Gay forced videos

I'm concerned about homophobia and overzealousness that might unnecessarily patrol consensual relationships, which do take place in prisons.

They had just the right tone – frank and realistic in their advice to stay safe yet respectful of the listener.

Samuel Hamilton, a former inmate at Fishkill Correctional Facility, who participated in the filming of the videos.

My first word after watching the final product: Powerful.

I was in prison for over 30 years, and very, very rarely did DOCCS ask us – the inmates – for help with solving a problem.

Reluctance to report has long been a major obstacle, and inmates urging others to speak out is powerfully important.

I'll just note that I was concerned to hear one of the women inmates say, “It's rare you see healthy relationships” inside. “What were they doing there?” “Why were they with that person?” Common responses among those who accept the myth that same-sex rape is about gay sex.

There is an additional concern.

If both the perpetrator and the victim of rape are gay, the victim feels added pressure not to report the incident or seek help because it may reinforce a negative stereotype about gay men being sexual predators. We have to be careful not to police all intimate relationships among inmates.

Finally, the Bureau of Justice Statistics data has consistently shown that male inmates are more likely to be sexually victimized by staff than by other inmates.

I think it would have prepared me better for what to expect.

I like the part about who you can contact if something happens to you, because it's so scary and a lot of girls won't say anything because the guards have all the control in there. An adult man showing me, a child with no sexual experience, his penis was unusual. It really was us that came up with the content of this thing.

If the victim is thought to be gay, gang rape and other forms of sexual violation may occur. In the 80s, we had no computers or mobile phones, and scarce parental supervision.

For many, having free rein to explore their youthful freedom is seen as a positive. Misogynistic prejudice also is directed toward males who display effeminate attributes.

The video claims that complaints of staff sexual abuse will be taken seriously, but that claim is undermined by how DOCCS actually responds to these allegations: In reality, New York State substantiates only about 2 percent of the complaints of staff sexual abuse that they receive.

So long as DOCCS fails adequately to investigate and discipline staff, all the videos in the world won't convince women in custody that there is any reason to report: They know they won't be believed and that no action will be taken.

A.T.