SEXUAL VIOLENCE
By Florida definition, “Sexual violence” means any one incident of:
Sexual battery, as defined in chapter 794;
A lewd or lascivious act, as defined in chapter 800, committed upon or in the presence of a person younger than 16 years of age;
Luring or enticing a child, as described in chapter 787;
Sexual performance by a child, as described in chapter 827; or
Any other forcible felony wherein a sexual act is committed or attempted. (6)
In a nationally representative survey of adults (2012):
Facts About Male Sexual Violence
Men and boys can be victims of sexual violence as children, teens or as adults.
The sexual abuse of boys has nothing to do with an abuser’s or victim’s sexual orientation.
Most perpetrators of male sexual assault are men, and they rape both gay and straight men or boys because rape is an act of violence, not of sexual desire.
Girls and women can sexually abuse boys. The boys are not “lucky,” but exploited and harmed.
Most boys who are sexually abused will not go on to sexually abuse others.
Some men are assaulted by a stranger, or a group of strangers, while others may be assaulted by someone they know.
Some attackers use weapons, physical force, or the threat of force to gain the upper hand. Others may use blackmail or their position of authority to threaten someone into submission.
No matter how it occurs, it is a violation of a man’s body and his free will and it can have lasting emotional consequences. (8)
Nearly 1 in 5 (18.3%) women and 1 in 71 men (1.4%) reported experiencing rape at some time in their lives.
Approximately 1 in 20 women and men (5.6% and 5.3%, respectively) experienced sexual violence other than rape, such as being made to penetrate someone else, sexual coercion, unwanted sexual contact, or non-contact unwanted sexual experiences, in the 12 months prior to the survey.
4.8% of men reported they were made to penetrate someone else at some time in their lives.
13% of women and 6% of men reported they experienced sexual coercion at some time in their lives. (7)
Where Can I Go for Help?
Immediate response to rape victims – 24 hours a day.
Crisis counseling by telephone or face to face intervention; case management; victim/court advocacy.
Nurse practitioners on call 24 hours a day to perform rape examinations. Victims may have a rape exam whether or not they report to law enforcement.
Personal assistance and support during medical examinations, police involvement and legal proceedings.
On-going support for victims, their families and friends.
Assistance applying for Victim Crime Compensation (financial assistance from the State of Florida).
Coordination of community services and community resources.
Special counseling for younger children. (9)