Hi Annholly... your right, it is sick, and extremely disturbing to know just how many there really is that have been affected by sexual abuse/assault in one way or another. There are still more out there that as yet have not been reported, and a majority of those unreported, never will be. I wish I knew a way of stopping all these acts, but I dont, all we can do is be there for the victims and pray for them. Hugs to you.

Wow. I bet that was something else. I have heard of it but haven't had a chance to see it in person. I definitely will be watching for it. That was very brave of your daughter and all the survivors to stand up and make everyone aware of how much it is out there. I'm sure it was good for her to see that she is not alone and some people really do understand how she feels. You must be very proud.
I too wish we could do something to with this illness....laws need to be changed.

I haven't seen it, but now I really want to. It's a great thing that the play is trying to increase awareness about sexual abuse--that seems to be where there's a huge lack of effort from government, schools, laws, etc. Our society has gone down the slippery slope so far that many people don't know sexual assault when they see it, or they decide to call it something else because they don't want to get involved, which only serves to damage our poor kids (and families) even further. That's what happened in our case--we actually had a witness to the perp (23 1/2) molesting our son (right before or after he turned 16) just a couple months after the abuse started, and he said NOTHING. So it continued for another 9 months or so, with the witness knowing full well it was going on week after week right down the hall from where we were all making dinner and having a good time. When we later confronted the witness (supposedly our "best friend") after finding out, he said it looked consensual to him and didn't think it was any of our business. Who needs enemies with friends like that?

WOW, is all I can say...it really is like a cancer. Everyone will be affected directly or indirectly by it in some way.

This is why we are here...to increase awareness encourage healing and hand out compassion to the victims. love to all

wow all I can say is thank god the word is getting out and thank god for Tyler perry for talking about male sex abuse and Oprah for the shows she has done.

Sherri I feel the same way. It opened up a lot of discussions about it. Then her show with the teenage girls and the one with the boy that shot the molester were all good for everyone to see. People just don't think it will happen in their family but it's in every family it seems. We can all keep spreading the awareness and maybe if it's such a shameful secret when it happens we can save some children from this pain.

WOW! I have never even heard of it, but will be searching for it now. It is very sad how many people are affected and still how many people want to just pretend it doesn't happen. Until the awareness is out there and people know that it happens to SO MANY and that hiding it is the WORST thing a family can do, it will continue to be a problem. Yay for your daughter for being so brave and standing up.

I just took a course on lobbying and maybe it's time we all band together to get our senators and congressmen involved. It's the only way to get the laws changed and we NEED changes!

not to lessen the statement. yes, that is insane and very sad. i'm thinking, though, 'stalking', should not be in company with the other categories. considering how many people are already part of this site and the growing number every day (which is frustrating in and of itself), i'll assume about the same would be standing omitting 'stalking'. but, i would like to know w/o it. not to downgrade stalking or anything. but, that is rather loose term. and it's used loosely by all. i mean, someone who comes to your work on a regular basis, talks to you, asks for you, they'd be called stalkers, and really, in no way would they legally be considered so; or even mean any harm. like i said, not trying to lessen the statement. but, really, just about every woman (and prob plenty of men...girls and boys) has considered someone 'in their lives' a stalker.

Yeah YB I hear you, but that was just part of the Voice group at my daughters college, I am not sure of what it all entails, but basically just trying to keep people safe!! Sometimes stalking leads to worse crimes. AS for the the Vagina Monologues, its not just about abuse or rape for those of you who have not seen it. IT is about empowerment of women, it may insult some, but let me tell you , you laugh, you cry and you cringe. But it has alot to say!!! And yes broken sun it we all had a say in the laws, oh what a wonderful world this could be!!!!!

Wow! I just told a police officer in the county that we are working with, which happens to be on the top 5 list for drugs in the US, yes, nice, it's in the middle of nowwhere as well....how, this is like and infestation and if it's not stopped here and here it'll lead to...oh..I don't know.. a huge drug issue because all the victims can't handle the strain....hmmmm...he didn't like me too much, in fact, he yelled alot, but it's true! It will infest a county if the prosecutor let's it and over time, it's overwhelming!!! Like bed bugs!! And, then the victims are a wreck and turn to drugs and then...it starts all over again...glad I don't live there! This is just where it happened for my children.