Today’s blog is written by my co-editor, Cheryl Clemens:

When reports began circulating earlier this week that actress Mackenzie Phillips was going to drop a bombshell on Wednesday’s “Oprah,” I’m sure no one imagined it would be that she was first raped, then ended up in a consensual sexual relationship with her father, John Phillips.

The concept has been a hard one to get my head around, and what has made it even more difficult to process is that I can’t seem to engage anyone in a conversation about it. Everyone I’ve brought the subject up to makes a horrified face, responds something to the effect of “It’s just so disgusting,” and then changes the subject.

While I’m thankful that some taboos still exist in this ever-so-permissive society we live in, we have to be able to discuss such things without fear.

I guess what Mackenzie Phillips claims happened to her is so far from the reality that most of us know, we just don’t know what to say. Simply imagining ourselves in a similar situation is nauseating.

I have a hard time agreeing with those who claim this is a publicity stunt. Why would anyone claim consensual incest as a way to make money and get attention?

Look, we all have secrets — things we think would make us unlovable, even unlikeable, if others knew. Some of us feel unlovable anyway, even without spilling our secrets.

But in being honest about who we are and what we’ve done in our lives, who open ourselves up to connect with others we share similarities with.

As Mackenzie Phillips said during her interview with Oprah, “I can’t be the only one this has happened to. Someone needs to put a face on not only non-consensual incest, but consensual incest, and I know that I can’t be the only one who’s lived through this. So in finding this redemption, maybe I’m helping someone else.”

I hope she does find redemption. I hope we all do. But to get there, we first have to be honest — with ourselves and those around us.