.jpg "Sen. Hansen outraged colleagues Tuesday with her comments on rape.")
During debate Tuesday on a bill to remove V.I. law exempting spouses from several categories of sexual assault and rape, Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen said she did not understand how sex between spouses can be rape, before voting against the measure.
The bill sponsored by Sen. Sammuel Sanes adds in its summary "protections for spouses, men and women, who are the victims of actions that constitute rape or unlawful sexual contact in aggravated domestic violence instances." [Bill no. 30-0060]
Currently in the V.I. Code, the definitions of aggravated rape, rape in the second and third degree, and unlawful sexual contact all explicitly say it is only rape or sexual assault if the victim is "not the perpetrator’s spouse." The definition of first degree rape does not include this language. Sanes’ bill simply deletes the phrases "and not the perpetrator’s spouse" from each offense definition.
The language change will not have a major impact on how police enforce the law, Sanes and V.I. Police Sgt. Deborah Hodge-Jack said during the hearing.
"Justice will still prevail, but that this language remains is an insult to our society" and "is an embarrassment in this day and age," Sanes said.
Sen. Nereida "Nellie" Rivera-O’Reilly asked for clarification about how police approach spousal rape accusations.
Hodge-Jack said the VIPD uses the first degree rape statute in spousal rape cases and charges for aggravating factors under the territory’s domestic violence statutes.
"So absent the changes proposed today, you have been able to take care of this using that part of the statute?" O’Reilly asked.
"That is correct," Hodge-Jack said.
Hansen announced she did not understand how a wife could be raped by a husband. She then qualified that slightly, saying "if it is forcefully against the will of a spouse then that is a problem. But if a woman says no and he still wants something, I don’t know how you can call it rape. Maybe because I am not a "no" person, I don’t know."
Both Hodge-Jack and Assistant Human Services Commissioner Carla Benjamin, who was also testifying on the bill, gasped at Hansen’s comments.
"I find those comments so disturbing and I know that not understanding contributes to that," Hodge-Jack said.
No one is calling the VIPD to report a rape when they were not in the mood, but relented and consented, she said. "No one is going to report that," she said.
"The reports that come to us are much more serious," she said, describing situations where women have been threatened or physically forced and have no place to go and no resources.
"Well she should get rid of him," Hansen said.
"It is not that simple ma’am," said Hodge-Jack, going on to describe some of the harrowing situations women have been placed in and the reasons they may not leave, from death threats to lack of any place to go.
"Those are extreme and I understand cases like that because I have worked cases like those," Hansen said. "But some of them just like it. They are the ones that need to be educated," Hansen said. "I don’t want to describe who they are, nationality. If the man don’t hit them, they say the man don’t love them," Hansen continued.
Other senators distanced themselves from Hansen’s position.
"Let me just say no is no, Sen. Hansen, I believe," said Committee Chairman Kenneth Gittens before the vote.
After the hearing, Sanes said, "It was shocking to hear that, in this day and age."
Sen. Judi Buckley said, “That was unbelievable." Buckley, who is a co-sponsor of the bill, added that she found it sad.
Voting to send the bill on to the Rules and Judiciary Committee were Buckley, Gittens, O’Reilly, Sanes and Sen. Tregenza Roach. Hansen voted against. Sen. Clarence Payne was absent.
Let me ponder this for a moment, Senator Hansen is not a “no” person. Lmao rotflmao, lets hope she is not talking about anything that would benefit the island of St.Croix that the taxpayer doesn’t have to pay for otherwise the answer is always “no”. But if by slight chance she was talking about something else….I feel sick!
Seriously, what can you expect when you keep electing persons of this ilk to a leadership position. She is ignorant, arrogant and self-serving. What she does in her legislative position is for her own benefit, not for the betterment of the shupid people that continue to elect her to office. She should not be there to begin with.
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt – Mark Twain
I see that one previous comment was removed, presumably for calling Hansen a female dog (in one word), which is a shame as the remainder of that comment was right to the point. Hansen expressed a view that is sexist, outdated, jingoistic and also demeaning of another nationality. To say nothing of her anachronistic views being damaging to all men and women of the Territory. She should be censured by the Senate and recalled by the voters as she is obviously unfit to serve in a position of responsibility.
Hansen coyly bragged that she’s “not a NO person.” Are we to infer then that, in this context, she is “easy” (as my mother used to call women who couldn’t say no)? Or perhaps, she simply has never had to say no because no one wanted it from her? I could easily believe that.
Well it seems as though Senator Hansen has a lot of hatters. Let me say that Senator Hansen is 101% correct. How can a husband rape his wife or wife rape her husband, when they are married. Most of you out there don’t know the meaning of marriage. Marriage is union between God, man and woman and not between state, man and woman. When you implement state that’s when the problem occurs. Most people like to jump up and say let’s get married, without being council about marriage. Marriage is a serious thing. For better or worse, until death do us part. Not until we get tired of each other, get a divorce which is against the laws of God, because he hates divorce. Did you know when people get divorce and remarry, in the eyes of God you are still married to your divorced spouse until he or she dies, remember until death do us part. Read the bible.
The bible says, wives submit yourself to your husband. That means give yourself to him do what he says and not when I feel like. A man should treat a woman as he treats himself.
If a man or woman married is being abused by his or her spouse at home, that is still not rape and these laws need to revisited and revised. Most of you out there don’t like to include God in your life and as soon as trouble hit you, you cry out oh God.
These senators are so shallow in their minds I don’t know why some of them are still in office. They need to look at ways to put the USVI economy back together instead of some law that is not going to generate money.
What is a ‘hatter’?
Forcing sex upon a person when it is not consensual is rape. This is true whether persons are married to each other or not. The Bible says a lot of things, but it doesn’t condone rape, which is an act of violence.
What it actually says is: Colossians 3:18
‘Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord’……………. I don’t think that the Lord sees rape as fitting.
We removed the previous comment and sent a link to the offender relative to our policy of decency in comments. I hope that person will resubmit his or her comments without the personal attacks and slurs. I appreciate your comments which were submitted without name calling.
thank you.
We removed the previous comment and sent a link to the offender relative to our policy of decency in comments. I hope that person will resubmit his or her comments without the personal attacks and slurs. I appreciate your comments which were submitted without name calling.
thank you.
Isn’t this the same legislator who recently proposed legalizing prostitution? A suggestion that ignores the reality of the illegal sex trade and sexual slavery that many women are forced into and once a part of, find it near impossible to escape from? Her views are all that you said and then some.
I thought the comments were spot on. Unfortunately he was preaching to the choir. “Her People” don’t read.
In my humble opinion, you should not blame Chucky for her comments. She has been making inane comments and behaving absurdly throughout her entire political career, including her conviction of serious crimes. You have to blame those delusional individuals who continue to return her to public office. And to them this will make no difference.
I must apologize for expressing my sincere outrage at Hansen in less than flattering words. I was so shocked and incensed by her vile, ignorant comments that I just blurted out the only word I felt really sums up this woman. For the use of that word – I apologize.
I am however, very disappointed that my comments were removed because of that particular word, and maybe the tone of my comments.
We must STOP BEING POLITICALLY CORRECT, and must begin NOW weeding out those that have violated Virgin Islands and federal law, offer nothing but hate, disrespect and ongoing violations of those laws they swore to uphold.
What this woman is spewing goes against everything that the community has worked for, in terms of providing proper social guidance and direction to children, by remarking that rape by spouse is OK, that just taking it is OK, that berating foreign-born women is OK. WHAT IS OK ABOUT ANY OF WHAT THIS WOMAN SAID to the entire Virgin Islands community, including foreign-born women and children of all ages.
Is this nasty ignorant woman promoting promiscuous sex among our already endangered underage children??
WHY IS THE SENATE NOT PUBLICLY REPRIMANDING A SITTING SENATOR for such vile, dangerous comments???? WHERE IS THE GOVERNOR? WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE????
HAVE THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS BECOME SO DAMAGED BY HER (and others in the Senate and Administration) UNENDING DESTRUCTION THAT WE JUST DON’T CARE ANYMORE????
If that is the case, then it isn’t only this sorry excuse for a woman that makes the VI what it is. It’s US! US who continue to do nothing, except suck teeth. But hey, I called Senator Hansen a female dog. For that I apologize to every canine out there for lumping her into your group. She’s not worthy of even that. And I apologize to Ms Pennington if I offended you or your review board. That wasn’t my intention. I will take you up on your offer, and resubmit a redacted (sorry had to use it once in my life!) set of comments.
As requested by Ms. Pennington, I am re-submitting my comments about Senator (?) Hansen and her ongoing ignorant spew regarding spousal and child rape:
How is this disgusting, obviously extremely ignorant, and self-serving “person” allowed to represent ANYBODY?? If this unbelievably stupid “person” believes what she said about rape by spouse and rape of children, then she needs to be sent for serious psychological evaluation, reprimanded by her fellow senators, publicly rebuked by the (gutless) media, and removed from office by the Governor – IMMEDIATELY, if not sooner.
Senator Hansen should be required by the Senate President to make a public apology, and attend a domestic violence course – at minimum, or risk impeachment.
How Hansen can continue to get away with the filth, hate and bile she spews is beyond me. For her to lump whole nationalities into a group that she seems to believe somehow enjoys rape and abuse is simply disgusting and makes me “sick to my stomach”, and worse.
It’s the least I can feel for such a miserable excuse of a Virgin Islander, but maybe the married people of STX enjoy being raped. Somehow, I doubt that. But it’s obvious that the people of STX continue to have full faith in this “person”, as she continues to get elected to represent them. We should ALL be ashamed and embarrassed.
And BTW, why is Hansen still a senator given the charges against her, her refusal to pay her taxes, and refusal to even complete her work release?? She needs to be locked up!!!!
SENATOR HANSEN SEEMS TO THINK SPOUSAL AND CHILD RAPE IS OK!! SHE IS AND SHOULD BE DECLARED A DANGER TO SOCIETY!!!
“WHY IS THE SENATE NOT PUBLICLY REPRIMANDING A SITTING SENATOR for such vile, dangerous comments???? WHERE IS THE GOVERNOR? WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE????”
I have long thought that she must have something really bad on a lot of them that keeps their mouths shut.
The alternative is that they agree with the things she say’s, they just know better than to say them out loud.
Either way the people of the VI are screwed.
“Let me just say no is no, Sen. Hansen, I believe,” said Committee Chairman Kenneth Gittens before the vote”.
I believe makes it sound like you are unsure. Are you unsure if No means No public servant Gittens?
“After the hearing, Sanes said, “It was shocking to hear that, in this day and age.”
Sen. Judi Buckley said, “That was unbelievable.” Buckley, who is a co-sponsor of the bill, added that she found it sad.”
Why do you people allow her to get away with this stuff. Your silence tells me you are either afraid of her or you agree with her. Which is it?
OMG!
In any developed country, a public official makes these comments and the next day He/She would have to resign from his/her position. This is totally unacceptable! Please, this has to be forwarded to the National media and Domestic Violence organizations, so they can see what type of persons are governing this place.
It is obvious now that here, in the VI, the words RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY are not included in the dictionary.
RESIGNATION NOW!
“Chucky,” which is quite an appropriate name for her, is a classless, vulgar, and callous individual. Her statements are of no surprise to me. This is the same individual who after losing a gubernatorial election, resorted to “singing” Calypso. Her debut was at Palm Court in STT where she sung a “song” titled “Saltfish,” which she apparently wrote. It is pertinent to note that her then teenage daughter was one of her backup singers. The lyric entailed “saltfish sweet, and men love to eat it.” In the midst of her “singing,” she abruptly stopped and asked for a plate and chair. She placed one of her leg on the chair, on the back supporting area of the chair, while placing the white paper plate under her crotch as she continues “to sing” her song of “Saltfish.” After seeing this for myself, I can never separate this visual from her.
I outline this to allow readers to note that her statements in the Legislature during the session on Tuesday, 9/10/2013, which is now on the records, are in sync with the way she thinks and behaves. It should not come to a shock to anyone, and yes, her supporters will continue to support her. What is interesting to me, are the people in this community who have selective amnesia. They remember events/things regarding certain individuals and situations to their convenience. I conclude this post by quoting a lyric in Steven Wonder’s song Superstitious, “When you believe in things you don’t understand you suffer.” The populous in St. Croix believe in CHUCKY! Go figure.
I concur
The Virgin Islands can survive a Chucky Hansen, who is, after all, merely a clueless local fool. But one has to wonder if Paradise can likely survive the multitude of clueless fools such as those who made her their Senator.
Wow! I’m ashamed that I am a Virgin Islander and she is representing the Virgin Islands. People say ignorance is bliss, but she proved in her statement and actions that ignorance is downright dangerous and counterproductive. I’m just speechless. There needs to be a petition to have her reprimanded and/or removed from office.
Lots of posts lamenting the situation… Let me offer some insight.
The senators obviously do not agree on the current definition of rape as it refers to people who are married to one another.
Here is an idea:
Differentiate (in the law) a different set of penalties etc for those men (or women) who rape their husband or wife.
Getting carried away with personalities keeps us from the issues.
Senators – please use my advice free of charge.
Thank you.
Thank you for your response, Ms. Pennington. I am awarer of the Source’s policies and agree with them in general. I am pleased to see that the original poster has reprised his comments with appropriate redaction, which was my hope. Now if the Senate will grow some testicles and censure Hansen, I might begin to believe there is hope.
The people of the Virgin Islands need to mount a recall campaign and remove this vile and ignorant woman form the Senate.
From what I’ve read ONE SENATOR disagrees on the definition on rape. Stop making excuses for the disgrace that is Senator Hansen’s reprehensible statement on the record. Then again loverzrok, your board name does lead one to think you might be of a similar opinion as her. In a word, embarrassing.
It’s not the personalities that caused the outrage. It’s because she made controversial statements backed by no evidence and empty rhetoric and has the potential to affect the beliefs and rational thinking of her constituents. Making reference about other nationalities welcoming abuse could be her personal opinion but as a senator, one must strive to speak and be a mouth piece for the people, regardless of personal opinions or agendas.
It is easy to understand why “Chunky” keeps getting reelected…she throws the best bar-be-cues each election cycle. She is not only an embarrassment to STX and the USVI, she is an embarrassment to humanity!!!
Senator Hansen – You’re an idiot. The “WOMEN” of the U.S. Virgin Islands now know that “spousal abuse and sex abuse” is the new “Advertising Ad” for your campaign. I wonder if the “females” in your “family” will hold you responsible for any “spousal sexual abuse” that they might encounter or suffer from. As a female, when I say “NO”, I mean “NO”. Also, it’s a definite stomping ground for “law enforcement” to continue doing absolutely nothing in terms of protecting the women of these islands. Female members of your family need to “remember” that you and only you have set every “female” up for disgrace. Keeping that in mind – you are definately a “disgrace” and need to step down as Senator! We, the females of the Virgin Islands need someone with heart that will protect us-not some vigilanty-trotting “idiot”!!!!
Senator Hansen – You’re an idiot. The “WOMEN” of the U.S. Virgin Islands now know that “spousal abuse and sex abuse” is the new “Advertising Ad” for your campaign. I wonder if the “females” in your “family” will hold you responsible for any “spousal sexual abuse” that they might encounter or suffer from. As a female, when I say “NO”, I mean “NO”. Also, it’s a definite stomping ground for “law enforcement” to continue doing absolutely nothing in terms of protecting the women of these islands. Female members of your family need to “remember” that you and only you have set every “female” up for disgrace. Keeping that in mind – you are definately a “disgrace” and need to step down as Senator! We, the females of the Virgin Islands need someone with heart that will protect us-not condone additional damage.