Can boys and men be raped?
Yes, boys and men can be sexually assaulted and raped. This could happen to gay or straight men, and isn’t about your sexuality. You can be sexually assaulted by a male or a female. It’s important to understand that this doesn’t mean you are weak – often boys feel like they should be able to stop it because they are male. Sexual assault and rape is about the abuse of power. It is never your fault and the police will take it seriously.
If I was too drunk to say no, was it my fault?
It is never your fault. Nobody has a right to have sex with you without your agreement. If you were too drunk to give your consent, then you were raped.
I think I was drugged, what can I do?
It’s important if you think you have been drugged that you get medical help as soon as possible. It is difficult to know what effect this is having on your body as everyone reacts differently. If you have also taken other drugs, or alcohol, these could react together so it’s important to be honest about what might be in your system. A nurse can do a urine test to find out exactly what drug you have taken and give you the right medical advice. An attacker may use a date rape drug to make you more vulnerable and stop you from remembering clearly what happened. It is not your fault, and the police will take this seriously.
If it’s my boyfriend or girlfriend, is it still rape?
Yes – nobody has a right to have sex with you without your agreement, even if you are in a relationship with them or have had sex with them before. If you are being forced to have sex or being sexually assaulted in your relationship, then this is relationship abuse.