Survivor Stories  

In October, 1964, after a beating [by his father], I went to school with 2 black eyes, cuts, and brusies; my teacher asked what happened; I told her, "Me and my dad got in a fight." She reported it, and I was arrested. They called it "protection." I spent my first night of protection being sodomized by the 3 teenagers who shared the cell they put me in; I was 6 years old.

This happened at the Oakland County Children's Village....My experiences in the juvenile homes...included lots of violence and homosexual abuse.

I have been incarcerated in prison now for 10 years, in this time I have experienced a lot of abuse....I am married now and the father of a 13 year old daughter.

In my heart I believe if there is a solution it will begin in public awareness and legislation.

-Tom, Michigan