The P. Luna Foundation wishes to familiarize you with their program called
Male Abuse Awareness Week, December 1st-8th!

To learn more see the following links:

Our BIG New Web site:
http://help4guys.org/

and…………………………………….

The AMAZING video donated by New Focal Media in San Diego, California!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR9RM...


Our PSA:
Male Abuse Awareness Week December is 1st through 8th. It is a campaign to bring attention to the problems society faces when male victims and survivors of all types of abuse are not given the help they need to recover and deal with what has happened to them. The rate of suicide, violent crime and abuse cycles could possibly be decreased in males if more organizations provided special services to them and we all bring this “taboo” subject to a socially acceptable level, as we have already done for females. For more information on help for males, please go to www.help4guys.org.


We need your help with this campaign.
Donations are needed to keep this site and this effort going all year long.
If you can not donate money, you can still help with this campaign.
Please see the “Welcome Video” on the home page of the new web site for suggestions, or just spread the word by forwarding this email? Or, you can donate your time online!


This Holiday Season, the PLF wants to make one struggling unemployed parent’s wish come true.
My data base is a mess. I want to pay a struggling parent $400 to do 40 hours of clerical work in my office, so that they will have money for food and gifts this Holiday Season. If we can get this donation into our account by December 15th, we can make the difference for one family this year. Assuming that other people will make the donation doesn't work, please give what you can today? We are a registered 501(c)3 and your donations are tax deductible.
To make a donation, please contact us, or our you can locate our PayPal account button on our main web site at www.plunafoundation.org.



Thanks to everyone for the continued support this year. We are proudly heading towards our 2nd year.

Happy Holidays from all of us at the PLF!

Petra Luna
Executive Director, P. Luna Foundation
Leader of the War On Abuse Movement
www.plunafoundation.org
www.petraluna.com
818.300.2052

About the Male Survivor International Conference: Relief, Healing, and Hope for Male Survivors: This international conference provides a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth, networking, and the dissemination of new knowledge in the area of sexually traumatized boys and men. This four day event will feature numerous workshops for male survivors of sexual abuse, their loved ones/partners, and professionals who work with them.

When: March 18-21, 2010

Presentation Information: Presentations need to be approximately 90 to 180 minutes in length, and can be presented in the form of lecture, psycho-educational and/or experiential format. The presentations should be relevant to any or all of the following groups of attendees: Adult male survivors of sexual abuse, their spouse/significant other and family, clinical and social service professionals, lawyers and other legal professionals, researchers, educators and students.

We are looking for presentation abstracts concerning the dissemination of new knowledge in the area of male victimization, which may include:

Clinical issues in treating male sexual abuse survivors in various modalities
Application of research that directly impacts clinical practice
High risk behaviors and addiction
Evaluation and assessment of trauma
Treatment outcome data policy and ethical issues/legal trends
Legal trends and law enforcement issues
Advocacy and developing community support groups
Healing process and personal growth beyond the abuse
Issues of sexuality, sexual orientation, and identity confusion
Developing healthy relationships
Overcoming behavioral sequelae of abuse: sex and substance addiction, acting out, etc.
Working with the media
Support for the spouse/significant other and family
Diversity: cultural, generation/age, sexual orientation
Helping the helper and countertransference in the therapeutic dyad
All other presentation topics will be considered

Male Sexual Victimization Myths & Facts

Adapted from a presentation at the 5th International Conference on Incest and Related Problems, Biel, Switzerland, August 14, 1991.

Myth #1 - Boys and men can't be victims.

This myth, instilled through masculine gender socialization and sometimes referred to as the "macho image," declares that males, even young boys, are not supposed to be victims or even vulnerable. We learn very early that males should be able to protect themselves. In truth, boys are children - weaker and more vulnerable than their perpetrators - who cannot really fight back. Why? The perpetrator has greater size, strength, and knowledge. This power is exercised from a position of authority, using resources such as money or other bribes, or outright threats - whatever advantage can be taken to use a child for sexual purposes.

Myth #2 - Most sexual abuse of boys is perpetrated by homosexual males.

Pedophiles who molest boys are not expressing a homosexual orientation any more than pedophiles who molest girls are practicing heterosexual behaviors. While many child molesters have gender and/or age preferences, of those who seek out boys, the vast majority are not homosexual. They are pedophiles.

Myth #3 - If a boy experiences sexual arousal or orgasm from abuse, this means he was a willing participant or enjoyed it.

In reality, males can respond physically to stimulation (get an erection) even in traumatic or painful sexual situations. Therapists who work with sexual offenders know that one way a perpetrator can maintain secrecy is to label the child's sexual response as an indication of his willingness to participate. "You liked it, you wanted it," they'll say. Many survivors feel guilt and shame because they experienced physical arousal while being abused. Physical (and visual or auditory) stimulation is likely to happen in a sexual situation. It does not mean that the child wanted the experience or understood what it meant at the time.

Myth #4 - Boys are less traumatized by the abuse experience than girls.

While some studies have found males to be less negatively affected, more studies show that long term effects are quite damaging for either sex. Males may be more damaged by society's refusal or reluctance to accept their victimization, and by their resultant belief that they must "tough it out" in silence.

Myth #5 - Boys abused by males are or will become homosexual.

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.

Many boys who have been abused by males erroneously believe that something about them sexually attracts males, and that this may mean they are homosexual or effeminate. Again, not true. Pedophiles who are attracted to boys will admit that the lack of body hair and adult sexual features turns them on. The pedophile's inability to develop and maintain a healthy adult sexual relationship is the problem - not the physical features of a sexually immature boy.

Myth #6 - The "Vampire Syndrome"�that is, boys who are sexually abused, like the victims of Count Dracula, go on to "bite" or sexually abuse others.

This myth is especially dangerous because it can create a terrible stigma for the child, that he is destined to become an offender. Boys might be treated as potential perpetrators rather than victims who need help. While it is true that most perpetrators have