A Joint Statement Regarding Ken Stringfellow

Oct 17

Allegations of sexual misconduct by musician Ken Stringfellow surfaced in an October 25, 2021 article published by KUOW, Seattle’s NPR affiliate. The experiences described by the women named in the piece resonated with many additional women with whom Mr. Stringfellow has engaged in sexual relationships around the world over decades. Publication of this article allowed many of these women to find each other and share their experiences of unwelcome, non-consensual groping, kissing, and, in some cases, sexual intercourse with Mr. Stringfellow. In the three years since, stories continue to be shared, though many women fear speaking publicly.

Based on the evidence outlined by KUOW, plus our own experiences as a subset of these women, [1] we want to make the following points:

Sexual assault can happen within consensual relationships [2] and is often dismissed or overlooked. There is often also emotional abuse and manipulation by the perpetrator.
Rape is defined as “non-consensual sex” regardless of context, [3] within or outside of consensual relationships, and it is not always violent or painful.
Women should not have to come forward en masse for sexual assault to be taken seriously. We assert that just one incident of alleged rape is enough to cause outrage and concern, if not legal action, and that coming forward is humiliating and retraumatizing for victims. [4]
We believe women who claim to have experienced non-consensual sexual behavior and emotional abuse by Mr. Stringfellow, and want to make it safer for additional women to speak out.

In the process of promoting new music (via social media, podcasts, publications, etc.), Mr. Stringfellow continues to assert that all allegations against him are false and accuse us and other women of conspiring to harass and defame him. He has attempted to discredit us by engaging in or agreeing with derogatory, victim-blaming rhetoric, including threats intended to shame and disparage our character. These tactics are common among sexual abusers. [5]

We refuse to be silenced. Instead, we feel compelled to speak out in denial of his accusations and help prevent future potential abuse. We gain nothing by coming forward; in fact, we believe we are inviting further harassment from him, but feel strongly that we need to speak up for the sake of other women who have suffered similar experiences, lest silence be an enabler.

We urge people to make informed decisions as to whether Mr. Stringfellow is a person whom they are comfortable supporting or providing a platform to. We recognize that some may choose to show their support by simply ignoring him. However, publicly withdrawing support for an alleged abuser holds significant value for the women who have come forward with allegations, or who may have been too afraid to do so. The trauma of abuse is compounded by the shame and fear of not being believed. [6] Taking a stand as an ally not only helps women feel safe, it ensures a safer future. [7]

Leslie K. Allenbach Hatton, Toronto, ON, CA
Heather Bowen, Seattle, WA, USA
Kate Fricke, Portland, OR, USA
Kristi Houk, Birmingham, AL, USA
Jutta Luhtinen, Tampere, FI
Katherine Mengardon, London, UK
Karen Raymond, Austin, TX, USA
H. Kate Rears, Alexandria, VA, USA

Footnotes

[1] A significant number of people have reached out to share their experiences , but did not feel safe enough to share their names or locations publicly at this time.

[2] https://rainn.org/articles/intimate-partner-sexual-violence

[3] https://rainn.org/articles/what-is-consent

[4] https://rainn.org/statistics/criminal-justice-system

[5] https://dynamic.uoregon.edu/jjf/defineDARVO.html

[6] https://rainn.org/effects-sexual-violence

[7] https://rainn.org/wontstayquiet

Resources for Victims of Sexual Abuse

https://rainn.org/resources

https://www.nsvrc.org/survivors

2021 Media Coverage

https://www.kuow.org/stories/as-sexual-misconduct-allegations-dog-ken-stringfellow-of-the-posies-the-band-breaks-up

https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/sexual-misconduct-allegations-against-ken-stringfellow end-decades-long-run-of-the-posies/