Frequently Asked Questions
How do I contribute a story? Please see the public call for stories which has information about the kinds of stories LBP is looking for, as well as instructions on how to get in touch if you have a story to share.
Are you only looking for “successful responses?” No. LBP is looking for all kinds of responses to child sexual abuse (CSA). They do not have to be successful or have “good endings.” The responses that didn’t go well are just as valuable for us to document because there is much we can learn from these stories. What people wished could have happened is also extremely valuable to document. LBP hopes others can learn from these stories, so that they might be able to respond well to CSA in their own lives. For example, learning what survivors wished could have happened could help bystanders who are currently trying to support survivors in their lives.
Do you only want stories that don’t involve state systems (e.g. police, prisons, the criminal legal system, the foster care system, ICE, etc.)? No. LBP is looking for responses, whether they involve state systems or not. Due to the legal implications that surround child sexual abuse (e.g. mandatory reporting laws, statute of limitations, the sex offender registry, etc.), many people’s experiences with CSA involve state systems and state intervention in some way shape or form, whether willingly or not. This is part of the current reality of CSA and it is important to document this reality.
Where can you collect stories? LBP can collect stories from anywhere in the U.S.
Can you record stories from a phone or video call? No. All stories need to be recorded in person.
What if i don't want my voice featured on the recording? You are not alone! There are other storytellers who have chosen to not have their voices featured on the recording. LBP can record you sharing your story, edit it, create a transcript, and someone else can read your story for the official public recording.
How do you choose the titles for the stories? All titles and sub-titles for stories and excerpts are phrases and words from the Storyteller's audio.
What do you mean by "child?" Anyone under 18.
What do you mean by “response?” When I say “response,” I mean the things that happened once the abuse/violence was known or disclosed (either to yourself or others); or the work it took to disclose the abuse; or in some cases the things that happened that were able to prevent the abuse/violence. This includes things such as: people’s reactions, whether they were supportive or not; or any actions taken, whether individually or collectively. When it comes to CSA, the bar is set incredibly low. CSA continues to be one of the hardest types of violence to respond well to. More often than not, once CSA is disclosed (whether by a survivor, bystander and/or offender) or known, it is met with damaging responses such as denial, blame, unhelpful anger, collusion, violence, fear, isolation, demonization, criminalization, etc. I use the term "response" broadly to encompass formal and informal, intentional and unintentional words and actions (or silence and lack of action) to address CSA.
How will these stories be used? The goal of LBP is to create a collection of stories that can be used to help end child sexual abuse. I hope to create an ever-growing resource that individuals, groups, communities and movements can use in their work to respond to, stop and end CSA.
Documenting these stories is an excellent way to be able to learn about CSA, without burdening people, most often survivors, with having to re-tell their stories over and over. Instead, people can use these recordings in their work to educate and mobilize people to take action to respond to CSA (e.g. workshops, talks, trainings, classes, political organizing, community and familial gatherings, etc.). I hope that intimate networks will use these stories as a way to begin talking about CSA. These stories could also be used in CSA prevention work, as well in work around general intimate and sexual violence, since so often, CSA is bound up with other forms of violence.
I am especially hoping that individuals who are currently facing CSA in their own lives will be able to listen to these stories and feel less alone. Hopefully they can learn, gather support and gain inspiration from how others have responded to child sexual abuse. Hopefully these stories will motivate people to respond at all, given how often most people do nothing when it comes to child sexual abuse.
Will LBP continue after your 2 years of initial funding is over? Yes. LBP will continue with or without funding. I will continue to collect stories (though if LBP doesn't have funding it will be at a much, much slower pace) and I will continue my work to end child sexual abuse with or without pay, just as I have for the last decade.