Author Archive

15 Confessions That Reveal What It’s Like To Serve In The Military As A Gay Person

By A Plus 06/20/2016

“When the Obama administration announced the repeal of the army’s controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 2011, it was hailed as a win for the LGBT rights movement — gay and lesbian people could now serve their country freely without fear of repercussions.

And how things have changed for the LGBT community since. The drastic shift in public opinion on same-sex marriage seemingly came out of nowhere. In the past few years, a steady majority of Americans have said they supported same-sex marriage and its legalization, a huge change from a mere decade ago, when President George Bush’s re-election campaign touted initiatives banning same-sex marriage. …”

Read the entire article at: http://aplus.com/a/whisper-app-gay-military-members?

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Orlando Shooter’s Domestic Abuse History Should Have Been A Warning Sign

By Huffington Post 06/15/2016

“Long before 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened fire in a popular gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and committed the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, he perpetrated a different type of terror — one he kept hidden inside the home.

He beat his wife. 

Sitora Yusifiy, who was married to Mateen for four months, has described him as a cruel and physically violent man. She said that he beat her over things like unfinished laundry, confiscated her paychecks and banned her from speaking to her family — acts that left her feeling isolated, vulnerable and afraid. …”

Read the entire article at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/orlando-shooter-domestic-abuse_us_5760536ae4b0e4fe5143f349

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For My LGBT Community, Terror Isn’t New

By CNN  06/13/2016

“…“That feeling of safety hasn’t been lost; it never truly existed in the first place. There is no safe place for LGBT people in this country or around the world. ” Sen. Geraldine Thompson said about the mass shooting at Pulse, an LGBT nightclub in Orlando early Sunday morning were 49 people were killed (50 including the shooter) and 50 or more wounded. The Pulse nightclub shooting is the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. …”

Read the entire article: http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/13/opinions/orlando-shooting-no-safe-lgbt-spaces-clay-cane/

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Euro 2016: Police Launch Domestic Violence Campaign To Coincide With Summer Of Sport

By Chronicle Live 06/13/2016

“Win, lose or draw, this summer’s European football tournament in France will not be enjoyed by those that endure abuse in the home, which traditionally rises during major sporting events.

So in a bid to crack down on potential crimes, Northumbria Police has today launched its “Let’s blow the whistle on domestic abuse” to raise awareness. …”

Read the entire article at: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/euro-2016-police-launch-domestic-11465989

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Wagoner Man Arrested On Elderly Abuse, Animal Hoarding Complaints

By KJRH.com 06/09/2016

“WAGONER, Okla.- Five days after being found in deplorable conditions, one elderly man is finally starting to recover.

Robert Sloan was found inside his home with more than 30 animals and covered in feces, unable to take care of himself.

His son, Michael Sloan, 58, was arrested not long after on complaints of elderly abuse and animal cruelty.

After being taken to a hospital, Robert Sloan is in a nursing home and is in good spirits and health. Fortunately, the dogs and cats he was found with are also on the mend. …”

Read the entire article at: http://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/wagoner-man-arrested-on-elderly-abuse-animal-hoarding-complaints

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Men’s Domestic Violence Refuge Opens In Flintshire

By BBC 06/09/2016

“The first north Wales refuge for men fleeing domestic abuse has opened in Flintshire.

It is only the second men’s refuge to open in Wales, with the other in Monmouthshire.

The two-bed, £35,000 pilot facility will open for 12 months initially.

As well as emergency safe accommodation, men will be able to access legal advice, specialist counselling and therapeutic group work. 

The project, run by the Domestic Abuse Safety Unit (DASU), was created in “direct response” to victims. …”

Read the entire article at: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-36487791

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Link Found Between Witnessing Parental Domestic Violence During Childhood And Attempted Suicide

By EurekAlert 06/09/2016

“Toronto, ON – A new study by the University of Toronto (U of T), found the lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts among adults who had been exposed to chronic parental domestic violence during childhood was 17.3% compared to 2.3% among those without this childhood adversity. …”

Read the entire article at: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-06/uot-lfb060916.php

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Patrick Dati Joins SAFE Speaker’s Bureau


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Patrick Dati is an advocate for all victims of abuse: domestic, sexual, and gender preference. Patrick is an advocate because he cares. At age nine, his life was changed forever. He was raped by serial killer John Wayne Gacy. He cares about anyone who was sexually abused as a kid. He knows firsthand the mental and physical trauma victims live with. He cares about anyone who was bullied in a domestic relationship. Patrick cares about anyone who had to hide because of sexual preference. His advocacy is dedicated to helping victims stop hiding and to become the person they are intended to be so each of them can say “I AM ME”. His message is simple: “together we can overcome the hiding and shame caused by abuse and bullying.” 

Patrick is associated with se
veral organizations devoted to promoting the rights for victims of domestic abuse and the advancement of LGBTQ rights. These organizations include Chicago’s Center on Halsted; New York City Anti­Violence Project; MaleSurvivor; Teach Antibullying Inc; Dream Catchers for Abused Children; The National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse; and RAINN. In 2011, Dati was selected by SAMHA/US Department of Health and Human Services to participate in their 2012 trauma survivor campaign. In 2014 Dati’s book “I AM ME” was published. 

Dati has appeared on WGN News with Larry Potash; ABC News with John Garcia; NBC News with Dick Johnson, ABC 7 Windy City Live with Val Warner. Additionally, he has been interviewed by Sarah LeTrent from CNN ; by Naomi Nix from Chicago Tribune; by Mike Thomas from Chicago Sun­Times; and by Carrie Maxwell from Windy City Media Group. He is frequently invited to be a guest speaker on radio shows such as D­Talk Radio Show hosted by Denise Brown; eHealth Radio Network hosted by Eric Michaels; and blogtalkradio hosted by Laurie Smith. 

Dati’s book “I AM ME” was published in 2014.  It chronicles his life of abuse commencing with the rape by John Wayne Gacy as a nine year old  KIRKUS describes “I AM ME” as a “riveting, heart-wrenching chronicle of one man’s journey from victim to survivor.” It is an intense story that could empower other survivors.



Specialized Topics:
  • Domestic Violence
  • Bullying
  • Sibling Bullying
  • Child Abuse Prevention
  • Coming Out

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Domestic Abuse Against Men: Know The Signs

By Metro 06/08/2016

“If we asked you to picture a domestic abuser, what do they look like?

And, more importantly, what gender are they?

Society still follows an outdated narrative of domestic abuse, based on pejorative terms like ‘wife beater’ and ‘battered wife’.

There are two main things wrong with these phrases – they assume that all abuse is violent, and that all victims are women.

Read the entire article at: http://metro.co.uk/2016/06/08/domestic-abuse-against-men-know-the-signs-5931125/#

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