Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand And 'House Of Cards' Creator Beau Willimon Debunk The Biggest Myths About Rape

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Debunks The Biggest Myths About Rape

The important conversation about the realities of sexual assault in America hit the stage this year with "SLUT: The Play," which follows the tale of a 16-year-old girl who is raped by three friends. The play lands in Washington, D.C., on May 19, and two of its biggest supporters -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and "House of Cards" creator Beau Willimon -- talked with HuffPost Live on Monday about the necessity of tackling the rape taboo.

During a conversation with host Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani, Gillibrand and Willimon responded to a viewer question about society's biggest misconceptions about sexual assault and how to shift the paradigm that often mischaracterizes rape as "a college prank or boys being boys."

Watch Gillibrand and Willimon dispel common rape myths in the video above, and click here for the full HuffPost Live conversation about "SLUT: The Play."

Support HuffPost

At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your will go a long way.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Images From 'Surviving In Numbers' -- A Project Highlighting Sexual Assault Survivors' Experiences
(01 of09)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Surviving In Numbers" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5e680164e4b086f1e36a0234" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="8" data-vars-position-in-unit="10">Surviving In Numbers</a>)
(02 of09)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Surviving In Numbers" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5e680164e4b086f1e36a0234" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="7" data-vars-position-in-unit="9">Surviving In Numbers</a>)
(03 of09)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Surviving In Numbers" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5e680164e4b086f1e36a0234" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="6" data-vars-position-in-unit="8">Surviving In Numbers</a>)
(04 of09)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Surviving In Numbers" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5e680164e4b086f1e36a0234" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="5" data-vars-position-in-unit="7">Surviving In Numbers</a>)
(05 of09)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Surviving In Numbers" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5e680164e4b086f1e36a0234" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="4" data-vars-position-in-unit="6">Surviving In Numbers</a>)
(06 of09)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Surviving In Numbers" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5e680164e4b086f1e36a0234" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="3" data-vars-position-in-unit="5">Surviving In Numbers</a>)
(07 of09)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Surviving In Numbers" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5e680164e4b086f1e36a0234" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="2" data-vars-position-in-unit="4">Surviving In Numbers</a>)
(08 of09)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Surviving In Numbers" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5e680164e4b086f1e36a0234" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="1" data-vars-position-in-unit="3">Surviving In Numbers</a>)
(09 of09)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Surviving In Numbers" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5e680164e4b086f1e36a0234" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.survivinginnumbers.org/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="0" data-vars-position-in-unit="2">Surviving In Numbers</a>)