dawn of time females have been given their own space- does that count? We do know that
5781s allowing men in female areas is clearly not the answer for straights or gays- does the city council
understand this? Surely there is an answer which will satisfy everyone and not give greater opportunity to
perpetrators. We have a few ideas, like a unisex or family bathroom area, but thats not acceptable. We suppose
the LGBT advocates will not be satisfied until everything in life is gender neutral. We have creative ideas and
options to share, but we (who are also Citizens of Fayetteville) are not welcome at the Mayors round table. Even
more frustrating is how can we come to a positive solution if the LGBT activists, like Matthew Petty, downplay
1 in 3 sexually assaulted women and seem only concerned about winning this election? God help us.