Child Sex Abuse Survivors Bridie Farrell, Steve Jiminez Visit Wall Street's Fearless Girl, Urge to Fix Child-rape Law

By Micah Danney
New York Daily News
April 28, 2017

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/child-sex-abuse-survivors-stand-behind-wallstreet-fearless-girl-article-1.3113118

“When the truth comes out, you’re protecting other children,” said Jiminez, who was abused by a Catholic brother. (ANTHONY DELMUNDO/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

The "Fearless Girl” has nothing on child sex abuse survivors Bridie Farrell and Steve Jimenez.

The unflinching pair came to Wall Street Friday, urging passage of a long-rejected proposal that would finally give a full voice to the victims of sexual predators.

Farrell and Jimenez stood behind the “Fearless Girl” statue in the Financial District to recount their own stories of abuse — and support the 11-year-old “Child Victims Act.”

“When the truth comes out, you’re protecting other children,” said Jimenez, who was abused by a Catholic brother.

“I learned at 26 what an adolescent child is incapable of processing: sexual abuse,” said speed-skating champion Bridie Farrell. (ANTHONY DELMUNDO/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

The legislation — first introduced in 2006 — has failed to pass on five occasions.

The proposal would eliminate New York’s civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes and open a one-year legal “window” for older victims to bring their cases.

Under current law, victims abused as children have until their 23rd birthday to seek criminal or civil penalties.

“I learned at 26 what an adolescent child is incapable of processing: sexual abuse,” said speed-skating champion Farrell, who says she was molested at age 15 by a four-time U.S. Olympian more than twice her age.

“I was well past 23 when I learned Andy Gabel was guilty of a crime, child sexual abuse — and that I was the victim,” Farrell said.

Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat and sponsor of the act, expressed his frustration with the inability to get the legislation passed.

Linda Rosenthal and State Sen. Brad Hoylman join sexual assault and abuse survivors on Friday. (ANTHONY DELMUNDO/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

GOP state senators stymied this year’s effort earlier this week with a procedural maneuver that prevented supporters from forcing a vote.

“It baffles me why the Republicans, who are the law and order party, don’t see the public good that could come out of that process,” said Hoylman. “They’re gutless. It’s complete cowardice.”

Farrell, who said she was molested on “hundreds of occasions,” stressed that passage of the legislation would send a strong message to victims,

“It would make me have more confidence that sports and life at large ... our skating rinks and our pool decks and our tennis courts are safer,” she said.

Jimenez noted that his attacker was never held accountable in either criminal or civil court for the emotional pain that lingers to this day. “I’ve had decades of treatment costs with psychiatrists and all kinds of experts in this area,” he said. “That has all been out of my pocket.”