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Patrick Dati Speakers Page

Patrick Dati Profile

Child Abuse and Bullying Advocate		 Specialized Topics:

  • Domestic Violence
  • Bullying
  • Sibling Bullying
  • Child Abuse Prevention
  • Coming Out

Patrick Dati is an advocate for all victims of abuse: domestic, sexual, and gender preference. Patrick is an advocate because of his experiences. At age nine, his life was changed forever when he was raped by serial killer John Wayne Gacy. Along with sexual assault, he was bullied in a domestic relationship and veiled his sexual preference for years. For these reasons, he has a profound understanding and empathy for victims going through the mental and physical trauma from childhood sexual abuse, bullying, and persons struggling with identity issues. His advocacy is dedicated to helping victims unveil 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 several organizations devoted to promoting the rights of 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 SAMHSA/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.