I actually have a post I need to write up, about the reactions I've received to telling people I was raped, but the main thrust is:

It really helped (with being able to tell other people, being 'out' as a survivor, with being a survivor, and with entering a new relationship after being assaulted in my first ever relationship) that the first person I told (other than my rapist, who laughed at me) believed me and didn't pretend like I hadn't said anything or recategorize me under "poor tragic victim."