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Whenever you hear the words "sexual assault," many people instinctively assume that the victim is female. But as you can see from this powerful photography series, it isn't always so black and white.

The pictures are part of 'Project Unbreakable,' a website set up in 2011 by Grace Brown, a New York photography student. The purpose of the site is to raise awareness about sexual assault by giving a voice to those who have been victims of it. The pictures feature survivors holding up posters with quotes from their attackers, and many of those who volunteered to be a part of the project were men who had been subjected to sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.

The website was closed in 2015, but as Grace wrote recently, "In light of our current political climate - the fact that a man accused of multiple instances of sexual assault is about to be the president of the USA - I have decided to repost images from Unbreakable on its Instagram account. We won’t stay silent - not for the oppressed, not for the marginalized, not for anyone."

More info: Project Unbreakable | Instagram

#1

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Petra Christovová
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All such creeps should die alone, unforgiven and broken, "people" like the uncle are disgusting pieces of s*it and do not deserve anything better.

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lunanoir69
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love you because you're brave enough to share your story and help thousands of others!

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Stephanie Braxton
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are a survivor, just like Me! We are Strong! We are Whole! And we are worthy of love!

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Justdoit
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are and will always be loved. These actions do NOT define you!

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Kimberly Madeja
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope you know this isn't true. It was a cruel and heartless thing said only to try and break you. ❤

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Roza Lynn
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're not damaged, you're a survivor who has made it this far. Show them that you can continue to strive and you'll find that one person who will help you heal and feel more alive than you've ever felt before

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Neeharika Lankalapalli
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No. You're not damaged. I love you, I care about you. There will always be someone who cares about you

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Abigail Kreiss
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How horrible. He raped your mind as well as your body. May he suffer remorse forever.

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Mollie Mills
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No your not damaged! People care and will always love you and be there for you.

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Joey
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hes gorgeous and strong...i could most certainly love him!

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Lee Hardy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your not damaged the monster is, you are an amazingly strong man and someone will show you the true meaning of love x

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Kimberly Puchniarz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are far from being damaged! The losers that say this to you are the damaged ones!

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alloutbikes@yahoo.com
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are not damaged and as a human , I love you. Please be strong. You can.

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Karun Anand
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a joke, everyone will love you even more and even more people join you

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Joana Tavares
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are an awesome, lovely and very good looking guy! You'll find love, don't you worry 😊

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Pan Yone
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Completely false. He is the one who is damaged. You are brave and strong. Believe that.

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LizzyM
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're not damaged. We all care. I'm sure there are plenty of people who love you. I'm so sorry what you've been through.

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Richard Petch
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't believe ONE word of what he told you, you are not damaged goods, EVERYBODY cares, just let them know what happened to you.

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kmj 531
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is how they control you. Do not let him! You are worthy of love, you are NOT damaged goods. People care. I care <3

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Kierah Foley
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not true. I am sorry you had to go through that.. No one should. Remeber that you are a strong survivor and you are LOVED!

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Jeannie Carle
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only if you continue to allow yourself to be - HE is the damaged one - YOU are a survivor!

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Rachelle Prochazkova
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

hope you did not believe those supid words, loving just the bravery that you shared this :)

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Caroline Church
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not true. Don't you believe it :) more people know what you're going through than you think. This is just a control tactic, from someone who is damaged themselves.

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Robin Ziebert
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They do and will, of course they do and you were damaged then, but not distroyed.

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Liezl Rudolph
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If some one doesn't love you because of something you cannot control that is a really s****y person. I have been through the same and my mother even asked me what I did to deserve it.....but I am married now and he knows my whole story. Take heart my friend this too shall pass. <3

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Amy Carter
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You were brave enough to public with this. That is amazing. And you are amazing!!

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#24

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Nina Sanz
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It does make sense. I believe you. Forgive your parents, forgive yourself and let it go.

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#26

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Kimberly Puchniarz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They "thought" you wouldn't remember one of the most devastating things to have happened in your whole life? Really? Wtf!?

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#28

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E Menendez
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Though rare women can be rapists. I have heard that men can't be raped by women because they need to be hard. It would be like saying a woman isn't raped if she is wet. Both are a physiological response. Everyone has the right to say "NO" no matter what their physiological response.

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#31

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Ana Ryguła
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jesus. What a monster she is. How can anyone do anything like this to anyone? Not to mention she was historia mother :(

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#32

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Hannah Bunker
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think I can read many more of these, I want to cry for all these poor people who were abused like this. Next chance I get I am raising awareness for this cause. I feel like people should know that they can go to a lot of people for this and they will be protected. This is disgusting.

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#33

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Smoofy
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate how people expect men and boys to like it. I f*****g hate it.

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#40

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Kimberly Puchniarz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These sick af individuals will say or do anything so as to manipulate their victims. Disgusting in every way possible!

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#42

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Anne Moe
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's possible that he feels that he was forced into being gay; What is probably really happening is that he hasn't processed his trauma and is actually continuously reenacting it. In our culture we regard gay as a sexual orientation that is not chosen, and for us it is like that. For him it is not, and it is his reality. Opening up about trauma is the first step to healing. Your insensitive comments here might halt that process. It's his trauma, his life, his situation. Let him have ownership to it. He might be born gay, he might not be born gay; that doesn't change the fact that he lives in a culture were being gay is a punishable offence that might cost him his life, and get him raped even more. So just let him have ownership of his trauma and figure things out for himself. Show some goddamn love, or shut your pie-holes.

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#43

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Kimberly Puchniarz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So sorry to hear how much pain you were forced to deal with. Physically and emotionally.

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#47

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Kimberly Puchniarz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's the little sicko b***h!! May he burn in hell with all the other predators!!

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#54

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Angelika Okotokro
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what many of them say: "you caused it yourself!" Sick bastards!!! So sorry 😢😢

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#55

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Shauday Smith
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i think i'm lacking some context for this quote... is this what the attacker said before they assaulted him? like it was some sort of twisted "training" or skill building? :(

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#62

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Kimberly Puchniarz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah right, it was your words you sick predator, not your physically raping me!!! Sickest predator.

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