In His Own Words - Male Survivors Speak Out
Men who say they were sexually abused as children reveal why they're coming forward.
John
Age: 45
Age when first abused: 11
"I just want to let the kids who are out there who are suffering [know] there is help out there. Don't do what I did—don't tell anybody. You're going to live with that for the rest of your life. That's the biggest thing that I regret, not saying a word to anyone. If there's anybody out there, I don't care if it's a male, I don't care if it's a female. If you are being sexually abused, please tell somebody—a counselor, teacher, parents, police. There are people out there who will help you. For me, I didn't do that, and I don't know how many more people my abuser took advantage of, but that is a guilt that I live with every day."
Age: 45
Age when first abused: 11
"I just want to let the kids who are out there who are suffering [know] there is help out there. Don't do what I did—don't tell anybody. You're going to live with that for the rest of your life. That's the biggest thing that I regret, not saying a word to anyone. If there's anybody out there, I don't care if it's a male, I don't care if it's a female. If you are being sexually abused, please tell somebody—a counselor, teacher, parents, police. There are people out there who will help you. For me, I didn't do that, and I don't know how many more people my abuser took advantage of, but that is a guilt that I live with every day."
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