JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With the unsealing of Bill Cosby's 2005 deposition in which he admitted giving women Quaaludes before sex, the comedian whose public persona had already suffered massively in the court of public opinion, may now face a similar fate in the real courts.
This has prompted a national and local debate about rape. At the core of that debate is the term "consent."
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Consent is key in sexual assault and rape. And a person who is under the influence of any alcohol or drugs is not capable of giving consent.
"Even if they willingly participated in consuming drugs or alcohol, the point at which they are incapacitated, they are unable to provide consent for sexual intercourse," said Morgan Moeller, rape recovery team director with the Women's Center of Jacksonville.
Moeller told The Morning Show audience that Cosby's admission that he used Quaaludes to lure women for sex gives his accusers validation.
"I think that many of the women who have so courageously come forward have felt invalidated with the public spectacle and a lot of scrutiny on them related to this high-profile figure who is accused in these cases," Moeller said. "So I think this is a little of validation for them, with all of the critics asking whether or not these claims are legitimate."
And she does believe there may be some good to come from the evil that's making headlines.
"I think the good thing is dialogue we are having right now," Moeller said. "This conversation that is happening at the national level to draw attention to this issue. And to provide validation and support to survivors around the country who may have chosen not to come forward. Whether the perpetrator was a celebrity or someone that they know personally. ... So I think that this conversation is generating additional awareness and making sure that people know what options are available to them."