“It is vital you get yourself help if you are in an unsafe situation. I cannot stress strongly enough to get support after you come forward as a process so gruelling, cannot be done alone. Dealing with triggers such as songs, smells etc can cause flashbacks, which is hard to cope with sometimes but then I have the support of my friends and other survivors who help me through it.” – Alyssa Marie

No matter how young or old anyone is, sexual assault and rape is wrong and it is never the survivors fault. As a survivor, they tend to feel guilty, shameful, and feel like they are to blame for putting themselves into these dangerous situations, but the only one at fault for being raped and/or sexually assaulted is the one who does it. Although this is something that a survivor is constantly always feeling and can be hard to fully understand and accept, with great help-lines and organizations like RAINN, they can help them to understand that these are normal feelings to have after a traumatic incident. With the help from RAINN, survivors are not only taking the first step, but a first positive step forward onto their journey of recovery, healing, and hope.

“After a traumatic event, it is also typical to have feelings of anxiety, stress, or fear, making it difficult to adjust or cope for some time afterwards. Victims also might avoid places, events, or objects that remind them of the experience. Emotions related to avoidance are numbness, guilt, and depression. Some have a decreased ability to feel certain emotions, like happiness. However, Understanding what you’re going through is the first step to recovery.” – RAINN

In the moment of the attack, the survivor’s power is taken off them and is transferred to their attacker because the feeling of watching some vulnerable gives them (the attacker) a sense of power. Unfortunately for sexual assault survivor Alyssa Marie, she was unable to defend herself to her attacker because she was too young and the vulnerably was sadly unavoidable. Alyssa’s loss of security was taken away from her at a very young age because of these traumatic episodes that surfaced throughout her childhood years (until he was reported a few years later), but sadly he was never convicted due to lack of evidence.

“It started when I was 3 and it didn’t stop until I was 5 or 6. It was my dad and he was never convicted because I was too young to testify and when I was old enough it wouldn’t hold up in court so he is still in NZ however I am safe and I have a protection/restraining order against him.” – Alyssa Marie

For survivors who have been through what Alyssa has, (especially when their attacker is out in the community unpunished for their crime) their instant reaction is to keep quiet because they fear that if they speak up, no one will believe them. Many survivors who have been assaulted in their childhood or adult life generally do not share or report their attack straight away (if at all) because of this and therefore stay silent. With supportive organizations like RAINN, they are always making it aware that as a survivor, there is constant share of love to help them report, reach out, and guide themselves to the right kind of help that will benefit the recovery process. RAINN however, do not force survivors to report their attacker (although it is strongly encouraged) but are there to 100% support the survivor and make sure that they feel safe and have a place to go to if not.

“RAINN is helpful because they offer hotlines and services that are available. In my opinion you definitely need to seek professional help and also definitely do things that make you happy or do things to take your mind off it.” – Alyssa Marie

To a survivor, having hope is hard to contain because when you lose all sense of security nothing positive, seems possible and you feel like you should always expect the worst to happen. But thanks to Gorjana and Hollywood Actress/RAINN advocate KaDee Strickland they have made this possible for survivors to have hope because their collaborated RAINN Hope Necklace certainly brings light out of something so horrific.

“The RAINN Hope Necklace is a meaningful symbol and reminds me of what it means to be a survivor and it’s a constant reminder of how far each individual survivor has come.” – Alyssa Marie

The RAINN Hope necklace not only reminds survivors that they all survived, but also that they can get through anything and they never have to be alone because it is never too late to get help. To everyone who is not a survivor, it is also another way for anyone to show their support and help encourage survivors to reach out and gain back their control.

“I am not a survivor by I bought a hope necklace as my way of showing support to survivors who have one through the worst of things and need help to get their voice back.” – Lacey Ives

No matter if you were sexual assaulted or raped that happened 20 years ago or last week, there is always hope for you and it is never too late to get help. Please contact RAINN by calling 1 800 656 HOPE or on their 24hr hotline at www.rainn.org because once you have taken that first step, you will be able to start to heal properly.

To buy a RAINN Hope Necklace, please go to Gorjana’s website direct link: www.gorjana.com/products/RAINN-Hope-Necklace.html and for every necklace you buy, 80% of all the proceedings go directly to RAINN.

Talk, Share, Shatter the Silence…donate to PAVE and receive Moms Shattering The Silence, a multi-media tool kit for Moms to talk to kids about sexual abuse.

Tweet About It! #pavemoms

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

Donate $25 to PAVE and receive this valuable multi-media kit for you and for the moms you honor, cherish and care about!

Talk, Share, Shatter the Silence…donate  below to PAVE and receive Moms Shattering The Silence, a multi-media tool kit for Moms to talk to kids about sexual abuse.

PAVE Moms Shattering the Silence

Moms Shattering the Silence$25.00 USD QTY 2 – 1 for You & 1 Donated to a Mom in Need$40.00 USD QTY 3 – 1 for You & 2 Donated for Moms in Need$70.00 USD Optional Extra Donation to PAVE$50.00 USD

WE NEED YOU!

Please Help Us Get Out the Word…Tweet about it #pavemoms

MARY AMONS – Bravo’s Real Housewives of DC

DR. CHERYL ARUTT - Psychologist & Trauma Expert SEEN ON CNN, HLN, truTV AND FOX NEWS

DR. JENN BERMAN – Host of VH1′s Couples Therapy and The Love and Sex Show with Dr. Jenn on Sirius XM & Mother of Twins

DR. THEMA BRYANT-DAVIS – Licensed Psychologist, Poet, Dancer & Minister Seen on BET, PBS, Dr. Phil, ESSENCE Magazine

JENNER EVANS - Actress/model/comedian who has appeared on shows on E! and Lifetime

KIM GOLDMAN – Internationally Best-Selling Author, Speaker, Radio Host, Activist Seen on Oprah

DR. MICHELLE GOLLAND – National Relationship Expert and Psychologist Seen on CNN, Fox and Dr. Drew on CNN HLN

ANDREA METCALF – Best-selling Author Seen on NBC’s TODAY SHOW, Good Morning America and Oprah.com

ANGELICA PAGE - American Award Winning actress, Director, Producer and Screenwriter

MELISSA JUN ROWLEY – Award-Winning Journalist, On-Air Host, and Content Strategist

ROBIN SAX – Author & Legal Analyst seen on CNN, Fox, and The Today Show

LIZ SECCURO – Author, Speaker, Advocate seen on Dateline NBC, The Today Show, MSNBC

PAVE MEDIA MOMS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW

Here are some helpful stats about sexual violence in the LGBTQ population. I found these statistics on RAINN’s Website (www.RAINN.org)  and from the wonderful publication that I describe below:

Stats:

• Six percent of all anti-LGBT hate crimes are incidents of sexual assault or forcible rape.
• More than half of gay men and lesbians report at least one incident of sexual coercion by a same-sex partner.
• It is often thought that the larger, “butcher” partner will be the assailant in a same-sex assault; however, size or gender identity does not determine who the abusive partner is.
• Bisexual, transgendered, lesbian, and gay people experience violence within their intimate relationships at about the same rates as heterosexuals (Waldner-Haugrud, 1997; AVP, 1992)
  • 30% of lesbians report having experienced sexual assault or rape by another woman (not necessarily an intimate partner) (Renzetti, 1992)
  • 15% of men living with a male intimate partner report being raped, assaulted or stalked by a male cohabitant (CDC, 1999)

• LGBT individuals may experience abuse during their childhood. They may be abused by parents or others who are intolerant of homosexuality. They may be targeted for sexual abuse by adults that recognize their “difference.”

• Over 11% of gay and lesbian youth report being physical attacked by family members (Hetrick-Martin Institute, 1988)

• 42% of homeless youth, many of whom have run away from home to escape violence, self-­identify as gay/lesbian. (Victim Services, 1991) LGBT persons face additional challenges in healing from childhood sexual assault, due to myths that childhood sexual assault may have “caused” them to be gay.

• A study of gay, lesbian and bisexual adults showed that 41% reported being a victim of a hate crime after the age of 16. (Herek, 1999) Sexual violence is more common among LGBT hate crimes, assailants may use rape to “punish” victims for what they view as their sexual transgressions.

Because of the particular barriers that the LGBTQ community faces when reporting or talking about their assault, the transition to survivorhood can be even more difficult. It is important that as a community we recognize this difficulty and provide education and resources for LGBTQ survivors and allies to help the healing process. While conducting research for some PAVE educational materials I stumbled upon this wonderful resource, Setting The Stage: Strategies for Supporting LGBTIQ survivors. that was published by the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs that does just that! I encourage you as an individual, advocate, counselor, friend, survivor, social service agency, etc to read through this wonderful publication.

You can download a PDF of the WCSAP’s Setting The Stage: Strategies for Supporting LGBTIQ Survivors by clicking here. Please use this resources to support hte LGBTQ survivors in your life!

Having a strong sense that self-defense would be cathartic for me, my husband convinced me to attend his Arnis class. As I surveyed the room – six guys, an instructor and a red duffle bag filled with knives – I fled through the front door. I was terrified. This was not for me. I did not have one survivor friend who went to self defense as part of their healing. His instructor recommended IMPACT Personal Safety, a program for women that he had been involved with. I watched their videos online. I was impressed with the intensity and focus of the course. Good for them, I thought, but not good for me.

Then I read IMPACT’s mission: men and women dedicated to ending the cycle of violence, a goal of many anti-sexual assault organizations I work with.  More specifically the goals of IMPACT are ones that this activist should know. The mission of IMPACT Personal Safety is to end the cycle of violence in society by empowering women, children, and men with the self-esteem and the tools necessary to take control of their lives through self-defense, boundary setting and the understanding that your life is worth fighting for.

I reluctantly signed up for the eight weeks basics course.  At the first class, I met 13 other strong, smart women who had been attacked or feared it, along with four instructors – one instructor, two assists, and our male instructor – the mugger.  Three and a half hours later, I wished every woman knew what I had just learned.  I left feeling exhausted but forever changed. We were taught surprisingly simple but highly effective physical moves to protect ourselves in real life situations that we chose and fought out with our fully padded and protected male instructor. I watched my classmates elbow, strike, and kick their way out of every scenario. IMPACT is not just about learning how to fight but arming yourself with verbal skills to deescalate a situation – and if all else fails – we were prepared to fight.  These boundary setting skills crossover to the every day – from a difficult boss to a needy friend, IMPACT taught us to assess situations and apply the right tools.

Every week I felt a little wiser, a little stronger, a little safer.  This class was about protecting myself in the present, and adding these skills to my activist toolbox. I went from vehemently arguing why the class was not for me to encouraging every woman to take the basics class. If anything the class reinforced that I skillfully survived the attack.  For survivors, this is an empowering moment: taking the power back. You don’t need to practice it- it’s muscle memory. Instead of freezing, your body has been taught to fight back.

The class ends with graduation – a mighty send off with an opportunity to show friends and family what you’ve learned. My husband, friends, and even a client attended.  I watched thirteen strong women I met just eight weeks earlier confidently and instinctively handle every scenario they were confronted with.  We were also applauding each other’s transformations and successes, from walking fearlessly through a parking lot at night, to changing jobs, to feeling a whole lot safer.  How many things can you learn in eight classes will change you forever?  Self defense is not a mandatory class all children learn in school; we learn what we are taught by family or friends, and then when one becomes a victim of a crime, we blame. We blame ourselves, and criminals know this. So then, how could you not take this class?  You want to find the survivor in you? Want to kick that fear through a brick wall?  Invest in you and find peace, happiness and some serious strength with IMPACT Personal Safety.”

- Marnie Goodfriend

If you are interested in learning more about IMPACT Personal Safety’s programs and how you might use then as a part of your healing process, you can learn more on their website. I’m linking you straight to their chapter locator page so you can click the one in your area, as each location offers different services. Click here.

A few months into the relationship was when I first knew something was wrong. He started being mean, he wouldn’t let me hang out with my girl friends, and basically forbade me from speaking to my guy friends. I didn’t want to break up with him for this, but these were my friends from elementary school. At the same time, I didn’t know if anyone would love me if we broke up.

It kept getting worse. He had no respect for me, constantly made me cry, never let me be with my friends, but was able to do whatever he wanted, while I sat alone at home on Friday and Saturday nights. I lost my virginity to him a few months into our relationship. After about a year was when it started getting bad. Growing up in a small town, rape had one meaning: when a stranger forced a girl into having sex with him. Rape didn’t happen between acquaintances, friends, significant others; if rape happened, it was usually the girl’s fault. Now, after a year of dating, when we had sex, it HURT. He’d be forceful and rough, and even when I cried and asked him to stop, he wouldn’t. He would yell at me to shut up and let him finish, and afterwards, would leave me to myself to finish crying while he went and played video games. Time and again, I went through this. It was stuck in my head that this was normal. He would be so sweet during the day when we were around other people, but by ourselves, it was different. I didn’t think I could leave; we had plans to get married, his whole family was so excited about it. I was so afraid he would hurt me if I tried to break up, and he made me feel like no one would ever love me. I wasn’t pretty, I was too needy, I was too demanding, I didn’t do enough for him. As much as I loved him, because I did, it was never good enough.

For another 3 or 4 months, sex was like this. Consensual at first, forceful at the end, with me feeling degraded and left alone to cry. I had no one to talk to, and no one noticed that I wanted to die. But because I was taught that rape was a stranger on a girl, I didn’t do anything. One night, everything changed and I knew it was wrong. We were alone for the night, and started fooling around. I didn’t want to have sex, but it started anyway. I changed my mind, and asked him to stop. He took my shoulders, slammed me down on the floor, and held me while I cried and screamed. The pain was horrible, and after he finished, left me to go watch TV. I couldn’t stop crying; I didn’t know what I had done to deserve this, I didn’t know what I could do right anymore to make him stop doing this to me. I kept crying and screaming, and eventually he yelled at me to shut the f*** up, to go downstairs and go to bed. And I did, because I was too afraid to leave him to go home. Home was a half hour away, and it was so late at night, I didn’t want to scare my parents. I broke up with him shortly after this. He tried so hard to get me back, but I have wonderful friends who held my hand while I tried to deal. I didn’t realize that rape could happen between significant others until almost a year after I broke up with him; I’m still dealing with the aftermath. I have severe anger problems, I have trust issues, and still, sometimes I’m afraid to have sex with my boyfriend of almost two years. All the memories still haunt me, but talking about it and dealing with the memories head-on has helped. I don’t know if mentally or emotionally I’ll be okay; but I’ve made progress. Enough that I can make it through the day without thinking about it and without worrying that he’ll find me.

Do you have a story to share? Please email your stories to info@ShatteringTheSilence.org with “My Stories” in the subject line.

He drove me home and, boy I was DRUNK.  He said he had some pot, we smoked some, which immediately made me puke.  I was so embarrassed and he was really sweet about it. He held my hair, brought me water, told me over and over it was ok, we have all been here.  When I told him I had to go to bed he asked if he could stay, didn’t even get under the covers because he didn’t want to freak me out. A gentleman!

He called several days later in the afternoon to see if I wanted to hang out.  I told him I had been fighting a nasty cold for a couple days, so maybe the weekend would be better. He said ok, fine, yeah.  After meeting my family for dinner for my nephew’s birthday, I came straight home, feeling ill and tired and wanting nothing more than my bed.  When I arrived home there were all these utility crews in the parking lot – apparently there was a gas leak of some sort.  I talked to one of the guys and he said it was fine for me to be home, they would let me know if the situation changed. Ok, good.

So I went inside and took some Nyquil because I felt like crap. I crashed immediately (you know the way Nyquil does that).  Some time later, maybe an hour or two, I heard the phone ring.  It was Dude. I didn’t answer, I was too sleepy.

A bit later I woke to this insanely urgent knock on my door.  It was after 1 AM. I was confused like, “WTF?” and then I remembered the gas leak.  Oh no!  So I got up and answered the door.  It was Dude.  He said he had tried to call but I hadn’t answered so he just came by, was that ok?  I told him I was really tired and didn’t feel very well. He said ok, but he had left the pot the other night (indeed he had, I had it stashed) and could he get it?  I agreed, turned to get it from the hiding spot in the bedroom.

He followed, teased me about my pajamas, “What are you wearing?” with a laugh as he gave the waistband of the shorts a little tug. I got the pot, handed it to him, and then pretty much collapsed in the bed.  I guess I thought he would just leave, but he offered to give me a back rub “to help me relax” (because I obviously needed that) and urged me to turn over. I sleepily did.

So, I was sacked out face down on the mattress, half asleep, he was rubbing my back and it was nice and cozy when all of a sudden he yanked my shorts and undies off – one fell swoop! I jerked to sit up but he pushed my face back into the bed, catching my temple on the table at the head of the bed pretty hard.  He straddled me, and I could hear him undoing the belt and the jeans in a frenzy.  I thought HELL NO! and tried to roll over, in the process he got a hold of my right arm and managed to get it pinned under my back as I rolled, torquing out my shoulder pretty good. I tried to push him or maybe hit him with my one free arm, but he grabbed and held it fast, then with his other arm elbowed me in the head. I tried to squirm out from under him kicking and such but only succeeding in twisting my shoulder further – I thought for sure it was going to just pop.  He was using his knees to pry my legs apart while holding my head against the bed by smashing my face with the palm of his hand, I was struggling too much for that to work very well so he planted his knee into my sternum good and hard (knocking the breath from me) and then punched me a few times in the head.

I saw his face then – he had this sick grin I will never ever EVER forget and that was the moment I realized a) he was clearly enjoying himself and b) I wasn’t going to win – he was going to beat the hell out of me and fuck me anyway. So I just stopped fighting.

So, he then raped me. At one point he actually asked me if I was enjoying myself.  At some point he was done, rolled off me and we laid there.  I was so completely defeated, I couldn’t even get up then. I remember his heart was beating so loudly, I said something about I thought it might explode, he laughed and said it must have been all the coke he did before he came over. He got up then and went into the living room to smoke some weed, to “help him relax.” I looked at the time – it was 2:30 and for some reason that, of all things, made me bawl.  He came back in the bedroom and asked what was wrong (!?!).  I cried until I passed out.

I woke when the alarm went off and he was crashed out next to me. Ew ew ew. I showered and quickly got ready for work and then had a heck of a time waking him up so I could leave.  I didn’t want to touch him or talk to him, but I couldn’t just leave him there.  I shook him awake and told him I had to leave right then. We got out into the parking lot and I started getting into my car, he said something like, “Aren’t you even going to say goodbye?” and I replied, “You can’t do this to me again.” He smirked that same sick grin as before and said, “Oh yes, I can.”

That day at work was pretty much hell.  I remember the secretary mentioning that I had got there really early – I had too!  I didn’t take time to eat or make tea or anything, I just wanted to get the fuck out of my apartment. At noon I went to lift weights with a coworker and friend, which was our habit on Thursdays and as we dressed she asked, “What happened to your leg…both of your legs…and your arm…my god your shoulder! Brigid!”  I sheepishly looked away, told her that Dude had been over the night before and it got a little out of hand. I remember her looking at me waiting for me to say more and I didn’t. That was the extent of the reporting.

Of course I didn’t tell anyone, especially the cops.  I felt like an idiot for trusting him, for opening the door, for being stoned, for wearing those pajamas, for not being smarter or stronger or any adjective that would have kept it from happening.

Over the next couple of weeks there were several nights Dude called repeatedly, and then, often, some time later there would be frenetic pounding on my door, him hollering my name.  It was awful – I would squat behind the couch in the dark because if he saw a light or heard noise he wouldn’t go away for long periods of time, sometimes banging on the door for 20 minutes, going out to the car and calling again, leave a message saying he could hear my phone ring, my car was there he knew I was home, then he would come back in and knock some more.  Eventually he gave up.

Angela Rose, PAVE Founder & CAMPUSPEAK speaker on the issue of sexual violence, is a survivor…and thriver. At the age of 17, Angela was abducted at knife point outside a suburban Chicago shopping mall. She was assaulted by a repeat sex-offender on parole for murder-and was eventually released by her attacker. Angela shares her story through her nonprofit PAVE (Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment), across college campuses and now on A&E Bio Channel’s television show I Survived…

In a stripped-down, simple interview style, I Survived… allows survivors to explain, in their own words, how they overcame unbelievable circumstances-offering insight into what got them through the experience that changed their lives forever.

Angela’s episode premiersed on the Bio Channel on Sunday, April 15 at 9 pm EST. You can now watch the full episode online at http://www.biography.com/tv/i-survived/videos/angela-pat-tricia-full-episode-2222643574.

Tune in for an personal account of her experiences and how she is now helping other victims get their voice back.

CLICK FOR PREVIEW

Visit campuspeak.com/rose to learn more about Angela and her keynote, Shattering the Silence of Sexual Violence.

FOLLOW ANGELA ON TWITTER: AngelaRosePAVE

FREE resources for Sexual Assault Awareness month:
http://www.pavingtheway.net/wordpress/saam

“Students [at PACE University] took action by participating in the binding project to spread awareness about violence perpetrated against men and women.

The binding project is a project that’s a part of Angela Rose’s non-profit organization, PAVE. We use this project as a platform to share her story about how she turned her experience as a survivor of sexual violence, into activism. Angela speaks out about sexual violence and the way in which it affects victims worldwide. Students wrote words that they felt like empowered them, on a zip tie. They wore the ties for two days in unity, for the same amount of time that Angela was tied using the material, when she was kidnapped at age 17.”

Check out these great pics from the event!

Interested in doing the binding project on your campus or in your community? If so, read more about the binding project here, or click here to purchase now.

PAVE invites you to join is in participating in the Office Of Women’s Health, Violence Against Women Steering Committee & The Office on Violence Against Women’s Call to Action: Addressing Sexual Violence on Campus

Tuesday, April 10th; Hubert H. Humphrey Building – Great Hall 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C.

Click Here to Register

PRESS RELEASE:

Boys and Men Healing Film Screenings at Penn State

One of Over Hundreds of Screenings Across the Nation: A National Awareness Raising
Campaign and MALESURVIVOR.ORG ‘DARE TO DREAM EVENT 2′
JOIN THE HEALING JOURNEY!

Penn State –Penn State will host two screenings of Boys and Men Healing, a
leading documentary produced by Big Voice Pictures about the affects of male child sexual
abuse and the importance of healing, speaking out, and advocating for ending the cycle of
the sexual abuse of boys. This event is hosted by Penn State University.

The film screenings and Q&A following will be held at Altoona Campus at 7:00 p.m. on
April 3, 2012 at the Misciagna Theater on the Penn State Altoona campus. A reception will
be held @ 6 p.m. that evening in the Titleman Lounge of the theater to welcome the
speakers. The panel of speakers include: Simon Weinberg, Co-Producer of Boys and Men
Healing, Mark Crawford, survivor and MaleSurvivor Advisory Board member also featured
in the film, Founding Board Members of MaleSurvivor and current Advisory Board
members, Jim Struve LCSW and Howard Fradkin, Ph.D,, and Chris Anderson, survivor
and Vice President of MaleSurvivor. MaleSurvivor is a leading organization providing
useful information to promote health, discussion and connections for male survivors of
sexual abuse and those who support them.

The second screening will be held at Penn State – University Park on Wed April 4th from 7-
8:30 pm in the HUB Auditorium. The panel of speakers will be available for a Q & A after
the screening.

Boys and Men Healing is a film from director and producer Kathy Barbini, and co-producer
Simon Weinberg of Big Voice Pictures. Boys and Men Healing digs deep into the impact of
male child sexual abuse on both the individual and society, and highlights the importance of
male survivors healing and speaking out for the well being of our families, and
communities. Featuring non-offending men, this film shows the profound effects of
boyhood sexual abuse — shame, intimacy problems, sexual identity confusion, post-
traumatic stress, substance abuse or and unresolved rage that led to violence. Despite such
devastating effects, each man ultimately chose the arduous task of healing. Through
counseling, support groups and prevention advocacy, each man is a testimony of hope and
the ability for survivors to thrive.

Events are free to the public and open to the media, though seating is limited.
Free parking in lots.

Who: Penn State is hosting. Free and open to the public.
What: Boys and Men Healing documentary screening and panel discussion
When: Tuesday, April 3 6:30 pm Reception and 7:00pm Film Screening ; Wednesday April 4. 7:00pm Film Screening
Where: April 3: Misciagn Theater on Altoona campus; April 4, at the Hub Auditorium at the Penn State University Park.

This film screening is sponsored by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and
Penn State Student Affairs

What the Experts are Saying about Boys and Men Healing:

“Absolutely superb…Emotionally Powerful”
Matthew Mendel, Ph.D., Psychologist
Author of The Male Survivor: Impact of Sexual Abuse

“Kathy Barbini’s film has the potential to transform those stories and voices into healing –
not only for individuals but also for families, communities, and even societies.”
Jim Hopper, Founding Board Member, 1in6.org

“An excellent film for teaching about children’s experiences of sexual abuse and the
multiple influences that support their healing and recovery…a marvelous gift to us all.”
Ernesto Mujica, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalysis , NYSPA Division of
Psychoanalysis and Advisory Board Member of MaleSurvivor and Co-chair of the 2012
MaleSurvivor Conference

“Will have a profound effect.”
Eileen King, Regional Director, Justice for Children

“An excellent breakthough…Extraordinarily touching and brave”
Alex Bottinelli, Resource Coordinator
Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

“Very beautifully filmed…know how deeply it is appreciated by countless people…”
Chrys Ballerano, Building Connections, Project Co-Director/Community Educator &
Resource Library Coordinator, NYS Coalition Against Sexual Assault

“Boys and Men Healing is a powerful evocation of a complex, deeply felt issue that affects
not just sexually abused boys and men, but each and every one of us living in a society that
has come so late to recognize this prevalent problem, and is still struggling about whether
and how to prevent it and heal its victims.
Richard Gartner, Ph.D., Psychotherapist and MaleSurvivor Advisory Board Member
Author: Beyond Betrayal: Taking Charge of Your Life After Boyhood Sexual Abuse
and Betrayed as Boys: Psychodynamic Treatment of Sexually Abused Men

“While it is clear this film will help survivors heal and providers treat, I see an even greater
purpose. Use this film to educate lawmakers!Senator Joe Vitale, New Jersey State Senate