A Nebraska legislator faces criticism after he added the name of another state senator into a disturbing rape scene from a book that he read out loud during a hearing on a bill about inappropriate content.
State Sen. Steve Halloran (R) was speaking in support of L.B. 441, which its sponsor claims closes a loophole that allows educators to avoid prosecution for providing obscene materials to minors. However, opponents argue that there is no such loophole and that school officials can already be prosecuted, as stated by the Nebraska Examiner.
While reading a graphic rape scene from Lucky by Alice Sebold, Halloran repeatedly added the name “Senator Cavanaugh” to the ends of sentences. Many interpreted this as a reference to state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh (D), although Halloran has since stated that he was referring to Cavanaugh’s brother, John, who is also a state senator.
Users on social media pointed out that using a colleague’s name in this context is terrible, regardless of who he was addressing.
Machaela Cavanaugh gained praise for her lengthy and determined attempt to prevent a bill against transgender individuals from being passed in the state. When the bill seeking to prohibit gender-affirming care advanced out of committee, she pledged to speak for an extended period on every proposed bill in the unicameral legislature until the anti-trans bill was withdrawn. is known John Cavanaugh has strongly opposed the updated obscenity bill. After Halloran read the
passage, John Cavanaugh stated that he “missed the point.” Lucky “Yes, life is disconcerting and very unpleasant, but that is what life is, and people who experience that want to know they’re not alone
He also mentioned that it’s not feasible to improve this bill with amendments because “it is such a mess” and “incomprehensible.”.” “It is a bill to make you feel good about the fact that you don’t like these books — don’t read them.”
Machaela Cavanaugh was appalled that Halloran might have been referring to her during the reading of the passage, and she apparently conveyed this to him.
“That was so out of line and unnecessary and disgusting to say my name over and over again like that,” she stated in response.
“You don’t know anything about anyone else’s life, and I can tell you that women in this body have been subjected to sexual violence. I didn’t know you were capable of such cruelty. That was so unbecoming of you and unbecoming of this body, and I hope that some other people who are Republicans will stand up and defend me.”
On X, she responded to Halloran’s claim that he was referring to her brother, emphasizing that in any case it was an unacceptable action.
“He invoked both of our names at the start and then dropped the first name. Regardless of which one of us this assault was meant for, it does not make it less terrible — although I believe it was directed at me. Men can also be victims of assault and his response is dismissive of that fact.”
State Sen. Megan Hunt (D) – the state’s first openly bisexual senator and the
of a transgender child who supported Cavanaugh’s effort to filibuster the anti-trans bill – publicly called for Halloran’s resignation. mother “Honestly, I think Halloran should resign,” she wrote on X. “How dare he even form his mouth to say the words ‘Give me a blow job Senator Cavanaugh.’ He said that because he wanted to say it. It was beyond the pale. Pure aggression to read a rape scene out loud and put it like that. Broken brain.”
She added, “The issue is not the presence of explicit language in books. The issue is not that survivors of rape have shared their experiences. The issue is being in a position of power as a state senator and asking a colleague for oral sex.”
She also posted the video of the incident, stating, “People should see what is happening in their Legislature.”
Hunt also discussed why no one confronted Holleran at the time.
“Honestly, it's the fight, flight, or freeze response that people who have been through sexual violence completely understand. How dare he bring out those emotions in anyone? I'm still angry at myself for not speaking up when he was doing this, but everyone was just [shocked face emoji].”
Democratic Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh criticized his use of her name as “inappropriate, unnecessary, and repulsive.”
