The Complex Road to Justice and Healing for Male Sexual Assault Survivors

When Sam Schultz became a victim of sexual assault, it was as though a part of their very essence had withered away. It took eight long years, along with the momentum generated by the burgeoning #MeToo movement, for them to summon the courage to step forward and file a police report. Five additional years elapsed before their attackers finally pleaded guilty.

Yet, in the midst of seeking justice, Schultz found themselves burdened by an unexpected weight – the blame. Instead of being able to focus on their own healing and recovery, they found themselves shouldering the blame from other members of the gay and queer communities. Their crime? Coming forward and, in doing so, potentially tarnishing the reputations of the men who had assaulted them.

The pain of the initial assault, coupled with the subsequent public attention and courtroom proceedings, took an immense toll on Schultz. In their own words, “It is an exhausting and horrifying journey that I almost quit because it just takes way too much of a person.” Schultz’s sentiment highlights a stark reality: the justice system often appears ill-equipped to support survivors, particularly male survivors.

Research cited in a recent article published in the journal Behavioral Sciences reveals a distressing statistic – up to 95% of male sexual violations go unreported. This reluctance to report stems from a multitude of factors, including stigma, shame, guilt, embarrassment, and fear of not being believed. Privacy concerns and worries about the potential questioning of their sexual orientation or masculinity further deter male survivors from seeking help.

For LGBTQ+ individuals like Schultz, the complexity deepens. Concealing their identities becomes a concern, fearing that revealing their status might inadvertently disclose more than they are ready to share. Scott Berkowitz, president of RAINN (the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), notes that disbelief still exists in some quarters regarding the vulnerability of LGBTQ+ people to sexual assault.

Organizations like MaleSurvivor and the National Women’s Law Center aim to provide support for male survivors, recognizing that stereotypes about survivors often do not align with the reality. Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center, emphasizes, “And men as a category don’t meet that stereotype, even though all the research has shown us that at least 9% of sexual assault survivors are male.”

Schultz’s journey from assault to adjudication and beyond paints a wrenching and maddening picture. They were an aspiring opera singer and a graduate student when they met their assailants, David Daniels and Scott Walters, through the city’s music circles. What began as admiration for Daniels, a “proud gay man” in a conservative art form, spiraled into a nightmarish ordeal.

The ordeal left Schultz with a haunting question: what was the right course of action? Reporting to the police or seeking medical help felt unsafe, leaving them to grapple with their trauma in isolation. It wasn’t until 2018, amid the #MeToo movement, that Schultz found the strength to go public.

Daniels and Walters, despite pleading guilty to sexual assault of an adult, still maintain their innocence within their opera community. Schultz was not only confronted with the trauma of their assault but also with the disbelief and criticism from those who rallied around the perpetrators.

This painful experience underscores the need for a conversation about consent within the LGBTQ+ community. Schultz rightly points out that, “As young queer people, many of us are objectified and reduced to conquests by often older or more powerful peers.” Such discussions are crucial for fostering understanding and respect.

The recent exposure of allegations involving prominent individuals, such as the case of Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, offers a glimmer of hope. Schultz believes that as more stories emerge, society will begin to take these cases seriously.

In the aftermath of Schultz sharing their story, they received a poignant message from a man in his 60s who had also been sexually assaulted in college. His realization and emotional response highlight the immense importance of addressing these issues openly.

Male sexual assault survivors like Sam Schultz deserve justice, healing, and a society that listens and supports them on their journey towards recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Male Sexual Assault Survivors

More about Male Sexual Assault Survivors

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network)
• MaleSurvivor
• National Women’s Law Center
• #MeToo movement
• Behavioral Sciences journal
• Washington Blade
• BBC report on Mike Jeffries