Survivor Stories

Lorward's Story

Lorward is faith-oriented, a dedicated friend, and a writer. He also experienced sexual violence during his first year of college. “Every level of campus—roommates, RAs, school counselors, therapists, and the administration—needs to be part of this. We need an increase in capacity and programs so that students can get the help they need and administrators and therapists aren’t too swamped. We need to make resources known on campus.”

Tagged in: Athlete, Barriers to disclosing, Campus assault, College student, Grooming, How to support survivors, Male survivors, Seeking justice, Writers

Desarae’s Story

Desarae Garcia is a social worker, mother, podcast creator, storyteller, and survivor of child sexual abuse. “I’m a huge advocate for people to be trauma informed. If someone tells you they’ve been abused, believe them. If it’s too much for you to handle, find someone else who can help.”

Tagged in: Anxiety, Barriers to disclosing, Childhood sexual abuse, Depression, Dissociation, Forensic exam, Giving back, Grooming, Incest, Latinx survivors, PTSD, Seeking justice, Self-care, Stalking, Suicide, Teenage survivors, Therapy

Samantha's Story

Samantha Lynn is a musician, member of the LGBTQ community, and survivor of sexual violence. "Music is how I talk about what happened. Every time I share my story in a performance, people come up to me after to say they’re survivors, too. It’s so healing to know you’re not alone."

Tagged in: Art, Depression, Disordered eating, How to support survivors, LGBTQ, Music, Panic attacks, PTSD, Seeking justice, Sleep disorders, Substance abuse, Suicide, Therapy, Trial

Elise's Story

Elise Roberts is a professional dancer, dedicated friend, and visual artist in her spare time. She is also a survivor of intimate partner violence. As a teenager, Elise experienced depression, bullying, and self-harm. “You are not a victim, you are a victory. Remember— you’ve made it through 100% of your bad days. You made it this far, you can keep going.”

Tagged in: Art, Dancing, Depression, Giving back, How to support survivors, Intimate partner violence, NSAH, Self-harm, Suicide, Teenage survivors, Therapy

Georgeta’s Story

Georgeta Rae is a musician, activist, and community leader. She experienced sexual assault during her first year of college. She started speaking at events on campus and working with the college president on the issue. Georgeta has become an outspoken advocate for improving sexual assault prevention and response efforts on her campus. “If I help others, I feel better. I heal. If I know that at least one other person won’t have to go through the same pain I went through, I feel that I am saving myself through saving them.”

Tagged in: Art, Barriers to disclosing, Campus assault, College student, Forensic exam, Giving back, How to support survivors, Music, NSAH, PTSD, Seeking justice, Sleep disorders, Therapy

Pierre's Story

Pierre Chambers is a leader in his church, musician, father, and survivor of child sexual abuse. He experienced child sexual abuse between the ages of 12 and 15. The perpetrator was the youth pastor at his church, a close family friend. As the choir director, the perpetrator was also a charismatic and important leader in the church. “We’ve all heard about child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, so through my story, I want to shed light on how this also happens in other faith comunities.”

Tagged in: Black survivors, Childhood sexual abuse, Forensic exam, Grooming, How to support survivors, Male survivors, Manipulation, Religion, Seeking justice, Trial, Writers

Gail's Story

Gail Gardner is a pastoral counselor, advocate, listener, writer, and survivor of sexual violence. One of the phrases Gail says she often hears from survivors is: “there was no one there for me.” After experiencing both supportive and unsupportive reactions to what happened to her, Gail knows how much of a difference it can make when someone listens and believes you. “Telling your story will be the beginning of your healing. You will see light at the end of the tunnel.”

Tagged in: Barriers to disclosing, Black survivors, Childhood sexual abuse, Forensic exam, Giving back, Grooming, How to support survivors, Incest, Religion, Seeking justice, Substance abuse, Writers

Sydney's Story

After a decade of not telling anyone about her experience with sexual violence, Sydney disclosed to her husband. “It was scary to tell him, because it made it feel more real. But it was also a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and the true start to my healing. If he hadn’t opened the conversation and made me feel that I could talk about it, my healing would have taken even longer to get started.”

Tagged in: Barriers to disclosing, Disordered eating, Giving back, How to support survivors, Outdoors, Panic attacks, Self-care, Substance abuse, Writers

Christy's Story

Christy Hinnant is an activist, veteran, and the current Mrs. Universal, the all-around winner of a national pageant competition. She is also a survivor of sexual assault. “I felt vulnerable that this thing had happened to me and I didn’t want it to show through to anyone. I didn’t want pity; I didn’t want them to think I was lesser. I tried never to ask for help and to show a strong exterior.”

Tagged in: Anxiety, Depression, Forensic exam, Giving back, Latinx survivors, Military Survivors, PTSD, Rape kit backlog, Seeking justice, Sleep disorders, Suicide, Therapy

Military Sexual Assault Survivor: James

James Landrith is a survivor of sexual violence, former U.S. Marine, and long-time part of the RAINN team. When he was 19 and on his first active duty assignment, James was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance who was not in the military. Because the perpetrator was a woman, he did not feel that he would be believed or taken seriously if he told anyone. "Even though I knew how it had hurt me, I had never given myself permission to label it as sexual violence. That’s why I never told anyone; as a man, I didn’t think I could be a survivor. I didn’t think I had the right to say it.”

Tagged in: Barriers to disclosing, DoD community, How to support survivors, Male survivors, Military Survivors, Outdoors, Panic attacks, Safe Helpline, Seeking justice, Self-care, Therapy

Survivor Stories

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