Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual contact. It can be committed by the use of coercion, threats, force or when someone takes advantage of circumstances that render a person incapable of giving consent, such as intoxication. Sexual assault of men can include unwanted touching, fondling, or groping of a male's body including the penis, scrotum or buttocks, even through his clothes. Rape of a man is any kind of sexual assault that involves forced oral or anal sex, including any amount of penetration of the anus or mouth with a body part or any other object, It also includes instances where the victim is forced to penetrate someone else with any part of their body.

Many people don't take sexual assault of men seriously. This is one of the reasons why men have a difficult time reporting what happened and why the rates of male sexual assault are thought to be significantly underreported. If a male survivor's friends think that male sexual assault is a joke, he will feel isolated and afraid to tell anyone. Sexual assault is a painful, traumatic experience for any victim.

There are specific definitions for the degrees of sexual assault. Rhode Island law defines these as:

Anyone, regardless of gender or gender identity, can sexually assault a man. However, most sexual assaults against men are committed by other men, who actually identify themselves as heterosexual. Sexual assault is not about sexual desire or sexual orientation; it's about violence, control, and humiliation.

If a man became sexually aroused, had an erection, or ejaculated during the sexual assault, he may not believe that he was raped. These are involuntary physiological reactions. They do not mean that the person wanted to be sexually assaulted, or that they enjoyed the traumatic experience. Just as with anyone of any gender, a sexual response does not mean there was consent.

The experience of sexual assault may affect gay and heterosexual and transmen differently. Gay men may believe that their sexual orientation was a reason for their assault and self-blame can then occur. Heterosexual men may begin to question their sexual identity and can be uncomfortable by the sexual aspect of the assault. Transmen might not feel able to access resources, like health care or law enforcement, in which they have experienced discrimination.

If you are a man who has been sexually assaulted, remember:

• It was not your fault that you were assaulted.
• You are not alone.
• There are resources available to you.

Collecting physical evidence must occur within 96 hours (4 days). Medications to prevent the development of some sexually transmitted infections and HIV can be provided by Health Services. HIV prophylaxis treatment needs to be started within 72 hours. Screening for date rape drugs can be done up to 72 hours after the incident but is optimally done within 12 hours. Since many of these drugs clear the system quickly, a negative test result does not necessarily mean that no drug was involved.

If the incident occurred in the last 24 to 120 hours:

• Call the Sexual Assault Response Line (401.863-6000) if you need immediate medical or police assistance at any time day or night. This number can connect you with the confidential help of the Sexual Assault Crisis Counselor who can provide you with information as well as accompany you to the hospital if needed.
• If you want to report the crime, notify Brown's Department of Public Safetyat 401-863-4111. If you are away from Brown, call 911.For some, reporting the crime can help regain a sense of personal power and control.
• Go to a safe place as soon as you can and ask someone you trust to stay with you.
• Get help by calling one of these sexual assault resources:
  • SHARE (Sexual Harm Acute Response and Empowerment) Advocates, 401-863-2794. Confidential support.
  • Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-494-8100. Off-campus 24-hour confidential or anonymous support.
• Consider seeking medical attention. Go to Student Health Services (401-863-1330) or a hospital emergency room that provides medical care for sexual assault victims for confidential care. Even if you think that you do not have any physical injuries, it's important to get medical care to discuss STIs, date rape drugs, and evidence collection. . All services, except evidence collection and drug testing, can be provided at Health Services.
• Try to preserve all evidence of the assault. Avoid drinking, bathing, showering, douching, brushing your teeth, or changing your clothes. Evidence can be collected at an emergency room and you can decide later whether or not you want to press criminal charges.
• Try to write down, or have a friend write down, everything you can remember about the incident including a physical description of the perpetrator, their identity if you know it, and the use of threats or force.
• If you think you were drugged or consumed a sedative-like substance, ask the medical provider to take a urine sample. Date rape drugs like GHB and Rohypnol are more likely to be detected in urine than in blood. If you still have remnants of the drink, save them for analysis.
• Talk with a counselor who is trained to assist victims of sexual assault.

• Take it seriously.
• Ask him what you can do to support him.
• Let him know that it was not his fault.
• Let him know he is not alone.
• Find out about resources that are sensitive to male victims and let him know his options.
• Tell him that help is available and encourage him to call a rape crisis hotline.
• Don't pressure him to do certain things. He needs to know that he has choices and that you support him.
• Read more general information on how to help a friend.

Source

Adapted from Planned Parenthood's Teenwire, "He Didn't Ask for it Either," and National Center for Victims of Crime Infoline, "Male Rape."

Whether the incident occurred recently or long ago, it is never too late to get help. Ask for support. Talk with someone you trust and/or get help by calling one of these sexual assault resources. You can ask to speak with a male or female counselor. Even if they don't have male staff on call, almost all rape crisis centers can make referrals to male counselors who are sensitive to the needs of male sexual assault survivors.