Gay Forced Dark: Incredible Gay Experiences of Straight Guys

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While women and girls are disproportionately targeted by conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), men and boys are also impacted. However, existing services within gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection are focused almost exclusively on responding to the needs of women and girls and very little attention is paid to the needs of men and boys. Limited data and underreporting—in part fueled by stigma around male vulnerability and reluctance to talk about experiences of sexual violence or seek help for its long-term physical and psychological impact—have contributed to male survivors not receiving adequate attention and help. In some cultures masculinity is often linked to power and dominance, and can be constructed as the ability to exercise power over others. [17] Heterosexual men represent the strength and power of the family and the community, and are expected to protect not just themselves but others. [18] Sexual violence, in disempowering men, can also disempower the broader community. [19] Legal scholar Sandesh Sivakumaran explains: At an individual level, the male is stigmatized as a victim and the community is informed that their male members, their protectors, are unable to protect themselves. And if they are unable to protect themselves, how are they to protect ‘their’ women and ‘their’ community? In this way, the manliness of the man is lost and the family and community are made to feel vulnerable. Disempowerment of the community is again had through the dominance over its male members. [20]

All survivors of rape and other forms of sexual violence should have access to quality health services in line with international standards. [162] This includes women, men and boys, whether heterosexual or gay, bisexual, transgender, or non-binary. Dispelling myths about male invulnerability will encourage research on and enhance responses to conflict-related sexual violence directed against men and boys. Scholars argue for more gender-inclusive formulations of conflict related sexual violence, and a more nuanced understanding of gendered power dynamics. Chris Dolan, director of Refugee Law Project, an organization that has worked for decades with male survivors in Uganda, argues: [It] requires us to break down conceptual barriers, foremost of which are the assumption that gender power and inequality is unidirectional, the belief that power always has the same biological targets and the related view that (sexual) violence against women and children is the paradigmatic expression of these unidirectional inequalities… Men and boys can therefore be vulnerable, particularly in contexts of conflict designed to destabilize the status quo; their privilege in peacetime can become the source of their vulnerability in conflict. [13] Purpose of Sexual Violence Against Men and Boys This report is based on interviews Human Rights Watch conducted in Lebanon with 40 gay and bisexual men and transgender women—some of whom were perceived by perpetrators to be gay men—and non-binary individuals, as well as 4 heterosexual men. The survivors all described their experience of sexual violence in Syria. We also conducted interviews with 20 caseworkers and representatives of humanitarian organizations operating in Lebanon. While many of the men and boys and transgender women interviewed have also experienced sexual violence in Lebanon, those incidents lie outside the purview of this report.Bisexual: The sexual orientation of a person who is sexually and romantically attracted to both women and men. Toufiq, a 25-year-old queer survivor, fled the army after one month of service and came to Lebanon in November 2017. Their family had forced them to join the military after discovering their relationship with another man. [115] “I couldn’t handle being in the military because I was subjected to sexual assault,” they said. “I was harassed by the soldiers I stayed with,” they said, adding that they shared a room with three other male soldiers. “I did not have a beard at the time so they thought I was soft,” they said. “They did everything without my consent … intercourse … sexual relationship.” [116] Human Rights Watch did not compensate interviewees but did cover transportation costs for interviewees who traveled to meet the researcher. A Note on Gender Identity and Expression

LGBT: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender; an inclusive term for groups and identities sometimes also grouped as “sexual and gender minorities.” The research in this report focuses on (i) sexual violence against men and boys and transgender women that occurred in Syria from the beginning of the Syrian conflict (March 2011) until the survivors fled to Lebanon and (ii) the challenges male survivors face in accessing psychosocial and physical health services in Lebanon.No matter how strong you are, you always need help. Especially when you are at the beginning of your journey. Evidence gathered by Human Rights Watch show that GBT individuals in the military were specifically targeted on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Interviewees told Human Rights Watch that GBT men and boys who serve in the army are often subject to rape and other forms of sexual violence in military prisons, or by other soldiers in the army. “There were men who looked more soft, [appeared] to be like a woman more than a man, who didn’t have beards. They were harassed more than others. To tell you the truth, if their [the soldiers’] girls were absent, these men would be [become] the victim,” Hatem, a heterosexual survivor who served in the army, said. [78] I've heard before that 'jail is a faggot's dream.' I assure you that cliché is not the case. Gay men who do not attempt to hide their sexuality are forced into passive and submissive roles. To live with some standard of equality, we have to trade in our manhood. We are completely emasculated. It's a form of technical castration. The role of woman is forced upon us and any rebuttal is considered a sign of disrespect. My way of thinking about myself and my sexuality has been permanently altered." Walid, a 26-year-old survivor who registered as a refugee in 2015, described his experience with a humanitarian organization: I was very shy the first time I went there. The person who interviewed me laughed at me. [When I explained to the interviewer that I was sexually assaulted] she asked me, ‘Why didn’t you shout? Why didn’t you defend yourself?’ When I left the interview, I felt it was not worth exposing myself and I felt that I was wrong [at fault for the sexual violence]. Thanks to my friends I was able to build up my self-confidence. [188] Gender Identity: A person’s internal, deeply felt sense of being female or male, both, or something other than female or male.

Somehow, though, he contains the psychopathy and performs the kind of stoic macho man the horny, philandering Miriam would like to get it on with: He doesn’t speak, and he adopts a more butch posture, even showing off his strength by hitting the bell with a mallet at the carnival’s strongman game. Miriam is hooked. But it’s not a tryst Bruno has in mind when he finally completes the seduction and gets her alone. It’s a moment that shows, no matter what, you’ll be hot to someone — and how easily performed crude gender roles can be. —CB

“Hellraiser” (dir. Clive Barker, 1987)

Ensure that survivors have information about relevant health and psychosocial services, including that they should be accessed on an urgent basis, as well as facilitate victims’ access to them through safe and confidential mechanisms. Gather data on patterns of sexual violence against men and boys, with a view to assessing the scope of sexual violence committed against men and boys and establishing prevalence of sexual violence against men and boys in the Syrian conflict. Interviewees told Human Rights Watch that GBT people were subjected to sexual violence in the army and military prisons because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Interviewees said this was common knowledge and that most GBT people fled the country due the fear of joining the army. Interviewees said that they or their friends who served in the army were taken to Tadmur Prison and Palestine Branch because they were GBT. Train all relevant staff including case managers, social workers and front-line medical workers on clinical management of rape for both female and male survivors, as well as the specific needs of male survivors and GBT survivors. This report focuses on the cases of GBT survivors; in other reports published by Human Rights Watch and other NGOs, evidence of heterosexual survivors’ experiences is featured. [137]

Homophobia: Fear of, contempt of, or discrimination against homosexuals or homosexuality, usually based on negative stereotypes of homosexuality. The classic “Frankenstein” sequel has a lot of queer subtext, primarily in the relationship between Dr. Frankenstein and his mentor, Dr. Pretorius, who run off together on Frankenstein’s wedding night. A titan of classic horror, gay filmmaker James Whale wove queerness into most of his films, which include the original “Frankenstein” and “The Invisible Man.” All his films see Whale casting gay actors and playing up queer themes in various ways. With its throughline of female autonomy, exemplified in the blood-curdling rejection by Elsa Lanchester’s titular character, “Bride of Frankenstein” is perhaps the most overtly queer of Whale’s films — while still passing subtly for the standards of the time. —JD Queer: An inclusive umbrella term covering multiple identities, sometimes used interchangeably with “LGBTQ.” Also used to describe divergence from heterosexual and cisgender norms without specifying new identity categories.The Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic concluded that rape and other forms of sexual violence committed by the state and non-state armed groups in Syria is a serious breach of international humanitarian law and constitutes a war crime. [206]