Silent No More

1. How old do you have to be to be an advocate on the hotline?
2. If you are abused by someone of the same gender does that make you gay?
3. How do I tell someone I have been raped?
4. Do people that have been offended against by a stranger experience different effects then those who have been sexually assaulted by someone they know?
5. Why do people rape?

1. How old do you have to be to be an advocate on the hotline?
   You must be at least 18 years old to answer the sexual assault hotline. But you may be under 18 take the sexual assault advocate training and to volunteer at SAC&SC this includes working in the office and join us with community outreach events etc. with parental permission.
2. If you are abused by someone of the same gender does that make you gay?
   No, this is a myth: “While there are different theories about how the sexual orientation develops, experts in the human sexuality field do not believe that premature sexual experiences play a significant role in late adolescent or adult sexual orientation. It is unlikely that someone can make another person a homosexual or heterosexual. Sexual orientation is a complex issue and there is no single answer or theory that explains why someone identifies himself as homosexual, heterosexual or bi-sexual. Whether perpetrated by older males or females, boys’ or girls’ premature sexual experiences are damaging in many ways, including confusion about one’s sexual identity and orientation.” (http://www.nomsv.org/, the National Organization on Male Victimization)
3. How do I tell someone I have been raped?
   If you find it difficult to talk to someone about your experience, you can start by calling a rape crisis hotline (Maine 1-800-871-7741). They are completely anonymous and confidential. By talking to a Sexual Assault Advocate you can express the feelings you are having and discuss a way of talking about it that you can feel comfortable with. To find your local Rape Crisis Hotline number you can call the RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) 1-800-656-HOPE
4. Do people that have been offended against by a stranger experience different effects then those who have been sexually assaulted by someone they know?
   Yes and no. Each person who has been sexually assaulted experience the event differently. There are some aspects in each that are different, but neither has a more significant effect than the other. There are also many effects that all victims of sexual violence may have in common. It is all based on situation and each individual.
5. Why do people rape?
   This is a question that has no answer. Lots of studies have been done to try and figure this out and there is no clear answer. What they do know is that very often it is based on power and control and not sex. Violent and aggressive behaviors are very hard to understand.

Guidelines:
Questions that will be posted on this page will need to be generic questions pertaining to sexual assault, incest, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, date rape, and other sexual assault issues. Questions of a personal nature would best be answered directly by a sexual assault advocate by calling our hotline at 1-800-871-7741.When you send us the question please provide an email address so that we may respond to you directly. We will not post your email address or name when placing the question and answer on this page.