Don’t miss this important two part Oprah, the first airing today November 5.
It has been a crucial part of my mission through my work with PAVE: Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment to include men’s voices to shatter the silence of sexual violence. Every time I speak a conference, I hear other presenters use the word “She” and “Her” when speaking of survivors of sexual assault. I always speak up and voice my opinion that we need to stop using gendered language because at times even our movement silences male survivors!
This Oprah episode will surely create a groundswell of men speaking out, but the problem lies in the fact that many communities lack the support systems for male survivors. I have heard from countless men across the country on college campuses who survived sexual trauma and when they sought help from local rape crisis centers or counseling centers, they were turned away. This must change!
We are partnering with the organization 1 in 6 and Big Voice Pictures who created the film Boys and Men Healing to work towards cultivating education and action to support men who have been sexually abused. And PAVE’s Empowerment Director Gabe Wright is an outspoken male survivor. Click here on The Guys Project website and watch his short video.
You can submit your email to stay active in making sure we work as survivors and allies to help men and boys heal from sexual abuse!! www.TheGuysProject.org
Other friends of PAVE doing this important work include:
– Chris and Ophelia of (Wo)Men Speak Out
I am seeking your comments…what do we need to do as a society to help men and boys heal from sexual abuse? And if you saw the Oprah show, what did you think?
Angela Rose 
November 6, 2010 at 3:33 am
Thanks for your support Angela!
November 8, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Gabe, thanks for all you have done and continue to do to shatter the silence of sexual violence against all – not just boys, but all ages!! And cheers to all of the work that you continue to do in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities. You are a true pioneer and I feel blessed to work with you!
November 6, 2010 at 5:15 am
First off, WOW – what a powerful episode! I’m home for the weekend so I was actually able to watch this with my sister, mom and dad. My sister kept saying, “I can’t believe this!” My mom said that she felt nauseous while watching it. My dad never watches television, but he stayed and watched the entire thing. He never said one word. I felt completely taken aback. I felt like I could relate to these men and what they were saying. I thanked my mom when the episode was over for believing me when I told her about my abuse. I felt completely empowered after watching this episode. Empowered, yet raw. I’m really happy that Oprah decided to have these men on. I know that this is going to impact so many people’s lives just by watching it. I know that it impacted mine.
November 8, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Thank you so much for the feedback, Emma. It was inspiring to hear about the family coming together to watch this episode. Also, kuddos to your mom for supporting you! Sadly, that doesn’t happen all the time. You’ve been a joy to work with Emma, thanks for everything!
November 6, 2010 at 5:23 am
Angela, Bravo! Thanks for your work. Steve
November 8, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Steve: thank YOU so much for your work. It’s been an honor continuing the dialogue with Peter from 1 in 6. You are all certainly doing incredible work, thanks for shattering the silence!!
November 6, 2010 at 5:27 am
Tremendously moving to hear their journeys through healing. Real men delivering raw emotion, bringing a face to male sexual violence. Thank you for being brave enough to shatter the silence!
November 8, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Thank you Kali for all of your work!! Looking forward to continuing to work together! 🙂
February 11, 2011 at 3:48 pm
Seems hypocritical that many NHL Hockey fans are still not able to recognise the importance of the issue of childhood sexual abuse in light of the exposure of Graham James by Sheldon Kennedy,EX NHLer who was sexually abused by James when in the minors’ Hockey league. But now another chance. Theo Fleury, also ex NHLer is now bringing charges against James for the same reason. When will people get it that people like me, male childhood sexual abuse victims exist? In fairness, when I’ve brought it up only certain family members lacked any form of empathy; as well as the police officer to whom I made the complaint after the 2010 campaign against sexual assault held by the provincial health and social services minister of Quebec. That is my take on things. Got to be a high profile celebrity to get the issue recognised it seems where governments are concerned. This is called prejudice. How do we deal with this form of prejudice?