Roslyn Talusan is a Filipino-Canadian culture writer and anti-rape activist. She’s passionate about media critique and speaking truth to power to foster a culture of empathy for sexual violence survivors. Her work is featured at The A.V. Club, Bitch Magazine, Refinery29, VICE, and more.

Mastodon: @roslyn

Clips

Contact

Get in touch with me regarding freelance writing opportunities, media inquiries, speaking engagements, or consultancy rates: hello@roslyntalusan.com.

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Profile

After I earned my Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management from Ryerson University in 2014, I pursued an administrative career in the Canadian public service. Within the first six weeks of my first contract, a co-worker sexually assaulted me on our drive home.

As the traumatic symptoms began to manifest having to see him in the workplace every day, I had no other choice than to seek help from my managers and reported him. You would think that the Canadian government would address sexual assault swiftly and appropriately — I thought so, but was proven terribly wrong. My managers’ inadequate and unjust response was the jumping off point for my activism. You can read more about that here.

My career as a freelance writer began in 2015 at an independent publication named Femsplain, where I was a contributing author and editor. Since then, I’ve written for VICE, Playboy, Bitch Magazine, The A.V. Club, and more. In 2021, I officially became a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. I’m currently working on a memoir and am represented by Claire Draper of The Bent Agency.

In 2017, I went viral for bringing light to Teen Vogue’s frequent exploitation of marginalized freelance writers, and spoke about it at length on CANADALAND’s podcast. I also have a small feature in Slut or Nut: Diary of a Rape Trial, a documentary directed by Kelly Showker, starring Toronto activist Mandi Gray. You might also know me as the Filipino woman who got doxxed and called racial slurs for calling Ariana Grande a “spoiled white girl from Boca” on Twitter when she tweeted about “them blogs.”

Through my work as a journalist pursuing justice through administrative procedures, I transform my trauma into positive systemic change. I’m fiercely passionate about showing other survivors/victims that they’re not alone, and I’m dedicated to fostering empathy and compassion in Western culture to prevent and eradicate sexual violence on a grassroots level. Since 2015, I’ve been a member of the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape, where I started as a Crisis Line Counsellor and served as a Board Member.

When I’m not writing or reading, I practice and teach yin yoga. Developing my spirituality has been a huge part of my healing process, and I’m working on offering tarot readings meant to empower clients to become their best, most brilliant selves. I’m the guardian of two cats, Daisy and Mango. They are the lights of my life, and keep my head above water.

Media

Support

Read and share my work in your social circles

Social capital and word of mouth are the most valuable asset for freelance journalists. If you enjoy my work, share it across your social media channels!

Contact your MP and Justin Trudeau

You can find my story as a public servant dealing with workplace sexual assault and harassment here. Please share this link with your Member of Parliament and our Prime Minister, and ask them to expedite my proceedings. If our government is truly invested in Bill-C65, my situation should never have escalated to this point. My life and wellbeing is more important than bureaucratic processes, and my bills can’t wait for a backlog.

If you need help drafting a letter, or figuring out who your MP is, send me an e-mail and I’d be more than happy to help.

Donate to my living expenses fund

Life as a full-time freelancer is challenging enough as it is, and with my time being eaten up with my legal proceedings, I need help making ends meet.

I need at least $1,500 CAD/month to survive. Your donations are put towards helping me survive my fight against the government to make sure no one is ever put through what I’ve been put through.

Tips accepted here!.