FL--Orlando massage therapist is “restricted;” Victims respond
For immediate release: Tuesday, May 24, 2016
For more information: Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])
Orlando massage therapist is “restricted”
He’s twice-accused of sexual misconduct
Group applauds state Health Dept. action
It urges “others in pain” to “come forward”
SNAP: “We’re convinced he’s hurt more women”
An Orlando massage therapist has been restricted by an emergency order from The Florida Department of Health because they say he “presents an immediate, serious danger to the public health, safety, or welfare.”
Frederick Dost faces one civil lawsuit and is accused by two women of sexual misconduct by during massages at two Massage Envy locations - Winter Garden and Siesta Key.
The emergency order was issued last week. The first lawsuit against Dost was filed in January.
A month ago, Dost fired back against allegations that he sexually assaulted a client, claiming that he “knows all about predatory females” and is being “used as a pawn in a larger money grab.” http://frederickdost.brandyourself.com/ (NOTE – He has since taken down this post.)
He explains it this way,
The problem is systemic male gender bias and a "guilty until proven innocent" corporate model and a zero tolerance policy that assumes the male therapist guilty until he proves his innocence, on ANY complaint. Women know this rule and use it to their advantage, often for malicious intentions or revenge, especially if the male therapist rejects their sexual advances or threatens to end a session on the spot and report them to management or the police. No male therapist dares to do this in a litigious America bias against men and led by opportunistic prosecutors asserting that women are somehow helpless, "vulnerable" victims during a massage session.
Members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, call Dost’s post “full of unfounded, self-serving and hurtful characterizations of victims in general and women in particular.”
“Approximately 1 in 20 women are victims of sexual violence other than rape, a shockingly high figure,” said Barbara Dorris of SNAP. “Almost 70% of these assaults are not reported to police. Violence against women is a wide-spread and under reported crime. To blame ‘predatory females’ is both insulting and untrue.”
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/sv-datasheet-a.pdf
“Remarks like those made by Dost intimidate other victims and deter them from reporting criminals, which leads to more sexual violence,” said David Clohessy of SNAP. “And victim-blaming rubs salt into the wounds of already damaged survivors. False allegations of sexual assault are extremely rare.”
https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/1996/96sec2.pdf
"Our hearts ache for all female survivors of sexual violence, some of whom will no doubt be discouraged from blowing the whistle on sex offenders when they see other victims being discounted and publicly attacked,” Dorris said. “We want them to know that there are people who will believe them and support them.”
After one of the victims reported her attack to law enforcement, Dost was let go from Massage Envy.
http://www.wesh.com/news/woman-accuses-former-massage-envy-masseur-of-sexual-battery/37684760
http://www.snapnetwork.org/fl_accused_abusive_masseuse_fires_back_victims_respond
“No matter what state officials eventually do or don’t do to Dost, we urge every single person who saw, suspected or suffered crimes and misdeeds during massages to protect others by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling law enforcement, get justice by calling attorneys, and be comforted by calling support groups like ours,” Dorris said. “This is how we will all be safer, victims will recover, criminals will be prosecuted, cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface.”
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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