Before you read the following article out of the local newspaper "The Bermuda Sun" I have a few words to share! I know of three of my male friends who are straight who have been sexually abused and have broke down into tears because of the embarrassment of what they had to go through some going through it for years!! rape of any sort is sickening to me!!! you damage people and their outlook on life!! and I'm not even talking about children I'm talking about rape in general!Statutory rape too!! reading this article really brought back some emotions I didn't know I had.. and i quote myself again! "If you are old enough to be a persons parent!!! that is disgusting!!!" I don't give a SHIT if they are 18 and legal to have sex by law they are still not old enough to make all decision in their life without parent/guardian consent! there are many people in the fucking world 21 and older!!! and I'm damn sure u can find someone on your age,education level, and life style that can please you more sexually than someone not wanting to have sex with you!! SEX feels better with out guilt! SORRY HAD TO VENT!
**THE ARTICLE**
Men are being raped in Bermuda and an upsurge in reported cases of male sexual abuse has been branded "one of Bermuda's best kept secrets."
The Physical Abuse Centre has spoken out about sex attacks on men after receiving a surge of cries for help - five calls in the last three weeks. This is said to be "a first for Bermuda".
Two calls were from "average men in their early 20s" seeking help as the victims of rape.
The men, who are both heterosexual, said men they knew carried out the attacks. One of the victims said he had been gang raped and believes a date rape drug had been used.
Three other distress calls were from people looking for help for men who had been sexually abused.
None of the calls or attacks are thought to be linked. Police are believed to be investigating the rapes, but they would not talk about individual cases.
Staff at the Physical Abuse Centre believe the recently reported cases are "just the tip of the iceberg" as other men suffer in silence.
They are calling for a specialist service for male sex victims, as there is currently nowhere for them to turn to.
The charity is helping with counselling but victims are said to be "going round in circles" trying to find the right people to help them.
Laurie Shiell, director of the Physical Abuse Centre, said: "We are getting calls from male individuals who have been sexually abused.
"Sexual abuse of men is on the rise in Bermuda.
"We are talking about male rape here.
"This is a first. We don't usually get any calls, then we get five calls this month already."
However, Ms Shiell ?admitted there was still a huge stigma attached to male sexual abuse, with many men keeping things to themselves. It's very ?difficult to get men to speak up, they don't feel comfortable. [They] have a real hard time speaking to someone about what has happened."
Ms Shiell reckons most male abuse is unreported.
Typically, when abused women talk to counsellors, they say their partners have abused them because they were previously abused themselves.
Ms Shiell said: "Male ?sexual abuse is one of those secrets, one of Bermuda's best kept secrets. It's out there but no one wants to admit it or talk about it.
"We often see a chain of abuse. Behind an abuser is often a background of abuse."
An inter-agency meeting took place on Monday to ?ensure "all areas of help were covered." But government departments and the island's charities agreed "the gap" was male sexual abuse.
Ms Shiell said: "People are asking a lot of ?questions about where to go for help but they are going round in circles.
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"There is nowhere to go for help for men who have been sexually abused. It's a real shame as there is a need out there.
"We will help these men and offer them counselling as there is no other form of support out there. This has just fallen on us."
Friends and family of male sex abuse victims have called the Physical Abuse Centre asking, 'How do we deal with this?' and 'Who do we go to?'
Ms Shiell would like to see a charity set up specifically to work with men who have been sexually abused.
She added: "The most ?important issue is how do we move forward? We have to have to have more in place for these victims."
The Physical Abuse ?Centre says abuse happens in all areas of ?society, regardless of race or ?status.
They are seeing more men and non-Bermudian women than ever before, with a "steady increase" in clients since Cup Match.
Ms Shiell said: "Our numbers are getting higher, we are getting busier. Our goal is to put ?ourselves out of business.
"We don't want to have to do another 30 years, we want abuse eradicated in ?Bermuda."
Asked about the reports of men being raped, police spokesman Dwayne Caines said: "The police treat ?reports of male sexual abuse in exactly the same way as female sexual abuse.
"We treat all matters of sexual assault seriously.
"We'd encourage anyone who knows anything about any sexual abuse to contact the Bermuda ?Police Service with any information."
