Prohibited Sexual Behavior and Sexual Violence

Sexual Violence: Rape: Male Victims: Introduction

The fact that the essence of rape is not sexual desire, but violence, becomes quite evident when men rape other men. This is already clear in the story of Lot in the Bible. When he gave two male strangers (actually angels) shelter under his roof, every inhabitant of the city of Sodom, “both young and old, all the people down to the last man surrounded the house” and demanded that he deliver his guests to them to be raped (Genesis 19:4). Obviously, there is no suggestion that all of these citizens “down to the last man” were driven by homosexual desires. Instead, in their wickedness they wanted to demonstrate their hatred of strangers by violating the laws of hospitality in the most outrageous manner possible. (For this reason, they also refused Lot’s offer to rape his daughters instead.) Rape was the strongest expression of contempt, the ultimate form of subjugation. Therefore, victorious ancient armies made a point of raping defeated enemy soldiers. Their utter humiliation made the victory complete.