From Prison Sex Slave to Outlet of Hope

In this episode, we hear from Roderick Keith Johnson, a national LGBTQ advocate for criminal justice reform and mental health, and a survivor of sexual abuse. 

Roderick talks about going into a Texas maximum-security prison as a black gay man, where he was sold into sexual slavery for 18 months. He describes how he pleaded for protection while inside and was denied help from prison officials. Roderick shares how he was forced on a daily basis to have sex in prison and how he was bought and sold among various prison gangs until finally getting the attention and help of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). 

Roderick discusses how his story was chronicled as one of the worst cases of prisoner abuse in US history. His case, and many others, sparked a movement to stop this kind of abuse and led to the passage of the National Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). Roderick talks about processing all of these experiences with some of the best mental health experts in the country, particularly Dr. Terry Kupers of the Wright Institute. He talks about being diagnosed with PTSD, major depression, anxiety, bipolar & schizoaffective disorder, and his journey to getting the support he needed to heal. Roderick shares his own reflections on the mental health space, stories that have empowered him to continue advocating for change, and words of love and wisdom to survivors of sexual abuse and the LGBTQ community. 

Roderick asks that people learn more about the Black Justice Resource Group and support his ongoing advocacy work. 

Be sure to connect with Roderick via:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roderick-johnson-073299152 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100043275947337