On August 31, 2009, James Hornik was raped by another male in Hollywood, California. Naturally, Hornik contacted the Los Angeles Police Department to report the assault and learn the procedure involved in pressing charges against his attacker. However, the LAPD forensic team denied him a rape collection kit, even though such a kit is typically provided to female rape victims as a matter of course. According to Hornik, LAPD officers also allegedly told him that “a gay man can’t be raped.”
The California Penal Code defines rape as an “act of sexual intercourse or penetration, however slight, which is sufficient to complete the crime.” Professional medical and mental health organizations like the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association make no gender stipulations in their definitions of the word “rape,” nor does any dictionary I’ve thus far been able to get my hands on. Tragically (but obviously), anyone can become a victim of rape regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Unbelievably, although James Hornik complained to all the proper authorities, action was never taken against the LAPD for the humiliating way they mistreated Hornik.
Since the time of his sexual assault, Hornik has been fighting back against the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding male rape. In order to call attention to the often invisible and widely underreported problem of male rape, he’s launched a Change.org petition demanding that the LAPD formally apologize to him for the injustices he endured. Please consider signing James Hornik’s petition here.
He’s been raped twice. What the cops did to him is just as unforgivable as what was done to him by his perpetrator.
Society needs to recognize that males do get sexually assaulted, and it is not that uncommon. We’re always hearing jokes about prison rape, but is that any less unconscionable than any other assault? No judge ever sentenced a man to be raped. It’s time to stop making jokes and start helping the survivors of male sexual assault.
The “men can’t be raped canard” has been used to justify keeping sodomy laws on the books of many states because sodomy was the charge made before the Supreme Court overturned laws against consensual sodomy and many states repealed their sodomy law. Of course, even if it was true that sodomy was the only possible charge under state law, any State Legislature could easily define a new law to outlaw forcible sexual penetration of a man, which some states have done.
Why didn’t he go to a hospital for a full checkup AND press chgs off their findings? This is strange. I can’t back this w/o full knowledge and details of the case.
Rape is rape is rape. Performing a sexual act of penetration against the recipients will is rape regardless of either person’s sex, orientation, or identity.
The LAPD has minimized Mr. Hornik and his experience. Whatever happened to “To Protect And To Serve?” I hope the LAPD get slapped with a *huge* fine to wake their sorry asses up, along with additional training to teach basic human dignity and fair law enforcement for ALL.
Of course men can be raped and the same support system should be there for them as for women. What nonsense–saying that gay men cannot be raped. They need to get out of the Stone Age!
*SMH*
Not that I’d expect better from the LAPD…
Hey, iDavid! For the full story, head on over to the Change.org petition, click on the “About This Petition” tab, and read the section titled “Why this petition is important.” You’ll find lots of additional details/information there :-)
I tried to sign the petition but it asked for an American address and wouldn’t let me leave that area blank.
further info for those who doubt me: I did go to cedars in LA, and was denied a rape kit. I faced my attacker in court and nothing was done to him since police denied me a rape kit and treatment/exam for rape. I now have a federal civil rights case against the LAPD, The City of Los Angeles and the 4 officers involved to fight for all people right to rape kits and forensic testing.
Rape is rape!! Whether it is done to a man or a woman.All police officers in this country should be trained to treat all rapes,male and female,as a crime.
I was raped at 14, a virgin. Nobody believed me, mother called me a w***e.
I spent the next 12 years out of control and punishing myself for something I did not do nor had any control over (the rape)
Anyone can be raped!
80 yr old ladies are raped, children (male and female) are being raped. A gay man can be raped. A straight man can be raped. A lesbian can be raped. A prostitute can be raped. (visit any prison in the US and you’ll find lots of victims!) Rape is rape is rape.
It is interesting to me that people expect those who’ve experienced a trauma like this to respond in a rational manner. Mr. Hornik did contact the police only to be treated in a way that would make many feel unbelievably isolated.
Many men have no idea how much they will benefit from Mr. Horniks courageous fight for justice. Unfortunately, there will always be those who will blame the victim.