Tag Archive for "sexual abuse"

Posts Tagged sexual abuse

More Horace Mann abuse victims come forward

**Trigger warning**

Last week, the New York Times published a long article about a long history of sexual abuse at Horace Mann, one of New York’s most prestigious high schools. The author of the article, an alumnus of the school, describes a decades-long string of abuses of students by teachers, particularly of boys by men. The story is Hard To Read, as these kinds of stories always are.

Those stories are also very hard to write. But one very good reason to write them is that it makes it easier, safer, and more acceptable for others to do the same. You break the silence, and once a silence is broken, it’s awfully hard to put it back together.

That’s exactly what’s happened ...

**Trigger warning**

By Lori Adelman • 11 years ago

Quick hit: NYT on VAWA and “scourge of rape” for Native American women

Last Wednesday, House Republicans stooped to a new low by throwing their support behind a ridiculous, callous and watered down version of the Violence Against Women Act. As we detailed last week, the heavily edited H.R. 4970 now moves backward on VAWA reauthorization, with the version that the House passed actually denying protection of undocumented immigrants, Native/indigenous people and LGBT victims of violence. Today’s New York Times documents the plague of sexual assault and rape in the Native American community, shedding light on a horrible reality and further illustrating the need for a VAWA that addresses the realities of women in vulnerable and marginalized populations. From the article:

“One in three American Indian women have been raped or have experienced ...

By zerlina • 12 years ago

Why is the church crowning Eddie Long king?

Full Disclosure: I grew up in the church. Both of my parents are ministers. I was in church every Sunday for the fiftyleven services that lasted from 8am until 3pm when my mother was finally finished talking to every church member. (She’s very social). My grandfather was a baptist minister. The church is a part of who I am which is why I need to take a moment to say….do better.

It was around 8 years old when I realized that I was a liberal. I questioned everything including the teachings of my church. As I got older I learned to appreciate the comfort that believing in something greater than myself could give but there were ...

Full Disclosure: I grew up in the church. Both of my parents are ministers. I was in church every Sunday for the fiftyleven services that lasted from 8am until 3pm when my mother was finally ...

By Miriam • 12 years ago

No Longer Invisible brings the experiences of abuse survivors to light

I know first-hand how extremely difficult it is for survivors to literally open their mouths and speak those dreadful, shocking words: “I was sexually abused.” But I believe that childhood sexual abuse continues to be perpetrated upon young victims because it is an “invisible” offense.I have come to the conclusion that the only way to eradicate this horrific epidemic is for survivors to courageously “reveal” themselves – connecting human flesh with the astounding statistics. We must be visible.

Stand with me and become No Longer Invisible …….. because I’m not the only one.

There are many initiatives floating to the surface these days around support survivors of sexual abuse. The Penn State scandal helped in raising awareness, and these projects which ...

By Katie Halper • 12 years ago

From Katie, some of the countless best of the year

1)Up with Chris Hayes drops systemic analysis on Penn State

Because the post highlights a much-needed critical, thoughtful perspective, which challenges the sensationalism and irresponsible journalism which dominates our media and manages to focus on2) because Jos becomes the 438th person I know to claim Chris Hayes as her boyfriend.

1)Up with Chris Hayes drops systemic analysis on Penn State

By Miriam • 12 years ago

Secret Survivors: Breaking the silence around child sexual abuse

Recent events, particularly the Penn State case, have reminded us of the great need to find tools to combat child sexual abuse. It’s one of the most hidden epidemics, with an estimated one in six boys and one in four girls experiencing some form of sexual abuse.

I believe that one of the most powerful ways to combat an epidemic like this one is for survivors to tell their stories–for folks to break the silence. It shows how common this really is, gives others the courage to speak out and even escape abusive situations.

A new documentary project is in the works that does just that: Secret Survivors.

Secret Survivors is an interview-based theater project by NYC-based theater company,

Recent events, particularly the Penn State case, have reminded us of the great need to find tools to combat child sexual abuse. It’s one of the most hidden epidemics, with an estimated one in ...

By Jos Truitt • 12 years ago

Up with Chris Hayes drops systemic analysis on Penn State

Chris Hayes, my morning talk show boyfriend, dedicated an hour of his Saturday show to the Penn State sexual abuse scandal. Hayes is joined by a great panel: The New Yorker writer Rick Hertzberg, University of Texas visiting scholar Victoria M. Defrancesco Soto, former Brooklyn District Attorney and Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman, MSNBC political analyst Michael Eric Dyson, and The Nation‘s sports writer Dave Zirin. They look at the way powerful institutions breed this sort of corruption and evil, drawing links with the scandal in the Catholic Church. There are also smart explorations of some of the class and race dynamics at play. The full hour is an important contextualizing of this scandal within some larger systems of power. There’s certainly more to discuss, including about the ...

By Miriam • 12 years ago

Breaking: Penn State Coach Joe Paterno and President fired by Board of Trustees

In the latest update on the Penn State sex abuse cover-up scandal, the University Board of Trustees has fired both the head coach and the University President for their alleged roles in the cover up. This despite the fact that Coach Paterno tried to avoid being fired by announcing his end of season retirement earlier today. Via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Penn State trustees fired football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier (SPAN<-yer) amid the growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against an assistant coach.The massive shakeup Wednesday night came hours after Paterno announced that he planned to retire at the end of his 46th season. But the outcry following the arrest of former assistant ...