Part of: Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Mace's first public disclosure: 'It can take 25 years to get up the courage'
On April 24, 2019, during the South Carolina abortion-bill debate, Mace made her first public disclosure of being a rape survivor, describing how long she had kept the experience private.
On April 24, 2019, during the South Carolina legislative debate over an abortion bill, Mace made her first public disclosure of her rape history, saying:
"For some of us who have been raped, it can take 25 years to get up the courage and talk about being a victim of rape. My mother and my best friend in high school were the only two people who knew."
The disclosure was made in the context of the bill's rape exception provisions and marked the first time Mace had spoken publicly about the experience.
Source: Associated Press · archived. Floor date confirmed by SC Legislature H.3020 bill history
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